Captivating images and striking textures and textiles are the hallmarks of a new exhibition celebrating Black History Month opening this month at the Landmark Pop-Up Town Gallery in White Rock's Central Plaza.
unity in diversity It features the expression of black history through “textures, oils, textiles, and collages” by a collective of six artists.
Organizer Na Sheka will be joining fellow artists Crystal Noir, Adeline Puffon, Colin Patrick, Devon Mars and John Hall for the show, which will feature everything from stylized realism to surrealism. It focuses on things and explains aspects of Black history and experience.
Sheka, who was born in Vancouver and raised in White Rock, said she was happy to be able to bring together five other artists who are just as excited as she is to bring “the conversation about Black history” to the Semiahmoo Peninsula. Ta.
Also read: Sightline: White Rock exhibit showcases diverse photographic styles
“My background is in the fashion industry, so my personal artwork has to do with fabrics,” she explained.
Through her website (http://linktr.ee/naasheka), Sheka designs garments in Ghana, including ceremonial “Kente cloth'' and wax resist-dyed “wax cotton'', which are hand-woven in colorful Ghanaian designs. (Proceeds from some of her products will be donated to building a library in Ghana).
“Inspired by my heritage, this logo represents the collective spirit and consciousness of the African Diaspora, past, present and future.”
Let's take a closer look at #Canucks Black Excellence logo, designed by artist Naa Sheka (@Naasheka). pic.twitter.com/UMGHOh7rqY
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) February 5, 2024
She was recently commissioned by the Vancouver Canucks to design a “Black Excellence” Canucks jersey for the team's Community Night event (February 15th), and a fashion hoodie featuring her logo design. Limited collections are also on sale.
Noir (instagram.com/crystalnoir.art/) describes her work as an Afro-Surrealist oil painting that “depicts ongoing colonial violence and mental health issues within BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) communities.” “It explores the interplay of disparities.''
Her powerful images that tackle systemic racism feature images of beautiful black faces with the tops of their heads above the eyes missing or erased in some way, and she says, “If the mind is blind, the eyes are blind.'' It represents her theme of “uselessness.” ”
Poufong (adelinepoufong.com) says her art explores “conversations about identity, belonging, and self-worth” and promotes healing and unity.
“My work is a dynamic reflection of my personal journey and finding my creative voice,” she says.
She notes that Poufon's compelling portraits increasingly incorporate elements of nature, exploring the juxtaposition of faces and bodies with landscapes, foliage, and rock patterns.
Patrick's (collemo.art) loosely drawn but artistic works often incorporate text and “delve into the realms of lifestyle, spirituality and pop culture,” he said.
“I think of my portfolio as a living diary that describes the people, places, and things I interact with, and visually explains the thoughts and feelings that emerge from it.” comments Patrick.
“This statement-and-response creative style pushes the conversation beyond the work and artist to the viewer and the outside world.”
Mars' (instagram.com/realdevonmars/) highly iconic fantasy landscapes utilize imagery from a variety of sources, with his preferred field being “Afrofuturism/Hip-Hop iconography” added.
Incorporating elements of performance art, his paintings use media such as aerosol and gouache to emphasize both bold color and dynamic line movement.
Meanwhile, Hall (jhallx.com) works in the fields of mixed media, collage, and oil painting.
But rather than appropriating images, he finds colors and textures in each material to create his own highly individual palette, which includes everything from portraits to seascapes and landscapes, still lifes and urban studies. Apply to meditative works.
unity in diversity The exhibit will be on view until Saturday, February 24th at the gallery, 16140 North Bluff Rd.
