2020: The Show Must Go On!

ARTISTIC NOISE

2020: The Show Must Go On! EXHIBITION CATALOG

2020 turned out to be a challenging year to say the least. As an organization and community, we were faced with a level of uncertainty like we never encountered before. So, our End of Year Exhibition looks a little different this year. What usually took place in person at a gallery, was exhibited online only. Some programs were cut short, others were not able to begin, but our A&E Program persevered.

On March 16, 2020 we held our last in-person art workshop at Artistic Noise for the programmatic year. At that meeting we provided our A&E Youth Artists with art materials, project lesson plans, food, and support as we watched our city completely shut down. Our youth displayed unrelenting resilience while experiencing this global pandemic and adapted well as we scrambled to move our programming online. They dealt with anxiety, high emotions, loss of loved ones, as well as loss of social interactions.

Once we officially resumed our workshops after testing online platforms and lessons, we were blown away with how our Youth Artists kept the work going!

This exhibition catalog represents the year as our Youth Artists lived it and celebrates their determination and strength. Through the title, they demand “2020: The Show Must Go On!"

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Advocacy Portraits

SVA Mural Project

pg. 4

pg. 8

Self-Guided Projects pg. 15 Pillowcase Project

pg. 23 2

Arianna............................ pg. 7, 12, 16 Bishop....................................... pg. 27 Eleiona............................. pg. 5, 13, 14 Eli.............................................. pg. 24 Imani..................................... pg. 6, 10 Ivan.................................. pg. 5, 13, 14 Joe................................................ pg. 9 Kadijah..................................... pg. 28 Nazzir................................. pg. 19, 25 Samantha................. pg.6, 10, 20, 26 3

Advocacy Portraits Taking place in our Harlem Studio, our Art and Entrepreneurship Program (A&E) Youth Artists kicked off the year with an advocacy portrait project. After several weeks of studying works by portraiture artist Kehinde Wiley, youth discussed personal narratives and the impact visual arts has in social advocacy and storytelling. This project centers around our Youth Artists creating space to advocate for others, who may have had similar experiences in the justice system or society in general. After imagining how they would like to be visually represented in a portrait, youth were asked to select a social justice issue or person they would paint. Subjects selected were Colin Kaepernick, Meek Mill, Cyntoia Brown, and Chrystul Kizer, all of whom were involved with the justice systems. Two selected the specific issues choosing to highlight causes in an abstract way, such in the example of Lessandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz, who was a casualty of gang violence and the image of a hospitalized person, to show inequities within our healthcare system. Highlighting wrongful incarceration, police brutality, medical neglect, and mass incarceration was very intentional by our youth. Led by Teaching Artist and Program Director, Sophia Dawson, the Youth Artists gained experience creating a work of art from start to finish; researching the subject, stretching and making their own canvas, and creating the image.

Some of the portraits are unfinished. This is because of our program disruption in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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"This portrait is centered around recording artist Meek Mill, who is a strong advocate for criminal justice reform. His experience has shed light on corruption and wrongful conduct within the justice system."

- Youth Artist Eleiona

"Colin Kaepernick, is a former professional football player and advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement. Kneeling during the national anthem, he brought awareness to the oppression of people of color within the United States."

- Youth Artist Ivan

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"This portrait depicts Lessandro 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz, and is advocating against gang violence.

Junior was killed when a Bronx gang mistook him for a rival gang member.

Since his death, the community in the Bronx and elsewhere rallied around the Guzman-Feliz family, demanding justice for the 15-yearold boy, who dreamed of one day becoming a detective.

Neighborhood organizations and non-profits were created to serve youth in the community and offer anti-violence education."

- Youth Artist Imani

"This is a double portrait depicting Chrystul Kizer and Cyntoia Brown, in order to raise awareness for domestic violence and sex trafficking. Kizer, was recently released from jail after awaiting trial for two years. Her case has received widespread attention from supporters and activists. Cyntoia Brown was sentenced to life in prison at age 16 and in 2019 was granted clemency by Gov. Bill Haslam after public outraged at her incarceration."

- Youth Artist Samantha

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“This piece is about spreading awareness for people of color who are denied proper healthcare because of their low income or the color of their skin. The person shown in the picture is nobody specific, more of a general outline of a POC.” - Youth Artist Arianna

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What if...?

SVA Mural Project During the 2019-2020 academic year, Artistic Noise continued its partnership with the MPS Art Therapy department at the School of Visual Arts.

The SVA Mural Project provides the young people of Artistic Noise with an opportunity to openly claim space and leave their mark in a reparative way. The murals created by our youth artist explore issues of racial oppression, climate change, social injustice, and other “what if” scenarios that have affected their lives. They are a call to action for the viewer to explore different ways of looking at the world.

Over the course of the year, faculty and staff from the MPS Art Therapy department build trusting relationships with the youth artists of Artistic Noise. They assist our youth with creating the murals and hold discussions addressing underlying themes of race, power, injustice, and bias. The department also hosts community events where Artistic Noise youth artists share their stories and experiences on their terms, while educating others on their creative process. The partnership, now in its third year, allows our youth to understand that their needs are important when historically, the system has told them otherwise.

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Mural by Joe

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Mural by Sam and Imani

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“We are strong young New Yorkers. We believe major problems in our society are racism and ignorance; people who are hypocritical, dishonest, stubborn, judgmental, unwelcoming, closed-minded & disrespectful.

Our collaborative murals ask the question, “What if…?”

What if we work together to create a better place? We ask you to join us by listening, asking questions, having patience, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, learning, agreeing to disagree, surrounding yourself with positivity & passionate people, making art, & having fun.”

— Youth Artists: Arianna, Eleiona, Imani, Ivan, Joe, Nazzir, Samantha

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Stop Turning Nature into Garbage

by Arianna

“What if… The world ends from climate change?”

- Youth Artist: Arianna 12

I hAtE iT hErE

by Eleiona and Ivan

“What if… You fell into the land of make believe and dreamt of possibilities?”

- Youth Artists: Eleiona and Ivan 13

Collaborative Termination

by Eleiona and Ivan

This dynamic mural was initiated by A&E Youth Artists Eleiona and Ivan. The two expressed a desire to momentarily step away from the piece they had been working on all year, and use additional wall space to experiment with different painting techniques. The wall quickly transformed into an action based representation of diverse feelings. As the mural project began to wind down, and then suddenly come to an abrupt halt, staff and participants turned to this wall to explore difficult goodbyes. The collaborative duo invited each artist and artist assistant to leave their mark. Many used the opportunity to write the word “goodbye” in different languages as a way to represent their cultural and ethnic background.

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Self-Guided Projects Resilience During Quarantine Completed remotely during the lockdown due to coronavirus, these art projects were chosen independently be each A&E Youth Artist.

The group met online for workshops where they shared their progress and ideas while staying connected to the Artistic Noise community.

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Arianna

Arianna (Simba) was born in Brooklyn and has lived the majority of her life in Mount Vernon. Arianna loves the challenge of creating unique artwork and she uses art to motivate others. Her art is influenced by the narratives of others and also by her own life experiences. She hopes to prosper as a well known artist.

BLM Protest Sign, 18x24", paint on cardboard, 2020

Untitled, 9x12”, acrylic on canvas, 2020 (in progress)

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BLM Protest Jacket, dimensions vary, repurposed clothes and paint, 2020

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“My art is a part of me. I create to relieve situations I can’t put into words. I always want people to have their own interpretations of my pieces because I know I’m not the only one with problems in this world. I want people to come together and relate with each other when looking at my pieces. My favorite genre is surrealism. The thought of fantasy meeting reality excites me. Artistic Noise has helped me in ways I couldn’t help myself. This program helped me feel more powerful than ever.

Unfortunately through this pandemic it’s been extremely hard for me, Artistic Noise, and everybody else living on earth. Times are tough but we are tougher… it made me realize how nice it is to have people’s company. I’m grateful to have such a caring team be on my side in this lonely time. These pieces are dedicated to my struggle with depression and patience; and eventually overcoming tasks that I could have sworn I was going to die over.”

Different Strokes, 7x11”, gouache on paper, 2020

Sketchbook and Poems, 2020

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Nazzir

Landscapes, each 9x12”, acrylic on canvas, 2020

Sunset, 9x12”, acrylic on canvas, 2020

Landscape II, 9x12”, acrylic on canvas, 2020

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Landscape I, 9x12”, acrylic on canvas, 2020

Samantha

Born in East Harlem in 1999, Sam, has lived throughout New York City. She has been a participant of Artistic Noise for a little over three years. She continues to flourish as an artist day by day. Art has influenced her life since forever. Her artwork is a passion Before Anything Else. She goes by the artist name “Baeinse.”

What Lurks in my Mist, 9x12”, gouache and glitter on canvas, 2020

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Take her Scissors, 9x12”, pen on canvas, 2020 (in progress)

Me and My Baby, 9x12”, gouache and pen on canvas, 2020 (in progress)

The Tree of True Colors, 9x12”, gouache and pen on canvas, 2020 (in progress)

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“I want my artwork to travel and be seen by a large scale of individuals that can recognize my work and say this is the work of Baeinse. I would like the viewers to take away the patience and time that was needed in order to create my pieces of art and that nothing in life will ever just be black & white. These pieces of art show that I am taking my imperfections and using them to my advantage while learning how to ground myself and continue to become mindful of the world around me.

Since Jan 2017, I have been a part of Artistic Noise and can not be ever so grateful of having them as a backbone and support in my early years of adulthood.

From the age of 17 up to now going on 21 and becoming a mother, Artistic Noise has helped shape me into the woman I am and the woman I will continue to become; I am glad to consider Artistic Noise a part of my family. During COVID-19 Artistic Noise has made it possible to continue to work in the A&E program as they shift to virtual classing, and because of this Artistic Noise continues to be an amazing program for young individuals entangled within the justice system.”

“This is a piece for my mother who’s not my mother. Who’s taken me in as her own and has shown me I am a part of her family and to me that’s worth gold. Blue to me keeps me down but to her it’s her favorite so I embrace it. Shows me that there’s more than one shade of blue, more than one place I can call my home and feel warmth too.”

Her Favorite Color is Blue, 12x9”, gouache, marker, and glitter on canvas, 2020

“A sisters bond can be strong or weak. It can be far or it can be close.

Close enough to miss me and my baby but far enough not to have a real bond over a phone. Try and try but you can’t force anyone not even her to understand what it’s like to walk threw a cold dark path. I say this baby leaves warmth in my cold dark past. Its leaves me brighter days as i hang my heart on him. Leaves me happy with my own kin. My sister leaves me empty but he fills me within.”

Hermanas y el Niño, 12x9”, gouache and marker on canvas, 2020

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Pillowcase Project Artistic Noise Art & Entrepreneurship alumni have been working on a short-term project creating gouache paintings on pillowcases. The Pillowcase Project, co-led by art therapist Francesca DeBiaso and art therapy intern Victoria Hristoff, has our youth artists creating work exploring experiences, associations, and thoughts related to sleep and dreams, specifically during times of distress (incarceration, displacement, and transition). The project takes place over the course of two weeks and begins with a reflective writing exercise.

Artists then began to source and compile imagery related to their dreams to create unique and surreal compositions to be transferred onto their pillowcases.

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Eli

Sadiq Armuni Elijah Slade aka ELI. Though very quiet and mysterious, he is a smart, creative and inspirational individual who sees positivity in the most negative environments. His creative and accurate descriptions through music and artwork of the hardships he has noticed in his community are well organized, very descriptive, groundbreaking and enlightening. He is a multitasker, currently working two jobs in New Rochelle and Harlem while simultaneously attending college in White Plains, NY. He is a hard worker with a goal of becoming a business manager who is in charge of his music and artwork that “will most definitely be accomplished”.

Lone Wolf, 26x20", gouache on fabric, 2020

"When I just about fall asleep I forget that I am awake. I soar and bask in the cloudiness of thought. Too asleep to respond but awake enough to be conscious. As I fall under a shape of drowsiness, I lose myself and my self awareness. I am no longer physically aware but in my mental state I am at my highest. Awake, I'm low but dreaming, I am high. My higher state, my higher self. Which direction can I go? There are messages in here and words with no letters, sights with no sound, there's no left or right or up or down. Am I dreaming? Red lights, green lights. I can feel my body again, fingers and lips refreshed with life. What time is it? What do I have to do today? Oh it's cold. When I get up I turn the AC off and the heater on. I'm waking up. Thanks for the sleep."

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Nazzir

Untitled, 26x20”, gouache, marker, and collage on fabric, 2020

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Samantha

“It’s difficult, nearly all the time. I have racing thoughts and time running through my mind. I have a million and one things going on at a time but it never seems too slow down enough for my eyes to go down gradually and let my mind run around because instead I have thoughts running through it. They don’t run through it like a race they’re trying to figure a way out like a maze, but the longer time goes the farther my hope for some rest goes without show. I’m traveling far in my mind but I’m going nowhere while time moves forward because I feel stuck in my wondering mind. It plays on a loop like a VCR tape it goes on and on to see how much my mind can take. Eventually my mind turns into a DVD playing on until I reached the end shutting down going fast asleep.”

Come Walk in my Dream, 26x20”, marker and glitter on fabric, 2020

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Bishop

Bishop is an A&E alumnus who has excelled in many areas since his time at Artistic Noise. He has worked as an artist’s assistant on a major public art project, illustrated a college textbook, participated in group exhibitions, created t-shirt designs for Save Our Streets in Brooklyn, all while earning his high school degree. Bishop continues to excel in his endeavors as a recording artist and creating extremely poignant paintings based on his life experiences.

Come Walk in my Dream, 26x20”, marker and glitter on fabric, 2020

“My piece is called Nightmare on 125th Street. I was going for a surrealistic perspective and I love how it came out. It’s basically a combination of some of my personal nightmares and some taken from actual movies I’ve seen over the years.”

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Kadijah

Khadijah is 22 years old and is an artist because she loves the freedom that creativity brings. Art gives her a platform to express herself spiritually, mentally, and physically.

She is inspired by love, pain and hurt. She hopes to continue to develop art and to work with young people and eventually own her own art business in the future.

Untitled, 26x20", gouache on fabric, 2020

"When I try to fall asleep I try to relax.

Sleeping is an escape from reality or…

A wake up call from reality in a fictional way.

Waking up- It’s like coming down from a night and I have to face my problems, or just life."

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Thank you to our partners

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Artistic Noise brings the power of artistic practice to young people who are system-involved and others throughout the community.

Who We Are Artistic Noise is a Harlem-based nonprofit organization consisting of artists, educators, activists, licensed art therapists, and many gifted young people.

Since 2001, we have provided visual arts and entrepreneurship programs for thousands of youth throughout Boston and New York City. Our organization was built on the understanding that young people are extremely valuable, having unique and important perspectives on the world around them. Artistic Noise youth artists give voice to their experiences, build community through collaborative projects, and develop their skills as leaders.

We believe the practice of making art offers opportunities for young people to advocate for themselves and their communities.

What We Do We work in a number of different settings, from detention facilities to reentry and preventative programs. Our workshops allow youth to explore their identities, experiences, and complex socio-political issues in a safe and structured environment.

Personal growth and development are at the core of our programming. Our staff of teaching artists and licensed art therapists ensure that youth are supported throughout their time at Artistic Noise. We use art as a tool for youth to be seen, heard, and supported on their path to adulthood.

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