Creative Circle Tuesdays: Louis Davis

Self portrait of Artist & Photographer Louis Davis

Name:  Louis Davis

Website: louisdavisart.com

Facebook Page: facebook.com/louisdavisart

What is your medium:  Photography is my base medium

What type of art do you do?  I construct new stories from my photographs to represent something usually totally different, in the tradition of collages, photomontages, digital art, activist art and storytelling.

The Encroaching Wilderness - by Louis Davis

What inspires you?  Almost everything, but mainly books and other visual images.  However, quite often i might be walking or even driving when I see an image and it triggers a memory or an idea.

What pieces did you include in the exhibit "L’éléphant dans la Salle" and why? I showed 3 images in that show. One was a cutdown from a larger piece called "maintaining our way of life", which deals with fast food and obesity and how it is exported throughout the world. The cutdown, which is a small section, is a remake of a very iconic image, and was used to illustrate the real role of the united states army. another image, still untitled after many years, is an image that just falls together visually, but which i have yet to find a reason behind. yet, it turns out that many people react emotionally to the work. the third image, "who is the terrorist?", is in response to how easy we label people and groups terrorists, while the word is simply based on perspectives.

Louis Davis - Who is the Terrorist

Louis Davis - Untitled

Louis Davis - Maintaining our way of Life

Self taught or traditionally trained?  I am not sure what traditionally trained is, but I am self-taught.

Abandon Hope by Louis Davis

Share one thing that has impacted your work?  My activism is central to my work.  So anything that affects the plight of the poor or the environment is likely to be seen in my work.  The computer surely impacts my work because without it, much of my work would take a different form and direction.  

Name one thing we may not know about you or your work?  That its not as easy as it seems.  Many people can create images but often, many images don't have a 'soul', a sense of being.  Achieving palpable meaning is not easy.

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? Aaah,could we delete man?  Ok,that's apparently not going to work for the purpose of this.  Remove greed.

If you had access to a time machine, where would you go?  Hm. Not sure I want to go forward because seeing the future might not be a healthy thing.  So it has to be the past.  Have to think about when, where and why.

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring creative, what would it be?   If the person is visual, then I would asy, look at images constantly.  If the person wants to be a writer, I would say 'read voraciously'.  If the person want in on music, then listen.

If you could have one super power,what would it be?  Mass hypnosis, ala Mandrake the magician.  If you can influence people's minds, then you don't need a weapon.

Social Media drug of choice?  Facebook is the only social media I use though at times, I'm often loathe to use it.  Most of the others are too smart for me and twits shouldn't use twitter.

Creative Circle Tuesdays: Judy Polstra

Artist Judy Polstra

Name: Judy Polstra

Website: judypolstra.com

What is your medium(s): primarily mixed media/found objects

What type of art do you do? Visual: mixed media 3-d

What inspires you? Beautiful music, especially classical. I’m a wanna-be pianist. Classical, jazz, and the blues never fail to inspire me.

What pieces did you include in the exhibit "L’éléphant dans la Salle" and why? (please share some of the story behind some of the work)

The System by Judy Polstra

1.   “The System” miced media installation- Inspired by stories about DCF (Dept. of Children and Families) and CPS (Child Protective Serives); children were identified as being in troubled or dangerous homes. They were then lost in bureaucracy and ended dead- since no one followed up after the initial report. Additional stories about the VA ((Dept.) of Veterans Affairs) where our Veterans are denied or severly delayed medical treatment; big banks and “corporations as people” are more Systems that leave carnage in their wake.
2. “Put Your Fingers in my Hole’ –neon sign- I came up with these words after I was car-jacked by two criminals at gunpoint. While I was not hurt physically, the aftermath left me traumatized and afraid. I spiraled into a deep depression and I just wanted the pain to stop. I felt like I had a giant hole in my gut and psyche. When the words popped into my head, the double entendre made me smile. Most everyone who sees it smiles or giggles, thinking it’s a sexual innuendo. The smiles and comments of watching others helped the healing from the ordeal to begin.
3.  “We Do”- plaster wedding cake- a tribute to gay marriage, showing 2 grooms and 2 groomsmen. Why this is still a taboo to ANYONE baffles me.

Dying to be Beautiful by Judy Polstra

Self taught or traditionally trained? Self taught. My mother was an oil painter, so I grew up surrounded by art. I’ve been drawing and painting since before I could walk.

Share one thing that has impacted your work?  Volunteering for Hospice, the murder of a family member and my car-jacking experiences have given me the clarity to embrace my mortality. It’s also given me the courage and strength to be more fearless in my art and life in general.

Support to Halt Aging Process by Judy Polstr

Name one thing we may not know about you or your work? I am a wanna be Buddhist and Vegan. Both are lifelong works in progress.

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? That all living beings be free from suffering.

If you had access to a time machine, where would you go?  Vienna, Austria in the late 1700's early 1800's to meet and know Beethoven.

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring creative, what would it be? Never give up on your passion, because you WILL want to. And follow your inner voice. It’s wiser than you realize.

If you could have one super power, what would it be? Flawless intuition

Social Media drug of choice?: Facebook. I don’t tweet and have never tried Instagram

Creative Circle Tuesdays: Mr. Rigz

Mr. Rigz performing with a three-piece jazz band and the Ars Flores String section

Name: Mr. Rigz

Website: facebook.com/misterrigz

What is your medium(s):  Music and Poetry

What type of art do you do?  I try to focus on simple, universal themes, but present them in big, powerful, yet conceptually detailed ways.  So, to take a simple idea, layer it with a lot of sympathetic emotions and then throw in some "easter eggs" for those people who are really paying attention.

Mr. Rigz

What inspires you?  My past, my family, friends, people around me, finding myself in random situations, other poets, "underground" music, creative professionals, nighttime shenanigans

What pieces did you include in the exhibit "L’éléphant dans la Salle" and why?  I did a lot of my usual poetry pieces.  Honestly, I don't know that I necessarily was trying to match the "Elephant" theme, but I find Spoken Word lends itself to be a very cleansing art form, in general.  So by just speaking our stories, I feel like it was a good fit.

War Within - Mr. Rigz

Self taught or traditionally trained?  Mostly self-taught.  I've taken bits of musical lessons here and there, but nothing too permanent.  I've maybe taken 1 or 2 poetry classes in my whole life.  And I've been trying to go to more poetry workshops, but usually it's more for the community and connection, than to learn things.  Maybe I get some good reminders of things to think about or focus on.  And also, I like to get new resources to note and use later.

Share one thing that has impacted your work?  It changes.  In the past, it would've been things that happened to me, or to the people around me.  Nowadays, it's more about the connections I'm making with people.

Name one thing we may not know about you or your work?  I never really considered myself an actual poet until just recently, maybe within the past year or so.

A Perfect Grain of Sand - Mr. Riz

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?  I'd end poverty.  I don't see any point in it.  Some people honestly try to justify that for some to be incredibly wealthy others have to be poor.  And then when you start to put that on a global scale and compare wealthy countries to entire countries, so entrenched in poverty, that they don't have clean water or proper schools, I think you realize how unnecessary 10 bedroom mansions are.

If you had access to a time machine, where would you go?  I'm not sure Paris, New York and Chicago in the 1920s.  Maybe I'd go back and try to meet Jesus.  Or hang out with the ancient Egyptians or the Mayans.  Maybe ancient Ethiopia.  

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring creative, what would it be?  Work on your art everyday for at least 30 minutes.  If at the end of thirty minutes, you have nothing then go take a break, but at least devote 30 minutes to your art everyday.  There are a lot of things that happen in the short term and the long term that improve your art when you make a daily commitment to yourself.

If you could have one super power,what would it be?  Some kind of space and/or time control.  Like that ability to phase to and from different places without having to take the time to drive there would be pimp!

Social Media drug of choice? Right now it's facebook just because that's where I get the most interaction.  But I'm trying to branch out more.  For instance, I just started a project on Instagram.  In order to motivate myself to get back into playing drums again, I learn at least one song every week, film myself playing and then post the clip up onto Instagram.  It's actually kind of big commitment for a small 12 second video, but the true benefits are reconditioning my hands, body, lungs and mind into that particular mode of creative thinking and muscle memory.  The Instagram project is just a public way of holding myself accountable to continuing the discipline and a fun way to document my progress.

Jasmine Sweet - Mr. Riz feat. Anon De-Evolution

Creative Circle Tuesdays: Kim Heise

Artist Kim Heise

Name: 

Kim Heise

Website: 

Kimheise.com

What is your medium(s):

I like to use mediums and techniques that produce strange, otherworldly results, because I love looking at artwork and wondering how it could have possibly been made.  I use watercolor, oil and acrylic painting with brushes and knives, pastels, monotype and printmaking techniques, and I often combine one or more of those in one painting.  My paintings are usually large because I’m able to achieve more of the affects I desire when working with many of the mediums at that scale.  A dialog between the art and the viewer is also more person-to-person at that scale, which is something I’ve always loved about large pieces, so it’s a double win for me.

What type of art do you do? What inspires you?

I like how using strange techniques and mediums causes the hand of the artist to become obscured, creating distance between the object and the creator, which causes it to seem to take on a life of it's own. I love William Blake, Walton Ford, Kehinde Wiley (and other modern artists one might find in a more socially acceptable artist’s list of inspirations) but stories and fairytales are my main inspirations.  I spend large chunks of my time reading, watching TV, or browsing through illustrations and art online.  These stories have a huge impact on me emotionally, and for a large part they inform how I understand the world around me.  A few standouts: Hayao Miyazaki, Peter S Beagle’s The Last Unicorn, Dr. Who … Probably every movie, TV show, book or painting has made some impact on my life, many are precious to me. Recently, the problems of the world have been inspiring me to think about my artwork from an activism standpoint.  There are so many things that need to change. I think we are at a point in history where we all need to be doing something about something, and since stories affect me so deeply and personally, I believe that storytellers like artists and writers have a huge role to play.  I believe each new generation needs stories with which to connect to, and so the creation and telling of the stories will never end.  What gets me to pick up the paintbrush is the belief that I can tell a good story, or tell an old story in a new and meaningful way.

What pieces did you include in the exhibit "L’éléphant dans la Salle" and why? (please share some of the story behind some of the work) 

The pieces I submitted to the exhibit are part of an inquiry into anger that began a few years back.  I was really upset about violence at the time and was trying to do research to try and understand what was going on.  The idea that hatred and anger are root causes of violence stood out to me.  I set out to tell stories that would vilify hatred and anger in ways that I felt the stories around me had failed to do.  I used animals in a symbolic way, like fairy tales and folktales do, to try to illustrate these concepts in a way that anyone could understand.

Better Things 1 by Kim Heise

Better Things 1 by Kim Heise

In Better Things 1 and 2, two parrots are fighting each other and are so absorbed in knocking each other’s brains out that they don’t notice that snakes are everywhere.  The birds should be working together to fend off the snakes, or at least fly off and avoid the danger altogether.  Instead, they are focusing their attention on something much less important.  When I made this piece I was mostly thinking politics, and the two parrots were made red and blue to symbolize democrats and republicans. That same concept of being too angry and distracted to see the big picture evolved to become broader, more overreaching and less specific as I continued to address it in subsequent pieces, like in Snakes.

Just Mist by Kim Heise

Just Mist, a monotype depicting a stampeding elephant ignored by a rabbit in the foreground, was also included in the show. This was the last piece I made in that series, Inspired by Matthew Richard in his “Habits of Happiness” TED talk in which he said “Instead of looking outward we look inward. Look at anger itself. It looks very menacing, like a billowing monsoon, cloud, thunderstorm, we think we could sit on the cloud, but if you go there, it’s just mist. Likewise if you look at the thought of anger, it will vanish like frost under the morning sun. If we do this again and again, the propensity, the tendency of anger to arise again will be less and less each time we have dissolved it. And at the end, although it may arise it will just cross the sky like a bird not leaving any track.” That really touched me and made me feel hopeful about our capabilities as human beings to overcome evil, and that was a thought that went on to inform the series of artwork that followed. 

Self taught or traditionally trained?

I do have traditional training; as a child and teenager I took art classes at the Coral Springs Museum of Art, and then I studied art at FAU with a concentration in painting, although I also took several printmaking classes, including monotype. For the most part though, I learn a new medium through my own experimentation.

Share one thing that has impacted your work? Name one thing we may not know about you or your work?:

Something that I don’t normally share is that I’ve been struggling with tennis elbow for the past few years.  It prevents me from doing as much artwork as I would like, much less actually.  I go months without picking up a pencil to sketch anything because I physically cannot do it.  It has certainly impacted the way my art is being made right now, making it very tricky to work at the large scale I enjoy working at.  It has changed my process as well. I work much slower now, and use mediums that flow rather than those they require a lot of pressure to apply.  I’ve been slowly improving, and I am expecting be able to do some large paintings this fall.

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

If I could change one thing about the world, I’d make people more compassionate and loving toward each other and the environment.

If you had access to a time machine, where would you go?

If I had a time machine I’d probably go see dinosaurs.

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring  creative, what would it be?

My advice to an aspiring creative would be to exercise regularly and eat lots of vegetables, and recycle.

If you could have one super power, what would it be?

I’d like to be able to fly.

Facebook:

facebook.com/KimHeisesArt

Instagram: 

@kimsartandstuff

Creative Circle Tuesdays: Allison Kotzig

Artist Allison Kotzig (Irreversible Magazine)
Photo credit: Leonardo DiTomaso for Irreversible Magazine

Name: 

Allison Kotzig

Website: 

kotzig.com  

vimeo.com/allisonkotzig/videos

What is your medium(s)?

Sex store vaginas, video

What type of art do you do?

I make feminist protest art and video that explores trance states.

What inspires you? 

Social activism for my feminist protest art and the beauty and mystery of trance states for my video work.

Art patrons L’éléphant dans la Salle art exhibit reviewing
Oh Wait We have a Better Idea - Allison Kotzig .

What pieces did you include in the exhibit "L’éléphant dans la Salle" and why? (please share some of the story behind some of the work) 

I was lucky enough to have 5 pieces in. Oh Wait, We Have a Better Idea (panels 1 and 2), Leuprolide, Pitch to Win! and You Bastard.

-Oh Wait We have a Better Idea is just a funny piece that made in response to the overwhelming horror and negativity we can all see in the world. In this piece, in the 1st panel, the babies are crawling out of a vagina and in the 2nd panel, they are crawling right back in!

-Leuprolide is a discussion of the medicalization of fertility and the way in which capitalism has taken over health care to the extent that during IVF, the woman's womb is stuffed with fertilized eggs for reasons of cost-efficiency. Leuprolide is the name of a common fetility drug. The panel shows a vagina stuffed and teeming with babies, almost like a hive.

Pitch to Win! I have a masters degree in Medieval History and really love medieval imagery, I did a series of shadow boxes using Hellmouths from medieval illustrations. I cut out the space and placed my own message inside. Pitch to Win! is about the carnival-like atmosphere surrounding male access to women's bodies. There are countless books and sites devoted to showing men how to make an effective pitch to gain access to women and sex, so I just made this piece as if it were a carnival midway game, with medieval imagery underlining the antiquated attitude toward intimacy shown by the narrow focus of "scoring" sexually.

You Bastard is another funny one. Its about being dickmatized (or otherwise sexually in thrall to another). I used the theatre-like red curtains to indicate the extreme drama of being in this situation.

Self taught or traditionally trained?  

Self-taught 

When Vaginas Ruled the Earth (detail) - Allison Kotzig

Share one thing that has impacted your work?

The way in which it is acceptable for womens' sexuality to be viewed in the media and that is through the lens of violence. Natural women's body parts are strictly forbidden (the national brouhaha over Janet Jackson's nipple showing for 2 seconds) but rapes and abuse are very common; I can barely think of a movie or tv show that does not casually feature violence against women. There is something extremely perverted and obviously very wrong with that.

Here be-monsters (detail) - Allison Kotzig

Name one thing we may not know about you or your work?

I find a lot of it very funny and not at all shocking. It is only when I bring it out to show that I realize that sometimes other people find it very controversial.

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

All people and animals would enjoy equality and live beautiful lives. 

If you had access to a time machine, where would you go?

I'd rather travel interdimensionally!

Ouroboros -  Allison Kotzig

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring creative, what would it be? 

Don't be afraid to show your work to people! 

If you could have one super power, what would it be? 

To beam justice, light and love into the hearts of all creatures 

Social Media drug of choice? 

Facebook: facebook.com/AllisonKotzig

Allison

Creative Circle Tuesdays - Artists Interviews

Living within an artist community since 2008 as well as participating in the local art scene, I have crossed paths with so many creative people.  Some I have collaborated with, exhibited with, had their  work in some of my previous art exhibits, or just simple appreciate their work..  Utilizing my blog as a platform, I will be sharing their art as well as some questions to get to know the artist.  Often times in exhibits,  people will come to view the work, but seldom do they get the opportunity to meet the artist, find out meaning behind their work, as well as the ability to connect to the artist.  I am hoping to change that, one artist at a time.

Introducing: "Creative Circle Tuesdays" A series of artists interviews to be postedTuesday starting with the artists from the current exhibit L’éléphant dans la Salle (the elephant in the room) Art Exhibit. A month long art exhibit created by Niki Lopez & Alana DaCosta at the 1310 Gallery, where each artist took on issues and topics that are normally hidden from public view.  Using visual & performing arts as a medium.  

Have suggestions for interview questions?  Want to recommend a visual or performing artist to be interviewed? Send me a message here.

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: 

• Louis Davis
• Judy Leeson Polstra
• Allison Kotzig
• Kimberly Heise
• Sonia Baez-Hernandez
• T.J. Brow
• Niki Lopez
• Alana DaCosta
• Omilani
• Klodi Lemoine
• Gregory Dirr
• Corbett Fogue
• Michael D. Colanero (of Uncommon Gallery with photo series .. Breast Cancer Awareness Body Painting Project.

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

Painting with a purpose: Evening of the Arts 2013

     Its been far too long since my last post.  There is so much to update and do, I sometimes fall short on the very thing I hammer into my web clients: BLOG.  So the intentions is catch up within the next few months.

    With that being said lets start with a recent and fun art project.  I love being able to combine a reason to create with a charitable cause so when I can- I offer some work, volunteer, or create new work specifically for some great causes.  To see some of groups I worked with click here.

   Last month, on a random visit to another artist's studio I came across a project I had to participate in.  A local performance school Muse Center for the Arts had used pointe ballet shoes that they needed artists to paint as a part of their big fundraiser night.  Being an old ballet buff and a former art teacher at the school, I jumped on the opportunity to decorate a pair.  

     The Evening of the Arts 2013 was benefiting Children & the Arts in Broward County through The BRAVO Foundation for the Arts.  The night included many wearable art, prints and originals auctioned by Hamilton Fine Arts, find food by many local restaurants as well as performances, dance rehearsals, and monologues.
      I really enjoyed painting the slippers and played around with different colors and textures.  Instead of priming the slippers which would have made the entire shoe stiff and wanting to keep some of the original fabric and movement - I used many layers of fabric stiffener on the front part of the show, and left the original fabric showing through on the back of the slippers.  I also painted the inside a playful bright color and used contrasting swirl patterns on the inside.  Finally I wrapped and the strings on the front of the slippers to a whimsical curl.

    Below are some shots of the painted slipper along with my trusty side kick Marley who wanted to pose with the slippers.

Painted pointe ballet shoes by Niki Lopez

Artist bio next to silent auction item

My 4 year old Marley posing next to painted pointe ballet shoes.

Showing some of the inside destails

Close-up of the ballet slippers

     I'm happy to report, my slippers was one of the ones sold at the silent auctioned and a personal highlight was when one of the ballet dancers said she would love to dance in my slippers.

Are you on Instagram?  Connect with me @nikilopez19 #nikiartstudio

 

Culture Clash

The past couple of weeks/months have been a roller coaster for me.  Culture Clash, my fourth major curated show at 1310 Gallery in the Sailboat Bend Artists Lofts of which I have had the pleasure of being one of the original members.  Finally getting certified as a working artists within my county. Ton of great information from the Broward Cultural Division.  This year, i've teemed up with new member Asanyah Davidson of Circa24, and over 10 talented artists, and tons of local collaborations and sponsorships.  As well as a first piece in a new series for me which is a big step from being locked away in my sketch book for ever 3 years.  

I really tried to have fun and be more intentional with my art, directions, and creations.  One of the artist from the show and I had a phone interview and write up with the Sun-Sentinel.  So just a ton of great energy surrounding the show.

Asanyah Davidson & Niki Lopez

Each week has a different theme and focus so its been an interesting ride.  Opening night we had a 2 designer fashion show by Circa24 and Adjanie, my super talented cousin Profound Breadth out of Atlanta joined us, as well as special performance by life mother alien singer, host DellaCamera of Nakedown , and over 200 art patrons, artists, and friends.  The following week we had a day tour with some young adults who was talking about creativity in school.  They were able to tour the gallery, walk through some open studios, participate in a demo by resident photographer Tabatha Mudra, as well as get some critique of their work by working artists.  Sunday there was a Tea & Fashion panel discussion and clothing swap.

If you are local and reading this, we have two more events Saturday, August 4th at 7-10pm we have Dr. Sketchy South Florida with Betty Pickle with Charlotte Sundquist of South Florida Artist Association.  The closing will be August 11th at 7-11pm.  We will have a open with along with some performance and spoke word by a youth dance group, Alana DeCosta, Mr. Rigz, DellaCamera, Vibez, and  Mori.

Below is some of the info from the show:

Facebook RSVP

Facebook RSVP

Video clip from opening night of Culture Clash: Art, Fashion, Aliens - Niki Art Studio + Circa24

Profound Breadth

Circa24



Niki Art Studio & Circa24 presents: Culture ClashArtists transform cultural expectations with unexpected artat 1310 Gallery: 1310 SW 2nd Court, Fort Lauderdale FL 33312 - map

Visual Artists Include: Niki Lopez Greg Gibbs Greg Dubois Kareem Piper Yudelka Tavera Courtney Mason Detourbutterfly Andrew Ackermen Tatiana Castaneda Simone De Bernard Mas Micheal Anthony Clark

Dates: Sat 7/21 - 7pm-11pm Opening Sun. 7/29 3PM- 6pm - Tea & Fashion Panel and Clothing Swap Sat. 8/4 - 7pm-11pm - *Dr. Sketchy South Florida* Sat. 8/11- 7pm-11pm -Closing Betty Pickle at Dr. Sketchy - 1310 Gallery/Sailboat Bend RSVP on facebook

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Culture Clash explores how modern influences affect our perspective of unexplored truths and ancient tradition. Art, fashion and aliens. What else do you need?    “Culture Clash gives us a platform to bring diverse groups together and cultivate positive energy,” says Lopez. “I have a different way of approaching art shows and pick art that reflects the vibrancy and energetic aesthetics not always seen in galleries.”  Lopez (Artist & Designer) is also known for exploring the concept of “alien” in her work. To her, alien isn’t just about the cosmos. “We’re all aliens in some way, not just feeling out of place in this new economy, but being transplanted in new surroundings and having new frames of mind. At our root, our ancient knowledge is alien to us, and it’s my job to help people rediscover it.”   Her co-curator, Asanyah Davidson, creative director of the apparel company Circa24 LLC, found a synergy with Lopez’s mission. Her fashion line is described as fierce sophistication, and she’ll reveal her new Grace Jones-inspired evening line on opening night.  Opening night performances include Live Art by: Atde Crossroadz Edible delights sponsored by Raw Fusion Catering, Divine Cupcakery and Meatless Lasagna		Sign up for Niki Art Studio's mailing list here Sailboat Bend Artists Community's mailing list here Facebook for Nik Art Studio here Facebook for Circa 24 here
Ask anyone who knows Niki Lopez and the first word they use to describe her is “community”. A founding member of the 1310 Gallery in Downtown Fort Lauderdale, her studio is a meeting place for church pastors, youth workers, LGBT activists, artists, entrepreneurs, singers, poets, and folks just looking to have a good time. Saturday, July 21, she brings all those interests together in “Culture Clash”, the 4th show she has curated at 1310 Gallery. Lopez (Artist & Designer) is also known for exploring the concept of “alien” in her work. To her, alien isn’t just about the cosmos. “We’re all aliens in some way, not just feeling out of place in this new economy, but being transplanted in new surroundings and having new frames of mind. At our root, our ancient knowledge is alien to us, and it’s my job to help people rediscover it.” Davidson also teaches fashion design, and encourages her students to be leaders in the field. “Fashion is a vehicle to communicate culture and change a person’s perspective about themselves,” says Davidson. “Sometimes expressing culture leaves people feeling alien from the collective, but being apart also means standing out.”  About the curators: Niki Lopez is a multi-disciplinary visual artist, graphic designer, and art teacher. Her often 'other-worldly' art has been featured in local and national publications, as well as exhibited across South Florida. She is an Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale Alumni, member of the Broward Arts Guild, and Artspace’s Sailboat Bend Artists Lofts. Asanyah Davidson is a Fashion Designer born in Clarendon, Jamaica, is owner of Circa24 LLC. as well as Adjunct professor at Ai Miami (Fashion Dept) and Broward College (Continuing Education Dept). Circa24 promises the convergence of simplicity, lush-sophistication and feminine lines that deliver distinction and command attention.  Check for links in City Link, & Newtimes  Arterpiller South Florida Times Some images shall be posted here on facebook