About: Genesse McGaugh is a 1999 graduate of Oakland’s California College of Art. The words “and Craft” had been removed from the name. As a precocious 5 year old, she certainly did her share of craft making, while attending Berkeley Child Art Studio. Though a child with extensive sight impairment, she participated in those Art classes until she was 14 years old. During high school, while the teacher read stories, Genesse loved to doodle figurative sketches while fantasizing about teenage love. Using her artistic talent in this way began to compile into pictorial diaries. She also learned how to paint, draw, create PaperMache and works on wood. Then Genesse had a stint in U. C. Davis’s Art program. She made a choice of learning how to create Linoleum prints. Once she transferred to CCA, she added fabric collage as her media of choice. Because she is legally blind, in order to see what she’s composing, the scale of her Art is usually 30″ x 40″ Her favorite subjects are personalities, food and landscapes.
More info: I welcome commissions of interpreting with flair, your favorite photo as a Fabric Collage. My price range is flexible. Contact my mentor Tōmye either (510) 823-9150 or email tomyegouache@sonic.net
About: I am an artist and a photographer. During this pandemic and subsequent quarantine, I decided to learn something different but still within the art world. I decided to learn how to do acrylic pours and alcohol ink. I have watched countless numbers of YouTube videos and decided to give it a try. I really enjoyed working with the same acrylic materials but in a different way. It was interesting to see how those same materials mixed with other additives produced such different results.
I have shown work in AOTAD, the Richmond Art Center, the O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, the San Pablo Art Gallery, the Rhodes Gallery, the Bridge Art Space, El Cerrito Art Association, and various other galleries. I have sold several pieces of my photography over the years including this year while in quarantine.
I usually submit a photography image or a painting or a pastel/conte piece for AOTAD, I decided to submit something different this year for this virtual show.
The submissions for this virtual show are three of my new pieces and I hope you enjoy them.
About: I am an abstract expressionist painter. Improvisation and color are the essential elements of my abstract seascapes and landscapes. Dominant motifs and inspiration for my work are land, sea and sky. I have recently begun incorporating cowrie shells as emotional avatars into my paintings.
Painting is the praxis that facilitates an entry point to share my unique gestural drawing style and historical content, creating a visual diary of my emotional terrain. Drawing and distressed or layered surfaces provide a foundation for the memories my paintings evoke.
I create large scale paintings on wooden panels inviting the viewer into my physical space to explore my action style of painting.
Abstract Expressionism, Action and Color Field painting and the improvisations of Jazz are both muse and foil to my dynamic surrealist landscapes.
More info: I am a painter who sculpts with color and texture. Wooden panels are my ground and paint is my voice, I extract memories of my interior emotional landscapes and present them as paintings.
My travels to Australia, Tahiti and New Mexico have informed the essential element that light manifests in my paintings. Distressed wood surfaces covered in vibrant gestural color and textures provide provide a glimpse of a moment in time crystallized in acrylic paint.
About: Cincinnati, Ohio native and Oakland based Fine Artist, Educator, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist. His work is thought provoking and capable of arousing strong emotions that cut across ethnic, national and generational barriers. The artistic renderings convey a deep sense of emotion, spirituality, dignity, history, strength and grace.
Bell’s works are inspired by his personal journey through life, music, nature and spiritual beliefs that transcend race and creed. Bell’s mission is to impact the world with his creative expressions. It is through this creative energy and passion that he seeks to evoke emotions and motivate the viewer.
The work is vibrant, colorful, and impactful. Bell’s use of shape, color, rhythmic patterns, gossamer line, and brilliant storytelling is striking. Realism, Cubism, Abstract Expressionism and Afrocentric iconography is all at play. With the use of geometry, harmonious color compositions and design motifs, he stylistically forges a unique and distinctive statement that has found tremendous resonance with his audience.
Bell says of the work- “The process begins with preparing the paper or canvas with a ground and then applying paint and even metallic leaf to the surface. I begin to transform the surface with sheer layers of glazed color. Numerous layers are later applied to the surface in an additive and subtractive process, either with a brush, rag or scraper. The forms are created in the moment resulting in an expressive alchemy process. This layering process also adds another dimension of depth to the paintings.”
Materially, the work has been a continued exploration of media ranging from drawing, painting, and sculpture to create a sense of abstraction and splendor, which gives Bell a vehicle to explore the history of Black identity both in the United States and in Western art.
About: Art for me has always been a vehicle to escape through imagination and creates excitement for me in the process. I was born in Texas, and raised in Gardena Ca, Although I started out as a poet/writer, mentored by the Legendary Watts prophets of Los Angeles, visual art became another way to transcend my written metaphoric thoughts and ideas later in life. After attending Otis College of Art And Design as a sculpture new genres major I began to focused more on visual arts using recycled materials.
The Mixed Media Monotype series, began two years ago when I relocated to Northern ca., unable to bring my artwork from storage in LA here, I gave myself a challenge of creating 100 monotypes. I paint with photo developer, and expired darkroom photo paper. It is an experience of little sight from working in the dark that becomes what is imagined in my mind. The after effects often intrigue me as how the paper reacts on it’s on. After I rinse away the developer with water I am left with a design created this process. This is where I think of a concept relating to what I see, or it’s the catalyst of the next look with applied layers. Often my work begins with a poem I have written, made abstract visually, illusionistic, or surrealistic ideas. Each is unique in design. I use monotype technique for it is important that the design is more of a print, than a painting, for I see more as a photographer. I have recently started using airbrush to add to these designs. I like the flatness it creates, but also it’s ability to create three dimension in form. The interpretations through layers, and what’s visualized by the viewer in the final work is interesting to me.
https://www.mekedadesign.com https://www.artwanted.com/Mekeda https://www.facebook.com/peacebots The price for the original monotype prints is $650.00 ea. 16″ x20″ or contact me for other print sizes and prices Image 1 Entitled: The Dawning Image 2 Entitled: Love Like Nature Image 3 Entitled: Rebirth Current Exhibit: ReImagining Our Footprint Abrams Calghorn Gallery Albany Ca. 1/20/21-2/28/21
About: Places are important to Jason Powell-Smith who regularly expresses pride in being a Bay Area native, explaining “I like the Bay Area because it’s where I grew up.” Bus lines and regional transit stations remind him of specific films and television shows which reappear throughout Jason’s art works.
Printmaking is also of import. Powell-Smith credits the Art Center’s Printmaking Department as a significant influence on his creative process.
1. “Golden State” (D8531) acrylic on paper 12 x 18” $30 2. Untitled (D9977) acrylic on paper 11 x 17” $30 3. Untitled (D9966) acrylic on paper 13 x 19” $30
About: I am an African American artist who works primarily in printmaking, painting, fiber and ceramics. I love to do African inspired art and sculpture. I like the fashion from Africa and the graphic designs. I want to make quilts inspired by African cultures. I think it’s good to make stuff from the old days. Because people don’t make those things anymore. I think it’s good to bring back old styles of art and craft. Art is about remembering for me. It comes to my mind that we should remember our ancestors. It’s about the things you have that you can be thankful for. I remember Dr King and Rosa Parks and the old ways and the way they showed us. There is power in learning history. Celebrating Black hair is important to me and exploring it in my clay sculptures of Black people. Black cultural icons are important to my practice also, especially Aretha Franklin. Aretha inspired a lot of people and showed herself in a good way.
I think I am a beautiful artist. I would like to end my statement by thanking all of my facilitators at NIAD for supporting me.
1. “African Mask” (S0113) glazed ceramics 4 x 9 x 3” $80 2. “Rosa Parks” (D8329) serigraph on paper 16 x 13” $40 3. “The Doll” (S0321) embroidery on fabric, polyester stuffing and mixed media 16 x 8 x 1” NFS
About: Born in Oakland, California my creative journey was clear early in life because my Grandmother and Mother believed that all children are born with a unique gift, I was blessed to unwrap my gift when I was about 61/2 years old. Initially utilizing graphite pencil, pen and ink, printmaking and soft pastel, later my work evolved into mix media to bring about multi-dimension; as well as a sense of rhythm and grace in abstract forms. To view my work is to experience the association between beauty and love. To bring three energies together in the moment-physical, spiritual and emotional- is my fundamental artistic expression. I have exhibited in hundreds of juried festivals, exhibits, and galleries throughout the country. Visitors from countries such as South Africa, Japan, Australia, France, the United Kingdom, and China have chosen my work to adorn their homes in their native lands. Collectors include Randy Crawford, Nancy Wilson, Tom Skerit and William Allen Young.
RECENT EXHIBITS INCLUDE: Art of The African Diaspora, 2020-present Red Umbrellas Open Air Fine Art Gallery, 2005-present The Art of Living Black, 1996-2019 Evolve Gallery, 2011- 2012 East Bay Municipal Utility District, Solo show, 2011 San Pablo Arts Gallery, 2011 African American Arts & Culture Complex, 2011 The City of Oakland Craft & Cultural Arts Gallery, Solo show, 2008 Stanford University, Group show, 2006 AWARDS The Art of Living Black (Richmond Art Center), Artist of the Year Award, 2017 Best Display, Pan African Film & Art Festival, 2004 Artist Honoree, County of Los Angeles, 2004 Certificate of Recognition, California Legislature Assembly, 2004
