RASTA DON’T RUN

6″ x 12″ Mixed Media on Wood

Marcus say sir Marcus say, red for the blood that flowed like the river. Marcus say sir Marcus say, green for the land Africa. Marcus say yellow for the gold that they stole. Marcus say, black for the people it was looted from.
They took us away captivity, captivity. Required from us a song right now man say repatriate, repatriate. I and I patience have now long time gone. Fathers mothers sons daughters everyone. Four hundred million strong. Ethiopia stretch forth her hand closer to God, we Africans closer to God we can. In our hearts is Mount Zion. Now you know seek the Lion. How can we sing in a strange land. Don’t want to sing in a strange land no. Liberation true democracy. One God, one aim, one destiny.

Worth His Weight in Gold / Steel Pulse

ONE HEART

12″ x 24″ Mixed Media on Omega Bond

Even though he is gone, he is there and you have the memories. One love. He is the one who taught you about life, love and how to sing. One Heart. Though these days are tough and the nights are long he left you with the gift of song. Let’s get together. You will get back up, you will rise above and sing again your songs of love. And feel all right. One love, one heart. Let’s get together and feel all right. He is in your heart, he is looking down. He is smiling at you, so lift your frown. You make him proud when he hears your sound. So sing it loud up to his cloud. You will get by. One love. You are strong. One heart. Write one for him and sing that song… One Love… One Family… One Heart…

RASTA ALL DANCE

16″ x 20″ Mixed Media on Canvas

Ratsa all dance to de positive vibe. Bangin’ on de drum feel de beat feel alive. Roll a little something ‘n’ pass it to ya friend. Pull it up from de ground, get it out de garden. Only put inna de body de food dat mek ’em feel good. Treat it like a temple, like ya know ya should. Be a good man to ya bredren, to ya sistren, to everyone dat ya see. Cuz ya know dat we all part of de same family. Give thanks, give praises up to de Most High. In de name of de father Haile Selassi I.

DON’T WORRY

24″ x 36″ Mixed Media on Wood

When life gets me down I put it on and play it loud… Don’t Worry.  When my niece gets nervous, to calm her down she sings your song to lose her frown… Don’t Worry.  When my brother is bummed cause the sun is not out, he puts it on and clears the clouds… Don’t Worry.  If you are feeling sad, if you’ve got the blues, just put it on and he’ll sing to you… Don’t worry, about a thing. Cause every little thing, is gonna be alright…

~ Three Little Birds, Bob Marley & The Wailers

A huge thanks goes out to Christian Gallego for letting me “steal” his idea. His Bob Marley caricature is the inspiration behind my painting.  You can see his caricature and more of his art at:  http://christiangallego.blogspot.com/p/2d-characters.html

Thank you again so much!!!

WHILE I LIGHT MY SPLIFF

18″ x 24″ Mixed Media on Oak Tag

Excuse me while I light my spliff. Good God, I gotta take a lift. From reality I just can’t drift. That’s why I am staying with this riff.  Easy Skanking / Bob Marley & The Wailers

Marijuana: The Weed of Wisdom  In Rastafari culture, the herb “ganja” (marijuana) was regarded as “wisdomweed,” and Rasta leaders urged that it be smoked as a religious rite, alleging that it was found growing on the grave of King Solomon and citing biblical passages, such as Psalms 104:14, to attest to its sacramental properties: “He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man, that he may bring forth food out of the earth.”

RASQUARE DRIPS

18″ x 24″ x 2″ Mixed Media on Wood

This is the nick-nack holder I bought at the Mansfield Flea Market.  The one that I used to help make Rasta Marbled.  It was just this old looking thing that someone was trying to get rid of.  Al, the guy I bought it from, was a very cool & laid back person.  He was having a good time selling goods and chatting people up.  He gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse and now his old nick-nack holder has a new image.  Thanks Al!

RASTA MARBLED

24″ x 24″ Mixed Media on Board

I didn’t think this was going to come out the way it did.  I bought this nick-nack holder with a bunch of slots at the Mansfield Flea Market.  When I got home I filled up each slot with paint and was going to let it dry and leave it that way, but I didn’t.  I grabbed a 24×24 board and put it on the ground.  Then I took the holder with paint and did the only thing that made sense… I flipped it over on to the board.  Rasta Marbled was born.

WORDS FROM THE PROPHET

18″ x 24″ Mixed Media on Canvas

If me want, me no really crave. Can’t want. Because where me grow, me know everything you could want. Stones was my toys and trees and bush and flowers. They were my toys. So I don’t grow up and want things. Is millions of stones used to be around me, and me used to go play amongst the flowers and them, and play as a little youth; and so me grow up loving the hills more than the things of want. Because want is just the things you want that people make; so I really want nothing.  ~Bob Marley

mijumi JAH DRAIN T-SHIRT

Aerosol on Fabric

“Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most, that has made it possible for evil to triumph.”  ~Jah Rastafari

WAR

24″ x 36″ Aerosol on Metal

Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war.  And until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation, until the color of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes.  And until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race, there is war.  And until that day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship, rule of international morality, will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained… now everywhere is war.  ~ Haile Selassie

RASTAMAN VIBRATIONS

24″ x 48″ Mixed Media on Wood

Rastaman Vibrations… Positive!  I felt like this title was an appropriate name seeing how I’ve got the Rasta colors (green, yellow, red) in it and they seem to be vibrating out.  The Rastaman is casting his spell of positive vibes to all… negative thinking.. don’t you waste your thoughts!