tist. He was constantly broke and didn’t know where his next meal would come from. In spite of this, Barnes got an idea to try and become the Official Artist for the American Football League (AFL), after reading an article in the local newspaper, which featured a letter from Van Gogh to his brother Theo (Barnes, 1995, p. 84). To say the least, the letter inspired Barnes and he pitched his idea to Barron Hilton, former hotel chairmen, and San Diego Charger team owner. Hilton was delighted by the idea and suggested that he present his idea to the AFL football team owners. After Barnes’ presentation, the late New York Jets owner, David Werblin decided to support him, and invited him to New York, where Barnes had his first solo exhibition at the Grand Central Art Galleries (Artist Vitae, 1999).Barnes became a very popular artist among African-Americans and the rest of society. Americans became familiar with Barnes work through the television show “Good Times”, and well as his appointment as the Official Artist of the 23rd Olympiad at Los Angeles (The October Gallery, About the Artist 2000). Barnes’ paintings became so critically acclaimed that the late poet Mbembe Milton Smith, who was the first graduate to earn a double major in English and Creative Writing in the masters program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, wrote a poem about his painting, “High Aspirations” (Huyett, Mbembe, 2000):talkin' 'bout an aesthetic experience,your painting hit me like a lightning bolt—the gaunt arms, the long, slender youthmuscled by the desire for social ascensionleaping above a bushel basket that's fashionedto make a hoop, the young man is shoeless, his form perfect, the basketball cupped in his gigantic hand,a stark and rustic southern shack in the background,everything moving away from it, up & beyond.& this kid with the ball ain't playin'.he's too lean & intense for nonsense.mind and body c...
