Identity Statement

Angel Black Light is the first original drawing that I composed in prison. Angel Black Light was an idea/concept that I drew from my imagination with just ink pens. It took years to finish. I started it in 2004 and worked on it periodically overy time while I was going through my legal battles of appeals in the court system. I finally finished it in 2011. I have great respect for ink as a medium. Upon coming to prison, I was instantly inspired by the artists behind the walls who created the most amazing art work with the most unforgiving medium - ink. When you draw with ink there is no erasing. Two of my favorite quotes gives poetry to my thoughts on drawing, and particularly with ink, whether it is on paper or skin. "Drawing is the honesty of the art. There is no possibility of cheating. It is either good or bad." Salvador Dali. "Drawing is the artist's most direct and spontaneous expression, a species of writing: it reveals, better than does painting, his true personality." Edgar Degas. Angel Black Light, like me, has literally been through a lot. There is a lot of "Pain" (a nickname my grandmother gave me at birth) in this piece. The name Black Light has great significance to me as an artist as well. Although I have always been influenced by the street art inspired by Black and Brown cultures, I have also been greatly inspired to paint by the light of Thomas Kinkade's (aka "The Master of Light") works. Angel Black Light is the perfect identity piece for me because it tells my identity story and is aspirational about rising above the negative circumstances, and becoming the light in the darkness. People in my community who share my culture are often demonized, criminalized for not striving to emulate eurocentric cultural norms and behavior, or choosing non-eurocentric cultural expressions and values over the social norms of eurocentric Americans. All people are beautiful, and when we are at full strength and pure of heart there are beautiful spiritual forces at our backs that supersede the ideas and image of what, and who, others projects onto us. We are resilient, and every time I see someone rise above the same challenges that many people like me face, they become a light and an example of triumph. I aspire to be the light for others in the same way others have inspired me with their light. Every day when I wake up, I get up and strive to rise above the madness in the world. When people ask me where I am going, I always say "UP!" When I was asked what inspired me to draw this piece, I said, "My life, my story, my pain, my struggle, my hustle, my vision, my purpose, my desire to be a blessing in this world, and the glory and grace of God in me."