Painting a portrait of the iconic James Baldwin felt fitting amid our present cultural and political climate. Baldwin reminds me that maintaining benevolent curiosity for fellow humans is how we hold on to our own humanity. I found this quote from him to be particularly resounding:
The role of the artist is exactly the same as the role of the lover. If I love you, I have to make you conscious of the things you don’t see.
This temporary installation of James Baldwin was on display in November of 2017 to May 2018; apart of a Mural Arts series of rotating murals on a singular gate outside The Fillmore on Richmond street at Frankford avenue in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia.
Photo credit: Conrad Benner StreetsDept
