Join us for the artist talk! Time: Feb 25, 2021 02:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) https://canyonsonline.zoom.us/j/96250014638 The College of the Canyons Art Gallery is delighted to bring you The Amazing Black-Man and Other American Stories, a virtual presentation of recent works by artist Kumasi J. Barnett, highlighting the artist’s ongoing exploration of race, class, gender, sexuality, politics and other contemporary issues in the United States. I first encountered Barnett’s artwork on social media a few years ago, but had not seen it in person until last summer at Lowell Ryan Projects in Los Angeles. The pandemic was in full force, but art galleries had started to reopen, and this was my first, careful venture out of my home—in search of inspiration and contemporary art for possible future exhibitions. Encountering Barnett’s work was electric. And although I had seen some of his images previously, seeing them again, in the context of the summer of 2020, just a few weeks after the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police, was both devastating and galvanizing. Barnett’s paintings—powerful, poignant, humorous, and sincere—are made from actual comic books. A comic book collector himself, Barnett’s deep engagement with both comic book culture and contemporary painting results in vibrant objects that manage to embrace and critique both traditions simultaneously. Using paint and markers, he alters the books covers, concisely changing the familiar narratives into incisive commentary on contemporary culture. Beloved superheroes like The Hulk and The Amazing Spider-Man are transformed into The Media’s Thug and The Amazing Black-Man! Spider-man’s iconic blue and red suit is painted out and replaced with an equally iconic gray hoodie. These superheroes battle with present-day evils such as systemic racism, police brutality, and political corruption. —Pamela Bailey Lewis, Director . . #kumasijbarnett #collegeofthecanyons #artisttalk #policebrutality #systemicracism #equality #racism #policecorruption #comics #marvel #dc #covid_19 #blackheroes #class #baltimoreartist #art #black #theamazingblackman #history #lowellryanprojects (at College of the Canyons) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLsgRPNnXHD/?utm_medium=tumblr