An exhibit that explores the making of portraits and self portraits. How they reveal the inner workings of both subject and artist, and the world we live in. Curated by: Carey Clark, Joanna Garcia and Rosa G. Santúa Eye to I is based on the cumulative work of the THE POINT ARTS CLUB that has been meeting since November 2022. Through an agreed upon system of shared leadership meeting to meeting, the predominant theme became portraits and self portraits. The centerpiece of these was through the leadership of Ji-Eun Lim - Collage Self Portraits, This was the medium that captured the imagination of the arts club most, and several have sustained their efforts over several weeks.
“The exhibition as a whole is a portrait of a place, a time, and interactions that are defined by employing the imagination to solve the many problems we face.”
At the HeART of THE POINT is and has been, for 20+ years a showcase of works accomplished in the previous year by the many artists that inhabit the space: young people, staff, program participants, visiting artists. The exhibition as a whole is a portrait of a place, a time, and interactions that are defined by employing the imagination to solve the many problems we face. This year, the excitement of the Arts Club getting together after almost 3 years of not meeting brought new life to this session of drop in art-making that spanned from November 2022 til now, and will resume in October, 2023.
This very local arts scene has been many iterations over the years, but this year was influenced by two professional artists/teaching artists whose original roots are Korean. David Yonghwan Lee and Ji-Eun helped to instigate the idea of alternating leadership. Their voices were added to by, for example, three generations of the Trim family, who live across the street, all great artists, and longstanding members of THE POINT clan. Others were completely new to THE POINT, Dayja and Kofi and his nephew Julian. Xavier Hool popped in at the end from Switzerland with “portraits” of our neighbor Arthur Aviles in a series of woodblock prints of Arthur directing a dance performance. Arthur was a one of the founding artists-in-residence at THE POINT, lives next door to THE POINT with our amazing Mrs. Ross, some 90 + years old.
Ashanti Meade
Artist’s/Curator’s Statement / Bio:
Originally born in Charlotte, NC I moved to many southern states before landing here in the Bronx when I was only 12 years. Prior to moving to the big city being creative and doing art was already a passion of mine. Early on my family noticed my creativity and would always get me painting kits and sketchbooks for christmas to get me in the artistic zone. Not only was drawing a passion of mine but at around 9 or 10 years old I even started scrapbooking/collaging. My scrapbooks mainly consisted of collages of things I enjoyed rather than keepsakes and day to day memories. My family has always been supportive of my art and doing art in general. However even though I had experience doing these types of art I wasn’t really as consistent with it. Any art I did would mostly be in school and for school projects but rarely for my own pleasure due to perfectionism. That is until moving here, within my first year here I was introduced to the art program here at The Point CDC. My cousins were already heavily a part of many of the programs at The Point since they first opened their doors. So due to that many of the mentors and people here embraced me with the warmest of arms. Being here gave me the freedom to express my art in any and all ways that I can. Whether that’s collages, painting, oil pastels, photography you name it. Not only did it give me freedom to express my art, but it also gave me the freedom to make mistakes. In this setting the Bob Ross quote, “No mistakes just happy accidents”, really came into play. Here there are no bounds to the things you can do, learn and achieve. Any “mistake” made was never really a mistake because like art's true form you can turn anything into a masterpiece.
Art will always be there.
Ashanti Meade
Medium: Mixed media, fabric, beads, magazine clippings, paint and thread. July 2023
Ashanti Meade
Medium: Mixed media, fabric, beads, magazine clippings, paint and thread. July 2023
Dayja Ferreira
Artist’s Statement:
When I’d think of the word “artist” I’d envision someone with some paint and an easel. However, with age and maturity, I've come to understand that we’re all artists (creatives) in our own way. What started as an unexpected invitation, turned into a therapeutic escape I look forward to every week. Up until working on my collage I battled with overcoming this unrealistic idea of making everything “perfect”. Even though I grew up hearing Bob Ross’s encouraging phrase “happy little accidents” it was one of my biggest hurdles I've jumped since coming to The Point. When I look at my college, I have an insane amount of pride in when I overcame mentally to let “Dayja” shine.
Bio:
I’m a 27 year old overthinker (working on that…) Born and raised in the Bronx NY, I (like any other new yorker) knew hustle pretty early. I’ve always aspired for “more”, professionally, spiritually, socially etc. I’m certain that God has a special hand in my daily life and always nudges me in the direction I'm supposed to be in to meet who I’m supposed to. From graduating HS late, dropping out of college and having worked at more than 15 places I've come to learn that all adversities have a seed of equal or greater benefit, IF you keep an open mind and heart. Fast forward some time, I’ve obtained my massage therapy license, networked and earned mentorship from multi millionaires and pursued a modeling career; walking for fashion week, being scouted and currently preparing to model overseas. Moral of the story, it's not over till it’s over and God’s timing is the perfect timing.
Dayja Ferreira Title: Self Portrait
Medium: Mixed media, fabric, beads, magazine clippings, paint and thread. July 2023
Rosa Calè Gardenia
Artist’s Statement:
This self-portrait piece is the first artwork I created at The Point. Drawing upon the diverse elements of my mixed identity as a Puerto Rican with Taino, African, and Spanish ancestry, as well as being a Queer Gender Non-Conforming person, I wanted to capture my all in that moment, meaning every element is intentional.
I admit this artwork portrays a hyper-feminine version of myself; I don't always dress or act as such, hence the fact I tend to fluctuate in my expression. But that was the expression I presented myself as when I first participated in one of The Point's first art workshops. The workshop's influence, combined with my exploration of a creative and empowering new space with a rich history of people creating, inspired the creation of this piece.
I intend to capture my expression as a way to let people know that I come from the island and queer people DO exist there as well, that queerness is not a byproduct of the United States' imperium. Queerness exists in all ancestral lineages and will continue to exist until the end of the human world. By presenting this artwork and sharing a part of myself I hope to educate and for others to see themselves reflected on my experience.
Gracias.
-Rosa
Bio:
Rosa Calè Gardenia is a Queer Multidisciplinary Artist from Puerto Rico; who works in diverse mediums, like fashion, sculpture, painting, collage-making, and others. Gardenia was awarded the title of Artisan at the age of 10, being recognized as the first child in their town. At that same age, they started taking after-school classes with two local artists; in visual arts and wood sculpting. In 2018, they took an interest in fashion design and received lessons on the basics of pattern making and sewing on machines. That term, peers elected Gardenia to a leadership position to be the creative director of the student-organized ONU organization. They coordinated three activities, the celebration of Ancestors' traditions, recollecting money for UNICEF, and Mental Health awareness accomplished with an innovative outlook. With this previous knowledge and self-taught skills, they moved to New York City. They got an internship at the Studio Museum of Harlem, where they learned it is one of their interests to be an Art educator. That same year, 2022, they worked at the New York Embroidery Studio and discovered the settings of mass fashion production. They also have served as an Art teacher in activities for the neighborhoods of Queens, Harlem, and The Bronx. Gardenia has presented their work at Brooklyn YAS Coalition, The LGBTQ Center, The Bronx Museum, and The Bowery Poetry Club.
“él YO”, mixed media, 06/2023
David Yonghwan Lee
Artist’s Statement:
I want to build my own beliefs and perspectives about life and the world.
These beliefs are based on my personal experiences and the knowledge I have gained throughout my life; beliefs that reflect the realities and values of the 21st-century lifestyle and my current circumstances.
I hope that my beliefs and insights can be helpful to others, serving as a guide for someone else's understanding of life and the world.
Bio:
David Yonghwan Lee is an American artist born to his Korean parents whose body of work currently focuses on a figurative painting that represents personal experiences of relocation for a living. Lee earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from the University of the Arts in London in 2018 and is currently pursuing his artistic career in New York City. He was invited to exhibitions, including Clyde & Co Art Award, organized by Clyde & Co, a law firm in London, for supporting emerging artists and their artistic career legal decisions; Urbanites Sofia held at Cultural Center Generator, a contemporary art space in Sofia to support new creative generations in Bulgaria; and We are Shinjayeonist! held at Moonlight Art Warehouse in Damyang, South Korea, to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the Shinjayeon movements (a Korean art movement based on awareness of nature within a self). Last year, he presented Nomadic pop-up: How's your day?, a solo exhibition at St. James Park, as the recipient of the City Artist Corps Grant. Recently, he has been participating in a public social engagement art event Building Together as part of three public art events Shared Dialogue, Shared Space organized by the Korea Art Forum partnered with Franklin Furnace.
Title: Leaving Edens Medium: Acrylic Date: 7/12/2023
Title: Self Medium: Magazine cutouts, Newspaper cutouts
Date: 3/29/2023
Ji Eun Lim
Artist’s/Curator’s Statement:
I contemplate myself in silence. As a human, who will still be incomplete until dying, I need to reflect, consider, and be aware of myself as I continue to grow older. I have been attempting to look at myself through an objective lens. The process of my work stimulated me to contemplate my values, attributes, emotions, and thoughts which dominate me and ones which I try to pursue on all such occasions. Geometric shapes, which I have created and developed for a couple of years, originated from the letters of my name both in the Korean language and the English Alphabet. I looked at all the consonants and vowels as abstract geometric shapes and simplified them; the structures visualized are tools of my own pictorial narratives. All the forms, arrangements, and variations represent myself as well as what all human beings can empathize with. Starting in 2022, visual expressions have been expanding in a wide range of abstract imagery where my perception resonates concerning trivial, but significant, objects with more color choices and variations.
Bio:
Ji Eun Lim is an artist-educator based in New York from South Korea. As an artist, she became aware of the artistic potential of cardboard as a used material through her thesis research and teaching art in NYC. She recognized the infinity of using “used cardboard.” Cardboard was the material that stimulated her students to make their creations playfully. This motivated her to collect cardboard to create her visual narrative. During the progress of her work, she intensively contemplated herself as a human, artist, and art educator. Her inspiration is also expressed with other media, painting on canvas and wood, from 2021. As an art educator, she pursues to motivate students to explore their self-awareness through her teaching art. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art for Communication Design at Hong-ik University and a Master of Education for Fine Arts Education at Kyung-hee University in Korea. Before studying abroad in the States, she taught visual arts and art history for five years in many private art studios and public schools. She earned her second master’s degree––Master of Arts in Teaching, Art Education––at School of Visual Arts in NYC. Since 2018, she has been teachingdiverse art lessons integrated with multi-disciplines such as science, history, social studies, and other cultures in New York. She dedicates herself to not only her artwork but also to her students and colleagues by sharing her art creation, teaching, and diverse cultural experiences that she has gained in Korea and the U.S.
Medium: Magazine cutouts, paper cutouts Date: 3/29/2023
Joanna Garcia
Artist’s/Curator’s Statement:
Prior to visiting The Point, I didn’t spend a lot of time dabbling in other forms of art. To me, a photographer was all I would describe myself artistically. To challenge myself and rethink my photography approach, I decided to explore other arts I found solace in. Eventually that journey took me to joining arts club at The Point. I used my arts club time to meet other artists and get some handy tips from them. One of the biggest doubts was my skill at portraying someone else and myself in a non-photographic way. With the guidance and support of other arts club members, I began to accept what I can do and not judge my downfalls. Something that is transferable from art to life.
Bio:
Joanna Garcia is a New York city based photographer and artist. Her photography journey started when she attended Appel Farm in the summer of 2008 and took photography classes. Her photography knowledge expanded when she attended the New York City College of Technology in the Communication Design program. After graduating she continued to photograph primarily in the style of street photography. During the pandemic Joanna became a student of ICP at The Point online in the winter of 2021 and eventually a teaching assistant for ICP at The Point teenager class. Outside of photography, she also likes to attempt other forms of art like watercolor painting and life drawing.
Title: Self Portrait Medium: Newspapers, Silk Dye, Paper Scraps
Date: 3/29/2023
Title: Portrait of Pepper Negron Medium: Markers and Pencil
Date: 2/01/2023
Mark W Pinckney
Theme:
My work, reflects the inner spirt of the diaspora.
Bio:
Studied at the Arts Students league of N.Y. 89, 91. Practicing artist for
over 30 years in abstract.
Title: Etosha Medium: Pastels and acrylic mixed medium
Team
Carey Clark
Hatuey Ramos-Fermín
Joana Garcia
Rosa Calè Gardenia