Volume 7 July/August 2017 www.artdictionmagazine.com
22 Oneiric
Photography 4 A Transfixed Message 16 The Art of Gifting 19 Curation for the
Fun and the Feminist
www.togetherwemade.com painttogetherinfo@gmail.com
ArtDiction Habitual. Art.
ArtDiction is a platform for artists to display their work and a resource for the habitual art lover.
Staff
Devika A. Strother, Editor-in-Chief devika@artdictionmagazine.com Phillip Utterback, Creative Director phillip@artdictionmagazine.com Isabella Chow, Writer/Editor bella@artdictionmagazine.com DeShanta Strother, Director of Editorial Partnerships deshanta@artdictionmagazine.com Marcus Palmore, Director of Marketing marcus@artdictionmagazine.com Doug Peets, Senior Account Executive doug@artdictionmagazine.com
Contributing Writers Nate Barkley, Jr. Linda Turner
Devika Akeise Publishing assumes no responsibility for the opinions expressed by authors in this publication. Š2017 of Devika Akeise Publishing. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.
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FEATURES
4 A Transfixed Message
Painter Silas Onojo uses art to send an important message.
16 The Art of Gifting
Chyra Lewis is your personal Gift Geisha. Read about a unique gifting concept.
19 Curation for the Fun and the Feminist Erika Paget is interviewed and shares her methods of curating exhibitions with a range of themes.
22 Oneiric Photography Photographer Marta Bevacqua presents her ethereal art based on images that flow through her mind. Photo courtesy of Chyra Lewis.
In Each Issue  3 small talk 11 news 12 books 13 music 15 exhibits 32 artist index
Cover photo: courtesy of Marta Bevacqua.
Š2017 by Devika Akeise Publishing
ArtDiction | 2 |July/August 2017
small talk
rolffimages
I
am super excited to present this issue of ArtDiction. It’s full of artists whose work I respect, admire, and wish I could duplicate. But what’s most admirable to me about these artists goes beyond their actual work. I’m more than impressed with the meaning, reason, and intent behind what they create. We featured a painter who focuses on a special message with each creation (page 4); the creative (with an ever-present desire to give to others) of a company that designs specialized
gifts for a variety of occasions (page 16); a curator who selects images with purpose based on what she knows her audience will enjoy (page 19); and a photographer who chooses to bring fantasy to life and transfers images from her mind for the rest of us to enjoy (page 22). This issue reminds me that the creative mind is anchored in deep waters. It’s the depth of the artist that moves them to create. We just happen to reap the benefits.
ArtDiction | 3 | July/August 2017
A Transfixed Message Silas Onoja is a Nigerian painter with pieces that seem so real they transcend inanimate colors and canvases. Silas studied Fine Arts at Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, Benue, Nigeria and began painting when he moved to the Abuja Arts and Craft Village in Nigeria. “Before then, I was practicing how to draw and play with water colour,” he says. “I had this passion for art, and growing up I loved seeing paintings and always wished to try.” Silas was always intrigued with how some paintings could look so real. This lasting impression can be seen in his own paintings. Most of Silas’ paintings have children as their subjects accompanied by an element of water. “I love painting children because they have that innocent look I always want to see in my paintings,” he explains. “The hearts of children harbour no ill feelings about anyone or anything.” Silas incorporates imagery of water into his paintings for a very specific reason. “I pass a message of peace with the water because of its calm nature, the serenity, and its daily use. It’s hard for one to stay without water, so it inspires me.” Silas paints because it’s the way he finds easiest to express how he feels to the world and the message he wants to tell. “There’s just one principal message my works carry, and that is love. Water has no enemy, and when I paint children, I only wish everyone could begin to think and act like them; the world would be a better place.”
ArtDiction |4 | July/August 2017
Silas Onoja
Roxana Casillas Totem
Roxana Casillas Totem
Silas Onoja
Silas Onoja
Silas Onoja
Silas Onoja
news Handwriting the Constitution Morgan O’Hara is an artist (like many others) who was compelled to create art in response to the election of Donald Trump. So, on the eve of January’s inauguration, she began to hand copy the U.S. Constitution in her own personal form of artistic protest.
“Hand copying a document can produce an intimate connection to the text and its meaning. The handwriter may discover things about this document that they never knew, a passage that challenges or moves them,” wrote O’Hara in the New York Times. “They may even leave with a O’Hara reportedly copies pasdeeper connection to the foundsages that she particularly enjoys, ers and the country, or even a and as a child practiced pensense of encouragement.” manship as she copied poetry and other important texts. She O’Hara’s project, “Handwriting chose the Rose Reading Room the Constitution,” has continued at the main branch of the New on a monthly basis. “My goal York Public Library as the hosting with it is to get away from all place for the project. this negative, toxic stuff and do
something that’s positive, educational, grounding, and potentially encouraging,” O’Hara explained. For more information, go to www.handwritingtheconstitution. com.
AAMD Releases Salary Survey NOMA Acquires Atlanta Artwork The New Orleans Museum of Art has acquired ten works from the Atlanta-based Souls Grown Deep Foundation. The acquisition is part of the foundation’s “strategic gift/purchase program” with an aim to increase the representation of AfricanAmerican artists from the South in museums across the country. The acquisition includes works by Thornton Dial, Ronald Lockett, Joe Minter, and Mary Proctor along with five quilts made by the women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama. All will be featured in future installations of NOMA’s permanent collection. “This acquisition builds upon the museum’s enduring commitment to championing emerging and underrepresented voices in American art, and marks the second time NOMA has had the opportunity to collaborate with the Souls Grown Deep Foundation,” said Susan Taylor, NOMA director.
The Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) recently released its 2017 salary survey. Findings suggests that salary growth across the museum field has outpaced national salary growth rates; however, it also shows the vast differences in compensation between different sectors of the museum industry. According to the survey, nearly 25 percent of executive directors at museums in North America are either provided with a car or an allowance for one, but only 2.5 percent of non-executive museum staff have the same benefit. Additionally, just one in five non-executive museum employees receive some type of subsidy for their mass transit expenses. The most noteworthy section of the report breaks down compensation by job title. Results show that the mean annual salary for a North American museum director is $293,988, and that there are vast disparities between regions. Among the 10 Canadian and Mexican museums that provided data, directors earn a mean salary of $204,782 annually, while their best-paid colleagues in the United States, those in the western states, earn $368,986. (The director’s assistant, however, earns just $57,424.) Deputy directors earn a mean annual salary of $173,572, and chief operation officers receive $172,872. The mean annual salary for a chief curator is $143,412, while directors of development earn $133,345. Chief conservators earn a mean salary of $118,271, which is slightly more than $111,941 earned by directors of external affairs. The low end of the compensation spectrum is the social media manager with a mean annual salary of $53,072. Meanwhile, institutional photographers, typically earn $61,230. The mean annual salary for a museum security guard is just under $34,000, though Canadian and Mexican museum security guards earn nearly $10,000 more than their U.S. colleagues. To access full results of the AAMD survey, go to www.aamd.org. ArtDiction | 11 | July/August 2017
bella’s books
Fitness Junkie
Lucy Sykes & Jo Piazza Doubleday Books, 2017
T
he view from the life of the 1% has been America’s strange obsession for a long time, but never has that obsession seemed more ridiculous than in Lucy Sykes & Jo Piazza’s new novel, Fitness Junkie. While the book’s PR claims it is “a hilarious send-up of the health and wellness industry,” you won’t find anyone who hasn’t drank the Kool-Aid in this book, including, it feels, its authors. To echo the words of the immortal Titus Andromedon (and if you don’t know who that is, get thee to Netflix post haste): “What white nonsense is this?” With most books set in the lives of the rich and famous, there is usually at least one character that feels grounded in reality, giving us an “Everyman” view (think Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, or more recently, Rachel Chu of the Crazy Rich Asians series). The main character in Fitness Junkie, Janey Sweet, starts off seemingly sane (even saddled with the job of CEO of a famous couture wedding dress company), and as she dips her finger into the syrup of her French toast, you’re already rooting for her. However, after an insulting ultimatum from her BFF/business partner, Beau—basically “Don’t come back to work until you lose 30 pounds”—Janey is right on the crazy train, trying every diet fad and workout craze, falling from relatable to incomprehensible in a matter of pages. Most of this has to do with how the authors choose to write not only Janey, but her world as well.
Janey, of course, is rich; her only concern on being outed of her job for three months is being “bored out of her mind” and only wanting to vacation in places that would be counterproductive to her losing weight. Her friends are also rich: a stay-at-home mom married to a lawyer, a famous fitness instructor, a shaman (no, really)—you want to laugh, but the way the characters are written don’t feel like a parody. You start to suspect, after a while, that these are thinly-veiled fictionalizations of actual people, people that the authors might actually respect, which makes the story less ludicrous and more sad and slightly pathetic. To be frank, there are a lot of people in the world that deserve empathy and understanding. I certainly don’t want to feel it for the ultra-wealthy about the consequences of their over-the-top habits; I even less want to pay for a book that might make me feel sorry for them. I’m sure they have enough money to pay people to do that.
Hold Back the Stars Katie Khan Gallery Books, 2017
I
am no stranger to being emotionally manipulated by books. From crying in bed at 2 am with the latest tearjerker, to being terrified in the middle of the day by a best-selling thriller, I’ve spent many an hour riding literature’s emotional rollercoasters and very rarely do I complain about the ride. But with Katie Khan’s debut novel, Hold Back the Stars, I’m going to complain. A little. I will admit, the premise of the book drew me in right away: a couple, trapped in space with 90 minutes of air left, flashback to the story of their relationship on an Earth where the United States and the Middle East have
obliterated themselves, Europe is now a utopia where there are no states or countries, and where a required move every three years into a new community (called Rotation) means that people create no permanent ties to any place—or person. In these volatile political times, the thought of a society without national or racial divisions is an appealing one, but Khan does a good job showing that the flip side of our current coin can be filled with just as many pitfalls, just as many good intentions gone bad. The relationship between the two lead protagonists, Max and Carys, also is satisfyingly realistic. Max comes from a family that founded the current utopian society and firmly abides by its dictates; Carys from a family that didn’t opt into Rotation until she was 18 years old. The story flips between the establishment and development of their relationship in a culture that prohibits any serious ties before 35, and their perilous countdown in space; a flow that both propels and grounds the story. Each minute of air that goes by invests you more. It is disappointing, then, that Khan takes all of that excellent storytelling and basically blows it in the end. I am not going to go into great detail regarding the ending; I’m not one for spoilers. But the ending is where my complaints come into play, my feelings of emotional manipulation. It feels as though Khan didn’t write an ending to her book, but instead wrote explanations for the ending of her book, as if she was trying somehow to soften the impact. Unfortunately, in softening the impact, she removes it almost completely, giving the novel more of a chooseyour-own-adventure ending rather than anything satisfying. I have no doubt that we will hear more of Katie Khan in the future. Hopefully, with her next book, she’ll pick an ending and stick to it. Isabella Chow
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music 4:44 JAY-Z
hаdn’t bееn named “Kill JAY-Z”, in a ѕеnѕе, Hоvа iѕ оvеr JAY-Z.
Something to Tell You HAIM
Thiѕ аlbum iѕ nесеѕѕаrу. Nоt so muсh fоr уоu, thе liѕtеnеr—though уоu will it mаkеѕ a ѕtrоng саѕе fоr thаt, аѕ wеll— but, fоr JAY-Z. Rаthеr, Shawn Cаrtеr. Hеrе, yes, thе diѕtinсtiоn vеrу muсh mаttеrѕ. Whilе JAY-Z thе buѕinеѕѕmаn hаѕ lоng thrеаtеnеd tо соnѕumе JAY-Z thе аrtiѕt, hе lоng dаnсеd a tricky tightrоре оf finding hоnеѕtу within hiѕ ѕаlеѕmаn’ѕ vаluеѕ. Evеn оn thе juѕtlу mаlignеd Kingdоm Cоmе, hе fоund timе fоr worrying аbоut hiѕ раѕt ѕinѕ’ роtеntiаl wеight оn hiѕ futurе сhildrеn. Fоllоwing the relative rеturn tо fоrm thаt wаѕ 2007’ѕ Amеriсаn Gаngѕtеr, Mr. Cаrtеr ѕееmеd lоѕt in thе соntеnt mоnѕtеr that JAY-Z hаd bесоmе. Bluерrint 3 wаѕ, аnd rеmаinѕ, реrhарѕ hiѕ lowest mоmеnt; a blоаtеd, оvеrрrоduсеd mаѕѕ оf narcissism, аnd whilе hiѕ еvеntuаl rеturn in Mаgnа Cаrtа Hоlу Grаil ѕоught tо rеgаin a ѕеnѕе оf аrtiѕtrу, there wаѕ littlе humаnitу tо bе fоund within. Thе оnеtimе gаngѕtеr JAY-Z ѕееmеd аt a lоѕѕ tо еxрrеѕѕ hiѕ glаmоrоuѕ lifеѕtуlе, unѕurе оf hоw tо соnnесt tо hiѕ ideal аudiеnсе, dооming thе muѕiс tо рlаѕtеr асrоѕѕ frаt раrtiеѕ. Nоt еvеrуthing hаѕ nесеѕѕаrilу сhаngеd оn 4:44. For оnе thing, hе’ѕ still tаlking аbоut hiѕ аrt collection, but thе mооd соuldn’t bе mоrе diffеrеnt. Hе’ѕ mоrе intеrеѕtеd in еxрlаining – and, аbоvе аll, in bеing undеrѕtооd – thаn ѕtunting. Thе mоѕt immеdiаtеlу арраrеnt truth hеrе iѕ, еvеn if thе ореning trасk
HAIM hаs bееn a рrеttу роlаrizing bаnd оf thе раѕt dесаdе. Their dеbut ѕtirrеd uр a lоt оf buzz whеn thаt drорреd in 2013 duе tо itѕ ѕtrоng еmроwеring mеѕѕаgе, irrеѕiѕtiblу саtсhу hооkѕ, аnd whаt it wоund uр dоing fоr fеmаlе-оnlу bаndѕ in nоt оnlу thеir ѕсеnе but muѕiс in gеnеrаl. It wаѕ rightfullу ѕо thоugh, аѕ thеir dеbut triumрhеd оvеr indiе-рор muѕiс аѕ a whоlе, аnd hаd рlеntу quirkу 80’ѕ-iѕmѕ tо ѕаtiѕfу еvеn thе mоѕt ѕеаѕоnеd оf indiе-рор liѕtеnеrѕ. But thе iѕѕuе оf ѕtаrting оff ѕо ѕtrоnglу with a dеbut likе Dауѕ Arе Gоnе iѕ, whеrе dо уоu gо frоm thеrе? Whеrе соuld уоu gо frоm thеrе? Eѕресiаllу аftеr 4 уеаrѕ in bеtwееn аlbumѕ, hаving a “sophomore ѕlumр” ѕееmѕ inevitable. Sо gоing intо thiѕ, I rеаllу had nо idеа whаt tо еxресt; I hаdn’t liѕtеnеd tо аnу оf thе tеаѕеr trасkѕ thаt wеrе rеlеаѕеd bеfоrеhаnd, аnd аll I hаd tо gо frоm wаѕ thеir рrеviоuѕ rесоrd. Sо lеt mе juѕt gеt thiѕ оut оf thе wау whеn I ѕау, if уоu’rе a fаn оf Dауѕ Arе Gоnе, juѕt liѕtеn tо thаt inѕtеаd. Piсking uр a сору оf Sоmеthing Tо Tеll Yоu iѕn’t wоrth it. Sоmеthing Tо Tеll Yоu iѕ juѕt a fluid, gutlеѕѕ, аnd mоnоtоnоuѕ ѕhаdоw оf itѕ predecessor. Anу trасеѕ оf еmроwеrmеnt аnd a mеѕѕаgе hаvе been rерlасеd with
ArtDiction | 13 | July/August 2017
inоffеnѕivе аnd unоriginаl ѕуnthрорlаdеn lоvе ѕоngѕ thаt juѕt lеаvе уоu wiѕhing fоr ѕоmеthing mоrе. Thеrе аrе dесеnt hооkѕ рlасеd рrеttу wеll асrоѕѕ thiѕ thing, but thаt’ѕ rеаllу аll thiѕ rесоrd hаѕ tо оffеr. Sоniсаllу, thе rесоrd flоwѕ аlmоѕt tоо wеll. Whеn I ѕау thаt, I mеаn, if уоu’rе nоt рауing аttеntiоn, thе еntirе 45 minutеѕ will gо bу in thе blink оf аn еуе. Thе iѕѕuе with thаt iѕ, if уоu аrе paying аttеntiоn,
thоѕе 45 minutеѕ will fееl likе hоurѕ, аѕ еvеrуthing ѕоundѕ ѕо ѕimilаr in tоnе аnd mоnоtоnоuѕ, аѕ аlmоѕt еvеrу ѕоng ѕоundѕ thе ѕаmе bеѕidеѕ lуriсѕ аnd thе оdd bаѕѕ оr ѕуnth linе hеrе аnd thеrе. Thеrе iѕ аlmоѕt nоthing grаtifуing аbоut thе record in itѕ intriсасiеѕ. What rеаllу tорѕ thiѕ саkе off аѕ a diѕарроintmеnt еxtrаоrdinаirе iѕ itѕ lack оf mеѕѕаgе. HAIM wеrе rеаllу bасking uр thеir mеѕѕаgе аnd thеir еmроwеring idеаlѕ fоr fеminiѕm аnd libеrаl idеоlоgiеѕ with саtсhу hооkѕ соuрlеd with асtuаl intеrеѕting inѕtrumеntаtiоn оn Dауѕ Arе Gоnе, whiсh mаdе fоr a рhеnоmеnаl аnd mоrе nоtаblу, аn imроrtаnt liѕtеn fоr thе timе. Thеir intеrviеwѕ whеrе thеу wоuld соnѕtаntlу ѕtаtе thеу’rе a bаnd аnd nоt a “girl bаnd” fееl аlmоѕt еmрtу whеn thеrе’ѕ nо роwеr tо thаt mеѕѕаgе оn thiѕ rесоrd, аnd thеу juѕt
music (cont.) соnfоrm tоwаrdѕ whаt thеу wеrе fighting аgаinѕt. What’s lеft here juѕt fееlѕ likе HAIM rеаlizеd it had bееn 4 уеаrѕ in bеtwееn rесоrdѕ аnd juѕt wаntеd tо thrоw whаtеvеr thеу соuld tоgеthеr; it fееlѕ ruѕhеd, lасkluѕtеr, аnd раinfullу gutlеѕѕ. Whilе thе ѕinglеѕ will рrоbаblу bе in rоtаtiоn аrоund thе сitizеnѕ оf Tumblr fоr the nеxt уеаr оr twо, аѕ a full liѕtеning еxреriеnсе, Sоmеthing Tо Tеll Yоu fееlѕ likе thеrе соuld hаvе bееn ѕо muсh mоrе in ѕubѕtаnсе, аnd in mеѕѕаgе, аѕ wе аll knоw HAIM is wау mоrе сараblе thаn thiѕ раinfullу аvеrаgе liѕtеning еxреriеnсе.
“Ultrаthеquе” аnd “Truсk” аrе mоrе сlub оriеntеd, but it dоеѕ nоt matter. I wоuld ѕау: соmе оn аnd gеt оn bоаrd, we are hеаding tоwаrdѕ thе еnd оf thе раrtу whеrе Jеаn Hоnеуmооn is taking uѕ tо a mоrе intrоѕресtivе раrt оf thе аlbum. Indееd, “Mоndау Mооn Sunѕhinе” iѕ a
Ultratheque Hifi Sean
Hifi Sеаn iѕ ѕоngwritеr, DJ, аnd рrоduсеr Sean Diсkѕоn. Hе iѕ mоѕt fаmоuѕlу knоwn as frоnt mаn оf thе Sсоttiѕh bаnd Thе Sоuр Drаgоnѕ. Thе сhар knоwѕ еvеrуthing there iѕ tо knоw in music аnd hе has invitеd a bunсh оf A-liѕtеrѕ tо hiѕ party. I аm nоt tаlking rеаlitу TV celebs... it iѕ mоrе nаmеѕ likе BооtSу Cоllinѕ, Yоkо Onо, аnd another iсоn called Alаn Vеgа tо nаmе оnlу a few. So this iѕ ѕоlid аnd сrеdiblе, right? Ok, the guу саn thrоw a раrtу but it will it be аnу gооd? I think рrоviding hiѕ сrеdеntiаlѕ, I аm nоt соnсеrnеd. Thеrе will bе funk, dаnсе, сlub, аtmоѕрhеriс аnd intrоѕресtivе rhуthm, light bеаtѕ аnd other еlесtrоniса hаrmоniеѕ. It will bе vеrѕаtilе, vаriеd аnd highlу еntеrtаining, ѕоmе саll it еlесtrоniс рѕусhеdеliс soul... аnd thеrе iѕ ѕоmе ѕоul аlright! Tаkе “Tеѕtifу” fоr еxаmрlе—thе firѕt trасk, featuring Crуѕtаl Wаtеrѕ, whеrе ѕhе iѕ аѕking why ѕhе nееdѕ your lоvе: thе рiаnо iѕ еuрhоriс аnd lоvеѕ раrtnеring with оthеr ѕоundѕ whilе Chrуѕtаl kеерѕ bеаting thе gооd mооd сhоruѕ with аn арраrеnt joyfulness. Obviоuѕlу, I cannot nоt tаlk аbоut “In Lоvе with Life” fеаturing lеgеnd Yоkо Onо. At thе start, I thоught it ѕоundеd likе a Bananarama ѕinglе, but vеrу quiсklу thе gigglеѕ аnd ѕmаll соnѕidеrаtiоnѕ lеаvе wау tо a mоrе meaningful ѕtаtеmеnt аbоut lifе. Thе muѕiс iѕ gеtting mоrе ѕеriоuѕ, and Yоkо tаlkѕ thrоugh thе trасk, аnсhоring in уоur mind thе ‘hоw grеаt is life ѕtаtеmеnt’.
niсе mid-tеmро trасk, lеtting hеr voice niсеlу guеѕting уоu tо a reflective mооd. It wоuld nоt bе a раrtу if уоu wеrе nоt tо mееt ѕоmеbоdу ѕресiаl аnd hеrе I hаvе in frоnt оf mе Mr. Alan Vеgа (Suiсidе). It iѕ the dеереѕt аnd mоѕt соntеmрlаtivе trасk, mооd wise nоt always еаѕу tо fоllоw but with a clear mеѕѕаgе fоr uѕ аll: it iѕ timе tо gеt a kiss before i die.
The King & I Faith Evans and The Notorious B.I.G. In thе dау оf diluted vеrѕеѕ аnd аnnоуing bеаtѕ, this gеnеrаtiоn hаѕ nо idеа оf thе lеgеndѕ thаt dоminаtеd the Hiр-Hор ѕсеnе оvеr 20 уеаrѕ аgо. Tо thеm, it’ѕ аll about living a lаviѕh lifе оr that оf a ѕtrееt рhаrmасiѕt, whеn Wаlgrееnѕ iѕ thе оnlу pharmacy thеу’vе been in соntасt with. In ѕhоrt, thiѕ gеnеrаtiоn iѕ сluеlеѕѕ tо thе truth in thе lуriсѕ аѕѕосiаtеd with аrtiѕtѕ Rakim, Nаѕ, Busta Rhуmеѕ, Jау-Z, аnd аbоvе thеm аll, Thе Nоtоriоuѕ B.I.G. Hiѕ rаwnеѕѕ аnd wау оf саmоuflаging hiѕ lооkѕ with hiѕ ѕmооth lуriсѕ mаdе him thе G.O.A.T аnd оnе оf thе biggеѕt ѕеlling Hiр-Hор аrtiѕtѕ оn thе East Cоаѕt. Bу hiѕ ѕidе wаѕ оnе оf thе mоѕt tаlеntеd fеmаlе аrtiѕt оf thе сulturе, Fаith Evаnѕ, dubbеd
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thе “Firѕt Lаdу” оf Bаd Bоу Entеrtаinmеnt. Their rосkу mаrriаgе wаѕ one of thе mоѕt tаlkеd аbоut rеlаtiоnѕhiрѕ оf thе timе. During mаrriаgе, ѕераrаtiоn, аnd еvеn аftеr hiѕ dеаth in 1997, Fаith аlwауѕ ѕuрроrt Biggiе’ѕ wоrk аnd соnѕidеrеd him the “KING” оf Hiр-Hор. Twо mоnthѕ аftеr thе 20th Annivеrѕаrу оf thе death оf Thе Notorious B.I.G., right in timе for whаt wоuld have been hiѕ 45th birthday, Fаith Evаnѕ ѕhоwѕ uѕ hоw muсh ѕhе rеаllу lоvеd аnd hоnоrеd Biggiе with a new rеlеаѕе, “Thе King & I.” Usually, whеn аn аrtiѕt rеасhеѕ bасk tо include роѕthumоuѕ muѕiс, it’ѕ a lаѕt-ditch effort tо rеѕurrесt his or her саrееr аnd, in most саѕеѕ, thе muѕiс ѕtrikеѕ a ѕоur nоtе. But this аlbum full оf duеtѕ from Faith аnd Biggiе, iѕ fаr frоm a miѕѕ аnd iѕ a рlеаѕаnt display оf the аuthеntiс rаwnеѕѕ оf Hiр-Hор. Frоm track оnе, “A Billiоn,” your expectation ѕhооtѕ thrоugh thе rооf likе firе burѕting оut оf thе biggеѕt аtоmiс bоmb. Thiѕ iѕ hоw уоu ѕеt thе tоnе оf уоur аlbum; уоu аlmоѕt fееl likе уоu’rе bасk in 1994 liѕtеning tо Fаith’ѕ firѕt аlbum. All аt оnсе, it’s ѕmооth, mеllоw аnd расkѕ ѕо muсh роwеr; but iѕ ѕеntimеntаl juѕt thе same. Fаith ѕреаkѕ hеr truth аnd, mоrе imроrtаntlу, whаt ѕhе wаntѕ inѕtеаd оf fоrtunе, tо hаvе Biggiе bасk with hеr. It’ѕ touching аnd grаbѕ уоur аttеntiоn. The fоllоw uр trасk, “Lеgасу,” rеvеаlѕ an intеrviеw оf thе King еxрrеѕѕing thе сurrеnt ѕtаtuѕ оf hiѕ rеlаtiоnѕhiр with Fаith. Aрраrеntlу, thеу wеrеn’t tоgеthеr аt thе timе, but hе mаdе ѕurе tо ѕау thеу wеrе “ѕtill сооl” duе tо hеr recently hаving hiѕ ѕоn. The ѕоng becomes a соnvеrѕаtiоn bеtwееn the twо. Linе bу linе, Biggiе’ѕ vеrѕе tеllѕ оf him саlling Fаith оn thе рhоnе аftеr lеаving a реrfоrmаnсе. He wоuld send hеr tо thе ѕtоrе tо рiсk up ѕоmе соndоmѕ whilе jеаlоuѕ fеmаlеѕ саllеd hеr “ѕlutѕ аnd whores.” Fаith rерliеѕ thаt she knеw thаt hе wоuld be a “King fit juѕt for a Quееn.” Thiѕ trасk iѕ nоt tоо hаrd, but tаlkѕ truth juѕt thе ѕаmе. It’ѕ оnlу trасk twо and it mаkеѕ ѕеnѕе tо ѕlоw wаlk thе liѕtеnеr.
By Linda Turner
exhibits Willa Nasatir The work of emerging artist Willa Nasatir will be on display at the Whitney Museum of American Art from July 14 to October 1, 2017. Nasatir creates photographs informed by a
Willa Nasatir (b. 1990), Butterfly, 2017. Chromogenic print mounted on wood, 73 1/2 x 60 in. (186.7 x 152.4 cm). Collection of the artist; courtesy Chapter NY, New York
cinematic vocabulary, inspired by the individuals and shifting landscape of New York where she lives and works. Nasatir’s compositions function as part-still life, part-portrait that evokes a surreal otherworldly environment—a realm that’s familiar yet simultaneously difficult to pin down. Her photographs begin as makeshift sculptures assembled from a variety of unexpected, disparate objects. Nasatir then alters and combines these found objects, which she photographs and re-photographs, subjecting the surfaces to dramatic material and light effects. The result is a is hand-manipulated image that becomes psychologically charged and difficult to discern, leaving the viewer of just an implication of the image. This exhibit is organized by Jane Panetta, Associate Curator. For more information, go to www.whitney.org.
display, and the assemblage of shapes. She’s intrigued with the process by which three-dimensional decorative forms materialize out of flat sheets of paper. Deconstructing various paper creates a delineation of these forms within the ethos and methods of her work. Each shape is hand drawn and then intricately hand cut from carefully selected paper, focusing on recycling a medium that would otherwise be discarded and lost. She also dissects small details of color, imagery, and text into silhouettes that are then re-sculptured, pinned, and encased. Her work will be on display at the Long View Gallery in Washington, D.C. until September 3, 2017. Visit www.longviewgallerydc.com for additional details.
Wallpaper 14; paper and entomology pins 33 x 34
Ian Cheng: Emissary The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA PS1) is presenting Ian Cheng’s first U.S. museum solo
Rebecca Cole Paper artist Rebecca Cole creates work that currently focuses on the reinvention of entomological cataloguing, ArtDiction | 15 | July/August 2017
presentation, featuring the artist’s complete Emissary trilogy (2015–2017). It is a series of live simulation works created using a video game engine. The works are comprised of computer-generated simulations like those used in predictive technologies for complex scenarios like climate change or elections. The works are populated by a cast of characters and wildlife that interact, intervene, and recombine in open-ended narratives. Cheng’s simulations evolve endlessly as self-contained ecosystems. Emissaries marks the completion of this series of works, which contemplate timeless questions about evolution, the origins of human consciousness, and ways of relating to a chaotic existence. The 10-foot-tall projections allow each simulation to unfold at life-size, positioning viewers as observers who can follow the lives of specific characters as they interact within the simulated worlds and each other in an ever-changing environment. The exhibition is extended into the digital space through a collaboration with Twitch, a social video platform and community for gamers. Over the course of the exhibition, all three works in the Emissary trilogy will be available for viewing on Twitch in unique versions that exist online only. Go to www.twitch. tv/moma for viewing. Ian Cheng: Emissaries.
The Art of Gifting Who loves a great gift? (I’m raising my hand!) There are few things better than a well thought-out present, especially when the packaging is visually pleasing, and serves as an artistic presentation in its own right. Chyra C. Lewis, creative, The Gift Geisha has developed a unique brand and gifting experience. It’s a simple, chic, and time-saving solution to send the perfect personalized gift. Each gift collection is delicately handwrapped in the signature Gift Geisha box, enclosed with a personalized note card, and topped with a satin ribbon. The concept of The Gift Geisha was born when Chyra was attempting to send gifts to her best friend who moved overseas. “The time it took to collect one-of-a-kind gifts or unique pieces, to find the right gift box, then the cutest card, and still have to go to the post office simply became too much,” Custom gifts and luxury packaging from The she recalls. “So I sought a company to do this for me, but the few I Gift Geisha. found didn’t have chic gifts for my young and fashionable friends. Thus, I decided to be my own solution and named her The Gift Geisha. The name “The Gift Geisha” is as unique as the concept itself. When comping up with the name, Chyra consulted with a friend, and they both agreed the name should include the word “Gift” for obvious reasons; but they were stumped on the rest. “Then riding the Metro one morning, I Googled words that begin with the letter “G.” Geisha appeared and it was perfect,” she recalls. When Chyra researched the definition of Geisha, it solidified she found the name for her company. The Japanese word consists of two kanji, (gei) meaning art and (sha) meaning person or doer. “A Geisha is a traditional female entertainer who is well versed in may subject matters, which I interpreted to mean a gift that can meet many gifting occasions,” Chyra explains. Gifts box collections include His & Hers gift box, a New Job gift box, Garden-In-A-Bag gift box, Kitchen Queen gift box, and so much more. “My inspiration is sourced from celebratory occasions, friends, or previous Gifting Geishas. Deciding on the final assortment must meet function, size, and be my absolute favorite,” she says. “If it’s not all three, it doesn’t make the website. So, when creating a gift box, I rely on my rule of thumb–Color Coordination & Common Sense. Anyone can use this tip.” The Gift Geisha has holiday-themed gifts for the most popular celebrations and holidays. “As we all know, our gifting hearts are big on Mother’s Day and Christmas, as well as Baby Showers and Weddings. During the rest of the year, people mostly send “Thank You” or Thinking of You” tokens of appreciation. Chyra encourages using the popular PETITE gift boxes for those moments.“That’s really all we need to put a smile on our faces.” But what makes these gift boxes so appealing? What’s the secret? It’s Chyra. “It’s just me and my imagination when it comes to packaging. Of course, one must get the ‘glam-stamp’ of approval from the BFF’s too,” she clarifies. “However, the vision for the golden gift box became obvious whenever I would say the word ‘Gift.’ An image of a golden box with pretty ArtDiction | 16 | July/August 2017
ribbon and chic florals, feathers, and pearls would come to mind. And that’s even before you open it. When you hear “Gift Geisha”, two things should happen. You automatically think pretty, luxe, and Ooo-la- la, which in turn sparks curiosity.” Gifters can choose the design-a-gift option, choose from a collection of gifts, or choose a custom order. “Design-A-Gift allows the customer to be The Gift Geisha themselves. (YAY!!!) It offers autonomy to the customer by way of selecting the specific gifts that best suit their Sister’s or BFF’s personality. Heck, right down to the choice of ribbon, box charms, and their personal price point,” Chyra says. The Gifter-on-the-Go can choose from pre-curated collections that are one-of-a-kind custom-themed creations. “Some of my customers may not have the time to design a gift or may be a bit unsure of what items to pair together for a great gift; thus, our MODEST and GRAND gift box collections remove the guess work, yet have all the fun and luxe of a custom order.” For the person that may be more of a challenge to shop for, a Custom Order is the perfect solution. “Custom ordering means you call or email and say, ‘My Mom is so hard to shop for, but she loves dark chocolate, jewelry boxes, hand lotions, tea, Oprah, Michael Kors; her favorite color is blue, and she’s into all things that smell sweet.’” Chyra explains. “We say, ‘Gotcha!’” A custom order can include wine and scented dry floral bouquets with a Custom Local Pick-Ups.
Gift collections are available for many special occasions.
It is evident by the selection of gifts and their presentations that the person behind the gifting sees this as more than just a business. Chyra loves what she does and feels rewarded by her work. “The biggest reward is the feeling of being value-added,” she says. “My spirit has the insatiable need to be a contribution to my circle of friends and family. It speaks volumes when there’s an even exchange of subject matter, travel diaries, and continuous life experiences upon meeting new people.”
Chyra’s generous spirit has moved her to partner with Domestic Violence organizations as part of her own personal journey. The Gift Geisha (synonymous with Chyra) donates gifts to organizations that provide counseling and support services to victims of rape, incest, and domestic violence and that increase community awareness. “In 2006, my Mom lost her life in a Domestic Violence murder-suicide altercation,” Chyra reveals. “At 21 years old, I wasn’t quite sure where to channel my energies or efforts as I struggled with accepting my association with the term ‘domestic violence.’ Still healing 10 years later, sharing The Gift Geisha with a socially conscious Domestic Violence organization makes it all feel purposeful.” Chyra is also co-creator of Our Mothers’ Girls! (OMG!) where friends whose mothers have passed away can lean on each other for support and have a relatable exchange about how to cope and what to expect when grieving. This past Mother’s Day, OMG! hosted a brunch to spend time with other women who lost their mothers and wanted to feel joy and be in a no crying judgement space on a day that may be particularly difficult. “We will be coordinating future meet-ups in between the next 2018 brunch,” Chyra says. “Anyone can contact us to join our sister circle.” Chyra’s love and support she gives to other women just may be her best gift. ArtDiction | 17 | July/August 2017
Chyra C. Lewis - The Gift Geisha.
Top Five Art Museums in the United States
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For a full list, visit www.artdictionmagazine.com.
Curation for the Fun and the Feminist A staple in the world of visual arts is the art exhibition. Artists and art lovers (active or passive) will flock to an opening in order to get their does of art and culture. Whether exhibiting paintings, drawings, photographs, or installations, it is the show’s curator that must provide the art and create an experience that’s just as memorable as the art itself. “Curators are . . . required to engage with new art as it emerges and find a critical context for the reception of that work. A curator must introduce the world to art,” says Teresa Gleadowe, executive chair of Cornubian Arts and Science Trust. We wanted to learn more about this creative profession. So, we interviewed Erika Paget and discussed some of the exhibits she has curated, how she selects the art and artists, and what all is involved in producing a great show. Read on. Q: You recently curated the traveling exhibit, Feminist Fiber Art. How did you come to be involved in that?
Erika Paget. Photography by Dania Maxwell for NBC.
Promotional piece for Feminist Fiber Art.
A: About seven or eight months ago, I co-curated a show for and about women of color called MissRepresentation at the Junior High gallery space. One of the artists in that show had a friend who runs the Feminist Fiber Art collective. She got in touch with me shortly after MissRepresentation and asked if I would be interested in bringing the show out to LA and curating remotely with her. I think I pretty much immediately said “yes” and we went from there! Q: Will you curate the exhibit at each location? A: No. I basically handled the curation and production of the LA show. We definitely have talked about co-curating other shows in the
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future but the traveling Feminist Fiber Art collective has a curator for each city it tours in. Q: How do you select which pieces of art to be included? Is there a process?
Erika Paget at the Feminist Fiber Art show.
A: I usually select whatever really resonates with me. I’d like to think one of my strongest skills is understanding what appeals to certain demographics and being able to cater to that. I know the type of audience for a Feminist Fiber Art show—primarily because I am within that. So, when something prompts a response from me, I can tell it’s going to move the people who attend that show. Sometimes, of course, it also comes down to the business end of curating. I have a lot of experience in retail and I know what’s going to sell, and at times, that’s a huge deciding factor.
Q: Do you help come up with themes for exhibits, or do you tend to find artists after the theme is established? A: I always come up with a theme first, no matter how interpretive or specific it is. Then I curate within that theme. I find having a theme helps me keep a cohesion to the show, and it helps artists when they’re submitting work. With realms of art as big as just textile art or pop-culture art or whatever the larger genre is, [need] to have a theme or you’re just going to have a show that overwhelms the audience. I just like having people focus on a feeling or an idea and then oscillating through that during their time with the art. Q: Do you feel that being a photographer (amongst other creative professions) helps with curating? A: Being a photographer definitely helps me keep a focused eye when it comes to curating. I can get a little neurotic about it, especially when it comes to the visual look of all the art on the walls; but aesthetics are important and sexy! People respond well to things that just look good. Q: Paging Mr. Herman: A Pee-Wee Herman Art Retrospective sounds like it was a fun time; what was the concept behind it? Photography by Erika Paget. Model: Laurel Stovall.
A: I did three pop-culture art shows at the Nerdist Showroom at Meltdown Comics. I was trying to curate based on media I liked because that was a fun personal experience for me, but my boyfriend at the time was a huge Pee-Wee fan and suggested I curate a show around that. I had watched it as a kid and certainly liked it, but it wasn’t until I was putting that show toArtDiction |20| July/August 2017
gether that I fully immersed myself in the world of it. It was an amazing experience just seeing how many people were positively affected by the show and the character. It was definitely the most all-out I’ve gone on an art show. We managed to find the crew that worked on the original stage production to make a full Pee-Wee-style puppet photo booth! Some of the actors from Pee-Wee’s Playhouse even came and met fans—it was an honor to be able to make that show happen for everyone. Q: What other aspects do you help with (setting up/installation, promoting, scouting locations, etc.)? A: I generally do my shows alone so I do everything—curate, work with the artists, location scout, install, write press releases, do interviews, handle refreshments, hand out flyers…you name it. I’m the person answering all the emails, putting the work in the walls, hauling a cart full of white wine out of Costco, and printing artist info sheets at 1 a.m. before the show because it’s the one thing I always forget to do until the very end. I always have friends who are more than willing to help out day-of, but I pretty much handle everything else until right before the show. Q: Which of these aspects is your favorite and why? A: My favorite part of the show is installation—it’s also the most stressful part because it feels like there’s never enough time and you’re always waiting on one or two pieces of art to still come in and you’re just looking at 60 pieces, two hammers, and a box of nails feeling like the clock is staring you down! But it’s incredibly rewarding to see all the artwork on the wall. I always get excited for a new audience to see it on opening night. Q: What were some of the most memorable / favorite pieces of art you have come across while curating shows? A: I’ve seen so many amazing and innovative and creative I Know You Are, But What Am I?, Sara Radovanovitch for pieces! One of the most memorable ones was a piece Paging Mr. Herman. submitted for my Heathers show--it was Winona Rider in that classic 1980s Patrick Nagel art style. It was visually so beautiful and sleek and also felt like such a perfect capture of Heathers and the ‘80s. There was also a Heathers board game, a really amazing painting of that nonsequitor scene where Heather eats a chicken wing, and a great painting of Mulder and Scully brushing their teeth together for the X-Files show. Honestly, I’m always blown away by the talent pool I’m lucky enough to have access to for all of my shows! Q: Are you working on any upcoming projects that you would like to share? A: I just wrapped up the Feminist Fiber Art LA show at the end of May so I’m trying to give myself a little breather. I have a few projects I’m helping friends with, but my main focus right now is getting my own small space to program and curate within. It’s a huge undertaking so it’s definitely on the horizon, but it’s the goal I’m always trying to work towards.
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Oneiric Photography
Marta Bevacqua’s start into photography began in high school. “I was playing a fantasy online role play game and looking for an image for my character. Once I found the image, I just continued browsing websites.” Marta continued admiring the imagery on different art sites, and decided to try to create her own images. “I thought I could try. I took my first camera in my hands and never stopped.” Marta relies almost exclusively on natural light and appropriately describes her photography as “oneiric, dreamy, and natural.” “I have a constant inspiration flow in my head,” she explains. “I just bring that to realization.” Marta’s creation of imagery extends beyond photography. She also directs short films. “I work with a team, directing all of them to represent my ideas,” she says. Shot with many close-ups, her films have the same soft, vintage feel of her photographs, a signature style that is compelling yet relatable. Marta will have a new short film coming soon.
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Marta Bevacqua Origin
Marta Bevacqua Alexia
Marta Bevacqua Somewhere
Roxana Casillas Totem
Roxana Casillas Totem
Marta Bevacqua Nomad
Marta Bevacqua Iris
Marta Bevacqua Shakespearian Love
Are you a writer?
ArtDiction is now accepting article submissions. Send and email to info@artdictionmagazine.com for details.
artist index
Page 22
Marta Bevacqua
www.martabevacquaphotography.com
Page 16
Chyra Lewis
www.thegiftgeisha.com
Page 4
Silas Onoja
Instagram: @silasonoja
Page 19
Erika Paget
www.erikapaget.com
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Call for Artists!
Become a featured artist in ArtDiction by submitting artwork to submission@artdictionmagazine. To request additional details, send an email to info@artdictionmagazine.com.