November 2016 Art Shows
Thoughts by Benjamin YoungSavage, words by Daniel Harris.
Art Shows
Baltimore
Now: Showing at Hotel RL, 207 E Redwood St
Now: Showing at One World Cafe, 100 W University Pkwy
Now: Showing at Downtown Cultural Arts Center, 401 N Howard St
Now: Showing at Towson Arts Collective, 40 W Chesapeake Ave, Towson
Ongoing: Sunlight & Yoga Holistic Wellness Center, 4639 Falls Rd
Ongoing: Baltimore Academy of Illustration, 5710 Bellona Ave
Ongoing: Impact Hub Baltimore, 10 E North Ave
Ongoing: Knot You Vtg, 716 York Rd, Suite B, Towson
Ongoing: Van Gough Cafe, 300 S Ann St
Los Angeles
Now: Showing at Nature’s Brew, 2316 S Union Ave
Ongoing: El Cielito Cafe, 8015 Long Beach Blvd, South Gate, CA 90280
Art Events
Baltimore
Nov 19: Craft Fair Fundraiser for Perry Hall Community Garden, 8701 Cottington Rd
Nov 26: Station North’s Holiday Shopping Flea Market, 12 W North Ave
News
I want to say thank you for your continued support of me and my work. Being a full-time artists/graphic designer definitely has its challenges but your support really helps to keep me going. Just a reminder that if you are not able to attend any of the above-listed shows and events, I am selling a select few of my pieces on Facebook, and as always, every piece is also available on the website as well. If you’ve ever wanted to support, this is a great way to do that.
Birthdays/Memorials
Bruce Lee
Happy Birthday to Bruce Lee! Born on Nov. 27th, 1940, Lee worked to become a successful actor and leading martial arts practitioners. Read more about this amazing individual here.
I’d like to take a moment to remember the life and legacy of Leonard Cohen. On Nov. 7th, the world lost a great poet, novelist and singer. One of my most popular Who Said What pieces is of a quote by Cohen. In fact, his piece, along with Nelson Mandela, for Who Said What were the first pieces I ever created that sold out. I became much more familiar with Cohen because of this piece and I gained a great appreciation for him. He will definitely be missed. You can find out more about Leonard Cohen here.
Just My Thoughts
Finally, I want to wrap up with a thought is very near and dear to me. If you’ve been reading my posts, seen much of my artwork or follow me on social media, you are well aware of how much Black Liberation, Native Liberation, and equality mean to me. I strongly believe that none of us are truly free until we ALL can enjoy the ideals this country was founded on.
As a white man in America, I recognize that there are certain freedoms I am afforded simply because I am a white man in America. I recognize that I am more likely to receive the proverbial “benefit of the doubt” from shop owners, everyday citizens, and agents of the state. This is something that my friends, my wife, and even my own children cannot fully benefit from. Honestly, that angers me. Even in my anger, I have to know my lane.
With the rise of the #BlackLivesMatter movement and struggle for equal protection and treatment from law enforcement, there has also been a rise in conversations around being a “white ally”. Personally, I don’t refer to myself that way, simply because I believe that those who are oppressed should be able to choose who they want in their corner. I don’t believe anyone has the right to self-proclaim that they’re doing the work; that is self-evident if they are doing the work.
The Abolitionist Movement was originally founded on abolishing the laws around slavery so that it wouldn’t exist anymore. Though we’re removed the laws surrounding slavery, white supremacy keeps People of Colour in secondary positions. So, for me, the Abolitionist movement is still needed to abolish this supremacy. An important aspect to being in that position is that I understand that it is not my place to tell any marginalized group how to be less marginalized. Part of that understanding involved being cognizant of the amount of space I take up when I’m involved in the work, and making sure I’m not taking the place of a Person of Colour who’s already been silenced by the society at large.
My methods in the fight for equality is to stand with marginalized groups, be a listening ear, amplify voices of Colour, and to educate those white people who elect to remain ignorant and apathetic to the plight of marginalized people in America. I want to encourage other white people to know and understand your space in this fight. In mixed spaces, I want to encourage you to speak up when you are specifically requested to and learn to yield your thoughts and opinions to the experiences of marginalized people when you are not requested to speak up in those spaces.
The Abolitionist Movement was successful in large part because white people stood up for what was right. While there is room for us all to help aid our sisters and brothers, there is also a responsibility we have to stand up against bigotry within the white community.
