Artist's Statement

3/19/03 From a letter from the Artist

Hey buddy, thanks for the mula$. Are you still trying to sell all of those old ass pieces of art that I left behind? Guess they get better with age, huh? ; ) Well, here is some more for the cause. Its funny how this particular piece of work came about and how you came into the picture when you did.

When I send out a letter to someone, U usually draw something on the envelope. I pretty much been sending them home, and saving them for a line of prison art work that I have been thinking of (marketing) when I come home. This piece in particular has been in process for about 2 months now. See black pens are contraband and every now and then I come across one. When I do, I start up on it again. This time, I received your letter, and when I was handed the letter by the guard, a black pen fell to the floor unnoticed. I casually put my foot on it and slid it away.

My first thought was, “good, I can finish up my envelope.” Then I read your words, and “WOW” how fucking IRONIC! Well, I finished it and I thought it would be cool if I sent a letter in the envelope but then I thought it could get damaged or something? So I thought on it a little more and decided that, ….that it would be my entry to the ART-ACT contest! It looked a little plain so I spruced it up some and now it looks like a winner.

I decided that story behind it goes like this…

In the Indigenous culture, the beasts of the field have always been considered our brothers and sisters. Unfortunately there always comes a time for survival of the fittest. In this case, it’s a now win situation, because if one brother defeats the other – it’s a sad victory, for we are all as one.

Pretty snazzy huh? ; ) Well, you know, I always had a way of bringing darkness, to the light. I might suppose that this work could also reflect on racism – also?! But, no matter what! It always seems like my people have been against the odds…

Chris Henderson

Click to view The Artwork of the Screen Print Workshop for Artists
Uptown Multi-Cultural Art Center (UM-CAC). E-mail UM-CAC at umcac@art-teez.org Ph.773/561-7676