Elements of Soul debuts with Seven Esteemed Contemporary Artists

June 28, 2011 - PRLog -- Seven Esteemed Contemporary Artists exhibiting in an Array of Mediums

Elements of Soul debuts in Harlem


"AL JOHNSON is the real deal. A true son of Harlem and master of his genre." -
Nick Dawes, Vice President Heritage Auctions

Riding a wave of edgy yet inspiring exhibitions, Al Johnson Art presents, “The Elements of Soul” group exhibition, located in the art consortium/gallery in a once warehouse for furriers of the 1950’s now known as the 461 Chashama. The show will feature a compilation of seven artists consisting of portraits of unmistakable icons, abstracts of mixed media in exciting tones and forms, black and white photography of one our living masters and refreshing textiles honoring the methodology of recycling - all at the soul of our vibrant culture curated by the commercial and fine artist AL JOHNSON.

Who are the seven artists of “Elements of Soul”?

ADGER COWANS has been interested in a photography since he was a child and had his first work publish at the 15 years old, since then his photographs have been seen in many one-person and group exhibitions including “Photography in the Fine Arts” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) which toured 29 major museums. In general his work have received many positive acclaims, including a grant from the John Hay Whitney Foundation for creative photography, and the award for best photograph at the Yolo International exhibition. AL JOHNSON, illustrator, fine artist, educator and mentor has developed an inclusive vision that captures the Classical, weaves it with the contemporary and refracts it through the prism of his remarkable individuality.  While formally trained in the techniques of the Great Masters, Al Johnson’s art, in fact, goes to the essence of jazz in that it brings together many influences while celebrating individuality.  Al Johnson has exhibited in many corners of the world including the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum in Japan. His portrait of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, permanently installed in Brooklyn Borough Hall, in New York City.  DONNA DOVE is a revolutionary fashion designer, artist and entrepreneur based in Harlem, New York, however much of her inspiration comes from her homeland Trinidad, West Indies. Donna is able to blend both the fine arts and fashion because she strongly believes that there is no real distinction between the two and the result, that combines illustration and fashion together, is always uniquely outstanding.  NATE LADSON is the consummate African American visual artist.  He sought the path of becoming one with the idealism of pursuing the diligence of immersing himself in to the arena of a self-taught-artist, by mastering the daily techniques of color, variation, style and perspective into creative construction, and back into creative deconstruction, all through the visual artist discipline of painting.  TAFA, born in Ghana, West Africa, is an award-winning painter whose work is exhibited and collected internationally. His style is characterized by a richly vivid palette and heavily textured surface. For TAFA creating art is a cosmological journey, it is mirrored in the experience of the collective consciousness of all who search for the truth. TOMO MORI was born in Shijonawate, the countryside of Osaka, Japan; she grew up playing and exploring nature all day, through endless rice fields. Currently she has found her artistic home in Harlem where she thrives from the creative energy and now works on a series “Aggregate.” that is focused on three main elements: Music and Dance, Process, Colors.  VERNA HART is an expressionist painter who describes “jazz” as the medium of her work; she is acclaimed for her composed and improvised jazz paintings. A dedicated artist whose works have been represented in numerous galleries and museums throughout the United States and Africa, including public and private collections.

The mission of AL JOHNSON ART is to promote commercial and fine art that are thought provoking, uplifting the consciousnesses of the human spirit.  The AJA lifestyle explores world cultures from the big screen to the home. The primary goal of AJA is to introduce to integrate art in our every day life.

Host for Exhibition Opening - Fred Johnson, Artistic Director for Intersections International, a New York-based non-governmental organization (NGO).  Intersections International is dedicated to promoting justice, reconciliation and peace across lines of faith, culture, ideology, race, class, national borders and other boundaries that divide humanity.

EXHIBITION OPENS – Friday, July 8th, 2011, 6pm to 10pm at Chashama 461, 461 West 126th Street, NYC (between Amsterdam and Morningside Avenues)
ARTIST TALKS – July 9th, July 10th, July 14th (see elementsofsoulnyc.blog.com for further information)

Press Contact:
Barbara Bullard   P: 646 435 1558 ext. 707    C: 917 340 8707
W: elementsofsoulnyc.blog.com
W: www.aljohnsonartstudio.com    
E: elementsofsoulnyc@gmail.com

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Mission Statement: The mission of Al Johnson Art, Inc. (AJA) is to promote commercial, fine art and art mentoring programs