PRESS RELEASE
Community School of Music and Arts Presents
Mixed Media Works
by JoeSam. in Mohr Gallery
The Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) at Finn Center in Mountain View presents a solo exhibition of mixed media works
by painter and sculptor JoeSam. from December 5, 2005 through
January 25, 2006. CSMA will host an artist talk (6-7 pm) and
opening reception (7-8 pm) on Friday, December 9. CSMA’s
Mohr Gallery exhibitions are presented by Heritage Bank of Commerce.
The JoeSam. exhibition presents works from three different series:
African-Asian; Heaven and Earth; and the Chocolate series. The
content of JoeSam.’s work is often social and political
commentary informed by his own African-American heritage. The
Chocolate and Heaven and Earth series particularly exemplify
the artist’s style, which is characterized by bright and
vibrant colors, as well as by the juxtaposition of diverse, often
quite simple elements.
“JoeSam.’s work reflects his joie de vie in its
use of color, scale and materials, with each piece conveying
energy and excitement,” says CSMA Visual Arts Director
Linda Covello. “His bold paintings and collages draw you
into his world and his art, which captures what he sees with
the clarity of a child’s eye and the sophistication of
an accomplished artist and commentator on the world.”
JoeSam.’s “quilt” pieces reflect the tradition
in this country of quilting by African-Americans. Quilts, characterized
by their color, texture, liveliness, originality and ingenuity
for communication, have evolved into a highly personalized craft
and are now recognized as one of the foremost examples of American
folk art. In keeping with this tradition, JoeSam.’s quilt
paintings use popular and personal symbols to talk about an evolving
American heritage and culture.
Other works in the exhibit, such as Beans and Rice and White
Squares, are based on the artist’s interest in exploring
the changing and multi-layered relationships between Black Americans
and Asians. The recent influx of Asian-Americans and new Asian
immigrants into traditionally Black neighborhoods has exposed
links between the two groups. JoeSam.’s work speaks to
the way in which these two groups share mutual fascination, fear,
suspicion, admiration, and stereotyping of each other, as well
as new opportunities for understanding and appreciation.
A longtime resident of the Bay Area, JoeSam. was born in Harlem,
New York and earned a doctorate in education and psychology at
the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. After pursuing a
career in human services, he left his job in 1984, at the age
of 45, to devote himself fulltime to his art.
Although he never received any formal art training, his innate
talent and artistic ability have resulted in an extremely successful
and prolific artistic career and body of work, which initially
focused on producing public art. JoeSam.’s work is held
in the public collections of numerous cities and counties, including
Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose,
Denver, Santa Fe, Anchorage and other locales.
His long career has included: numerous solo and group exhibitions
throughout the U.S.; extensive public art commissions and large-scale
exterior wall sculptures; many awards and grants, including a
Compton Foundation Fellowship from the Djerassi Resident Artist
Program; radio and television appearances; and artist-in-residence,
teaching and curatorial positions.
The Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) at Finn Center
is committed to providing Arts for All, regardless of age, level,
background or economic means. The non-profit organization provides
classes, lessons, camps, arts-in-the schools programs (Arts
in Action, Music in Action), concerts, exhibitions, lectures and
free community events. In January 2004, CSMA opened Silicon Valley’s
first-ever center for music and arts education. The $11.7 million
Finn Center building is the school’s first permanent home
since its founding in 1968. The 25,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art
facility includes private music studios, classrooms, ceramics
studio, digital arts lab, teacher resource center, 200-plus seat
concert hall (Tateuchi Hall), and exhibition gallery (Mohr Gallery).
The Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) at Finn Center
is located at 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View. Visitors
to Mohr Gallery may view the Dec 5, 2005-Jan 25, 2006 JoeSam.
exhibition Mon-Fri, 9 am-7 pm and on Sat, 9 am-3 pm. The exhibit
and Fri, Dec 9, 6-8 pm, artist talk and opening reception are
free to the public. For CSMA and exhibition info: www.arts4all.org;
650.917.6800.
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