JAYFORCE

When you describe Andre Benjamin as an artist it could mean multiple things. First he is a musician, also a visual artist, an actor and just a cool Southern gentleman. Not to mention Andre is known by many names – Dre, Andre 3000, 3 Stacks to name a few. So when you think about Art Basel it’s not surprising to see Andre getting involved with the yearly Exhibit/Event.

Andre Benjamin has teamed up with  filmmaker Greg Brunkalla (B.F.A., film and television, 2001) and painter Jimmy O’Neal (B.F.A., illustration, 1989) both graduates of SCAD (Savannah College Of Art & Design).  The exhibit is called “I feel ya” where all 47 of 3 Stacks black jumpsuits that he wore during Outkast recent tour.  His fashion statement became part of the live show where phrases like “Make Love Like War” and “Across Cultures Darker People Suffer Most Why?”

The display is accompanied by a short film titled “Trumpets” by Brunkalla and large paintings by O’ Neal.  If you are at Art Basel 2014 you can catch an early glimpse and it will continue to show at Savannah College of Arts & Design (SCAD) University summer 2015. Check out this video that features Paula Wallace president of SCAD talking with Andre 3000 regarding what inspired this fashion statement.

“I feel ya” provokes a socially dynamic conversation about language and context.

– ArtbyOdell (Twitter / SoundCloud)

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