Michael Ray Charles Art and the African American Society

Michael Ray Charles born in 1967 in Louisiana, he is a graduate from McNeese State University while he was there he studied advertising design and illustration later he picked up painting. Afterwards he received a MFA degree from the University of Houston, and in 2000, he consulted in a Spike Lee's film, "Bamboozled". He also served as a panelist for National Endowment for the Arts and a juror for The Bush Artist Fellowship.

Michael Ray Charles uses his paintings to show past stereotypes still have power. He uses faux billboards to demonstrate that many of the past negative stereotypes still exist in today’s African American society.

The Painting that I have chosen resembles a billboard it is called “(Forever Free) Hello I’m Your New Neighbor” painted in 1997 Acrylic latex, stain, and copper penny on paper, dimensions are 60 1/4 x 36 inches it is located in a Private collection (Charles, n.d.). This powerfully satirical piece is made to look like a vintage billboard shows an African American male’s head with deeply furrowed brows and gleeful eyes. His smiling mouth resembles a slice of watermelon with seeds, directly behind his head is two crossed bones with a green circle that resembles the poison sign with the background is a contrasting orange. The top of his head is cut away like a slot from a piggy bank. Underneath is the caption “Hello I’m Your New Neighbor” above is one black arm and a white one stretching out of two neighboring houses are shaking hands symbolizing unity. This painting sarcastically picks on the stereotype that African Americans are still not welcome in American society and they are powerless to stop it.

(Forever Free) Hello I’m Your New Neighbor can be found at: http://www.pbs.org/art21/slideshow/?slide=492&artindex=110

References

Charles, M. R., (n.d.). Art:21. Retrieved April 19, 2007, from PBS Web site: http://www.pbs.org/art21/slideshow/?slide=492&artindex=110

Sayre, H. M. (2005). A World of Art (revised 4th ed.) Pearson Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

Sporre, D. J., (2003). The Creative Impulse. (Custom ed.). Upper Saddle