What and When? Conversation with Eric Hamphries. Friday, February 19,2009 7:00-7:45 a.m.
Why? Art with Social Conscience, The Tulsa Riots Exhibit-Black History Month
Where? Service-Learning Office
RSVP if attending: clayc@casady.org
Mrs. Sue Scott-Art Department Chair
Mrs. Carmen Clay-Service-Learning Director
Mr. Humphries will be a YAC guest speaker to Dr. Hobbell and Mr. Kelly's History classes.
A wonderful opportunity to have a professional artist Eric Humphries speak on his latest series the Tulsa Race Riots during Feburay Black History Month. He will share about the process of finding his voice,his passion, how to create a series of work, and how to market your work. Plus you can't beat the price!!!! It is free!!
Oklahoma City based artist Eric Humphries has decided to take his mission of using art to remember the victims of true life historical atrocities to college and high school classrooms throughout Oklahoma. Humphries creates bright, stylized paintings that cast new light on past events with hopes of making these often very old stories relevant to today’s audiences. The hour long slide show presentation is totally free and covers topics ranging from developing a style from a variety of influences, the creative process, how to exhibit and price ones artwork, and the importance of creativity as a voice. To schedule Humphries to speak, you can contact him at paintedatrocities@yahoo.com . Or for more information concerning his artwork, visit his website www.paintedatrocities.com. References are available.
The paintings have been heavily researched and are all based on the real events surrounding the riot. Contact the artist/hiistorian via e-mail paintedatrocities@yahoo.com or call (405)912-0495 Eric’s direct phone number: 794-9300 #115 He works for Skulls Unlimited.
"Is the Whole World On Fire?" An Artistic Interpretation of the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot by Eric Humphries Funded by the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition and the Puffin Foundation of New Jersey
1. Preface
The Tulsa Race Riot was one of the worst riots in U.S. history. During some sixteen hours of rioting, over 800 people were injured, an estimated 10,000 people were left homeless, 35 city blocks composed of 1,256 residences were destroyed by fire, and $1.8 million (over $20 million in 2009 dollars) in property damage occurred. Officially, thirty-nine people were reported killed in the riot, of whom ten were white. The actual number of black citizens killed by white local militiamen and volunteers as a result of the riot is now estimated at around three hundred. In essence, Greenwood, the black side of Tulsa, was destroyed.
2. Project Description
The project is comprised of a series of eight canvases depicting the events occurring May 31 through June 1, 1921 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, commonly known as the Tulsa Race Riot. The paintings all measure 40"x 48" and are arranged in chronological order so that each tells a part of the story leading the viewer through the entire event, one canvas at a time. Each canvas is accompanied by a brief description and a print of the actual photograph that inspired it, creating a stark contrast between the small black and white photos from the era and my large, bright, stylized color rendition of each.
To research the event, I read books from authorities on the subject, utilized documents and photographs held at the Tulsa Historical Society, as well as, received guidance from the Greenwood Cultural Center and the University of Tulsa. Both of which have graciously offered their assistance in the creation of this exhibit. I have also taken two walking tours of the remaining riot activity sites, lead first by Marc Carlson, University of Tulsa, and second by Kaven Ross, former Oklahoma Eagle reporter and son of Don Ross, member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
3. Project Goals
The goal, as with all of my art, is to educate the public about these somewhat poorly known historical events and the real life people affected by them. I imagine that most of those who view this exhibit, especially those outside of Tulsa, will have never heard of Greenwood or the horrific riot that took place there. My hopes are that when each person leaves the exhibit they will have a reasonably good sense of the chronology of the events and the number of people victimized, as well as, a long lasting visual remembrance of both the black and white photographs and the bright stylized canvases inspired by each.
I hope to show the exhibit in a different Oklahoma town/city each month of next year and then begin to show it outside of Oklahoma in 2011.
This exhibit will also tie in easily with the spoken word presentations I currently give to high schools and colleges concerning the importance of art with a purpose.
Lastly, I have given thought to producing a children’s book based on the riot using these paintings for illustrations.
4. Biographical Information
I was raised in rural Norman, Oklahoma. From an early age I was interested in drawing and painting and spent much of my free time doing so. With few artistic influences to call upon, I practiced copying comic books and cartoons. In later years, I found myself drawn to politically motivated artists such as Diego Rivera and Keith Haring, and inevitably, I decided that I would take my art in a socially conscious direction as well. My works reflect an individuality forged by years of experimentation and an emphasis on simplifying down the key elements. The paintings I make are allegorical, depicting true life historical events as seen through the eyes of an artist.
In the past I have tackled such topics as AIDS awareness, evolution and war. I am currently working on a large ongoing series of paintings centering on true historical events known collectively as “The Atrocities”.
Past projects that pertain to my current proposal are Heaven, Hell and the Earth, a four canvas series about the September eleventh attacks on New York City, completed in 2007 and my most recent project Three Minutes in American History, depicting the events surrounding the Oklahoma City Bombing.
5. Budget
This project has been funded in full by Special Projects Grants form the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition and the Puffin Foundation of New Jersey.
You can view the exhibit at these venues in 2010/2011.
January 2010 - AKA Gallery 3001 Paseo Drive, OKC,OK (Current)
February 2010 - Norman Public Library, Norman, Ok
March 2010 - North Oklahoma College, Tonkawa, OK
May 2010 - Metropolitan Library, Midwest City, OK
June 2010 - Tulsa Art Coalition Gallery, Tulsa, OK
July 2010 - Scribner's Gallery, Enid, OK
October 2010 - January 2011, The Tulsa Historical Society,
Tulsa,OK
February 15 2011 - March 11 2011 - East Central University,
Ada,OK.
