At the Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago.
Recently Prof. Onli had the honor of the esteemed Master Appraiser, James Goldwasser's recent
visit per Danky & Kitchen agency to evaluate his Rhythmistic practice and the Biblical Charts
created by Onli's late Grandfather, The Rev. Samuel David Phillips.
At ONLI STUDIO in the Ravenswood District of Chicago.
The object of this insightful visit is to assess the works along with this rare transgenerational artistic / service legacy. Onli lived with his grandfather from age two until age 18, when Onli left home for college and to launch his professional Rhythmistic career in the visual arts.
Rev. Phillips originally arrived in Chicago during the Great Migration of the early 20th century and offered pastoral care along with social narratives in his charts to express early ideas and passions derived from Pentecostalism. As an ordained Pastor of the Pentecost.
Onli offered Rhythmism as a Future-Primitif concept and genre to first expand on the narrow thesis of "Black Art" then went on to become an Art Therapist and Visual Arts Educator.
Both were a legacy of visual innovation and community service in their practices.
Pentecostalism is now a rapidly growing sector of Christian Worship. Rhythmism is the forerunner of the dynamic trending of Afrofuturism that is raging in the visual art world. Both Phillips and Onli played a role in addressing social justice and free expression in the visual arts.
Phillips never took an art course and viewed his charts as a call or communications from God. Onli started drawing as a small child under his grandfather's care and went on to advanced studies but stayed true to his vision and core distinctions. These were life-long practices.
It is noted that usually the art world does not often mention or revere many types of positive legacies in the familial relationships of Black Men. This is more regularly noted in the performing arts. The goal here is to place the combined works in a major institution for preservation, exhibition and research.
