illusive self is now alive!

Curating this show #illusiveSelf was an unforgettable experience to be expanded on when I stop moving around so fast.  The past 10 weeks since I was moving out of the NYC apartment have been so dense with experiences  that I have to accept that reporting fully on any of them will come way after - when I'm sitting still in Jamaica over the holidays...preparing for the last leg of this journey:  to Sierra Leone. 

But after all the hard work and challenges of this past week - the show is open and up, and the opening night was by all accounts a success!

For me the greatest rewards as curator are:

1) the artists are happy and feel proud of the show they are in.
2) the visitors sense the thematic continuity of the show and are intrigued, moved, and provoked by its content
3) the gallery director and other art professionals see a future in the concept and offer opportunities for expansion.

Well... Check.  Check. CHECK!!!

What more... what more could I possibly ask of God and Mother Universe for curatorial debut in New York City?  Nothing!   Well... hmmm... an NYT review would be nice...LOL

And now to packing, shipping, and preparing for the next show in Jamaica...as an artist... ;-)

Post by SeBiArt i•ma•gine | e•volve.

SeBiArt News: New Work/Shows, New Book, and Now Curating!

Coming full circle. 

Over a decade after graduating from my school as an  Acting/Theater major, I just showed my work in the Hewitt Gallery of Art at Marymount Manhattan College. 

This was really a personal milestone because I took photography elective classes here while pursuing my degree...NEVER intending to become a photographer. All thanks to Prof. Millie Falcaro who taught me how to do formal portraiture and dark room processing all those years ago, and who invited me this year to do this show. So fitting too that I showed my family portrait work, Neue Rootz, taken in Germany/Czech Republic 4 years ago,  just weeks before setting off to do the same trip again with my mom. In fact, I'm blogging this all from Nuremburg right now!

Just goes to show...you never know what the future holds. 

Life is kinda funny and neat like that sometimes eh?

 

 • • • 

 COMING IN OCTOBER

 Watch this space for show dates!

•

It's time again for ArtfromtheHeart with the Vanderbilt Republic

  

I have 3 pieces in the show

 ♡

 October 19th

Get your tickets HERE!

photo!

•


Finally The Other Hundred book release is upon us!

ReCap:

    
  
The Other Hundred is a book project initiated a few months ago by the pan-Asian organisation, The Global Institute of Tomorrow [G.I.F.T.] based in Hong Kong. 

A Worldwide photo-call was announced and featured on the BBC, explaining the reason for this work.  The Jury received over 11, 000 submissions from 158 countries...    100 were chosen.
I am one...for Jamaica...with a portrait of street artist and painter: Delroy Anderson
 
See The Other Hundred Website

 Book available on Amazon  

  • 

Branded, We Walk

New Solo Show

Sept 30 - Oct 28th

 NH3 Gallery/Splashlight Studios, New York

Music by DJ Belinda

Hors d'oeuvres by Sean John/Spur Tree Lounge

•

Guest curating the show  
illusive self 

at the Taller Boricua Gallery, NYC

"An interpretive visual conversation of immigrant identity

retention, destruction, and (re)Creation."

Submissions now open through October 1st
 

 Artist Announcements October 15th.

Show Opening Nov 15th

More Info here:

~ About the Show

~ Guidelines

~Application

Conceptualized by Guest Curator: Berette Macaulay

Gallery Director: Fernando Salicrup

• • • 

 COMING IN NOVEMBER

 • 

New Solo in Jamaica!  

More news on this a bit later...



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If you have trouble viewing the content of this post, please visit the blog directly: http://sebiart.blogspot.com

Thank You

SeBiArt News: from the Bat Cave :)

Bursting at the seams so straight to it!

1)
A few weeks ago I was one of 4 artists* accepted by jury into the Annual Mutual Gallery SuperPlus Under 40 Artist of the Year competition in Kingston, Jamaica. 

I'm working in an entirely new image making process for a project titled:   

ReKON: differenzierte Möglichkeit (trans. Reconstruction: Differentiated Possibility). 
It is most arduous, frightening, and fullfilling process on a daily basis - and I'm quite certain the finish will be an unexpected aesthetic to us all.   Such intensity requires I be quiet and staunchly disciplined to get through it...hence "Bat Cave".

here's a sneaky peek from the inside:

2)

Three images I shot earlier this year in downtown Kingston (Trench Town, Tivoli, and the Waterfront) were accepted for the annual JCDC/National Gallery of Jamaica competition.  I received the bronze prize for Waterfront Divers on Kingston's Edge this past Sunday.  Yayyyyyy!  This work will be up through August at the National Gallery of Jamaica - if you're on the island check us all out.

3)

In the last couple of weeks I was informed that my portrait work series Neue Rootz was selected as 2nd place winner in CCNY's 2012 National Annual Juried Photography Competition!!  I can hardly believe what I am typing - I'm still soaked in shock.   The jurors were Elisabeth Biondi - who over the last 20 years worked at The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Stern, and APERTURE as the Visuals Editor, Director of Photography, and contributor respectively, and in other distinguished roles in publishing and academia. And the other juror, Martine Fougeron - is an accomplished fine art and editorial photographer/contributor to the New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, and New York Magazine.  I'm completely elated to have them view my work - let alone select me for 2nd place.
                            
Quote from the email notice:  

"We are happy to say the jurors, after many hours of carefully considering each entry, felt that your submission was particularly strong, and that you have been chosen as the second-place winner of this year’s competition. Congratulations on behalf of the entire CCNY board and staff!"

 OMG!!!

The winning spots are 1st, 2nd, and tie for 3rd place plus 12 honorable mentions.  Congrats to all the artists, who I'm sure are as excited as I am. 


See official announcement on the CCNY website.

---

4)

I submitted work to the Vanderbilt Republic (whom I showed with last year at 25CPW Gallery) and made it through the curatorial and voting phases - yayyy - so I will show with them again this month in AFTH 2012 (Art From The Heart)show at their new Gowanus Loft Location in Brooklyn, New York. 

These folks are the most playful and sweetest group of seriously solid quality artists around - because the founder of VR, George del Barrio sets the energy that way.  Light light light!

http://vanderbiltrepublic.com/

5)
Last but so not least - I just got back from Costa Rica. I went down to breathe sweet life into a new multidisciplinary project collaboration with local friend actor/artist Olger Ignacio Gonzalez and NYC friend/dancer/teacher/choreographer Roger C. Jeffrey.  It's a baby of a project now, but this was such a beautiful and INTENSE creative trip that it will have its own post later in the year after further development.  But for now - think dance/film/photography/social-art project.  Yummy-liciousness.

Roger snappin' lights of inspiration - hahaha :)

Lft to Rt: Roger, Margarette, me, Olger. As you see we got to hang with my mama too!

 

Roger and Olger: Plaza de la Democracia

More photos + show dates and gallery locations coming up in another post soon.

This year keeps slapping me and hugging me at the same time people! Happy Summer to you all - hope to see you at a couple shows - and live-life-live-life-live-life and lift someone in a hug too while you're at it!

*Other 3 artist in Mutual Gallery show in November:
Olivia McGilchrist, Leasho Johnson, and Marvin Bartley

RELATED POSTS:

Next SeBiArt Show - New York City/Central Park West (Nov 2011)
SeBiArt News: Running on Joy (July 2011)
SeBiArt Getting Award for LIQUID (July 2010)

 

Support Post: Michaela DePrince - Salone Orphan Turned Elite Ballerina (ABC News)

this has everything for me  - #MindtheGap when following a dream, DANCE DANCE DANCE, and a story of both from my beloved country Sierra Leone.  Thank you Justin for sharing this! Oh my heart... 

View video interview with ABC here: 

 African Orphan Turned Elite Ballerina | Video - ABC News

Michaela DePrince is featured in the just released documentary "First Position" filmed at the famed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater here in New York City.  I can't wait to see this.  

By the way, another remarkable story of a young phoenix rising from the ashes of Salone's rebel years is world renowned writer Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier who penned his gripping story of survival and evolution in a most heartbreaking, candid, and poetic account: A  Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.   A beautifully moving and unforgettable read folks, seriously.


NB.  If you are seeing this in your email reader, you must visit blog to view embedded video. Thanks :)

Related Journey Posts:
-SUPPORT POST: Another Modern Salone Pilgrim (February 2011)
-SUPPORT POST: ArtsLawRoundUp (August 2010)

- My Bliss is Dance...what's yours? (April 2009)

Adopted Yank and iPad Published

Two quick bits of change folks:

1)  I'm officially a Yankee -  I was adopted by the United States of America as of Dec 13, 2011 at 10:20 hours.  Should be interesting coming up with a new acronym of identity now along with all the other nations I claim - haha!!  JABAG???

2)  Some of you may have heard already,  but here it is again, I have a new article featured in an iPad App Magazine, Small Talk.   

I was commissioned to write a feature length article on Fuerza Bruta in the late fall for their 4 year anniversary, complete with photos and video, titled:  The Spirit Dreams When You Look Up.   

    

that's my shot from Fuerza Bruta on the iTunes page!  YeeHAW!

So if you have an iPad, ...which funny enough I don't...lol - please check it out by either purchasing the current issue (only $2.99!!), OR, just subscribing for the year on iTunes (just $19.99).   It's a great mag covering arts, entertainment, and culture world wide and I will be working with them on upcoming issues, so hop on it! 

Direct Link:  Small Talk Magazine on iTunes

Next SeBiArt Show in Miami + first time Art Basel Visit

First to my US of A readers:

 ...and be careful on Black Friday guys - I somehow doubt all those deals are real...or will remain real after 6am. Like I heard someone say - those shopping 'deals' will be around next week too, so if you have the day off, sleep in.  Shop later.  Hahaha!

Okay folks - so here it is - news of the next.  I'm so excited; so stressed; so overwhelmed with gratitude. And so UNDER the PRESSURE to kick ass at this show people!!  I've never been to Art Basel Miami Beach week and I'm pleased to announce that thanks to my beloved Art for Progress, I will have my first experience as an exhibited artist.  AFP is presenting 15 of their artists at the Fountain Arts Fair during Basel week from Dec 1st - 4th.  

white box frame for the pieces - sample for Herman

In preparing for this show, I've been tested in every exercise of faith, and come through  victoriously with unquantifiable and indefatigable support from a number of people. First off my patrons* who made donations to this effort thereby enabling me to meet the cost of participating in the show. And to my family - wow do I come from a seriously supportive family.  

I decided to support the local economy of my beloved Jamaica by having the pieces printed by master Jamaican photogs Franz Marzouca and Jeremy Francis, and to have them framed by Herman van Asbroek of Amaicraft (both located in The Trade Center, Red Hills Rd, Kingston, Jamaica).  These guys have handled my work superbly for previous shows, and since I was doing this essentially in the dark (from New York), it just made sense that I do so with familiar guides.  And no matter the preparatory choices for this, shipping my art was an unavoidable part of the process - perhaps the most frightening part of all.  I just confirmed today however that the pieces arrived safely. YeeeeHAW!!!  Thanks Bernadine, Marjorie, and Carmalita!

After 3 weeks of fundraising, frantic emails, phone calls, and panic attacks - it's all come together and I can finally breathe. Two pieces chosen for the show are from my series you've heard and seen bits about over the past year, BRANDED ...therefore I AM. I finally finished it in Denver's Civic Center Park this summer with a portrait of budding young illustration artist, Hans DeHaas (seen below on the show postcard[click for larger view]). I also have to send out appreciative words to all who participated as models and assistants in this project.  I hope to name every single one of you when I blog next year about the solo baby!! Hear that Mother Universe. Manifest. In'sha Allah.


SOoooo...pleeeeeez spread the word on this guys, whether you can attend or not. According to The Economist,the Fountain Art Fair is "The way an art fair should be".  So if you will happen to be in Miami from Dec 1st thru 4th, or know anyone down there (particularly collectors!! hee hee) - come one and all and support the AFP artists!!  

AFP Artists at Fountain Art Fair:  Sol Kjøk | Berette Macaulay | Juan Manuel Pajares

The Miami Art Week breakdown and Fountain Art Fair sweet talk from ARTSLANT - SO excited!

FREE iPAD app for the Fountain Art Fair - how cool is that??!!!  Download HERE

Exhibition Location:

 

FOUNTAIN ART FAIR
2505 North Miami Ave
Miami, FL 33137

Exhibition Schedule:

Thursday, December 1 

12pm - 5pm 

VIP/Press Preview

Friday, December 2 

12pm – 7pm

Open to the public

7pm - midnight 

Opening Reception with curated music program

Saturday, December 3 

12pm - 7pm

Open to the public

Saturday, December 3 

7pm – midnight 

Party with curated music program

Sunday, December 4 

12pm - 5pm 

Open to the public

*A special word of thanks to my patrons without whom my part in the Fountain Arts Fair SERIOUSLY would have been impossible.  Thank you for supporting me and my ability to show my art.  You have instilled great confidence in me to keep creating and sharing my work by validating me with your fiscal assistance.  It sure does feel good to be a funded creative.  Eternal Gratitude.

Berthan Macaulay, Jr.

Margarette May Macaulay

James Joseph

Bernadine Simpson

Martyn and Jenny Marriott

Steve "Urchin" Wilson

Gertrud Kretzschmar

Robert Sinclair

Raxann Chin-Anguin

Janice Thompson

Shirley Hawkinson

Mark Pergola

Rachel Tinguely

Merle Bassie

RELATED JOURNEY POSTS: 


SeBiArt News: Running on Joy (July 2011)


Some talk about a new project...'BRANDED' (Oct 2010)


Ideas That Boggle The Mind (July 2010)


Ku-ing the States of Fear (April 2010)

Show Follow Up: AFTH with The Vanderbilt Republic

So my debut last week with The Vanderbilt Republic at 25CPW Gallery was a wonderful success.  The pop up (one night only) gallery exhibit entitled Art From The Heart was seen by over 500 visitors which is what you call a kick ass event man!  And as I understand it - there will be a book featuring all the work of the artists in the show, which will be available via VR's Artifacts Store.   I suggest checking it out.  With such a large group of shooters represented, it is truly a rare thing to say that all the art was good.  But seriously, ALL the art was good - it felt great to be in such company.  Jo-Anneke van der Molen (curator) made funky use of the space and represented us well.  

AFTH/Vanderbilt Republic photos at 25CPW Gallery by Justin Lynch

And now that the surprise is over with (remember I didn't know what they were gonna show from my submission packet), the piece they chose was a pinhole camera portrait I took of Mark Sink this summer.  YeeHAW!!! And I STILL have yet to blog about THAT experience - IE.  my Pinhole and Collodion Wet Plate apprenticeship with Denver based master shooter - the Sink himself.  Once I'm outta the pressure zone with these shows that will come...

...next up: Fountain Arts Fair during Art Basel Miami Beach week! 

Art From the Heart 2011 from The Vanderbilt Republic on Vimeo.

RELATED JOURNEY POST: 

Next SeBiArt Show - New York City/Central Park West! (Nov 2011)

Next SeBiArt Show - New York City/Central Park West!

Hey guys - here's a flyer for my next show - it's a pop up gallery group show Art from the Heart(AFTH) with a really cool new organization called the Vanderbilt Republic (VR).  AFTH is in it's 2nd year and it's going up in a uber sweet spot - 25CPW Gallery (click here for their FB page).  It's gonna be a treat - come if you're free, up for buying some affordable art, or just ready for some fun!

Oh and what I'm showing is a surprise even to me - they selected one piece from my batch of submissions and refuse to tell me which one! Anyway you can preview some of the pieces (mine not included) at the link provided above. 

More online information can be found through these links. 

The press release: http://vanderbiltrepublic.com/pr

The Facebook event: http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=197593476984040

 Check out this Vanderbilt Picture Story preview featuring the curator Jo-Anneke van der Molen at work - if you squint and concentrate you'll see some of my work!  haha

AFTH2011: First Look from The Vanderbilt Republic on Vimeo.

As always - thanks for your support PEOPLE!! 

Oh - and stay close by - more news coming your way about my next show in December...in Miami!  YeeeeHAW!!!  

♡♡♡

Acting in Evolution

This is new kind of share (and update for some of you) about a most timely and beautiful opportunity I had this summer.  I'm always going on about 'the journey' and usually a very internal and personal one at that - with the occassional dash of work/professional news.  But as these two aspects of our lives are intrinsically tied - I must share this recent and particularly meaningful connection. 


I have been excavating a whole heap of stuff over the past couple of years, and one aspect of my past has been left unexplored:  acting.  It's kinda ironic, but not entirely uncommon, to find myself on a professional journey that has little to do with my course of study in college: Theater Arts.  I have certainly created real connections between this and photography, in so far as how I develop my work, and how I attempt to go about the business of creating it.  The principles of collaboration that I seek always to work by, come directly from the culture of the theater world.  But acting - well, this I have not done for some years now. As I often would put it when it came up:  I haven't spoken text on stage/on camera for....  

As I've been on my other artistic explorations, I've missed acting, not sharply mind you, but rather, I've been aware of its absence as a form of expression.

My friend Danae Grandison, another soul-searcher/explorer and accomplished graphic designer, decided to switch gears and explore the artform of film making.  Her first film, Unconditional Love, is a work straight from the highway of personal explorations, directly from the heart, a beautiful distillation of what it means to come out on the other end of a growth passage emotionally in tact, and in fact, to find yourself utterly in love with life and all the vicissitudes therein; to arrive at acceptance, wonderment, and open curiosity to what comes next.  We can only be in such a place when we are willing to release the past, and thus the expectations it invariably breeds for the future.  


I auditioned at precisely the right time for the part in this 2 minute short - when I could understand the meaning of such a personal evolution.  It was also therefore, the right project to bring me back to this art form.  Oh the connectivity!  


Danae's work premiered at SVA (School of Visual Arts) at the end of her film course this past August, and she received the Audience Award for her work.  I was so chuffed too of course - haha! 


Here's our Labour of Love - which was shot in the New York City heat wave of 115ºF!  Not easy, but totally cathartic.  Thank you for this journey Danae!








 
Unconditional Love from Danae Grandison on Vimeo.
Time to release the bags you collect along the way...

Featuring Berette Macaulay
Written and Directed by Danae Grandison
Edited by David Lee