Picasso’s Guernica was commissioned by the Spanish Republican for the Spanish display at the Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne  in Paris.  In the painting Guernica, Picasso depicted the tragedy of war, and the suffering it inflicted upon individuals, particularly innocent civilians. Many years later, life imitates art, and this artist was asked to create something for a special exhibition as well. True “Old Skoolin For The Kids” is not in Paris, and I’m not Picasso. Still, I too reflected on the considerable loss of life and suffering of my time as I painted. I thought of the opportunities and resulting tragedies influenced by the blaxploitation films of the 70’s. I thought of the hip hop culture today, and the culture of violence that plagues our communities. I realized this was my Guernica. AND the resulting picture, well, I’ll let you fill in the blanks. - TMNK