Scott Tyler, originally from Chicago, is an artist whose work ranges from photography and screen printing to installation and performance. His controversial work has caught the attention of George Bush and veterans in a negative light, but Scott's purpose for creating "revolutionary art" is "to propel history forward." His work reflects and focuses on the African American experience.
I love how this artist has strong statements and opinions and how they are shown through his work. His projects and pieces all seem raw, poignant, and to the point, making the intentions behind his work very clear and purposeful, to repeal the "system" in a sense. I enjoyed reading his artist statement, It's an exemplary and well written artist statement. He is clear about who he is and what his intentions are behind his work. He seems to be a person full of questions, feelings and emotions towards humanity, whose goal is to keep pushing the boundaries in the way he chooses to express himself through
art.
Dread Scott's name and identity is very much connected to Dred Scott, a black slave who sued for his freedom in 1850. I quickly looked him up and went to his website. I clicked on his artwork tab and started scrolling through and noticed a recent project, the Slave Rebellion Reenactment, a project conceived and initiated by him. I am coincidentally
reading about the 1811 slave
rebellion that took place in
Louisiana (American Uprising
by Daniel Rasmussen) and it's
cool to know that a modern
day artist happens to be in the
process of recreating a radical
moment in silenced slave
history, on the same grounds
were it once occurred. The
slave revolt of 1811 was the
largest act of armed resistance
against slavery in American
history, yet is hardly talked about.
I can see why Dread would want to reenact this event. It has been written out of the history books. Since the bold actions of the slave army of 1811 have been dismissed and silenced, Dread being an artist and believer of expression, I can see why he would want to bring to light the bold actions of the slaves since they have been dismissed and silenced. I think Scott is bold for doing so especially in today's controversial times.