| PAUL GOODNIGHT
Coltrane
blows… We hear the plaintive sounds --and more.
Billie Holiday sings… we hear the melancholy wail--and
more. Paul Goodnight paints… We see the animated figures—and more.
Between the horn, and the man, there is confession. Between the voice and the woman, there is truth. Between the
paints and the painter there are revelations~ Revelations of
his consummate skill as a draughtsman of his sensuous colors
and often reveling forms, of his ability to see between the
figures melding them into an environment of endless nuances
where his own passions infuse the picture with human resonance"
Edmund Barry Gaither, Director, Museum of the National Center
of Afro-American Artists.
Goodnight's vibrant and emotional work has often been
a reflection of his life--from the demons he faced during the
Vietnam War to the time he was incarcerated 'I've learned that
art is making me, rather then me creating it. His creative efforts
are nurtured and inspired by several local artists, like Atan
Rohan Crite and Dana Chandler Today he continues to interact
with Master African-American artist and mentor, John Biggers,
who carved the path many contemporary black artists now travel.
Goodnight has developed his own unique aesthetic philosophy
to document the humanity at people around the world. He often
incorporates African themes and symbols to provide depths of
history and culture. He has studied and traveled extensively
to different parts of the world, living among the people of
Russia, China, Haiti, Nicaragua, Africa and Brazil.
Goodnight's images have appeared in television and film
since 1984: Seinfeld, Arliss, Jackie Brown, The Cosby Show,
Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and the Hughleys to name a few. Paul
has been featured in numerous publications such as Architectural
Digest, Ebony, Essence, People Magazine and the Boston Globe.
His works are amongst the collections of such notables as Maya
Angelou, Wesley Snipes, Samuel Jackson Angela Basset, Judith
Jamison, Victoria Rowell and NBA hall-of-famer Isaiah Thomas.
His work has been exhibited in the Museum of Fine Arts~The Museum
of the National Center of African American Artists and the Smithsonian.
He has been the recipient of many achievements and awards such
as receiving a commission for the 1996 Olympics, The US Sports
Academy Artist of the Year Award in 1997, and the World Cup
Soccer Poster of 1998.
His most recent achievements include being commissioned
by Geovision for Mass Dept. of Public Health Minority Adult
Male Anti-Smoking Campaign, American Airline and Top Artist
Inc. to do a commemorative piece for Black Enterprise 30th Anniversary
and the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts Award. He was
commissioned to do a piece to raise funds for the African American:
Research Library in FL which auctioned for $32,500 and was commissioned
to do a piece by The Valley Inc. in NY which auctioned for $5
t 000.-His works were showcased at the Schomburg Center in NY
sponsored by Toyota and Essence Magazine for the Essence Awards
2000, the 2000 African American Achievement Award, WILD local
radio station 21st Century Award and the Mass College
of Art May 1999 Honorary Masters Award. He was commissioned
to design a ceramic mural for the entrance of the Orlando Airport,
a commission to create an original work tot the cover of the
Official 2000 souvenir magazine of The Boys Choir of Harlem,
and featured in the Official Souvenir Magazine of Alvin Alley
for the 1999-2000 season.
Goodnight is the founder of a Boston-based art publishing
and distribution company. His biggest daily inspiration is his
daughter Aziza, who resides with her mother in Boston. |
