Community Folk Arts Central... Art Moves!

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" Da C.F.A.C. "

Community Folk Arts Central

Where Art & Fashion Meet

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Hand Carved Mask Pendant 1984
Missing under Questionable Circumstances in Schenectady, N.Y. / 1985

Barry R Irving aka Dean Story Master

Studio Artist / Educator / Percussionist
BFA Painting / Syracuse University Class of 2007
Recipient of the 2006 Iris Perez Celis Award For Painting

"On Da Block" Black Woman Against The Myth - 1972 / 73

This was the drawing that led to my first large scale "Iconic Narrative Painting"
*8 X 10' Feet, at the Studio Museum 7 Loft on 125th St and 5th Ave, Harlem, N.Y.

by the time I finished HS, I had been an artist / student for 9 years. The climate of the 60's Afro Centric Arts Communities one of acquiring knowledge, connections and although we had out African Centered focus, we also had an eye on mainstream Pop Culture. The Abstract Expressionist movement was strong and an influencer in Art Society because for many who were College Educated, the Mainstream culture was their life line with their modern Education. One Cultural phenomenon that was definitely opening the collective consciousness was Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll. In exploring various areas of visual Arts, I began to take an interest in Surrealism which was along side of my more literal realism and Illustration works which were traditional Arts School approaches to the figure, materials use and distinctive / accepted drawing and painting style

...My design sense was developed by an interest in clothing as expression, my Mother ( Sylvia A. Irving ) was a Master Seamstress who made clothing for Lord and Taylor...she taught me a lot of the sculptural aspects of making clothes as well as how to recognize quality clothing craft. My Father ( Billy "Pops" Irving ) was also a clothing maker in the African style...he used a minimalist box cut style for Danshiki Suits, pants and Tops. My mother taught him technical improvements like how to do full inner pockets rather than patch pockets and neck / shoulder construction...crotch construction...basically all of the BODY FORM FUNDAMENTALS.

I come from an Urban Culture that featured events, parties, shows among the regular Folk...

NYC Street Culture is a thing in itself, especially in the Summer Months. These are the times when people dress up with a purpose which is to

Show Out - Straight Ostentation - True Sexuality - Modern Street Culture which can be anti social, is highly social is a Crossroads Phenomenon. Not all acts of Showing is mean to connect. Many times it is meant distinguish visually in a competitive environment.

I got a chance to Express my Design Sense in the Culture in 1989 - 92 when I went to NYC to paint and study. I had to make a living and since I was staying with my father rent free, I didn't have to work. I began to buy select pieces of clothing ( mostly T- Shirts ) and use fabric paints to create designs on them. That led to another studio genre where I was painting on Clothing in large numbers. For the First time I also realized what it was to have a following. As an Independent Studio Artist, I never worked for the public appeal in my personal work. With Clothing, I was finding social function closely tied to my creation process. I was creating and selling in NYC. Wearing Painted Clothing as a Cultural Expression of Individualism is a Vibrant NYC Street Tradition. I was also in full regalia with painted leather & denim garments and T' Shirts.

(C) Neo A fro / Afroneo Street Style

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...This is a collection of Tastes, Visions and Creations. I am a Multi Disciplinary and Multi Genre Artist. In Today's world, it makes sense to think business on a broader scale. So my Career and Personal Passions are expressed in a Genre sense as part of a vision for people,

WHETHER I CREATE THE CLOTHING...OR I SELECT THE CLOTHING TO PAINT ON, OR TO SELL AS "FLY GEAR"...

In the Street Culture where it ALL goes Down > The Object is to Stand Out..

..."I happen to DRESS THE DIVAS"...