2 Tables 1 Daughter by Claudia Aziza Gibson-Hunter
Clarke Art Consulting had the honor of interviewing Claudia “Aziza” Gibson-Hunter. Aziza combines printmaking and assemblage with painting to create mixed media, political art. She earned a MFA in printmaking from Howard University and went on to develop one of the first Non-Toxic printmaking studios in the country. Later, she became the co-founder of Black Artists of DC.
Aziza’s works have been exhibited New York, Texas, Argentina and Poland, and a part of the Washington DC Art Bank and John A. Wilson permanent collections.
Q: Where were you born?
Claudia “Aziza” Gibson-Hunter: I was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. My mother was a person steeped in culture: dance, literature, art, theatre, and music flowed through my household. I didn’t have a choice — art was always a part of my life.
Q: When did you first discover your creative talents?
Claudia “Aziza” Gibson-Hunter: My grandfather acted as a curator at the Pyramid Club House in Philadelphia, a gathering place for Black professionals. My mother, Jessie Gibson, loved art and created spaces for creativity. We made our own Piñatas for our fantastic Christmas parties. We had fashion shows, plays, dance classes and African American History classes going on right in our home. The children in our neighborhood were a part of this wonderful circus. To top it off, my father, Charles Gibson, loved to design and remodel apartments, and he asked my opinion about the renovations he was planning. Continue reading →
Posted in: Artist Talk.
Since its first showing in 2006, Keith Ramsey’s “Diluted Loss” series has continuously been recognized as a highly compelling and didactic body of work. “Diluted Loss” illustrates the racism and discrimination directed toward African American troops in World War II, both from the United States military as well as Japanese and European troops. The series is mixed media, and was created using organic materials, acrylic and oil paint, snips of news articles and letters from soldiers, and other charred symbols of American liberty. Ramsey describes the series as “not a pretty picture I painted, but an important one”.
Ramsey’s ongoing investigation of the plight of African American troops of World War II inspired him to create four new installments to the “Diluted Loss” series. These new works will be unveiled on Friday, May 6, 2011 at the Richmond Main Library, located at 101 E. Franklin Street, Richmond, Virginia, during an opening reception on the 1st floor starting at 6pm. The exhibition will be on view through May 31st.
Posted in: Art News.
Waiting on the Change by Keith Mikell
Clarke Art Consulting had the pleasure of talking with artist Keith Mikell. His figurative paintings reflect vivid emotions and events of everyday life. At age 6, Mikell’s passion for art would began by drawing sport figures with a childhood friend. Through the years of perfecting his drawings, Mikell would go on to study fine art at San Diego State University and Otis Parsons College of Art and Design. From Mikell’s humble beginnings of drawing, now, his work has been exhibited at the Agora Gallery and the Lucy Florence Gallery of Los Angeles, California and showcased on numerous television sitcoms.
Q: Where did you grow up?
Keith Mikell: I grew up in the heart of Los Angeles California, South Central to be exact.
Benevolent Offering by Keith Mikell
Q: How did you become interested in art?
Keith Mikell: I became interested in art like most artists at an early age, around age 6. My next door neighbor at that time, Ron Lewis, would sit at the kitchen table and draw people from magazines in his home when I’d go over to play and [ I ] ended up at the table drawing with him. I eventually got pretty good at it and from then on was hooked.
Q: Why did you go on to study art at a university?
Keith Mikell: I went on to study art at the university level because I wanted to maximize my skills and felt at that time that was the best way to do so. It was also the best way to measure oneself against or with other artists. Competition has always been a high motivator for me. It goes back to the kitchen table with my neighbor and wanting to be as good as or better than he was.
My senior year of high school I was offered scholarships to The Cleveland Art Institute and The Maryland Institute of Art. I opted for the less logistically challenging San Diego State University and ultimately transferred to Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles — It was creatively and socially from the perspective of meeting and being influenced by artists and cultures from around the world everything I had hoped for.
Corporate America by Keith Mikell
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Posted in: Artist Talk.
Tagged: African American · artists · Fine Art
Clarke Art Consulting had the honor of interviewing Claudia “Aziza” Gibson-Hunter. Aziza combines printmaking and assemblage with painting to create mixed media, political art. She earned a MFA in printmaking from Howard University and went on to develop one of the first Non-Toxic printmaking studios in the country. Later, she became the co-founder of Black Artists of DC.
