Binns seeks to find a permanent site in Oakland for a life-sized bronze statue of Tupac Shakur in recognition of Tupac's long standing relationship with many Oakland Hip-Hop artists and his evolution into a global icon. Long term international projects include the Mother of Humanity(R) AFRICA project which is a gift from the people of the world to the people of Africa.
Binns says, "It is this 'preservation of legacy' that drives my sculptures, paintings and books. In truth, however, I am simply continuing a tradition begun long ago in ancient Egypt." Perhaps award winning writer Alex Haley summed it up best when he said simply...."Find the good and praise it."
Binns was also commissioned to sculpt Michael Jackson, The Honorable Mervyn M. Dymally, John Williams, Stan Lee, Malcolm X, and Marcus Mosiah Garvey. In 1990, Binns received a commission from Motown Records to create the gold plated Maasai Princess bronze sculpture for singer Stevie Wonder.
Additional portrait sculptures includes a wax figure of the late astronaut Colonel Ron McNair for the Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore, a bust of colonel John C. Robinson for the Aviation Academy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and the only life-sized bronze sculpture of the famous child actress Shirley Temple for 20th Century Fox Studios.
His largest public monument to date is the 16ft tall, two ton bronze "Mother of Humanity(R) monument. It is a tribute to peace, a mother's loving-kindness, and the singularity of the human family. The monument was unveiled on Mother's Day, May 11, 1996 and is permanently installed at the Watts Labor Community Action Committee in Watts, CA.
Nijel Binns heads the Los Angeles, CA based sculpting firm Nijart International, LLC and may be contacted at Nijart@pacbell.net.
M says: Thank you for the article. As you know, Ahnyx Media Productions is working with renowned sculpturist Nijel Binns in support of his Tupac Shakur Maquette being featured at the Oakland Museum Exhibit: RESPECT Hip Hop Style & Wisdom, this coming Saturday, March 24th. Immediately following the opening, there will be a private celebration at Mind Seed Studios in Oakland in support of a Tupac Shakur monument in Oakland.
ReplyDeleteWe would be honored if you were to attend this celebration. Please feel free to bring a guest as we celebrate the influence of Hip Hop Culture with an art movement in Oakland.
Nijel Binns will also have two other pieces being featured in the exhibit as well: A Marcus Garvey bust, and a Malcom X bust. There was a threat of political and social consciousness that started with Marcus Garvey, was picked up by Malcom X and culminated with Tupac Shakur, who used his voice in Hip Hop to make a conscious movement.
Again, we hope you are able to attend.