Paul Goodnight |
Artist
Statement
"Art creates an avenue for me, an avenue
I would like to travel. I want to play a part in
helping build the road, but in reality, it's helping
to build me. I'm starting to believe in things
that I've always heard about, but never paid any
attention to. Things like God; "being human" as
opposed to the human being; prejudice; paranoia
and abstinence.
I find myself anxiously looking forward to discovering
new ways of drawing and painting by simply doing
what we all do from time to time: observe, practice
and document. The trick is being patient enough
to allow this process of creating to grow and manifest
itself in me.
I think that mental and physical agility is necessary
to endure. For they provide a balance and demonstrate
the unlimited energy or potential within us. I
strive to endure because I know it is hard to maintain
consistency. Sometimes I welcome it, other times
it's the bane of my existence. But I feel that
this is what I should be doing. Why? For the first
time in my life I feel I'm contributing positively
and getting a sense of confidence and pride by
doing something that people consider worthwhile
for spiritual, material and/or educational reasons.
And it keeps me out of trouble.
I
remember someone once said, "The only
way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time." This
sums up my way of looking at life, but first you
have to find your elephant."
-PAUL GOODNIGHT |
At
an early age Paul Goodnight utilized artistic expression
as a means of communications. From his young life where he
steadily ran into trouble avoiding school and authority to
his traumatic experience in Viet Nam when he lost his ability
to speak, art has been his saving grace.
Born in Chicago, Goodnight's upbringing
took place primarily in New London, Connecticut and
Boston, Massachusetts. He was raised in a loving
and disciplined foster home by a couple he describes
as his role models for proper parenting.
After returning from Vietnam, Goodnight
was so traumatized by images of war that he was unable
to speak. Though some thought he had lost his mind,
he knew he hadn't and began to communicate with his
drawings the horrors of the war. Through this catharsis
he was able to heal himself and regain his voice.
Shortly thereafter he enrolled in Vesper George School
of Art only to face another battle - his lack of
academic experience. Determined tosucceed, he enrolled
in English Courses at Roxbury Community College and
eventually earned a Bachelor's Degree from Massachusetts
College of Art in 1976.
His
creative efforts were nurtured and inspired by several
local artists including Dana
Chandler, Gary Rickson and painting instructor
Paul Rahilly. Today he continues to interact with "Master" African-American
artists such as Alan Crite and John Biggers who
he considers mentors who carved the path many contemporary
black artists now travel.
Goodnight has developed his own unique
aesthetic philosophy to document the humanity of
Black people around the world. he often incorporates
African themes and symbols to provide depths of history
and culture. He has traveled extensively, living
among the people of Russia, China, Haiti, Nicaragua
and Brazil. What he finds are the universal themes
for his work through diverse cultural lens
