Showing posts with label Art Exhibits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Art Exhibits. Show all posts

As a Matter of FACT - art exhibition

As a Matter of FACT - art exhibition 

As a Matter of FACT - art exhibition 

Joint art exhibition showcasing works created by Niki Lopez and Khaulah Naima Nuruddin.


As a Matter of FACT, is an exhibition that amplifies the creative expressions of two women who refuse to be confined by societal norms. Through their powerful works, these artists challenge the status quo, fostering a sense of community and understanding. Embark on a journey that transcends boundaries, delving into themes of social justice, Afrocentric spirituality, self-exploration, and the transformative power of art.


The Fact is that all individuals are relevant. The Fact is that groups of people are relevant. As a matter of Fact, women are at the center of paving fruitful paths for mankind to survive the atrocities of humanity in order to promote massive change for communal health and well-being. The artworks of Lopez and Nuruddin unveil the self, serving as a mirror, reflecting the diverse facets of the individual, and dismantling the limitations imposed by society. Through their bold use of various visual art media, the artists invite viewers to examine their own identities, encouraging them to embrace their unique stories and reclaim their relevance in a world that often dismisses their voices. With profound visual narratives, they ignite conversations, challenge perspectives, and inspire viewers to actively engage in the pursuit of equality and liberation for all marginalized communities, tapping into the sacred spaces within themselves and fostering a deeper connection with the world around them.

The opening reception includes drumming by FeminAfrika.

Also, a cash bar & light bites.

May 20 - June 10, 2023

  • 5/20 - Opening reception: Saturday, 6-9 PM
  • 5/30 - The Circle: Virtual artist talk, Tuesday, 7:30 - 8:30 PM EST
  • 6/10 - What t's Elephant Workshop & Tea Party Closing, Saturday, 2-6 PM


Details from works by Niki Lopez and Khaulah Naima Nuruddin.


Artist Bios


Niki Lopez is an Afro-Latina, Lesbian interdisciplinary visual artist, curator, and social practitioner. Known for her vibrant color palette, avant-garde exhibitions, masks, and a collection of works dealing with trauma and healing through the arts inspiring the creation of the transformative arts movement "What’s Your Elephant®". Lopez's recent mixed-media reliefs incorporate masks and mask elements exemplifying components of her meditative journey towards Afrocentric spirituality, self-discovery, reflection, healing, restoration, and social justice.



Khaulah Naima Nuruddin is a multimedia artist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who lives and works in South Florida. Nuruddin’s work explores the intersections of personal expression and social commentary by initiating public discussion of race, sexuality and the social transfer inherent to her work as a Black visual artist. Nuruddin earned her BFA from The University of South Florida and her MFA from Florida Atlantic University. She is an adjunct art instructor and serves as Curator and Exhibitions Manager for Spady Cultural Heritage Museum.

Thank you for your support

  • The Law Offices of Megan D. Widmeyer
  • Trish Delish Art& Jane Kreinberg, Fine Art Photography
  • #realestateologist Amy McGrotty, JD
  • Barbara and Fran
  • DJ Onestar


About 1310 Gallery


The 1310 Gallery at the Artspace Sailboat Bend Lofts, is a live/work art community in downtown Fort Lauderdale built by Art Space (artspace.org). Artspace’s mission is to create, foster, and preserve affordable space for artists and arts organizations. This 37-unit loft space houses both visual and performing artists. Sailboat Bend Artists Community has been open since April 2008.

The artists come together with various local artists, nonprofits, and art groups to create art exhibits, film screenings, workshops, and more in their three-floor gallery space.

Six times a charm - L’éléphant dans la Salle (The elephant in the room) art exhibit.

In the midst of my self inflicted whirlwind, I realized the only place I haven't covered my 6th annual art exhibit is on my own blog.  Within the art community that I have had the pleasure of residing since 2008, each month we have a month long art exhibit - curated and produced by various resident artists. A different artist is able to take charge of our 3 floor, 2500 square feet gallery space and create an art exhibit that can explore various art forms, local and national artists, themes, and partnerships.  We have also have non-themed community group shows that showcases all of the talent within out building.  

This year is my 6th year creating a month long exhibit and my second time teaming up with singer/songwriter Alana DaCosta.  We have worked on various projects and workshops together and it was just a beautiful experience when you have a kindred spirit with similar passions to create something magical with.

Photo courtesy Patricia Zapata
Co-creators of the L’éléphant dans la Salle art exhibit & #WhatsYourElephant movement
Niki Lopez and Alana DaCosta
As with previous exhibits, L’éléphant dans la Salle (the elephant in the room) is a month long art exhibit that combines local art, performance, & outreach.

Flyer for  L’éléphant dans la Salle art exhibit.
L'éléphant dans la Salle- (The Elephant in the Room) is an idiom for an obvious truth that is either being ignored, or otherwise unaddressed. The purpose of this exhibit is to provide a safe  place for issues and topics that are normally hidden from public view. Through visual and performance art, the artists participating in this event  will share secrets and taboos, discussing openly to find solutions for our own individual and collective emancipation. Viewers are invited to enter the 'Confessional', an interactive safe space installation to share their ‘elephant’.

Featured artists include: 
Community partners include: Community Partners: Drag It Out-(501c3), 2014 DaDa National Poetry Slam Team , Boys & Girls Club, local lawyers Ghenete Wright Muir, PJ Hitchins and Shenika "Nik" Harris, Dr. Sketchy's South Florida, Flagler Village Art Walk, and private donors.

Photo from the opening night of L’éléphant dans la Salle.
Performance by poet Maru

For more information on the exhibit as well as opening dates, click here

Included in this month long art exhibit was an opening night with performances by: Chaos Theory, DJ Onestar, Alana DaCosta, Maru, DaDa National Poetry Slam Team, Omilani and Melissa 'Moonchild' Stokes.  As well as five totally different openings:
  • Opening night with performance, song & Poetry
  • Thou Art Woman LGBT & friends poetry night 
  • Dr. Sketchy South Florida (drink & draw) that was a part of the Flagler Village Art Walk
  • What's Your Elephant Community Outreach Workshop & panel discussion
  • Closing: Performance, Open Mic & Live art, hosted by Alana DaCosta.
Some of the things we are doing with this exhibit or have in store for you:

#whatsyourelephant movement.  Creating provocative conversations around the unspoken.  A human experience project by Niki Lopez & Alana DaCosta. What’s Your Elephant? Community Outreach Project.  This community outreach project will provide a safe place for participants to share and heal as a community around issues that are normally hidden or uncomfortable. Participants will create a mixed media collage during this hands-on art experience. Workshop will demonstrate how expressive creative arts can not only help to heal self, it can also reconnect and strengthen communities. Through visual arts, poetry and dialogue, this community outreach project will be a safe platform for participants to explore uncomfortable issues that are oftentimes overlooked yet easier to received when revealed through the arts.

What’s Your Elephant? Panel Discussion- Professional artists and therapists will discuss the following focus topics: How can the creative arts help to heal self and reconnect and strengthen communities?

To participate in the #whatsyourelephant project, submit via: whatsyourelephant.tumblr.com or instagram.com/whatsyourelephant.  You can submit under your name or anonymously.  You can also send a direct message or email for us to post.

During the closing event, we will have some of the creations from the "What's Your Elephant Workshop" on display.  Stay tuned as we take the panel discussions online with periodic online panel discussions as well as pop-up on location workshops.

Creative Circle Tuesday's - starting with the artist and performers for L’éléphant dans la Salle art exhibit, I will be posting short artist interviews.  Sharing links, personal responses to the call "Elephant in the Room" as well as shearing some of the artwork on display.

Event video & photos.  We have a ton of images people have shared with us during one of the many events as well as the opening.

Are you on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram?  Look up the hastags: #lelephantartexhibit #whatsyourelephant for some images & sentiments behind the exhibit.

Photos and details on my new piece titled "Home Grown" a mixed media sculpture and installation dealing with child molestation within religious groups, organizations & cults.   One of my more personal 'elephants'.

One of the beauties of this exhibit in particular, is that we are being drawn in the path of many kindred spirits.  People wanting to share their 'elephants', acknowledging the importance and impact of this movement, and simply lots of smiles, tears & hugs.

I'm reminded of two of my favorite quotes"

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi

"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." -Kahlil Gibran

We welcome you to join us in this journey.

#staytuned

One Love
Niki







Love Thy Neighbor

Last weekend was great!  This month is jam packed with things to do and prepare for.  I'm currently a resident artists in a very unique and small art community with our own three level gallery.  This month is our first resident only group show in over two year.  Since 2008 members have been taking on month to curate, collaborate, and produce shows.  Every third Saturday of the month we have a new show opening up.  The beauty and the pain of it is that each artist who chooses (from the prior year via a voting system) a month must come up with the concept for the event, what type of event, opening nights, workshops, as well as build promotional materials and printed marketing materials for that show as well.  It has given me the great opportunity to collaborate with not only other resident artists, but as well as other local artists.  For a listing of some of my exhibits as well as curated shows, click here.  This is also the centennial of my historic neighborhood of which I'm a bored member so there are events being planned there as well.

Our community has a few groups of volunteers for events, artists reviews, etc.  Its all resident artists run so  we work and learn through trial and error how to work together or not, and just build.  Thus far, its been an interesting ride, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.  Last year we have had over 45 events, workshops, art exhibits, screenings, and life drawings classes as well as food drives and fundraisers for both local and international non-profit groups.

For more info click here

Love Thy Neighbor is the group show that consists of 28 of the Sailboat Bend Artists Lofts resident visual and performing artists.  Three major chances to see the exhibit with an opening night, afternoon opening, and a closing.  There is also a food drived to collect canned and boxed goods to be donated to LifeNet4Families with a raffle for small works of art donated by a few of the resident artist.

Love Thy Neighbor in local Arts blog Arterpillar

Opening night went great, it was such great energy!   We had about three separate raffles opening night for visitors bringing three items or more.  Music by hubby DJ Onestar.

A LifeNet4Life volunteer at the drop of table.
Then Thursday Feb 23, three neighboring associations had a District 4 City Commissioner Candidate's Debate and had the reception at our gallery afterwards.  So it was a great opportunity for some of the locals areas to view the art as well as a light social with neighbors and some really good carrot cake.  


District 4 City Commissioner Candidates Romney Rogers and Jacquelyn at 1310 Gallery
 with Sailboat Bend, Riverside Park, Tarpon River presidents, artwork: Claudia Polzer
Sounds On the Bend
If you are local there are only two more chances to see the eclectic collection of art and installation.  Sunday Feb 26 1pm-4pm during the Sounds on the Bend free music concert, which is happening along with a SBCA Walking Tour.


So lots lots going on.  Join us!  

If you would like to keep up with events, exhibits, as well as updates about my art and design- please join my mailing list by clicking here.

Things to come

Son Marley who sometimes has to paint while Mommy is painting
I have a focused commitment to this blog and really have a lot of great ideas to share with whom ever may read this and get a value, share an interest, or explore - to expand more here.  Develop more posts, explore, and share a little bit here.  Maybe put in a few loony stories of my life as a Mom, Artist, and freelance Designer working from home.  Or life as a part of an artists community.

Feedback is crucial and I love hearing from you.  So if you have any ideas, questions, feel free to shoot me a line.

Right now, I am doing a few things:

  • Taking care of my terrible two's, extra talkative sweetheart of a son Marley
  • Co-planner of our first resident artists group show in over two years (excited!) 
  • Painting like a Mad Hatter small new works exclusively for new Etsy shop
  • Framing my artwork for our group show "Love Thy Neighbor" opening this Saturday.
  • Reading and learning how to set up my Etsy the right way
  • A couple of design projects
  • Slowly refocusing and optimizing some of my personal sites
  • Planning and developing some ideas and direction for this blog
  • Cooking a few times a week a nice meal for me and my family
  • Figuring out how to fit in some met time
Its always seems to be not enough hours in the day.

Things to come:

  • Features- by fellow local artists, people who's work I admire, interesting stories, entreprenuers, and work from home Moms.
  • New artwork
  • History - some stories or inspirations behind some of my work
  • Past and current events
  • Art
  • Photography 
  • Design
  • Some note worthy client work and some horror stories (names omitted of course ;-)

In general just continuing to share.  This is a personal blog so keep that in mind if I tend to be a bit all over the place :-).  but I also want to hear from you.

So stay tuned and connect!

New Painting: "Phone Home" - alien art on Etsy


Good bye 2011-2012 ready or not...


Last year has been an interesting year for me with lots going on. The year started off with a bang, I was invited to participate in 3 shows- then it turned into 6 shows as well as being juried into a group show at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art!. ..... It was an honor and pleasure as well as a lot of work getting new work together, prints, prep and attendance. Here is a list of some of the shows from 2011:

2011 shows:


January 22 – “The Ellen Art Show” Gab Studio Wynwood Miami FL
January 29 – “Art Night Pompano”, Pompano, FL
March 10 – “Pieces of Jamaica” the LAC Gallery, Lauderdhill FL
March 26 – “Spoken Soul Festival” The Stage, Wynwood Miami FL
March 31 – “Sister 2 Sister” Old Dillard Museum, Fort Lauderdale FL
June 18 – “The Lynching Eye” Broward Historical Commission, Fort Lauderdale FL
July 16 – Curated show- Into The Rabbit Hole -1310 Gallery, Fort Lauderdale
October 1 - Be Inspired - Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art
October 13 - Hospitality Trade Show - Broward Convention Center
October 14 - Pretty in Pink - Delray Beach
December 17 - The Natural World, 1310 Gallery, Fort Lauderdale

Donated Art to charitable orginazations:

April 2011
- Donated original artwork for fundraiser event for OVERTOWN RHYTHM & ARTS FESTIVAL
October 2011 - Attended a workshop and painted custom Converse to be auctioned off for Sole +
November 19 - Donated two Fine Art Prints for fundraiser for Love Thy Neighbor


Along with new work I also focused on some work I have started a while back and reworked them as well as worked on some new ideas that I have been itching to try as well. For example in "Alice O Alice"
This is combing both photography and digital art. I have worked on similar projects in the past, however creating photomontage has until then been more of an aspiration and just thoughts i my mind of sketchbook then actual execution.


Finally took the steps to set up my Etsy shop. I signed up so long ago. I am still learning the ins and outs and finding out about teams, etc. If anyone has tips and tricks to share- I would LOVE them. If you have an Etsy shop, please list it below or send me a message and I will check it out and add you to my circle :-). For now my shop is located at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/nikiartstudio. Since I became on the roll with the shop set up, I also set up here: Shop Niki Art Studio. Hopefully I will have good news to report, for now- still building.


I also signed up and participated in a 10 week all volunteer program with a local non profit "Drag It Out'. I am always talking about how I hate boundaries, boxes, and labels and just love exploring, researching and creating. These classes was taught by professional Drag Kings and Queen all donating their time and talent. During the class you develop a charter and a number and at the end there is a Draguation and fundraiser for three charities this non profit supports. Please check out their link and see what they are all about. Fort Lauderdale New Times named them best non profit for 2011! It was lots of fun and hard work and made some new friends on the way. May another blog I will share some of my performance and custom- which I will at least say it was one of the most different ones out of the show and of course- out of this world and cosmic (my character was an alien of course).


As for family life, I had one of my sisters and nephew spend the summer with me, that was fun for me and little Marley - my two and a half year old son. Who also picked up conversation with a vengeance. He went from saying 'Mama' and 'Papa' to "Mommy whats so funny" and racing but ending it with "tag your it!". Its fun at times watching him grow, hitting all these milestones with lighting speed, at the same time it can be a bit overwhelming. I say I'm a Visual Artist and Graphic Designer, but truth is I'm a juggler. Juggling not only doing my art, but building my work, exploring, and learning, mixed with learning marketing the hard way, stay at home mom of a terrible two's, homemaker, girlfriend, under cover chef, social media, art shows and exhibits, art community, and family life while helping some of my fellow colleges .... SHEESH! the list goes on and on- it never seems enough hours in the day. But at the end of the day, I am happy, building and looking forward to 2012 and what it has in store. Tweaking things that didn't work, really pushing things that did, organizing, and have so many ideas. Making sure it doesn't collect too much dust in my sketchbook before making it happen. Painting, sketching, researching, cooking, cleaning, and spending time with my son. I'm ready!


Hello 2012!

Creative Coffeehouse's Exhibit: Self Portrait Portraits by Florida Artists

Come see which one of my pieces made it into this show. It is at the Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery. 10610 W. Oakland Park Blvd. The exhibit runs August 10-17 2011. Reception night is Friday August 12 from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Tickets are $10 and benefits the City of Sunrise Nonprofit.

Its a tribute to Michael Jackson 'Man in the Mirror/Women in the Mirror'. Artists range from children to adult. Read about it in the Sun-Sentinal here.

I have to give a special thanks to photographer David Muir who referred me to this art exhibit. Its always great to connect with good people.

Did you know?
I have a new facebook art page, please check it out and "LIKE" the page
Also
Finally taking the plunge and setting up my Etsy Shop, so check out my shop, and if you are on etsy, please connect.