In July of 1974, Dana C. Chandler, Jr., already an acclaimed artist, became the first artist in the space he would open as the African American Master Artist-in-Residency in November 1978. On July 1, 2018, four months shy of its 40th anniversary, as the country to prepared to celebrate Independence Day, Northeastern University attempted to free itself of AAMARP. Citing safety violations, the university originally gave the AAMARP artists 14 days to vacate but locked them out just 48 hours later. But several of the program's 13 current artists watched stunned as locksmiths blocked their access to their studios. A few who witnessed the lockout have labored for decades creating museum-level fine art in their AAMARP studios. There also was a show for an emerging black artist hanging in AAMARP's gallery. Yet, it appears the Boston-based university has been working for feverishly to eviscerate the watershed program from its institutional memory. Screenshots of search results for the term “AAMARP” on the school's site bring up no results. As it claws its way up the college rankings, NU seems to have no further use for the venerable program, a community treasure that brought it significant acclaim and financial support in its heyday. What's the history behind the university's disrespectful and grievous actions? Why weren't white artists in an adjacent space given a notice to quit if there are safety issues in the space? Why aren't most local press covering the story of the loss this first of its kind visual and performing arts complex? Tune in as Dana Chandler answers those questions. (c) 2018. Akin Duro, LLC. All rights reserved.  

Akin Duro's Life in Art

Past is Prologue: The Real Story Behind the Demise of AAMARP

If you visit Professor Chandler's Facebook Profile Wall, you'll see a combination of posts: images on celebrating black female beauty throughout the diaspora, photos of children and grandchildren with loving comments, messages on healthcare products, news stories about various atrocities happening in America, aphorisms on politics, encouraging Bible scripture and philosopher's messages, videos on historical and political events, particularly related to what he calls "AmeriKKKa's" violent racist history and photos of chemtrails outside of his New Mexico. Many of those messages are shared on his Facebook Page. But, what is the point of all of this? What is the elder professor trying to tell the world, particularly the world of social media dominated by Facebook where people seem to come to tune out? The message is the same as it has been for nearly 55 years of activism through protest art and speech: WAKE UP,  AMERICA! Activism and raging against the machine are acts of self- and human preservation, not just something the socially disaffected do to get media attention. The 99% are all outsiders. So, he is calling out to America--and the world--to engage because tuning out and refusing t o tune in to what is really going on is a recipe for destruction of ALL of our civil rights and liberties, not just those of African Americans. This week, we'll talk about Prof. Chandler's perspective on American activism and the age of social media and why by paying attention to what's all around you, the life you save may be your own. This show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.

The Activist Artist on American Activism: WAKE UP, AMERICA!

Sit-ins, protests, speeches, letter writing campaigns, articles and, today, social media. From Black Nationalism to Black Economic Empowerment, Dana Chandler has been a citizen activist since he was in his teens. What has life been like as a citizen activist who is also a professor, father and artist? Did activism come before art and drive the art or did art come before activism and shape his activism. On our next show, we'll continue discussing Chandler's life as a citizen activist, including his connections with controversial figures like Minister Don Muhammad and Louis Farrakhan. Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 70, was born in 1941 in Lynn, MA. He is best known for the edgy, colorful, controversial and hotly-debated artistic statements of his 1960’s-1980’s works. Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

The Activist Artist--Life as a Citizen Activist Part 3

Sit-ins, protests, speeches, letter writing campaigns, articles and, today, social media. From Black Nationalism to Black Economic Empowerment, Dana Chandler has been a citizen activist since he was in his teens. What has life been like as a citizen activist who is also a professional, father and artist? Did activism come before art and drive the art or did art come before activism and shape his activism. On our next show, we'll continue discussing Chandler's life as a citizen activist. Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 70, was born in 1941 in Lynn, MA. He is best known for the edgy, colorful, controversial and hotly-debated artistic statements of his 1960’s-1980’s works. Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

The Activist Artist--Life as a Citizen Activist Part 2

Sit-ins, protests, speeches, letter writing campaigns, articles and, today, social media. From Black Nationalism to Black Economic Empowerment, Dana Chandler has been a citizen activist since he was in his teens. What has life been like as a citizen activist who is also a professional, father and artist? Did activism come before art and drive the art or did art come before activism and shape his activism. On our next show, we'll discuss Chandler's life as a citizen activist. Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 71, was born in 1941 in Lynn, MA. He is best known for the edgy, colorful, controversial and hotly-debated artistic statements of his 1960’s-1980’s works. Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

The Activist Artist Talks About A Life as a Citizen Activist

  Last Saturday, April 7, 2012, Prof. Dana C. Chandler, Jr. celebrated his 71st birthday. Those years have been full of accomplishments and on this show, we'll talk about the years from 1970 until today, including his rise to international renown as one of the world's most controversial, political activist visual artists. You won't want to miss this show! Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 71, was born in 1941 in Lynn, MA. He is best known for the edgy, colorful, controversial and hotly-debated artistic statements of his 1960’s-1980’s works. Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

Upon His 71st Year: The Life of The Outsider Artist--Part 2

This Saturday, April 7, 2012, Prof. Dana C. Chandler, Jr. will celebrate 71 years of life . Those years have been full of accomplishments and on our next show, we will discusss Chandler's beginnings as a artist and his rise to international renown as one of the world's most controversia, political activist visual artists. You won't want to miss this show! Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 70, was born in 1941 in Lynn, MA. He is best known for the edgy, colorful, controversial and hotly-debated artistic statements of his 1960’s-1980’s works. Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

Upon His 71st Year: The Life of The Outsider Artist

Prof. Dana Chandler has always said he thinks many women are smarter than he is, especially black women. So, we're back this week talking about how Chandler's art reflects the black female intellect and what the intent of the content of pieces like his portrait of Angela Davis as well as every day women portrayed in his "Afrifaces in Your Neighborhood" pieces. Why did Chandler paint these pieces?   During this, our final show celebrating women in honor of National Women's History Month, we will discuss how this art is intended to encourage black people to love themselves and, especially, of black women.   Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 70, was born in 1941 in Lynn, MA. He is best known for the edgy, colorful, controversial and hotly-debated artistic statements of his 1960’s-1980’s works.   Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

ArtsTalk: Beautiful Black Female Minds & Chandler Art

Prof. Chandler has long argued that African American are the least respected, least valued women on the planet. In a society that still touts the Eurocentric ideals of beauty, African American women, including First Lady, Michelle Obama, are thought and even called "ugly". Chandler, however, thinks black women are the most beautiful women in the world and his art reflects that. So, on this episode of our show, continuing our them of celebrating women during National Women's History Month, we will continue to discuss Chandler's love of black women and the ways he empowers them by reflecting thier unique beauty in his works. We will discuss, in particular, his seminal Black on Black for Blacks pieces of rhe 1960s and 1970s (which the Artist reprised in the early 90s). These pieces encourage black people to love themselves. They also promote black love and respect of black women by portraying them positively. As importantly, they depict black women's love of black people and, especially, of black men.   Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 70, was born in 1941 in Lynn, MA. He is best known for the edgy, colorful, controversial and hotly-debated artistic statements of his 1960’s-1980’s works.   Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

ArtsTalk: Making Art That Empowers & Protects Women--Part 2

Prof. Chandler has long argued that African American and other women of color are the least respected, least protected women on the planet. It is, indeed, an unsafe world for females. Moreover, Chandler asserts, rightfully, that black women in particular have not been highly valued for their beauty and strength.    But, Chandler sought to remedy those challenges in his art, portraying the value, power and beauty of black women and showing all women how they can empower themselves against crime, violence and physical abuse using common household items to protect themselves. His Urban Weaponry Series does precisely that.   On this episode, as we continue our National Women History Month series, we'll start to a three part series discussing those works. Part 1 will focus on Chandler's Urban Weaponry series of the 1970s.   Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 70, was born in 1941 in Lynn, MA. He is best known for the edgy, colorful, controversial and hotly-debated artistic statements of his 1960’s-1980’s works.   Chandler continues to evolve and his views, expressed on this show, provide weekly evidence of his continued development.   The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning former journalist.   (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc. 

ArtsTalk: Making Art That Empowers & Protects Women--Part 1

In recognition of Women's History Month, our series of ArtsTalk shows will be about Prof. Chandler's long history of depicting the realities of women's lives in his artwork. From the 1960s and 70s with his Black on Black for Blacks and Urban Weaponry works, Chandler has expressed value and concern for Black women in his art. As a professor of Art and Art History for 33 years at Simmons in Boston, a women's college, Chandler taught about and began to take an interest in his art in creating works that portrayed other women's experiences. So, on this episode, we will discuss the intent of the content in his KKKrimes Against Womanity reprographic collage series that he began creating in the early 90s to depict the effects of atrocities of human holocausts like Native American eradication, African slavery and the Jewish Holocaust had on women's lives. Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 70, was born in 1941 in Lynn, MA. He is best known for the edgy, colorful, controversial and hotly-debated artistic statements of his 1960’s-1980’s works. Because he continues to evolve, his messages change to reflect his personal evolution, he is still an interesting, provocative speaker who can speak and/or lecture brilliantly about the historical relevance of his art and his activism to the worldwide struggle for race and gender equality as well as bridge the generation gap that is confounding this country’s leadership and confronting America as we move into the “internationalist” phase of our own evolution. The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning journalist. (c) 2012. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

ArtsTalk: Chandler's KKKrimes Against Womanity Art Series

Most of us know by now that archeologists believe that all human history originated in Africa. By extension, Africancentric art historians and scholars have long argued that all culture grew out of the world's African origins. It follows that African art was the world's first art form and all art is infludence by ancient African art. Thus, in this, our final ArtsTalk episode celebrating Black History Month, Prof. Dana C. Chandler, who taught African and African American Art from 3000 BC to the present at Simmons College in Boston, for 33 years, will discuss, from his artist's perspective, the influence ancient African art on all art, especiall African American art. Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 70, was born in 1941 in Lynn, MA. He is best known for the edgy, colorful, controversial and hotly-debated artistic statements of his 1960’s-1980’s works.  Because he continues to evolve, his messages change to reflect his personal evolution, he is still an interesting, provocative speaker who can speak and/or lecture brilliantly about the historical relevance of his art and his activism to the worldwide struggle for race and gender equality as well as bridge the generation gap that is confounding this country’s leadership and confronting America as we move into the “internationalist” phase of our own evolution. The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning journalist. (c) 2011. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

ArtsTalk: The Influence of Ancient African Art on All Art

How did the principles and practices of Afrocentrism, that begin in the late 19th century but was popularized in 1980s and 90s, affect African American thought and, by extension, art? How was it the same or different from Black Nationalism? Who were its thought leaders and what were they saying about who African Americans are and should be? What is the basis of these often heated and frequently scholarly debates about the nature of black identity? Who were the movement's detractors? How did Afrocentrism affect the culture, especially art education? As we continue our Black History Month ArtsTalk series, Prof. Dana C. Chandler, who taught African and African American Art from 3000 BC to the present at Simmons College in Boston, for 33 years, will discuss, from his artist's perspective, the influence Afrocentrism on African American thought and art.   Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 70, was born in 1941 in Lynn, MA. He is best known for the edgy, colorful, controversial and hotly-debated artistic statements of his 1960’s-1980’s works.  Because he continues to evolve, his messages change to reflect his personal evolution, he is still an interesting, provocative speaker who can speak and/or lecture brilliantly about the historical relevance of his art and his activism to the worldwide struggle for race and gender equality as well as bridge the generation gap that is confounding this country’s leadership and confronting America as we move into the “internationalist” phase of our own evolution. The show is co-hosted and produced by Chandler's daughter and artist agent, Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning journalist. (c) 2011. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

ArtsTalk: Afrocentrism and African American Thought and Art

How did artists like John Biggers, Romare Bearden, Lois Mailou Jones, Benny Andrews, Jacob Lawrence, Augusta Savage and Charles Alston influence American art and contemporary American artists? As part of our Black History Month ArtsTalk series, Prof. Dana C. Chandler, who taught African and African American Art from 3000 BC to the present at Simmons College in Boston, for 33 years, will discuss the influence of these and other major early 20th artists, several fo whom he knew, on American art and artists.   Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 70, was born in 1941 in Lynn, MA. He is best known for the edgy, colorful, controversial and hotly-debated artistic statements of his 1960’s-1980’s works.  Because he continues to evolve, his messages change to reflect his personal evolution, he is still an interesting, provocative speaker who can speak and/or lecture brilliantly about the historical relevance of his art and his activism to the worldwide struggle for race and gender equality as well as bridge the generation gap that is confounding this country’s leadership and confronting America as we move into the “internationalist” phase of our own evolution. The show is co-hosted and produced by Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning journalist and the artist agent for Prof. Dana. C. Chandler. (c) 2011. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

ArtsTalk: Early 20th-Century African American Master Artists

Have you ever contemplated the influence of African Art on the European classical art tradition? Has cubism always fascinated you? Would you like simply to learn more about this early 20th century avante garde movement in European art? Pablo Picasso, Ferdinand Leger, Georges Braque, Henri Matisse and Paul Gaugin and many others, all, desiring to move away from classical European art tradition and intrigued by the stark forms found in African imagery, began incorporating African art forms into their works. Prof. Chandler retired from Simmons College in Boston, MA in 2004 after 33 years of teaching Art and Art History focusing on how African and African American art and experience influenced all art. On our next episode, Prof. Chandler will discuss, how the cubist movement, strongly influenced by African art, transformed the traditional European art aesthetic. Called "controversial", a "Black Power Artist", "activist artist" and "Outsider Artist", Chandler, 70, was born in 1941 in Lynn, MA. He is best known for the edgy, colorful, controversial and hotly-debated artistic statements of his 1960’s-1980’s works.  Because he continues to evolve, his messages change to reflect his personal evolution, he is still an interesting, provocative speaker who can speak and/or lecture brilliantly about the historical relevance of his art and his activism to the worldwide struggle for race and gender equality as well as bridge the generation gap that is confounding this country’s leadership and confronting America as we move into the “internationalist” phase of our own evolution. The show is co-hosted and produced by Dahna M. Chandler, an award-winning journalist and the artist agent for Prof. Dana. C. Chandler. (c) 2011. The Outsider Artist, LLC and BAPsody in Blue, Inc.

ArtsTalk: African Art and the European Formalist Aesthetic

Celebrated activist artist, Dana C. Chandler, Jr., returns to the airwaves to discuss his art as well as three things you don't in polite company: money, politics, and religion.

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Akin Duro's Life in Art

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