System Failure / Friendly Fire -
A Black Cop's Retrospective
THEME: RIPPLES ACROSS GENERATIONS
Khary
Mason
KHARY MASON
System Failure / Friendly Fire -
A Black Cop's Retrospective
THEME: RIPPLES ACROSS GENERATIONS
the artist's inspiration
Friendly Fire dispatches the viewer back in time to Detroit’s west side in the early 1980’s, on Gilchrist st. Crack was here but it hadn’t yet made men mean. After a near-fatal argument between my parents, the family was fractured, which at 7 years old made me the man of the house. Together we will take a long walk through my life in four chapters. On this temporal journey you will see how it all began, before bearing witness to a shift in my understanding of service and patriotism over the course of time, based upon the lessons learned and mistakes made along the way.
EPILOGUE
I offered this work as a response to the theme of Ripples Across Generations because I believe the reality I experienced in my life and career is the direct descendant of the realities of the centuries of this nation. For me, it is a personal and national call to action to have the courage to recognize this reality, understand it, and to find new, more effective ways to make peace.
This sculpture was designed and curated by my Dear Friend, Jalyn Baity.
CAPITOL PARK, detroit
june 2024
the artist's inspiration
Friendly Fire dispatches the viewer back in time to Detroit’s west side in the early 1980’s, on Gilchrist st. Crack was here but it hadn’t yet made men mean. After a near-fatal argument between my parents, the family was fractured, which at 7 years old made me the man of the house. Together we will take a long walk through my life in four chapters. On this temporal journey you will see how it all began, before bearing witness to a shift in my understanding of service and patriotism over the course of time, based upon the lessons learned and mistakes made along the way.
KHARY MASON
Khary was born and raised in Detroit. A former Homicide Detective for the Detroit Police, Khary is dedicated to harnessing the power of art, storytelling and friendship to mentor, protect and enrich the lives of the next generation. In February of 2024 at Central Michigan University, Khary had his first solo photography exhibition, "Friendly Fire”, Scenes of Service (Searching for Safety), a retrospective on his career in law enforcement; the exhibition was sponsored by Fujifilm. In May of 2024, Khary and Jalyn Baity opened ACME Labs, a film and photo production studio based out of the historic Cadieux Stage in Detroit.
Khary's work is rooted in his lived experience and the firm belief that, "No one should be able to tell your story better than you.”
Let's make our shared ideals a reality. For everyone.
Epilogue
I offered this work as a response to the theme of Ripples Across Generations because I believe the reality I experienced in my life and career is the direct descendant of the realities of the centuries of this nation. For me, it is a personal and national call to action to have the courage to recognize this reality, understand it, and to find new, more effective ways to make peace.
This sculpture was designed and curated by my Dear Friend, Jalyn Baity.
Khary’s “If I could tell you just one thing…”
It’s simple – question everything that you are told. One of the most common things I saw in law enforcement is “We do it this way because that’s the way we have always done it.” Not whether it is the right or good or effective thing to do. If we don’t question what we are told we end up enforcing the status quo, the cycles of inequity, and the bad outcomes we see. Don’t be passive when you receive information, because it changes you. Seek out the proof and take charge of how you see the world.
Khary's "If I could tell you just one thing..."
It’s simple – question everything that you are told. One of the most common things I saw in law enforcement is “We do it this way because that’s the way we have always done it.” Not whether it is the right or good or effective thing to do. If we don’t question what we are told we end up enforcing the status quo, the cycles of inequity, and the bad outcomes we see. Don’t be passive when you receive information, because it changes you. Seek out the proof and take charge of how you see the world.
explore the theme
explore the theme
In February of 2004, my partners and I were called to a house on Parkgrove Street...
Let's make our shared ideals a reality. For everyone.
KHARY MASON
Khary was born and raised in Detroit. A former Homicide Detective for the Detroit Police, Khary is dedicated to harnessing the power of art, storytelling and friendship to mentor, protect and enrich the lives of the next generation. In February of 2024 at Central Michigan University, Khary had his first solo photography exhibition, "Friendly Fire”, Scenes of Service (Searching for Safety), a retrospective on his career in law enforcement; the exhibition was sponsored by Fujifilm. In May of 2024, Khary and Jalyn Baity opened ACME Labs, a film and photo production studio based out of the historic Cadieux Stage in Detroit.
Khary's work is rooted in his lived experience and the firm belief that, "No one should be able to tell your story better than you.”
For everyone. For you. By all of us. Join us.
For everyone. For you.
By all of us. Join us.
PURPOSE
in our relationship with ourselves.
WORTHINESS
I am worthy of love dignity and respect.
AWARENESS
I know how I see the world and where it comes from.
BELIEF
I believe I have something valuable to offer.
PURPOSE
I know what inspires me and what I want to do.
In February of 2004, my partners and I were called to a house on Parkgrove Street...
