Akin Duro's Life in Art

In July of 1974, Dana C. Chandler, Jr., already an acclaimed artist, became the first artist in the space he would open as the African American Master Artist-in-Residency in November 1978. On July 1, 2018, four months shy of its 40th anniversary, as the country to prepared to celebrate Independence Day, Northeastern University attempted to free itself of AAMARP. Citing safety violations, the university originally gave the AAMARP artists 14 days to vacate but locked them out just 48 hours later.

But several of the program's 13 current artists watched stunned as locksmiths blocked their access to their studios. A few who witnessed the lockout have labored for decades creating museum-level fine art in their AAMARP studios. There also was a show for an emerging black artist hanging in AAMARP's gallery.

Yet, it appears the Boston-based university has been working for feverishly to eviscerate the watershed program from its institutional memory. Screenshots of search results for the term “AAMARP” on the school's site bring up no results. As it claws its way up the college rankings, NU seems to have no further use for the venerable program, a community treasure that brought it significant acclaim and financial support in its heyday.

What's the history behind the university's disrespectful and grievous actions? Why weren't white artists in an adjacent space given a notice to quit if there are safety issues in the space? Why aren't most local press covering the story of the loss this first of its kind visual and performing arts complex?

Tune in as Dana Chandler answers those questions.

(c) 2018. Akin Duro, LLC. All rights reserved.

If you visit Professor Chandler's Facebook Profile Wall, you'll see a combination of posts: images on celebrating black female beauty throughout the diaspora, photos of children and grandchildren with loving comments, messages on healthcare products, news stories about various atrocities happening in America, aphorisms on politics, encouraging Bible scripture and philosopher's messages, videos on historical and political events, particularly related to what he calls "AmeriKKKa's" violent racist history and photos of chemtrails outside of his New Mexico. Many of those messages are shared on his Facebook Page.

But, what is the point of all of this? What is the elder professor trying to tell the world, particularly the world of social media dominated by Facebook where people seem to come to tune out?

The message is the same as it has been for nearly 55 years of activism through protest art and speech: WAKE UP,  AMERICA! Activism and raging against the machine are acts of self- and human preservation, not just something the socially disaffected do to get media attention. The 99% are all outsiders.

So, he is calling out to America--and the world--to engage because tuning out and refusing t o tune in to what is really going on is a recipe for destruction of ALL of our civil rights and liberties, not just those of African Americans.

This week, we'll talk about Prof. Chandler's perspective on American activism and the age of social media and why by paying attention to what's all around you, the life you save may be your own.

This show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.

Sit-ins, protests, speeches, letter writing campaigns, articles and, today, social media. From Black Nationalism to Black Economic Empowerment, Dana Chandler has been a citizen activist since he was in his teens. What has life been like as a citizen activist who is also a professor, father and artist? Did activism come before art and drive the art or did art come before activism and shape his activism.

On our next show, we'll continue discussing Chandler's life as a citizen activist, including his connections with controversial figures like Minister Don Muhammad and Louis Farrakhan.

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.

Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

Sit-ins, protests, speeches, letter writing campaigns, articles and, today, social media. From Black Nationalism to Black Economic Empowerment, Dana Chandler has been a citizen activist since he was in his teens. What has life been like as a citizen activist who is also a professional, father and artist? Did activism come before art and drive the art or did art come before activism and shape his activism. On our next show, we'll continue discussing Chandler's life as a citizen activist.

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.

Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

Sit-ins, protests, speeches, letter writing campaigns, articles and, today, social media. From Black Nationalism to Black Economic Empowerment, Dana Chandler has been a citizen activist since he was in his teens. What has life been like as a citizen activist who is also a professional, father and artist? Did activism come before art and drive the art or did art come before activism and shape his activism. On our next show, we'll discuss Chandler's life as a citizen activist.

Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 71, 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.

Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

Last Saturday, April 7, 2012, Prof. Dana C. Chandler, Jr. celebrated his 71st birthday. Those years have been full of accomplishments and on this show, we'll talk about the years from 1970 until today, including his rise to international renown as one of the world's most controversial, political activist visual artists. You won't want to miss this show!

Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 71, 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.

Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

This Saturday, April 7, 2012, Prof. Dana C. Chandler, Jr. will celebrate 71 years of life . Those years have been full of accomplishments and on our next show, we will discusss Chandler's beginnings as a artist and his rise to international renown as one of the world's most controversia, political activist visual artists. You won't want to miss this show!

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.

Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

Prof. Dana Chandler has always said he thinks many women are smarter than he is, especially black women. So, we're back this week talking about how Chandler's art reflects the black female intellect and what the intent of the content of pieces like his portrait of Angela Davis as well as every day women portrayed in his "Afrifaces in Your Neighborhood" pieces. Why did Chandler paint these pieces?

  During this, our final show celebrating women in honor of National Women's History Month, we will discuss how this art is intended to encourage black people to love themselves and, especially, of black women.   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.   Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

Prof. Chandler has long argued that African American are the least respected, least valued women on the planet. In a society that still touts the Eurocentric ideals of beauty, African American women, including First Lady, Michelle Obama, are thought and even called "ugly". Chandler, however, thinks black women are the most beautiful women in the world and his art reflects that.

So, on this episode of our show, continuing our them of celebrating women during National Women's History Month, we will continue to discuss Chandler's love of black women and the ways he empowers them by reflecting thier unique beauty in his works. We will discuss, in particular, his seminal Black on Black for Blacks pieces of rhe 1960s and 1970s (which the Artist reprised in the early 90s).

These pieces encourage black people to love themselves. They also promote black love and respect of black women by portraying them positively. As importantly, they depict black women's love of black people and, especially, of black men.

 

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.   Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

Prof. Chandler has long argued that African American and other women of color are the least respected, least protected women on the planet. It is, indeed, an unsafe world for females. Moreover, Chandler asserts, rightfully, that black women in particular have not been highly valued for their beauty and strength. 

  But, Chandler sought to remedy those challenges in his art, portraying the value, power and beauty of black women and showing all women how they can empower themselves against crime, violence and physical abuse using common household items to protect themselves. His Urban Weaponry Series does precisely that.   On this episode, as we continue our National Women History Month series, we'll start to a three part series discussing those works. Part 1 will focus on Chandler's Urban Weaponry series of the 1970s.   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.   Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.