Art Talk with Paul Rucker
Paul Rucker has never taken a cello lesson in his life, and yet he can improvise on the instrument all day long. But that's just one part of his multidisciplinary story. He is also recognized as an original visual artist with something powerful to say. In this post, we focus our attention on Rucker's show, REWIND, which debuted this spring at Creative Alliance in Baltimore where he's been an artist-in-residence. (He's also a resident at MICA's Center for Race and Culture.) Though REWIND closed on March 7, it's still incredibly (and tragically) current. Through a provocative presentation of pieces that includes an animated video installation of prison growth over time, mannequins wearing vibrantly colored KKK robes, and a disturbing collection of child slave graves—Rucker shines a light on the complicated history of racism, lynching, and police brutality. Press play to hear him explain why he does what he does and why art matters.