We deserve better, not the bs the right bullies and tries to feed us... Do your own research discover the truth for yourself and demand better.
Just Honest,
GG the truth
(this was originally journaled, 7.7.15 at 6:00 am)
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Telsa The Truth!
We deserve better, not the bs the right bullies and tries to feed us... Do your own research discover the truth for yourself and demand better.
Just Honest,
GG the truth
(this was originally journaled, 7.7.15 at 6:00 am)
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Take A Stand
I sent this email to a old high school /college friend last week. As sort of a call for change and for a group of "us" to make a stand against something that goes on under the surface of our creative community here in Jacksonville! I thought I should post it. I also omitted my friends name to protect his identity, but yall should get the message, "a voice heard is a problem lessoned". And I realize I shouldn't quite mine.
"It was great chatting with you recently. I really wish you would make a stand with me. I realize that a handful of select creatives here in Jax. that have endured such inhumane treatment as I have. We need our voice heard , the creative community and the wider community suffers as a result of a select few that takes and suppresses. Our brightest get ousted, abused, stolen from, and some much worse. When all we try and do is give back and contribute to this community while the abusers prosper and the system that houses them. WE need to say no more! to trapping! Dogging! and the pimping of sorts were not whores! We are the breath and pulse of this city. Were societies conscious , we ( the artist/ creatives) innovate and push change and progress. You said" It's nothing we can do here to change things here!" I strongly disagree! Gericho started the French revolution with one painting. We change things. We have to make a united stance. At one point I realized you cared about the art community. That old you is still here. Dont let the system here make you callous. They try to do me the same way. But I refuse to let change my spirit or push me in system that ultimately destroys and divides instead of unifies. We shouldn't let that group bully us and chalk it to growing pains. I've lived and prospered in cities that have thriving international art communities. Like New York City and Charleston it seems just to be backwards, red and black "right" Jacksonville. And we shouldn't compromise our morals values either. it isn't us that has it wrong its the system here. Remember "us" the artist were the heart! Were usually correct we should trust our initial instincts. But we must come together and make a stand! what I've endured here and what others also have endured shouldn't be allowed to take place and happen period. Remember we ( the artist) Ultimately we have the power to change things for the better. And with me this email is step ONE. I would love to have you be apart of this journey with me."
Just Me,
the truth
Gary Grier
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Got Coke?
When I was in sixth grade, back in the days of "sixth grade centers" way before middle schools. The class I was in was given a laminated poster, of a monkey. It seem harmless enough, but let me expand on my class we were all composed of the problem students, the worst students from each class at the school. The monkey on the poster is upside down on a sofa with books beside him and some on the floor. The book that the monkey has open is Black Beauty also it some other titles that are clearly visible Within the Law and Year of the Gorilla also on the floor is a Coca Cola can, huh...
Is this by coincidence that this particular group of students recieved that poster. We were 12-13 yr olds at that time, just misguided kids, with the wrong group trying to steer us. We ultimately had the entire world open to us, but someone or group or system seem to try and alot us particular destiny. No other class got that laminated poster, just ours. Was the Coca Cola can there by chance? hmm...
Almost 20 some odd years later looking at the poster things haven't changed much, with the education system. Me feeling like the one that escaped through the cracks and made it. I still feel a little dishearten though, by the time I was 9th and 10th grade it seemed like the core group of that class was in adult prison or jail for committing some serious crime or going to the special school for troubled youth, I on the other hand was actually going to the other special school for gifted, the School of the Arts.
During this past Christmas time ( Nov- Dec.) I was looking at a Essence magazine and saw a Coca Cola add. It struck a nerve with in me, It was a picture of 12-13 yr adolescence with headphones on and a big grin. Also, it had a Black Beauty book with in the add. The boy seemed to echo the monkey in the poster, I wondered is that how that particular group sees African Americans as red and white Coke drinking monkeys! Just give then a Coca Cola and the happy! Actually at that point I wasn't!
So last year during the holiday season I began the brainstorming part of this multimedia interactive piece of art, dealing with this issue. It's going to be a serious intensive project, dealing with crowd response. Im very excited.
I AM Gary L. Grier
ps. dont accept my imitation, there just followers, Also I heard from a person I admired "how do eat an elephant? just one bite at a time" problems are never as big or insurmountable as they seem...
Is this by coincidence that this particular group of students recieved that poster. We were 12-13 yr olds at that time, just misguided kids, with the wrong group trying to steer us. We ultimately had the entire world open to us, but someone or group or system seem to try and alot us particular destiny. No other class got that laminated poster, just ours. Was the Coca Cola can there by chance? hmm...
Almost 20 some odd years later looking at the poster things haven't changed much, with the education system. Me feeling like the one that escaped through the cracks and made it. I still feel a little dishearten though, by the time I was 9th and 10th grade it seemed like the core group of that class was in adult prison or jail for committing some serious crime or going to the special school for troubled youth, I on the other hand was actually going to the other special school for gifted, the School of the Arts.
During this past Christmas time ( Nov- Dec.) I was looking at a Essence magazine and saw a Coca Cola add. It struck a nerve with in me, It was a picture of 12-13 yr adolescence with headphones on and a big grin. Also, it had a Black Beauty book with in the add. The boy seemed to echo the monkey in the poster, I wondered is that how that particular group sees African Americans as red and white Coke drinking monkeys! Just give then a Coca Cola and the happy! Actually at that point I wasn't!
So last year during the holiday season I began the brainstorming part of this multimedia interactive piece of art, dealing with this issue. It's going to be a serious intensive project, dealing with crowd response. Im very excited.
I AM Gary L. Grier
ps. dont accept my imitation, there just followers, Also I heard from a person I admired "how do eat an elephant? just one bite at a time" problems are never as big or insurmountable as they seem...
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Guess What? I SNITCH!
What I have endured since my return from Charleston, has been anything less than atrocious. The way certain groups are seem to be threaten by a creative mind that owns who he is. That insecurity has reared it's teeth in various different forms with jealously, hostility by many different groups. Them even trying to induce hostility with in me ( that another paper dealing with cooning, blackface and quarters) Yall have tried opposing me, an established artist/creative life that ultimately wants to contribute honestly to the wider artistic community. Right people are just that though, it saddens me.
I have been tortured and held captive in my parents home and have endured inhumane treatment. The individuals ( my clones) that have stolen my ideas intellectual property have prospered ( I'm currently in the process now of perusing legal matters), why the authentic ( me) have been fight for my soul. This is not just A. My parents and others have tried to kill more than just my artist spirit. Some of yall should be in jail for what yall have been doing here( in Jacksonville). Things that I develop they try and hold it for ransom. Though if it's mine I usually get it back.
They also refer to call trapping and hunting "school" and "sports". I have been caught up in a robin- hood system of sorts, but besides stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. They try stealing from the spiritually rich and the specials individuals that set out to change things positively in those environments and give to a select few that don't deserve it. I went to college, traveled abroad, I had the courage to walk away from the negative, challenged myself in different situations and scenarios all pushing myself to be an better individual. All the while some seemed to settle, my thing is if didn't work for it and make the sacrifices and take the risk to attain certain things others don't deserve the rewards. ( I'm not talking about football) That's a system where others organize under real team banners and do everything from stealing and killing ( which some term as hitting) and sex. There's tons to profit from the victors that's that loot and share the spoils. They steal identities, personal and private information. A pedestrian just riding the bus or going to library to check your emails, the unsuspecting victim or mark as there termed, can have there most private information stolen from them. Urban institutions are aligned with local government everybody seems to be involved. Kona Schooling is also set up as a way for all these groups to do this. They even get local government backing and support.
All this disappoints me here, while I was in Charleston I was able to contribute to the wider community and give back in very real and tangible ways. Like exhibiting my paintings in credible galleries and museum's exhibitions, also doing honorable things within the community from teaching art to kids in less fortunate areas to doing drawing workshops at the college there. Here all yall do is seem to erect barriers physically and emotionally to try and stop me from reaching the wider artistic base here and contributing in ways like I did in the past.
Just me,
The one and only Gary Grier 3.5.15
this was originally journal in Dec. 2014
ps. in the urban communities within hip hop culture there was a sayingthat went around during the late 90's and 2000's "Don't Snitch". The campaigns people in the wider urban community were influence by Rappers and other Right influences in there area. Everybody seemed to either quote the campaign and adorn "T - Shirts" and other garment with the slogan. These areas were the typically poor and impoverished, where drugs, gangs. lawlessness ran ramped on the left and right side. The people were and are bullied and scared to tell what about what truly happens with in those communities, creating catch 22 scenario's. If nobody speaks up nothing changes. Well I want to Start the opposite with "I Snitch" campaign. The people have the power to change things if they have the courage to speak up.
I have been tortured and held captive in my parents home and have endured inhumane treatment. The individuals ( my clones) that have stolen my ideas intellectual property have prospered ( I'm currently in the process now of perusing legal matters), why the authentic ( me) have been fight for my soul. This is not just A. My parents and others have tried to kill more than just my artist spirit. Some of yall should be in jail for what yall have been doing here( in Jacksonville). Things that I develop they try and hold it for ransom. Though if it's mine I usually get it back.
They also refer to call trapping and hunting "school" and "sports". I have been caught up in a robin- hood system of sorts, but besides stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. They try stealing from the spiritually rich and the specials individuals that set out to change things positively in those environments and give to a select few that don't deserve it. I went to college, traveled abroad, I had the courage to walk away from the negative, challenged myself in different situations and scenarios all pushing myself to be an better individual. All the while some seemed to settle, my thing is if didn't work for it and make the sacrifices and take the risk to attain certain things others don't deserve the rewards. ( I'm not talking about football) That's a system where others organize under real team banners and do everything from stealing and killing ( which some term as hitting) and sex. There's tons to profit from the victors that's that loot and share the spoils. They steal identities, personal and private information. A pedestrian just riding the bus or going to library to check your emails, the unsuspecting victim or mark as there termed, can have there most private information stolen from them. Urban institutions are aligned with local government everybody seems to be involved. Kona Schooling is also set up as a way for all these groups to do this. They even get local government backing and support.
All this disappoints me here, while I was in Charleston I was able to contribute to the wider community and give back in very real and tangible ways. Like exhibiting my paintings in credible galleries and museum's exhibitions, also doing honorable things within the community from teaching art to kids in less fortunate areas to doing drawing workshops at the college there. Here all yall do is seem to erect barriers physically and emotionally to try and stop me from reaching the wider artistic base here and contributing in ways like I did in the past.
Just me,
The one and only Gary Grier 3.5.15
this was originally journal in Dec. 2014
ps. in the urban communities within hip hop culture there was a sayingthat went around during the late 90's and 2000's "Don't Snitch". The campaigns people in the wider urban community were influence by Rappers and other Right influences in there area. Everybody seemed to either quote the campaign and adorn "T - Shirts" and other garment with the slogan. These areas were the typically poor and impoverished, where drugs, gangs. lawlessness ran ramped on the left and right side. The people were and are bullied and scared to tell what about what truly happens with in those communities, creating catch 22 scenario's. If nobody speaks up nothing changes. Well I want to Start the opposite with "I Snitch" campaign. The people have the power to change things if they have the courage to speak up.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Crabs in a Barrel
After upon waking up in the morning, I usually try my best to start my day as healthy as possible. I usually start by reading, most times. Usually theres some thought irking me, mainly about some larger injustice or inequality that may or maybe not personally effecting me. Recently I picked an anniversary chip for 3 years of sobriety( I would have had 9 years).
Im currently staying at my parents house for time being in the North Side of Jacksonville. Usually upon going to galleries, musuems, parks or the occasional coffee shops. Which are in the polar opposite parts of town from where I'm currently staying. I notice things that disturbs me, attitudes and social behaviors. Behaviors that shunned in one area get celebrated in another. I was blessed with the gift of looking at the word with a different set of lenses, im a artist actually. It seems because I could render an object in a two dimension space ( ref. drawing and painting). that opened doors out my enviroment and I was exposed to many different cultures. Ultimately altering my perspective and widening my view of the world. So imagine having multicultural view of life and observing groups of people that seemingly locked in a particular way of viewing the world. Its fustrating to say the least. I remember feeling like I was being interrogated for going to the multi-cultural parts of town by one member of my family. My reply was "Shit I'm a artist!" and I need to be around weirdo's as I call creatives, because it makes me feel like I'm not alone in the world.
In urban areas we deal with the social injustices which seeming gets passed down from one generation to the next. Certain things are worn like a badge of honor that should be disguarded. In these areas the system is set up to create the dealers, the addicts, the muderers, the robbers, and etc... Almost not giving the people a honest and fair chance at making more healthy choices to set there lives in a positive direction. We need more options creating more opportunities in these areas. We carry around what I term as " Grandma Ideology" Being that if your grandparents did things a certain way your parents ( the following generation) did and do things the exact same way. You dont question things and just follow. Not realizing that your grandparents did things a certain way because of the times they lived in. Im speaking primarily about African American culture. Certain attitudes, rules, and regulations no longer apply or even resonate with modern society. Those attitudes actually stop us from growing as a culture and evolving as race. A sinse healthy pride is necassary, but what we keep in high esteem ultimately keeps the black community mentally enslaved.
just me,
GG
originally journalled 2.28.13
Im currently staying at my parents house for time being in the North Side of Jacksonville. Usually upon going to galleries, musuems, parks or the occasional coffee shops. Which are in the polar opposite parts of town from where I'm currently staying. I notice things that disturbs me, attitudes and social behaviors. Behaviors that shunned in one area get celebrated in another. I was blessed with the gift of looking at the word with a different set of lenses, im a artist actually. It seems because I could render an object in a two dimension space ( ref. drawing and painting). that opened doors out my enviroment and I was exposed to many different cultures. Ultimately altering my perspective and widening my view of the world. So imagine having multicultural view of life and observing groups of people that seemingly locked in a particular way of viewing the world. Its fustrating to say the least. I remember feeling like I was being interrogated for going to the multi-cultural parts of town by one member of my family. My reply was "Shit I'm a artist!" and I need to be around weirdo's as I call creatives, because it makes me feel like I'm not alone in the world.
In urban areas we deal with the social injustices which seeming gets passed down from one generation to the next. Certain things are worn like a badge of honor that should be disguarded. In these areas the system is set up to create the dealers, the addicts, the muderers, the robbers, and etc... Almost not giving the people a honest and fair chance at making more healthy choices to set there lives in a positive direction. We need more options creating more opportunities in these areas. We carry around what I term as " Grandma Ideology" Being that if your grandparents did things a certain way your parents ( the following generation) did and do things the exact same way. You dont question things and just follow. Not realizing that your grandparents did things a certain way because of the times they lived in. Im speaking primarily about African American culture. Certain attitudes, rules, and regulations no longer apply or even resonate with modern society. Those attitudes actually stop us from growing as a culture and evolving as race. A sinse healthy pride is necassary, but what we keep in high esteem ultimately keeps the black community mentally enslaved.
just me,
GG
originally journalled 2.28.13
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