The gallery is pleased to host a discussion about Ethiopian / American relations by Dr. Getachew Metaferia, a Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Morgan State University. Dr. Metaferia co-edited with Paulos Milkias, “The Battle of Adwa: Reflections on Ethiopia’s Historic Victory Against European Colonialism.”

We also hope that some of the artists will be present to talk about their art and what inspires them. Helina Metaferia and Tessema Tesfaye should be present.

In the meantime, the exhibition continues at the gallery until Saturday, Sept 27. Click here for a preview.

Please join us Tuesday through Saturday, Noon to 6PM and by appointment. For more information, you can reach us at 212-694-1747.

We were so busy getting ready for the show that we forgot to post this Opening Reception date.

Of course, you can always get a reminder by joining our email list or by checking our homepage.

So if you missed the Opening Reception, here are a few of the pics:

A crowd at the opening night with Mekbib’s work to the left and Tesfaye’s work on the right.

Helina with friends in front of her work.

A work of art, though not on the wall… it’s Isis.

Ray Llanos (artist), Averlyn (gallery director), Helina Metaferia (artist) and Ezra Wube (artist)

with Helina’s work on the left and Ezra’s work on the right.

Visitor and Donald in front of Mekbib’s work.

Susan and Jean in front of the slideshow of Ray’s photographs of Ethiopia.

Visitor in front of Meseret’s work.

Stay tuned for more info on the 9/27 event when Prof. Metaferia will share his views on Ethiopian and American relations and some of the artists will talk about their work. In the meantime, come by the gallery and see this amazing exhibition.

See you in the gallery.

The BAG Gallery seeks submissions for our upcoming show BKLYN:111. All work submitted to this fundraiser show will be considered donations to the non-profit BAG Fund.

Show Title: BKLYN:111
Submission Deadline: September 26, 2008
Gallery Show Dates: October 17 - 24, 2008
Opening Reception: October 18, 2008 (held during AGAST Tour)
Benefit Reception: October 24, 2008

Go online for more information.

I read a really interesting article in the July/ August edition of Modern Painters: The international Contemporary Art Magazine, entitled “Rummaging Through Rauschenberg’s Trash.” Leland de la Durantaye begins his piece, with the lawsuit against the neighbor of the artist, who went through Robert Rauschenberg’s trash, found some Chromes, exhibited and sold them.

The story quickly evolves into an exploration of garbage, the everyday and unwanted in art. The author lists artists who have used trash items to create their masterpieces such as Duchamp, and the more recent Tim Noble and Sue Webster, noting that “In recent years, the elective affinity between modern art and trash has been on ever more prominent display.” This is interesting to see how garbage and trash as well as the environment are becoming more of a concern, the use of these pollutants is increasing, perhaps as a social- environmental outcry.

He also compares Rauschenberg with Duchamp; “Like Duchamp before him, Rauschenberg transformed the everyday into the extraordinary. but unlike Duchamp, what he presented was not so much ready- made as remade. combined and recombined to form revolutionary forms of art.” Duchamp’s art was far from being not revolutionary, as de la Durantaye makes it seem at first glance. Duchamp also used the ordinary to produce and create art with a strong social message, commenting, like many of the artists of the DADA movement, on the war. His art was part of the beginnings of the anti- art movement, which is where many modern and contemporary artists find inspiration. It may be that Rauschenberg’s oeuvre is more of the aesthetic realm, where combination has a different kind of message (which the author fails to really impart on his readership).

Garbage and found objects in arts proves to be an interesting discourse, and closely connects with the aesthetics of art. It makes the art viewer even more of a critic of what is beautiful or valuable or not, because the art is being constructed by things that have lost their value.

-Randi Roberts, Gallery Intern

What: Portraits in Blue: A JVC Jazz Festival Visual Art
Event Exploring the Relationship of Color and Jazz
presented by  Incorporation of Artists on the Move, Inc.

When: The exhibition ends at Canvas Paper and Stone Gallery on
Saturday, August 23, 2008

Where: Canvas Paper and Stone Gallery
in The Bradhurst at Strivers Row located at
2611 Frederick Douglass Blvd, Studio 2N
in Harlem, NYC btw. W. 139th & 140th Streets, 10030
For information call 212-694-1747 or email:
canvaspaperandstone@yahoo.com.

For details: http://www.artslant.com/ny/events/show/21056-portraits-in-blue-jvc-jazz-visual-art-event-with-iam

Join the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance and the New York Foundation for the Arts for a NYFA Artists’ Fellowship Orientation Seminar.  If you haven’t signed-up, do so now!

How to Apply for NYFA Artists’ Fellowships

Monday, August 18, 6:30pm

The Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NoMAA) is pleased to host a NYFA Artist Fellowship orientation seminar.  Learn how to apply for awards of $7,000, which the New York Foundation for the Arts offers to individual artists living and working in New York State for unrestricted use.  The 2008-2009 cycle includes the following categories: computer arts, crafts, film, nonfiction literature, performance art/multidisciplinary work, poetry, printmaking/drawing/artists’ books, and sculpture.  Presented in English and Spanish.  For more info: http://www.nyfa.org/level2.asp?id=1&fid=1.

En Espanol 

RSVP: info@nomaanyc.org or call 212.568.4396.

Location: Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance , The Cornerstone Center , 178 Bennett Avenue (at 189^th Street )

 Este lunes  NoMAA presenta un taller de orientación sobre las becas ofrecidas por la New York Foundation for the Arts.  Si todavía no lo han hecho, ¡apúntense ya!

Como solicitar las becas para artistas de la NYFA

Lunes, 18 de agosto, 6:30pm

NoMAA se une a NYFA para presentar un taller de orientación sobre las becas para artistas de NYFA.  Aprenda a solicitar estas becas de $7,000 que ofrece la New York Foundation for the Arts a artistas viviendo y trabajando en Nueva York.  El ciclo 2008-2009 incluye las siguientes categorias: arte digital, artesania, cine, literatura no-ficcion, actuación y trabajos multidisciplinarios, poesía, grabado/dibujo/libros de artistas, y esculturas. Presentado en ingles y español.  Para más información: http://www.nyfa.org/level2.asp?id=1&fid=1.

 
RSVP: info@nomaanyc.org o llamar 212.568.4396.

Dirección: Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance , The Cornerstone Center , 178 Bennett Avenue (at 189th Street )

The author of “Art for Dummies,” Thomas Hoving, in listing some famous art hot spots (meaning museums and the like), remarks, “Clothing is fine art too!” This rings very true to me.

I remember being very young, and very into fashion, spending hours on end “designing” clothes in a little sketchbook. That was my art. I was interested in how materials and colors come together (I still am). To me, that is exactly what fine art is, an interest in composition and expression. Clothes, outfits, ensembles, whatever you call it, does just that, expresses personality, mentality, and ideas.

I can remember going to the Victoria and Albert museum in London, England, and spending the most time at an exhibit exploring 400 years of fashion. This was one of the most amazing exhibits I have gone to. It is the effort and creativity that is put into clothing and fashion that also connects it to fine art. Just recently the Met had an exhibit about superhero inspired fashion by couture artists as well, which just illustrates the artistic value of art.

Another way that fashion is a part of fine art, is the dedication to fashion and clothing in fine art. Looking back at the Renaissance, Baroque period, Louis XIV, as well as the impressionist movement, artists have been infatuated with clothing, and what they represent. During most of these periods, clothing was an image of power, wealth and virtue. Renoir and Manet were both obsessed with clothing and captured fashion to a T, in effort represent the times. The detail paid to clothing in art reflects the high value of fashion, which also in my opinion, puts it in a elevated category as well.

Clothing, fashion and textiles always find their way into museums and other art institutes. Just like art, fashion is a way of reaching out to people, and expediting a message. Although clothing is sometimes of a different medium, precision and care put it on a similar level as to that of fine art. Just like art, there is good and bad; aesthetically pleasing and unattractive.

-Randi Roberts, Gallery Intern

Thank you Poet Minor for this video of ArtCrawl HarlemTM.

A couple of highlights if you missed the event… November… ArtCrawl Harlem kicks off again.

Picture perfect was the day… bright and sunny with a slight breeze.

And so a good time was had by all as evidenced by these photographs.

All aboard the trolley.

Tour participants arrive at Essie Green Galleries.

Inside Essie Green Galleries with Sherman Edmiston, the director in the foreground.

Betty Blayton, featured artist at “So It Is With Us” , an exhibit at Strivers Gardens Gallery.

Heading to the reception after the tour.

Participants relax at the rooftop reception overlooking the Hudson River at Rio II Gallery.

Jacqueline Orange, co-producer of the tour laughs with participants at the reception.

Some of the group listen to the artists at Rio II Gallery.

The live band added to the festivities… wait a guitar player is missing.

Tour participants stop for a group shot.

Averlyn and Jackie, co-producers of ArtCrawl HarlemTM, left and right of Brenda, one of the tour participants.

Thanks to all the amazing photographers who documented this event: JW Ford, Rudy Collins, and Poet Minor among others.

“This tour is something I intend to share with friends and relatives who live and/or visit New York. It is vital to our culture for our people to know and appreciate themselves… Went on the ArtCrawl Harlem tour last year and thoroughly enjoyed myself. That’s why I wanted to go on this one. Wonderful way to meet people and get to know your culture… Keep up the good work!!”
Saundra Robinson, NY

“Keep on doing these kinds of tours!”
T. Clark, Westchester, NY

“As a result of the tour, I learned so much more have gained a deeper appreciation for the artists. This was a real treat!”
Dr. Paula L. Collins, NY

“Those of us who live in Harlem [were] talking about all these galleries we didn’t know about and how it was great to ride the bus and see Harlem through the “tourist” eyes… It was an extraordinary day.”
Poet Minor, Harlem, NY

subtitled (Can someone please lend me a Chelsea location for art exhibitions?)

I read with interest and more than a bit of envy the frontpage story in the New York Sun of three almost twenty somethings who started a gallery (With a Little Help) in Chelsea. They got “like 700 people” at their first opening. Bravo… great job.

And I can’t help wonder how I am wrong? We’ve placed at least six ads in this same paper; for every exhibition we open, our press release or show information is shared with over 30 media outlets and blogs. We’ve also co-produced ArtCrawl HarlemTM, an arts and tourism event, created to heighten the exposure to Harlem’s visual arts venues.

Other than the occasional advertorial we have yet to earn any real media coverage by the art paparazzi of this city. So I’m seriously asking after an almost two year stretch with at least 12 gallery openings during that period, what are we doing wrong? How do we find the collectors that are evidently visiting yet another Chelsea gallery, since every artist sold at least one painting during the two exhibitions that they had to date? Or, put another way, how do I pull myself up by my own bootstraps when I don’t even have boots?

Today, on the bus on the way into the City, I was flipping through Uptown Magazine, and stumbled on an interesting article on art, called “Art Without Borders.” It mentions four artists of the African diaspora: El Anatsui, Hew Locke, Maria Magdelena CamposPons and Iona Rozeal Brown. Cheryl R. Riley, the author of this short piece, suggests the growing popularity and importance of art and artists of the African Diaspora. Collectors and buyers have flocked to get their hands on this kind of emerging genre. The article implies a growing worth of art coming from these places, which had been outside of the artistic “norm” and category of high art. Pieces mentioned by Riley by these four artists are being sold for a pretty penny, and demand for their work is only getting higher.She talks about sold out shows, and waiting lists, which are both great signs of the the evolution of diasporic art and how the art world is coming to appreciate difference.

Riley also informs the readers that the number of what she calls “cosmopolitan black collectors” is growing. These black collectors are enforcing their own taste, and exposing art to a new kind of buyer with a different sensibility. Her article illustrates the money involved in this kind of venture, and thus showing the wealth of this class of black folk, and the morphing of this class.

Both the increased value of African Diasporic art and number of black collectors, show the movement and changes in the art world. Riley’s discussion, beginning with art, for me opened up doors and allowed for exploration of social arenas not directly involved with art.

-Randi Roberts, Gallery Intern

If you haven’t yet seen a quilt by Laura Gadson, Harlem quilter extraordinaire, you’re in for quite a treat… catch her downtown in SoHo.

A Mid Summer Night’s Blue featuring a childhood glimpse of my sister can be viewed at ArtGotham Gallery in SOHO New York. She follows an earlier quilt of my niece Tiana which was part of ArtGotham’s Square Foot group show and was sold. Summer Blues is a smaller ArtGotham group show and though my Lil’ mama is not in the typical style of this gallery she is still hanging there.

When: The Summer Blues exhibition runs until Aug. 24th 2008.
Where: ArtGotham, 190 Ave of the Americas (6th Ave) between Prince and Spring Streets - right near the C line Spring Street train station. Call for hours: 917 319 2030

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