Rosetta Spark

Did you know that rock n roll was invented by a queer black woman named Sister Rosetta Tharpe?

I'm starting a series of works exploring the explosive energy that this incredible woman carried forht into the spark that lit the fire of what we now call Rock n Roll music, and in fact, where so many modern forms of musical expression and so many subculotures over the past 75 years have come from.

This is the first preliminary drawing to kick off the series, that will eventally become a full collection with some larger scale pieces and a series of videos on my Youtube channel that dig deeper into the story of Sister Rosetta, and the history of rock n roll music.

She has been one of my icons and inspirations for as long as I can remember and for this first series of drawings I'm not too concerned with capturing her likeness but rather I am interested in capturing her spirit as I can find it residing inside of myself. The raw, joyful, aggressive spirit that simply has to shout and stamp and let something out. I think so often it's labelled as rebellious - but to me, rebellion carries with intent - whereas I myself have never intended to be different, contrary or controversial - and I don't think Sister Rosetta Tharpe did either.

I think for many of us we just carry something inside us that sits different - and for those who don't have it, they think we must be intentionallt creating it - intentionallt being different to them. They label us as wild, rebellious, angry and non conformist.

Well, I just call it rock n roll - and I feel it running through my veins. A spark that never goes out. And Sister Rosetta put it into music. Put it into sound. So here I am putting it into colour and form...into art....