REASON FOR FIYA BUN AND LEGAL ACTION

Greetings Rastafari Family

This a another clear of situation of disrespect and an attempt to trample on InI Itegrity and hard earned place in the society.
Time to take positive action and defend InI rights legally – Let’s do it without hesitation

Itinual Guidance and blessings  
RasFlako Tafari

Message from Jake Homiak

Greetings My Bredrin and Sistren,

Please note this site regarding the recent distorted use of Rastafari photos taken by Patrick Cariou of rural Rastafari in Jamaica

This is a case in which photos of various Rastafari (including some elders) by one photographer are being used in an exhibit by another artist who distorts the photos making the subjects look alien, bizarre, "primitive" and creates collages with these photos using pornographic images that have nothing to do with Rastafari.  I believe that the offending artist has mounted an exhibit called "Canal Zone" which is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC. Here is a case in which a legal Rastafari intervention should be made based on the distortion and misrepresentation of Rastafari culture. 

This is the second such instance I've seen of reporting on this.

 Blessed

CARIBBEAN RASTAFARI ORGANIZATION
STATEMENT OF PROTEST AND DEMAND FOR CANCELLATION OF THE “CANAL ZONE” EXHIBIT

Please see message and Please note this site regarding the recent distorted use of Rastafari photos taken by Patrick Cariou of rural Rastafari in Jamaica before reading the CRO statement.

If you wish to post a statement of protest please send to I. Also statements can be posted online at link above. Here is the "artists" website http://www.richardprinceart.com/index.html Ones could contact him through there. I think ones should also write to the Gagosian Gallery, 555 West 24th Street, New York, NY. Here is the website link  
Maybe send an email to all of their galleries, they seem to be all over the world! From what I see on the gallery site the exhibition is now finished, still the lawsuit goes on http://www.theartnewspaper.com/article.asp?id=16821

I STATEMENT

I find this exhibition both degrading to Rastafari people, black people and women. I am amazed that an art gallery would even consider showing such images in the 21st Century!

Rastafari people have been fighting a long battle for respect and recognition of our faith which is still misunderstood by the majority of the world. Exhibitions like this reinforce negative stereotypes. This particular exhibition not only breaches copyright by stealing photographs taken by Patrick Cariou but also disrespects the elders of our faith who have suffered discrimination, abuse, false imprisonment, beatings and even death because of their way of life. It also juxtaposes images of Rastafari people with pornographic images and images degrading women. This is totally unacceptable and I join with others worldwide in condemning this exhibition.

Sista Mary Dread

Haile,

Greeting to InI Rasta family ebery wehya.

I must first condemn such a deliberate attempt to Jim Crow the Rastaman, I thought this kind of sickness died a long time ago. But I guess we can't assume, lots of freaks out deh. The French photographer shouldn't be spared either "fiya bun him too" he hasn't apologized to his subjects has he? I bet he is enjoying the publicity- negative or otherwise, because Iself had to visit his website see to believe such perversion.

It is damn right disgraceful.

from the Warriors, Nairobi, Kenya

Greetings:

This should show ones and ones that have gotten comfortable in the illusions of this vampire system that the war between this movement and babylon is far from over. This is not the first time this has happened. I myself being an artist have seen the vulturism and vampires far from Haile Sellassie first using and exploiting what this movement has built. I and I ancients and ancestors did not leave us a legacy for us to let it fall into the hands of greedy ignorant people who care less of peoples cultures and ways of life. The war is not over! I remember gathering with ones and ones in my teens and reasoning about a New World order to come. We would yant fire and profess to fight such a order. Well Idren and Sistren that time is here. And when we sleep they attack, they steal, they kill, they rob, and create all sorts of illusions to keep us weak minded and bought up. Just like those tams with fake dreadlocks this art as well is not their foolish fault. I cannot expect Babylon to respect I and I culture, but its our fault for not taking a stand against this new world order of destruction of peoples tradition and ways of life. They are going global. And if we do not stand against these minor issues then expect them to become bigger ones. I have seen many people of other faiths stand firm against exploitations of their culture. Haile Sellassie first stated that we must stand against these types of issues. I repeat, the war between us and wicked Babylon is far from over. They have new strageties, so we must have new ways to protect ourselves especially our youths minds, they are Babylons first target.

HAILE SELLASSIE FIRST Ras Terms One ( humble artist for Haile Sellassie first)

One more block:
I and I should contact this museum and present them with REAL rastafari artwork. Artwork from this movement that has influenced the world. They should have a showing to help Rastafari artist who are spreading the message of African liberation and true culture instead of this garbage.
 
HAILE SELLASSIE FIRST
Ras Terms 

My words to Richard Prince and all concerned
from Jahli Kahlif

I took the time to look at your work which uses the images of various Rastafari. I am a great fan of art in general and I am no stranger to causing a stir. You have a right to construct images in any fashion you choose and in America we stand up for this right. On this occasion however you have missed the mark. If you set out to see whom you could "piss off next" perhaps you did a good job.
  My feeling based on the examples I've seen is that the pieces you created don't have very much to say. Are you trying to convey a "Mandingo" thing? or that certain issues still exist? such as racism , sexism, a stigma against interracial relationships? maybe your trying to say nothing...
  The problem that I have with the work you created is that you're using images of people who already have awareness to these issues. It's similar to showing soldiers committing the necessary but repulsive acts of war...to the soldiers themselves...your preaching to the choir!
  Who is the piece entitled "inquisition" for? I understand the irony between the way you manipulated the images and the title...again the question I have is who is this art for? In the community I represent we choose to combat negative stereotypes with strong messages of respect and love that speak to peoples heart.
  Even artists that are known for incorporating mischief into their work also convey passion...I see no passion in your work. Unfortunately this is disrespectful to the individuals whose images you used...disrespectful to artists now and throughout time who have fought and died to express themselves, and disrespectful to yourself for having a voice and wasting it in this particular group of images...I can't imagine anyone hanging these works in a private setting..not racists, not troublemakers and certainly not positive people. That's too bad..keep the shock value nonsense out of art.
  In my opinion "shocking" is only useful when you lend a voice to an otherwise voiceless issue, when you make people think about themselves. This group of pieces just makes me know that there is more work to be done in the fight against bigotry. By the way " Four Blue Cowboys" is pretty awesome...."Canal Zone" is not.
Jahli Kahlif