ArtsTalk: The Influence of Ancient African Art on All Art

Akin Duro's Life in Art

Most of us know by now that archeologists believe that all human history originated in Africa. By extension, Africancentric art historians and scholars have long argued that all culture grew out of the world's African origins. It follows that African art was the world's first art form and all art is infludence by ancient African art. Thus, in this, our final ArtsTalk episode celebrating Black History Month, Prof. Dana C. Chandler, who taught African and African American Art from 3000 BC to the present at Simmons College in Boston, for 33 years, will discuss, from his artist's perspective, the influence ancient African art on all art, especiall African American art. Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 70, was born in 1941 in Lynn, MA. He is best known for the edgy, colorful, controversial and hotly-debated artistic statements of his 1960’s-1980’s works. Because he continues to evolve, his messages change to reflect his personal evolution, he is still an interesting, provocative speaker who can speak and/or lecture brilliantly about the historical relevance of his art and his activism to the worldwide struggle for race and gender equality as well as bridge the generation gap that is confounding this country’s leadership and confronting America as we move into the “internationalist” phase of our own evolution. The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning journalist. (c) 2011. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.