ARTIST TO UNVEIL “JUSTICE FOR ALL” BLACK HISTORY PORTRAIT SERIES IN HOMAGE TO THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRMINGHAM CHURCH BOMBING
buzzz worthy. . .
By Mona Austin
(SHREVEPORT, LA) - February 16, 2014
Billy R. Boykin, Jr., a visual and graphic
artist, will unveil "Justice for All,"
a digitally illustrated series of portraits in celebration of Black
History Month today. The series was inspired
by a theatrical production of “Four Little Girls” performed at Centenary
College that told the story of the 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham,
AL which left 4 girls dead at the hands of White Supremacists.
The exhibit will feature images of three figures in Black
history -- two from the Civil Rights era
(Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcom X) and one from the modern era (Professor/Author/Social
Commentator Dr. Cornell West) to reflect the continuous need for change. The art will be on display during
an annual Black History Month program starting at 1:00 p.m. at The Church of
the Living God, P.G.T. located at 1634 Alma
St., Shreveport, Louisiana 71108. He used a distressed technique to represent struggle and painted the subjects faces read
to symbolize their power. An African pattern adds texture and depth to each
portrait.
The Shreveport, LA native
said, “As an artist, I had to respond to the ongoing injustice in American after
seeing that play,” noting the resurgence of racially motivated hate crimes fifty years later.
The trial of George Zimmerman, a
Florida man who killed unarmed teen Trayvon Martin; NYPD unloading 50 rounds on
unarmed groom, Sean Bell on his wedding day and Michael Dunn killing unarmed teenager Jordan Davis in Florida after
a dispute over loud music are a few incidents in recent times that are
constant reminders of the bleak past where the scales of justice were tilted unfavorably
against Blacks as a societal norm. The conviction
of the latter was handed down a day before the exhibit.
“A lot of people still don’t know how
much our people went through during the Civil Rights Movement and to still be going
through so much today to be treated equally is overwhelming. I decided to use my voice as an artist to take
a stand against hatred,” said the designer, who holds a graphic design degree
from The Art Institute of Dallas.
Boykin, 27, is also a minister at the
Church of the Living God, P.G.T. When asked
how his spirituality influenced the work, he replied, “I know Christ brought
our people out of those difficult years and my intent is to share the spirit of
Christ through these portraits to encourage people to choose peace over
violence and love over hate today.”
To schedule an interview media may contact Mona Austin of
Jireh Communications Group. Phone: 703-986-3464. E-mail: mona@jirehcreative.com. Media
may post and share the graphics provided on social media. Follow the artist on
Facebook and Twitter at Billy R. Boykin, Jr.
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ABOUT
“JUSTICE FOR ALL”
The “Justice for All” series was inspired by a theatrical
production of “Four Little Girls” in honor of the 50th Anniversary
of the Birmingham Church Bombing. Since unprovoked injustices continue in America today, the
artist used the voices of prominent African Americans to express the message
that everyone, regardless of their race, has the capacity and moreover the
responsibility to love and care for the equal rights and wellbeing of their
fellowman. Each portrait incorporates an empowering quote from the subject.