"After Dark" with @artinstitutechi

Diaspora: @ArtofBlackness (via @MetroBoardCUL)

Friday night I attended the Diaspora: Art of Blackness art show held at NYCH Gallery, a hidden gem on 18th Street in Pilsen. One of the featured artists of the night, Brian Golden, showcased 3 pieces of his work, with other artists adding their artistic take on the show's theme - - Art of Blackness. DJ Kwest_on held down the sounds, with a special performance by African drummers. The event was curated by Lashun Tines and overall a great night.

A steady stream of people were able to get together in the name of art, mixing and mingling with free drinks. Seriously - - it gets no better than that! I'm not sure how long the work will be on display at the gallery, but if you're in the area it's worth checking out.

Diaspora: The Art of Blackness Exhibition

"The Diaspora Exhibition was created to allow for a meeting of the minds between African American artists and design professionals. The exhibit's goal is to provide these artist with both an avenue of expression and an introduction to potential patrons and resources. Invited artists are encouraged to utilize their medium of choice (graphic design, photography, painting, etc) to depict their interpretation of the black experience in America."

What: Diaspora "The Art of Blackness" Exhibition
When: Friday, Feb 22nd, 2013
Where: NYCH/Robotic Minds Gallery 643 W. 18th St.
Time: 7-10 PM
Cost: FREE 99 (RSVP by clicking HERE)


The event will be curated by LaShun F. Tines and Phillip Scott, with Dj Kwest_on providing the sounds.

Artists 
Phillip Scott
Caliph Rasoul
James Nelson
Lonnie Garner  
Darno Demby  
Brian Golden 
Rashayla Marie Brown  
Keith Purvis  
Roger Carter 
Chevonne Woodard  
Ashley Mckinley  
David Anthony 
Thomas Williams

Drink up Art featuring Brian Golden (@southportgrocer)

If you can't remember the last time you did something culturally enriching, fret no more.

Part wine tasting, part art party, Drink up Art is the perfect opportunity to meet local artists, lubricate your spirit with fancy wine, and nibble on delectable bites.

Next week's event features one of my favorite local artists, Brian Golden! In addition to showcasing some of his favorite pieces, Golden will be available to answer questions about his inspiration, creative process, and even help you load the work into your car if you wanna buy it lol!! 

Click here to check out more of Brian's work.



What: Drink Up Art
When: 11/8/12
Where: Southport Grocery & Cafe (3552 N. Southport)
Time: 6p - 8p
Cost: Free ($15 for the wine tasting - - 3 glasses of wine)

One to Watch: Zofia Falconi

It's not everyday I come across a piece of art that manages to both captivate and intrigue, leaving me yearning to know more about the piece itself and the artist behind it. Painted by the 22yo self-taught artist Zofia Falconi, "Embodied" managed to grab my attention and has yet to let go.

Falconi recently displayed her work at ISE's The Art of Life: Encore held at the Aloft in Tempe and received a great reception. Much to my delight she also does commissioned pieces as well as have current artwork available for purchase. For more information about this talented artist check our her blog.

N♥tural Hair Art

Since entering into nesting mode I've been on the hunt for vibrant, unique artwork to make my white walls pop. Yesterday I came across these funky prints by Andrea Pippins and it was love at first sight. At $30 each, these 11.75" x 15.75" prints fit perfectly into IKEA Ribba frames and are an awesome way to liven up your home.

As someone that's embracing their curly hair, these prints send a strong message and are the perfect gift idea for any natural friends you may have.

Andrea runs FlyGirls Blog and recently launched her site, I love My Hair, where all of her artwork can be purchased.

The Only Regret - $30

Kinky Coily Curly - $30

Self Love - $30

Artist at Work

I found this amazing artist online and wanted to share his drawing of Lil' Wayne/Baby. His name is Jerry Lavigne Jr. and he's a self-taught artist that has had no formal training. Check out more of his work here. This dude is sick.

UNICEF's 3rd Annual Wine, Women & Shoes

I had the pleasure of volunteering at UNICEF's 3rd annual Wine, Women & Shoes event last night and had a great time. If anyone is unfamiliar with the work that UNICEF is doing I'd suggest taking a look at their site.

While at the event I not only got to assist with their efforts to raise money for children in need, but let my eyes devour shoes and bags from designers such as Jimmy Choo and Louboutin...while my thirst was quenched by a vast selection of wines. The night was topped off by the superb location, the River East Arts Center.

Guests were free to walk around the gallery and take in the many interesting painting, sculptures, and designs. Among my favorites, was this breathtaking sculpture I found. I wasn't able to identify the artist, but the work speaks for itself. It's the first time, in a long time, that a piece of art has managed to capture my attention and spark my curiosity for not only the artist behind the work, but the story of the piece. I was blown away by the kinetic nature of the sculpture. My new mission is to find out the name of this work and the artist. I know that it's out of my price range...for now...the piece next to it was going for $24,000...but its beauty is undeniable and I'd love to own this.