Rev. Benjamin Perkins

Rev. Benjamin F. Perkins at the age of seventeen joined the merchant marines. It was during this time that he experienced his greatest memory after a three month tour abroad. Perkins reflected 65 years later at the age of 87. We were sailing into New York and I was in the engine room. The captain called for the crew to come on deck. We went on deck and straight ahead was the most beautiful sight I have seen in my 87 years, the Statute of Liberty. There was not a cloud in the sky, not a moon up, just stars. When I began to paint, I always remembered that night. After his discharge from the military, he finished high school and college, married, had two daughters, and embarked on a career in the ministry. He was pastor of his own church, Heartline Assembly Church of God. Perkins had a love of America that was inspiring. You can witness his strong love of God and country in the body of his work: the Statute of Liberty, the American flag and the church are all recurring themes in his art. According to Perkins, all my works have a message. If art don't tell me anything, it's not art. For example, in one painting of an American Flag Perkins states, The United States is great because our flag stands for freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our hearts desire. Perkins died in 1993 but his imagery and messages continue to live on in museums and art collections around the world.