OAKLAND MAROONS ART COLLECTIVE PRESENTS: “The Point is… Art Representing the Relevance of the Black Panther Party’s 10 Point Program in the 21st century”

PressRelease  

The Point Is …

September 30^th, 2012

Oakland Maroons Art Collective Presents:

“The Point is… Art Representing the Relevance of the Black Panther Party’s 10 Point program in the 21^st century ”

Open for viewing by appointment for the month of October is a showing of images in multiple media on the theme of the Black Panther Party’s community 10-point platform. The 10-point program was drafted by Huey P. Newton and Bobbie Seale in Oakland, California in October of 1966 as a set of demands and precepts addressed to the government of the United States.

Each of these points has been interpreted by the artists of the Oakland Maroons Art Collective (OMAC) along with two of the original Black Panthers.

Amongst the artists represented in this show are Emory Douglass – the original Minister of Culture for the BPP – and Tarika Lewis – the first woman to join the Black Panther Party. Both of these artists were responsible for developing some of the earliest imagery for the BPP via its newspaper. Emory Douglass presence in this show is particularly notable because of his seminal contributions to the West Coast Black Arts Movement via his theater set designs.

The presence of his work in this show is significant for OMAC because the collective views itself as the continuation of the Black Arts Movement in the 21^st century.

OMAC artists represented in this show are Refa 1, Duane Deterville, Karen Seneferu, Malik Seneferu, Eesuu Orundide, Chris Herod and Tarika Lewis.

Location: First Love Gallery, 2440 Telegraph Ave. Oakland Ca.

Date: October 5^th – October 29^th 2012.

The Grand Opening is on October 5^th for First Fridays in Oakland. The show “The Point is: Art Representing the Relevance of the Black Panther Party’s 10 Point Program in the 21^st Century.”

In the 8:00 PM hour we will have poetry and music presentations by Tureeda Mikel and Phavia Kujichagulia.

Contact: Refa Senay refa1@hotmail.com

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REFA 1 SPEAKS: HIP HOP IS ABOUT CONSCIOUSNESS AND FREEDOM…IT’S ESSENCE OVER FORM

Refa 1 Speaks: Hip Hop is about Consciousness & Freedom..It’s Essence over Form – YouTube.

Refa 1 is a first generation writer and longtime Zulu from Oakland who pulls no punches when it comes to speaking about the liberation and upliftment of our people. He came to the Hip Hop class at SF State and drop some serious gems for all of us to ponder as he explained what writing is about. he noted that grafitti is a media created term. He also spoke about the importance of establishing our own voices and to be wary of people who ‘document’ the culture but have no real connection or love for it. He warned that they are likely to exploit, malign and not show its true essence.