Jonathon Green’s Bessie Mae and John Biggers’ mural, Origins

In comparing Jonathon Green’s Bessie Mae and John Biggers’ mural, Origins, both paintings are from the same era and represent the African American culture. Jonathon Green’s Bessie Mae was create in 1995 and resides at Winston Salem State University. Origins is a project driven mural requested by Winston-Salem Delta Fine Arts, Inc after a visit to John Biggers’ studio in Houston during 1989 ("Delta Arts Center | The Biggers Mural Project by John Biggers", 2014). Although the emphasis of both paintings has the same cultural focus, similarities and differences in the elements may yield a better understanding of the paintings.
Johathon Green and John Biggers are both Southern born gentlemen that use art as a means to portray the African experience. Green was born in Gardens Corner, South Carolina and raised by elders in a rural community ("African American Art -- Jonathan Green" , 2014). He grew up listening to tales and stories that had been pasted down for generations. Greens paintings represent the community as it is today expressing African American life and work. John Biggers, however, dedicated his work to expressing the human condition. Born in Gastionia, North Carolina, he studied at Hampton Institue, and later attended Pennsylvania State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science, Masters and Doctorate ("John Biggers - Biography" , 2014). Both artist draw from their African heritage and express those feelings including the southern experience.
Bessie Mae is printed on pure silk and is 42 by 31 inches (“Artist”, 2014). Origins is painted on a custom-made canvas which is three 5 by 30 foot strips ("Delta Arts Center | The Biggers Mural Project by John Biggers", 2014). The Origin’s size makes it difficult to view a...

... middle of paper ...

...ssionism and the work they display are different. The texture, balance, and the use of color are unique to their own personality and experiences.

Works Cited

"African American Art -- Jonathan Green." African American Art -- Jonathan Green. MOJO
Portfolio, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. .
"Artists." Jonathan Green Studios. Jonathan Green Studios, Inc, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
.
"Delta Arts Center | The Biggers Mural Project by John Biggers." Delta Arts Center. Winston
Salem Delta Arts Center, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
.
"John Biggers - Biography." John Biggers - Biography. Ro Gallery, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 29 Apr.
2014. .