Category archives: Contemporary art

  • Gregory Siff, "You" ink, oil, crayon on canvas 2019 After missing the December shows in Miami, I was determined to get out and see what New York had to offer at Armory Week. I had planned to attend the Art on Paper opening on Thursday, but I wasn't able to make it. So, Saturday was my day to get my art fix. I got an early start with the idea of beating the crowds and catching up with some artists and curators I haven't seen for a while. Michael Flomen, "Full Moon Rain, Number 3," 2016 First stop was Plan B, which was one of the smaller shows- a pop up art show created by a group of gallery owners when Volta was cancelled. Sometimes you can find some really intriguing work at the smaller shows. For example, this piece by Michael Flomen ("Full Moon Rain, Number 3") caught my attention. It's quite minimal, but very creative. The Canadian born Flomen collaborates with nature using photogram's to create these unique pieces. The black pigment, cracked surface and contrast got my initial attention and required a closer look. The other artist that caught my attention at Plan B was Jongmin Joy Kim, a NYC transplant from Korea. His expressive, colorful abstract work was fun and had a street art vibe. Jongmin Joy Kim, untitled, 2018 Our next stop, which is usually very good in Miami was Scope. I did attend Scope in New York in 2018 and found it to be disappointing. So, I was curious to see how the show would compare to last year's show. Upon entering, the [...]
  • Federico Guzmán (AKA Fiko) has become an iconic figure in Western Sahara, utilizing the platform art offers as a vehicle to promote peace and social change to the Saharawi people. Guzmán treads between a soldier of solidarity and curator of cultures emphasizing on gatherings, art, and experiences that will induce an exchange of ideas and collaborations between artists and wherever his projects realize, and the local community. For twelve years Guzmán has co-organized ARTifariti The Arts and Human Rights Encounters of Western Sahara in the African desert "as a way to explain the circumstances of the Saharawi people " creating a "weapon of visibility" to a story not globally known by many nor should be hidden from the public eye: and with projects such as ARTifariti one sees the opportunity to include foreign narratives and artists distanced by unfavorable political circumstances into the art world”. The selected artists demonstrate couth in human rights and its relevance within the arts, but more importantly "are confronted a reality" that is life-changing from personal to professional, receiving a surreal cultural exchange with fresh perspectives and resilient power from the Sahawari people (especially from the matriarch figure whose role is to lead the community). During 2018's visitation in the Sahara, the artists delve into intense creative processes of art-making, finally exhibiting and documenting the work(s). Collaborations are accessible on the list of act[...]