Milton Bowens

We are continuing our new series called Art and Change, which will focus on how the visual art world to helping to change society, whether on the community level or internationally. Our topic for today is Art and Adovacy. Our guest is Milton Bowens, a Calfornia based artist, radio personality and activist.

Milton began his formal art training at the Renaissance Art School in Oakland, CA during his junior and senior high school years. On completion of High School, he was awarded a scholarship to attend the California College of Arts and Crafts, but enlisted in the United States Armed Forces and became an Illustrator. He received his Associates Degree in Commercial Art under the Army’s College Education Assistance Program. Bowens continued his education in the Arts, attending both Austin Peay State University, TN and Fayettevile State University, NC while serving his tour of duty in the military. During this time, Miltons’ work was collected by two of the military’s most prestigious museums: the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum, Fort Bragg, NC, and the Don F. Pratt Memorial Museum, Fort Campbell, KY.

After serving his tour of duty, Milton returned to the Bay Area and continued his art training under the mentorship of fine artist David Bradford, Head of the Art Department and lecturer at Laney College, Oakland, CA. Inspired by such greats as Jean Michel Basquiat, Robert Rauschenberg, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence and Andy Warhol, Bowens changed his focus from illustration to fine art. He has evolved into a significant figure in the Bay Area art scene, not only as an artist, but also as a powerful speaker and art activist. Bowens has been the subject of over twenty solo exhibitions since 1992, and has participated in numerous group exhibitions. His work can be found in numerous public and private collections.

During this no holds conversation, we explore a special project that Milton has been involved with youth in the Richmond, California area. Below is an essay regarding that experience in Milton’s own words.

To learn more about Milton’s artwork and the “Welcome to My Global Hood Project”, visit http://www.milton510.com

You can listen to this podcast through i-tunes ,the podcast home page here or download the MP3 here.

“Welcome To My Global Hood” What is Environmental Justice?
Arts Change – Artist in Residency 2009 Richmond, CA by Milton Bowens

What is environmental justice? What is fine Art? How do these two things work together to empower, youth, community and the world abroad? Eye believe fine art is a singular construct made because it must be made, not just to fill a need in any particular market. Eye also, believe environmental justice is not just a slogan or metaphor but a right to ensure that the next generation inherits a healthy planet.

In response to the rapidly changing global crises, eye thought it was long overdue to address some of the more urgent issues from a fine artistic urban perspective. After posing the question “What threatens your environment”, to a group of more than fifteen inner-city children of varied backgrounds, ages and cultures from Richmond, CA and surrounding communities, eye received the same answer. Violence!

Not at all shocked by the response, eye understood that if eye started to talk about global warming and the dangers it presents, and how art could help change the way we see it, eye would be talking at and not with this young audience. So instead eye listened, with the goal of mapping out a visual story line that would ultimately become a blueprint for urban environmental artist activism.

Before these youth could truly become motivated and excited about creating Art and being a part of a global movement towards environmental change, like starvation and disease in Africa or protecting the Rain Forest, Polar Bears and Ice caps, we must first deal with the issues they face at home. I used Art as the tool to not only spark creativity and conversation but to help the Individual making the Art deal with his or her own individual fears. Art Heals.

Art and Social Change is a funny thing….once you’ve done it you can’t take it back. By reflecting on when you started, how you thought, how you felt and then the process of just how much you can grow and evolve in a short span of time, does something to the Artistic creator. It gives that Individual a sense of value that plays an important role in building ones self-esteem. It gives a voice.

When my students saw firsthand, that gang violence in Richmond, CA is no different than the violence in the Middle East or poor drinking water in the Bay isn’t any different than that abroad, or how the severity of today’s natural disasters are not unique to just this country, the light came on. Once that happens in a young person’s mind, it’s hard, if at all possible to turn it off.

They began to realize they are a part of a global community. This becomes the opportunity, the bridge that promises insight from a very different perspective, which ultimately leads to a uniquely thought out and timely body of work.

The goal for this body of work is to re-ignite the fire in the activism doldrums, visually doing away with that “we’ve heard it all before” attitude and to refocus artist, art collectors, art patrons and exhibition spaces on the power of art and its ability to spark change! And bring about real tangible action and not just talk, simply by being the visual witness.

Eye, extend a Heart-felt, sincere invitation to all viewers to take a little time and stroll with me through My Global Hood. Eye, welcome you! Then ask yourself the question can you see what Eye see? -Milton 510 Bowens