Friday, October 9, 2020

My Master's Noble Jar-Dave "The Slave" Drake-Georgia Red Mud Painting

This painting came about from seeing my art in a auction catalog with the pottery of Dave The Slave Drake-A man who was owned and forced to work-A man who's pottery now sells for hundreds of thousands of dollars. I tried to imagine how Dave would have thought of his work. I painted him here as if he was protecting it, keeping it from someone, afraid to let it go, but knowing no matter how hard he held onto it, eventually he would have to sign it over to his Master.
Remember that woman who was offended about the seeing cotton in a vase at a Hobby Lobby? How can that be an issue and slave pottery, being sold now, making thousands of dollars for people not be offensive or some kind of issue?
Alive today, who would Dave be, Cornel West, Ben Carson, Obama? Who was he 150 years ago? A slave. Who is he buying you that new ski boat? A slave.
By the way, all my South Carolina ancestors were illiterate, white, cotton farmers who were too poor to own slaves. Should I also be offended by a vase of cotton at a Hobby Lobby?

Feuding Bovine Breeders-Steven Chandler

These two cowboys are fighting over their cows blaming each others cows for not wanting to hook-up.
The cows don't know what all the hub-bub is about. They just want to eat and enjoy the nice weather. They'll do the wild thing when nobody is looking.
Reminds me of all the times helping my Grandad out on his South Carolina farm. He was always cussing something about his cattle.
Either they would get out into the road or eat up someone else property or the "damn" hay bails would rot in the winter or the cows wouldn't put on the weight like he wanted.
It was always something.

Sleepy Time Blues By Steven Chandler

Here's a latest Bluesman Series Georgia Red Mud Painting.
I don't do these all the time especially in this size on wood. I have been doing this series since the early 1990's.
They have evolved over the years.
I also collect old Blues photographs, even have one I think is the great Charley Patton,only one known photo of Charley exists.
They inspire my paintings sometimes.
This fellow, on a small curtained stage is taking a smoke break in between tunes, just a few more before calling it a night.