Not A Wonderful World

American trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong has created an amazing catalog of music and is noted as one of the all time most influential figures in jazz. For African Americans of his day, Louis was a controversial artist, who was viewed as a “sell out” and “Uncle Tom.” The marketing materials during his heyday were as close to black face as you can get. Heston’s goal with this art piece was to illustrate dignity, beauty in blackness, and have Louis stand firm as the giant that he still is today.