- 'I Know a Man ... Ashley Bryan' is about this 95-year-old artist who celebrates the awe and wonder of childhood in us all. Born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx, Ashley's talent was nurtured by artist Romare Bearden. After high school he was told "it would be a waste to give a scholarship to a colored person." So he applied to Cooper Union because in the application process "they don't see you there". Ashley was drafted out of Cooper Union at age 19 into the segregated US army and served in an all-black battalion preserving his humanity by reading poetry and drawing, stowing supplies in his gas mask. Ashley now lives on the remote Cranberry Islands, Maine, and has been using art his entire life to celebrate joy, mediate the darkness of war and racism, explore the mysteries of faith, and create loving community.
- "I Know a Man ... Ashley Bryan" celebrates the joy of life, the wonders of creativity, and one man's love of humanity. School Library Journal has written: "Ashley Bryan ... radiates the joy of living...." Booklist writes: "... a vibrant, inspiring, personal portrait of an artist who possesses the desire to help people find their inner child." Library Journal: "An inspiring look at the healing powers of art." Maine Today: "It's a film that ... is vibrant, joyous, utterly engaging."
This documentary is about this 94-year-old creative wonder who skips and jumps in his heart like a child. He served in a World War II all-Black battalion and experienced the horrible carnage of D-Day and the racism of a segregated Army. As a result he dedicated his life to creating beauty and joy, spreading love and awe through his art. He's a poet/illustrator of over 50 award-winning children's books (many published by Simon & Schuster), erudite former professor at Dartmouth College, makes magical puppets and sea glass windows from found objects inspired by his African heritage. Ashley lives on the remote Cranberry Islands, Maine and has been using art his entire life to celebrate joy, mediate the darkness of war and racism, explore the mysteries of faith, and create loving community. The film explores his world from the time his father "was given the mop and the broom", (a reference to the Gordon Parks photograph). He quotes Marian Anderson admonishing "to keep another down you have to hold them down, and therefore cannot ... soar to the potential within you." He spreads beauty through his lino-cut prints exhorting "Let My People Go". His life story and the art he makes from this wellspring of experience is an inspiration to people of all ages.
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