The boom of interest in Black fine art sounded from a bomb that exploded sometime in the 1980s. So many fra pieces were floating around that they see to be falling out of the sky, and most of us rushed to pick up at least one. Now that the dust has settled and we are well into the next decade, younger Black artists, particularly here in New York, continue to exhibit their work. With fewer art "shows and sales" to finance the creative process, some are seeking alternative spaces to share their vision of our lives.
Two men, both age 28, have created a show in Brooklyn. Renaldo Davidson and
Katro N. Storm
met as fellow exhibitors at artist Paul Goodnight's 1991 Howard University art show. Their paths continued to cross in the following years and eventually a profession- al friendship ensued. During that time, Katro co-founded
Artists With Out Limits (A.W.O.L.)
, an art production company, in Boston. Now A.W.O.L. is featuring Renaldo and Katro's work here in Brooklyn. As A.W.O.L. co-founder Marc H. Holt explains, the company seeks to organize what he calls today's "urban contemporary renaissance." Holt further explains that these men, "came together because [they] got tired of seeing negative images of young African American men.
"It was stigmatic." he said. "We were doing positive things, and we for to show it." This Brooklyn show definitely meets that goal. Both artists work with bold clarity in depicting the way we see ourselves.
Renaldo uses strong color in his work. His "Grandma Cleaning" sits and gazes at the viewer, her arms crossed like Buddha's legs, her face as full as his famous belly. Those gazing eyes carry the wisdom of Buddha while her hair symbolizes ancestral knowledge. It grows in locks like the roots holding a family tree, as a libation seems to pour out around her face.
Another of Renaldo's oil pastels, "Chillin'wid my 'Chicken' Part II," pays homage to the famous Harlem Renaissance era photograph of a young boy posed with his arm around a live chicken.
Katro also captures the priceless beauty of our heroes in his oversized portraiture. The elegant strength of his acrylic black-on-white "Frederick Douglass" pulsates with the abolitionist's own resonance. With both oil and acrylic portraits, Katro covers a full range of personalities that influence young Black minds, from hiphop artists
"Biz Markie"
and
"Slick Rick"
to political ideologues "Eldrige Cleaver" and
"Malcolm X at the Window."
Several private collectors attended the opening. The Brooklyn loft is certainly alternative. Located at 566 Atlantic Avenue near Flatbush, the second floor apartment's living room will continue to function as a gallery throughout July. Private viewing is available by appointment. Call (718) 582 - 4171 for further information. Pieces range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. Whether you'd like to invest, add a touch of beauty to your home or office, or simply gaze at young talent, this show is definitely worth seeing.
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