Breakthrough artist Amiri Farris launches multimedia Black History Month platform (part 2 of 2)

Current cover of 2009-10 University of South Carolina Beaufort Magazine featuring
art by Amiri Geuka Farris.

Education of a Twenty-first Century Artist

The term “overnight sensation” stands among those clichés often attached to creative artists who achieve some level of noted success after years of laboring quietly ––or noisily––in the background while fine-tuning their skills and cranking out a substantial body of work. As acclaim over Amiri Geuka Farris’ stunning visual and musical artistry continues to accumulate and his visibility in the media increases, but a look at his sustained productivity gives some clue to why several exhibitions of his work are on display for Black History Month 2010.

Farris’ creative output so far has resulted in dozens of exhibitions throughout the United States and abroad, including shows at: the historic Penn Center on St. Helena Island, South Carolina; the Capital Building in Washington, D.C.; and venues in St. Petersburg, Russia, and Paris, France.

His rising star shined brightly enough to attract the attention of New York Mets manager Jerry Manuel, who commissioned Farris to produce three portraits of “Negro League” baseball greats Satchel Page and Josh Gibson. Those portraits now hang in Shea Stadium for the enjoyment of Manuel and fans alike.

Pittsburgh and West Palm Beach Beginnings

Farris was born October 23, 1974, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to parents Theodore and Jewel Farris. Both parents were witness to the 1970 Kent State University shootings, which occurred in response to protests against the U.S. invasion of Cambodia. Both also studied the philosophies of economic autonomy and political empowerment for African-American communities as taught by the progressive Black Panthers grass roots organization. That influence eventually helped to make celebrations of afrocentric culture and legacies a prominent element in much of Farris’ work.

As a child, the future artist moved with his family to West Palm Beach, Florida, and later, while growing up, made periodic visits to his birthplace. His aptitude for art was noted and encouraged at an early age as he attempted portraits of family members and created his own comic strips. He also drew a great deal of inspiration from one Uncle “Tiny” Simmons, who illustrated documents and produced other designs for the U.S. government.

Discovery of Gullah Culture

In addition, his grandmother, the late Charlotte Bishop, not only encouraged his creative endeavors but shared with him stories about their Gullah ancestors and culture. At the time, the stories about the “Geechee-talking” and basket-weaving African-American people along the southeastern coast of the country did not make a lot of sense to him. However, years later, when the artist began to receive invitations to submit work for the annual Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration, he realized his grandmother had given him a valuable gift in the form of an authentic link to the culture.

Now that he “gets it,” the subject comprises a major segment of his work in which he combines, “original imagery to create art that celebrates Gullah life, and its historic elements but also focuses on contemporary experiences.”

Once he embraced that side of his family’s legacy, Farris became part of a community of Gullah artists storytellers, historians, cooks, writers, and activists who employ their skills to preserve and promote the culture.

By the time Farris reached high school, his skills had developed enough for him to take on a job as a graphic and set designer for Quest Theater in West Palm Beach. The theater had been established by actress Betty Waldron and she helped Farris reach beyond the canvas to explore different expressions of performance art.

Artist and musician Amiri Geuka Farris. (photo from
collection of the artist.)
 

Like many artists, Farris found those high school classes not related to art somewhat stifling and had to work a little harder to get through them. “School was just very boring to me because I was involved in so many other things and had to learn other subjects I wasn’t really interested in,” he said, a sentiment sometimes communicated in his Kidd Cool comics. But his academic self-discipline paid off and in 1993 he won the Congressional Art Award. The honor earned him a trip to Washington, D.C., a chance to see his art hanging in the Capitol Building, and an opportunity to rub elbows with political leaders and celebrities like actress Sarah Jessica Parker.

The award also brought a number of scholarship offers his way:

“I was supposed to be going to the Maryland School of Art, but then a week before I left, SCAD [Savannah College of Art and Design] called and asked if I would be interested in seeing the school. I said I would, so I did, and then just went there.”

It is not surprising that he grew into an accomplished artist at SCAD since the school is renowned worldwide for its record in that specific area. However, it was also at SCAD that he studied with poet Martha Furlong and established the literary side of the foundation for his book, Lowcountry Dreaming. Some, however, might contend that because he and the great Amiri Baraka share the same first name, poetry was destined to become one of his primary creative outlets.

Farris received his BFA from SCAD in 1997 and an MFA in Fine Arts Painting in 2006. The simultaneous exhibition of his work at multiple venues is one indicator of the artist’s success but so is the fact that he also works as an art instructor at the University of South Carolina, Beaufort, where he helps others attain their artistic goals. As former Telfair Museum education coordinator Monica L. James put it, “Amiri lives his art––it is not simply something that he does. He continuously demonstrates and unbridled enthusiasm for art and excellence in his studio and the classroom.”

Art for the People

ESSENCE Music Festival poster by Amiri Geuka Farris.

Outside of his studio and various art galleries, that “enthusiasm” and “excellence” have spilled over into Farris’ support of projects that promote public awareness about diverse issues and events. His current “Golden Jubilee” cover art for the University of South Carolina Magazine’s 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue is one such example and his poster for the Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration another. Others include posters for: the ESSENCE Music Festival, Savannah Black Heritage Festival, Savannah Jazz Festival, Art Fest 06, and AIDS Awareness.

Farris’ diverse creative personalities will all be present at the opening reception for his Savannah State exhibition in the school’s Social Science Building Art Gallery on February 12, 2010, at 6 p.m. In addition to performing his music, the artist will also autograph copies of Lowcountry Dreaming.

Please click here for part 1 of Breakthrough artist Amiri Farris Launches Multimedia Black History Month Platform

by Aberjhani
The National African American Art Examiner
and co-author of Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance

More on Amiri Geuka Farris and U.S. Artists in the Southeast

• Official Website for Amiri Geuka Farris
• Breakthrough artist Amiri Farris Launches Multi-media Black History Month Platform Part 1
• Amiri Farris at Freidman Fine Art
• The Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration
• The Unique Genius of Gullah Artist Allen Fireall (Part 1)
• U.S. Artist of the Southeast Jerome Meadows
• Artist Phil Starks at Savannah State University
• Savannah State University Fine Arts Blog
• Lowcountry Artists and Authors in Gullah Christmas Show
• Rise of Gullah Diva Sallie Ann Robinson
• Expanding Legacies of Savannah’s Diaspora Marketplace Part 1