Atlanta / Chicago - Sights & Sounds Museum of Black Culture hosted the first annual "Watermelon Festival" Rhythmistic art happening from ONLI STUDIOS. Prof. Onli has been visiting the emotionally and nutritionally charged watermelon in his artistic practice for decades. Here are a few pictures for those who asked about the event. We at ONLI STUDIOS want to express our appreciation and respect for all the positive and intelligent folks at Sights & Sounds along with all the energetic participants per the "Red, Black & Green" passion fruit creative festival. "How sweet they were!!"

The Sights & Sounds Museum is expecting to grow into a larger space soon. We will see you next year at the new location of the Sights & Sounds Expo Museum. Photos D. Dawson.

Early Rhythmism:

In 1970 I started an artists guild, called BAG. Our goal was to make the transition from talented art student to professional artist. Key members were Dalton Brown, Jim Smoote, Judith Lee, Espi Frazier, Obie Creed, and Kenneth Hunter. 

We also took on the politically charged watermelon as our logo and expressed its Red, Black & Green potential in manners that the orthodoxy of Black and mainstream art circles found challenging. We were considered too young to be that astute in this nexus of creativity, culture and commerce. They were wrong!

Each BAG member went on to become professionals in various area of the visual arts. Art Therapy, Art Education, Indie-Publishing, Fine Art, and major market illustration. Included is a photo of Hunter, Frazier and Onli with photographer Ray Lewis , taken by Jim Smoote at Howard University in 1972 during the National Conference of Artists' annual Convention.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture

 How about a moment for real Black Power!!!!! This museum is opening the door in our "Post-post-black" revisionists era.

 The United States features many such museums around the country. Each having a different focus, style, budget and impact.  They all are the spawn of the rise of Black Conciousness.

 "Black" is the cultural context of self determination created by the descendants of Africans who were enslaved in the Americas.  Slave culture, to imposed Negro culture to Black liberation. It was an evolution.

Many feel more comfortable saying "African American" but that could include a white South African immigrant or folks of Libyan ancestry.  Hence many of us prefer the term, "Black" for better clarity.

                           RHYTHMISTIC MANIFESTO 1978 - 2016

 

Prof. Onli M.A.A.T. 

The Logic                                      The Value                       The Expectations

Rhythmism is a visual art modality that is based on the principle of repetition in the visual domain along with a narrative that is suggestive or derived from a future-primitif perspective. Be it fine art, architecture, fashion, illustration, drawing, movies, toys, or digital applications. Rhythmism is a growing genre.

Onli first introduced the term in 1978 in a solo exhibition in Paris France at the Foyer Internationale de Accueil. The showcase was entitled, “Presenting My Rhythm”.  It was included on a culture destination tour and was visited by hundreds of tourists during its full month run.  Here Onli was able to explore with visitors from Asia, South American, Europe, African and other countries his emerging practice. He has made this intelligent creative approach a key factor in his creative career.  Many have used the term or manifested the distinct opulent aspects of this genre. Onli did not invent it; he simply gave it a name.  Rhythmism! It responds to personal, fine, commercial or industrial demands.

It is both esthetic, and expressive.

Now comes the task of institutionalizing Rhythmism.

 Now that the "post-black" era has given way to "Black Lives Matters" the concepts and  messages in my Rhythmistic art and indie publishing rings truer than ever. I never backed off of advancing the IQ and impact of the opulent Black culture.

 This lame idea and impulse to think or say that "Black" is not mainstream when there is no American mainstream without "Black"!

 My work has been presented in major institutions and indie ones as well. I love it when folks get to experience my Rhythmistic expressions along with my skill set to deliver the visual in real effect.  A lack of skills has hurt the art world over the modern era.  Sort of like singing out of tune. A harmonious balance of style and technique is desirable!

 The Black Art Movement was the driving force in the new Black consciousness cultural revolution that exploded in the 1960s and persists in full effect today and tomorrow.  It is no more a dinosaur than "Mod" or "Pop".  Those who have been programmed to resist or deny anything called "Balck" as negative or inferior know that the opposite is true.  They well understand that this amazingly fertile culture has continued to manifest positive expansions in lifestyles and commerce. They fear its potential of real power. Often they fear being cool about "the Black" will result in their not getting commercial or professional opportunities in areas that hate of recent the successes of the Black Cultural revolution.

It is 2016 and the Black Cultural movement is about to celebrate the opening of a new museum in Washington DC that is a tribute to Black culture in the United States.

 Now that the "post-black" era has given way to "Black Lives Matters" my message in my art and indie publishing rings truer than ever. I never backed off of advancing the IQ and impact of the opulent Black culture.

 This lame idea and impulse to think or say that "Black" is not mainstream when there is no American mainstream without "Black"!

 My work has been presented in major institutions and indie ones as well. I love it when folks get to experience my Rhythmistic expressions along with my skill set to deliver the visual in real effect.  A lack of skills has hurt the art world over the modern era.  Sort of like singing out of tune.

 The Black Art Movement was the driving force in the new Black consciousness cultural revolution that exploded in the 1960s and resists in full effect today and tomorrow.  It is no more a dinosaur than "Mod" or "Pop".  Those who have been programmed to rests or deny anything called "Balck" as negative or inferior know that the opposite is true.  They well understand that this amazingly fertile culture has continued to manifest positive expansions in lifestyles and commerce. They fear its potential of real power.

 911---15 years later- "Danse of the 911 Phoenix": On 9-12 that year I was scheduled to create artwork spontaneously in the window of the former Divine Alchemy Art gallery in Naugatuck Michigan. After the events of 9-11 I was moved to create a "No Evils" Rhythmistic painting the showed the promise of the American Spirit's return from those events. She is rising from the 11 spirits representing all those who died that day........and afterwards. The deflated Tao symbol implying that things are now out of balance.....in our need to See No, Say No or Speak No evil. 

This 30" X 40" acrylics on canvas is now on display at the Trestle Furniture Store in Michigan City In.

Recently a collector visited my studio and commented that the central figure seems to be in a showgirl stance.......in it she saw an American icon.

To paraphrase the late poet Langston Hughes..."We too sing America!"