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L-R: Chairman, Visual Arts Society of
Nigeria, Chief Sammy Olagbaju; Public Diplomacy Officer, U.S. Consulate
General, Lagos, Mrs. Rhonda Watson and President, Gallery Owners Association of
Nigeria, Chief Frank Okonta, during the
Black History Month Program held at the U.S Embassy in Lagos. Photos: Bankole Damilare
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| Bibbs |
By ADA DIKE
Artists,
curators, gallery owners, journalists and students, last week Wednesday,
February 26, 2014, converged for the Black History Month programme at the PAS
Multipurpose Hall, US Consulate-General, 2 Walter Carrington
Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos.
With the theme: “The Role of Art during the U.S. Civil Rights
Movements,” the video conference discussion featured renowned American visual
artist, philanthropist and entrepreneur, Charles Bibbs.
The
event which kicked off at 2.30pm was officiated by the Public
Diplomacy Officer, Public Affairs Section, US Consulate-General in Lagos, Mrs. Rhonda Watson who welcomed the guests and reiterated
the importance of Black History Month.
Speaking on the remarkable role art has played in the lives of
Americans, Bibbs,
an artist of over 30 years of experience who also has experience in the civil
rights movement said he’s a product of
the 60s, the era of civil rights movement, peace movement and so on.
Born
in San Pedro, California, and brought up in Harbor City, California, Bibbs,
through his thought provoking works, is recognised
for his exquisite artistic renderings that convey deep senses of spirituality,
majesty, dignity, strength and grace.
He got married to his wife
Elaine in 1969. “There was so
much strife in the community but we stuck around managed, to be educated and
learning about history of who we were,” Bibbs said.
His
interest in the African American art began in 1984 when he saw
The Cosby Show, when African American art was being shown on national TV with
its bold colours and strong cultural roots. According to him, through The Cosby
Show, the demand for African American art increased.
“Bill Cosby started the biggest push for art in the
history of African American. When I was growing up, the pictures I had in my
room were that of black Martin Luther King and white portrait of Jesus Christ,”
says Bibbs.
When he told his father about his interest in art,
his father asked him “Do you want to be an artist? If you can find a successful
black man that has made money, bought cars and invest in a home through art,
then I will support you.”
“I realised one thing that we are struggling at a
time. At that time, I didn’t see artist represent all those things my father
said,” he revealed.
Bibbs, whose works consist of African American and
Native American cultures said he was basically a business major with an art
mind but never lost sight of his artistic prowess till in 1985, when he told
his wife that he wanted to go full time as artist. “I was ready to do that but
wasn’t getting encouragement. I said to myself, you have to follow your dream. By
1993, we were one of the biggest distributors of African art works. We decided
to spread the news of African American cultures through the arts. Art tells
stories but also educates. Art can bridge the gap in races. We have been able
to explain to people our culture through the beautiful images. Art does not
provide all the necessities of life but it makes you feel good. It satisfies
others’ intransient needs. We’re satisfied in business demand and satisfied
that it is what we do to educate our people.
“My most important goal is to make profound aesthetic
statements, that are ethnically rooted, and at the same time arouse spiritual
emotions within us.”
The renowned sculptor and painter alongside his
manager, Elaine his wife, went into a dummy stage between 1999 and 2005.
“It was a joyous time in the midst of a lot of
uncertainty when Barack Obama became the president and that rekindled the
spirit of African American art business.”
He revealed that civil rights movement kind of
inspired the renaissance artists. “Due to the new technology in the society,
the number of artists has increased.”
He however said that the US makes about five
billion dollars per year from African American arts.
“The civil
rights movement rekindled the desire to give people images that tells stories
about the movement.”
Bibbs
has founded a number of organisations and businesses such as: Art 2000 Visual
Arts Association, Art on Tour, Images Magazine, The Inland Empire Music and
Arts Foundation, Bibbs Own Corporation, B Graphics and Fine Arts is recognised
as one of the leading publishers and distributors of his art images.
He
has received over 100 recognitions and awards for his art and philanthropic
spirit, including the “Key to the City” awards in major cities across the
United States.
The
multi-talented artist has been featured in films, such as “The Secret Life of
Bees (He created the “Black Madonna” subject for this movie), television, books
and compact discs covers including six cover designs for the Urban Knight
Collection that features renowned musicians Ramsey Lewis and Grover Washington.
He
pointed out that sometimes artists and art collectors save the original works
for the upper class and reproduce other ones for the lower and middle classes
and advised artists to “sell to the multitude and let everybody know about your
work.”
He
believes that art is the only thing that never fails to appreciate. In the
1960s, we had identity problem. “My inspiration came from the Nat Geo where I
would pick something from Africa and paint. Legacy is what you pass on. It is
more than what you acquired. That makes me proud to be an artist. That is the
enormous power that art can change people’s lives.”
Currently,
Bibbs is serving three-year Artist-In-Residence appointment with the
Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) also the
Founders of Black History Month at Howard University, Washington DC.
His
work is in numerous private and corporate collections all over the world,
including songwriter and producer Frankie Beverly, renowned actor, comedian and
radio host Steve Harvey, actress and entertainers Queen Latifah and Tkeyah
Kemah, songwriter Smokey Robbinson, the University of Arizona and Fox Searchlight
Pictures, among others.
The
top-selling artist showed the audience some images of his works. One of them
was Civil War/Test of Valour which demonstrated the history and courage of
African American soldiers in war.
Another
image was Fight for Freedom, which is an image of young and dedicated African
American soldiers conscripted to fight in a civil war who put down their lives
for the country. He also revealed that the first female spy in war was a black
woman.
The
third image was The Way to Freedom. “Before and after the emancipation of
slaves, there was great exodus from the south to the west.”
Others
were: The Legacy of Hope, Silhouette-like of Obama in a woman, and his latest
work, Black Liberation which is a picture of a woman that signifies black race
out of California, trying to protect their communities.
Notable personalities at the event among others included: President
of the gallery Owners Association of Nigeria, Chief Frank Chukwuma Okonta, Chairman
of Visual Art Society of Nigeria, Chief Sammy Olagbaju and
Museum administrator, Chief Adisa Ogunfolatan, among others.
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