Ben Jones Universe

 

The Universe of Ben Jones is an amazing exhibit showing some of the works of Ben Jones. Generally he seems to be interested in themes involving different aspects of black culture. There are signs of Activism, Appreciation as well as the roots of African people. One piece he made was Huey Newton Incarcerated. Huey Newton was the founder of the Black Panther Party. He had quite a few Run ins with the law but what this piece is based on is the death of Police officer John Frey. Which was considered to be a number but there is a lot of evidence to suggest that it was accidental based on a struggle that wasn't really noted at the time. The escalation being due to who Huey Newton was. Seeing this as rightfully unfair Ben Jones made this. Ben Jones was active in the Black Panther community at the time. Although a lot of art can be cryptic in its meaning this one has a clear message. And in this case is more powerful because of it. "Today we see art of the past as nobody saw it before. We actually perceive it in a different way."  page 8 Ways of Seeing. This would probably be a lot more frowned upon back then. It would still be now, but more back then. It would depend on how you view the BLACK PANTHER PARTY. When I was in school we were taught that they were radical. It has been only recently that I've learned that they portrayed them like that to be able to stop the progress they were trying to get. 

I recreated this one cause it it easy for me to identify with this struggle as a black person. I know what these people have made possible for me. 

Deliver the Funk is the other one I really liked. It looks like a celebration of blackness. The names comes from James Brown and when he would say in his songs "I'm black and I'm proud" and "Deliver The Funk". It provided some much needed self love with. the community. Which is what this picture captures. The black and white ads a dark element, which to me is what people looked down upon, while all the striking colors is what we really are, which is something to be proud of. It is something that is super striking and exciting. Something to be celebrated. That is something I can be Proud of. 

"We only see what wee look at. To look is an act of choice. As a result of this act, what we see is brought within our reach - though not necessarily in arm's reach." page 8 Ways of seeing

When someone else sees this they are invited into this world. This world of blackness that we are trying to share. You can feel the infectious energy that this brings. 

"For all the new visual material, it is often hard to be sure what we are seeing when we look at today's world." Page 6 How we see the World

The thing about the Universe of Ben Jones is that it is a universe. There is a lot in there and perhaps a lot more in there then I can stay right now. I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking at I can only say what it means to me. And you can figure out what it means to you.