Sunday, December 16, 2012

Brick City Project!!


Hi all....stopping by to wish the current studio residents mucho love on their artist journey this season.

Also, Brick City Project makes an appearance in Metro 29 art show still goin on now for all who havent seen.  Stay tuned for more photos as i get closer and closer to completing the 1st installation of BCP....(super excited).....stayed tuned also for future  appearances by other bricks as the momentum gains.  Newark Museum and a few Nyc galleries are jus the appetizers  for this artistic cuisine. There are big, BIG plans in the making so keep your fingers crossed and your hearts open for whats to come.  Peace and Blessings....Malik

Friday, December 7, 2012

Art from the Outside Looking In


I would not consider myself someone who knows a lot about art. I love museums and galleries and frequent them often and I’ve taken an art history course in college (and loved it), but I don’t have extensive knowledge or a strong contextual art background to legitimize the way art speaks to me amongst the art community. But do I have to? I might not get it. I might see something and say, why? But isn’t that what is most important? That the artwork in front of me is making me think? While walking around the current show installed at Gallery Aferro, there was art that I “got” under my own pretenses, and there was other works that were, perplexing. Nonetheless, the space is beautiful and the show as a whole, was provoking and inclusive to all types of art. There is something for everyone. I think that art is a personal experience and that everyone has their own individual connection or misconnection to each piece.

I wouldn’t consider myself necessarily as a visual person. When I see things, I don’t necessarily feel things. The pieces that spoke to me the most had words and sounds, had an actual voice I could hear and read. As a media studies major, one of the most thought-provoking pieces was located on the floor in a black basket on the second story. Shani Peter’s Reagan, The Revolution, and Me explored her own personal “socialization and understanding of blackness and family through references to media and imagery I absorbed as a child.” Her piece exposed how the black family was translated through media, and it was eye opening. It struck a chord within me. I don’t necessarily know what chord that was, but do I really have to? It made me feel.

So who am I and what is this post all about and why are you reading it? My name is Brady Smith, a senior at NJIT in Newark and Gallery Aferro’s new social media intern! I’m excited to join this great group of people and learn in this new world of art that I’ve only topically explored. So if you see me around the gallery, feel free and say hi, or tweet me at @smithbradym (shameless social media plug). 

Monday, December 3, 2012

Mana Contemporary

I had time on Sunday to take a trip to Mana Contemporary for their open studios.  One of my neighbors (Frank Gavere) from Parkway Studios in Bloomfield now has a space in this Jersey City oasis.  

The first floor was holding a small Keith Haring exhibition.  He is an artist that I have not given a great deal of thought, but being able to see a body of work up close and personal helped give me a new appreciation.  The first floor also houses an area where an artist can have crates made for their shipping needs.

I believe there are six floors to the building, but I only took a look on the 4th where it seems most of the artists have their studios.  The elevator opens up to a gourmet cafe.  There was a great Allison Schulnick painting hanging in the hallway.  

The artists' studios varied in size with some of the bigger names having huge spaces.  One artist had the biggest printers I've ever seen.  There was a dance studio as well where a demonstration was taking place.  

Mana is an impressive space and has every amenity an artist can imagine.  I don't know if all of it is necessary, however, to do good work.  It is worth a visit though; http://www.manafinearts.com

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Anne Q. McKeown

Besides doing her own great work, Anne is the Master Paper Maker at the Brodsky Center for Innovative Editions. Here is an article about her recent collaboration with El Anatsui.