MIAMI – Diaspora Vibe and Popopstudios will be presenting WORK!, a collective exhibition comprised of Bahamian artists John Cox, Heino Schmid, Blue Curry, Toby Lunn, Jason Bennett and Michael Edwards.
Each artist has a unique body of work with differing inspiration, which will transform the gallery into an interactive space where the viewers can experience different media such as painting, sculpture, installation, video and photography.
Popopstudios is an artist cooperative with a mission to expose alternative practices in Bahamian art to regional and international audiences. John Cox, a Bahamian mixed media painter and printmaker, formally established the gallery space, located in Chippingham, Nassau, Bahamas, in 1999. For more information on the space log onto www.popopstudios.com.
Born and based in Nassau, Bahamas, John Cox received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration and Master of Arts in Education from the Rhode Island School of Design, Rhode Island. Cox is not limited to only one medium, but he initially identifies his work within the context of Bahamian contemporary art as an abstract painter. His work samples from and comments on the everyday life and the ritualistic subtleties Caribbean routines.
Heino Schmid explores in his artwork the subject of identity and displacement, rather than asking Who am I? or Where am I? he questions the notions as an attempt to expose the evolving and contrasting social conditions that make these questions necessary. Schmid received his Bachelors of Fine Arts in Photography from The Savannah College of Arts and Design, Georgia and his Master of Art in Fine Arts from the Utrecht Graduate School of Visual Art and Design, Netherlands.
As a multidisciplinary artist, Blue Curry is not constricted by one medium. His spontaneity of ideas are usually what dictate the medium and the final form the work will take. Born in Nassau, Bahamas and now based in London England, he received his Bachelor of Science in Administration and Spanish Literature and Language from Skidmore College, New York and his Bachelor of Arts in Photography and Multimedia from the University of Westminster, London.
Nassau based Toby Lunn received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the College of Art, Maryland Institute, Maryland. He describes painting as having an immeasurable flow; it does not make a difference whether the works are more representational or abstract, it is the intensity and context that matter. His current work deals with the elements of Water, Earth, Fire and Air.
Jason Bennett’s love of the outdoors has become the main influence in his work today. Having received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Savannah College of Art and Design, Georgia, Bennett entered the field of artistic shotcrete where he can utilize his artistic talents.
Michael Edwards received his Bachelors of Fine Arts in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design, Rhode Island and a Master of Arts in Innovative Design/ Art and Technology from IT University, Sweden. A Nassau native, his late creative agenda has been preoccupied with theoretical discourse-one which ponders the connection between culture and its nature counterpart.
Diaspora Vibe Gallery is located in Miami’s Design District at 3938 North Miami Avenue, second level.
An opening reception takes place on Thursday, August 9th, from 7pm – 10pm. An artist talk and slide presentation will take place on Saturday, August 11th, from 2pm – 4pm.
The exhibition, reception and artist talk are free and open to the public.
For more information, call 305-573-4046 or visit, www.diasporavibe.net
