Diaspora Vibe Gallery presents works by artists Patrick de Castro, Hugo Moro, Jacquenette Arnette

Diaspora Vibe Gallery Presents
Mirrors, Messages and Manifestations by Patrick de Castro

and Ni Ange Nwa: a collaboration with artists
Hugo Moro and Jacquenette Arnette

Exhibition Dates: February 11, 2010 - March 25, 2010

Mirrors, Messages and Manifestations features work by Patrick de Castro. For Patrick, the clearest thought is change is the only constant. By eliminating excess baggage, he emphasizes working conceptually, under the pretext of less is more. Using rich color fields, he explores form and space, and creates collages from old books, magazines and found objects. He investigates dreams and archetypes of the collective unconscious, developing symbols as images that refer to oneself and operating in a space of human consciousness that transcends history and culture.

Ni Ange Nwa: Artists Jacquenette Arnette and Hugo Moro’s collaboration about the experience they had in Haiti. They wanted to work with ideas about communication referencing how the return from the Ghetto Biennale opened up a dialogue about the haphazard nature of communication, and the experience of being in that environment using the most basic methods in order to get ideas across was impactful. On Monday January 11th they secured a space for their experiment less than a month from when they had arrived and on Tuesday January 12th the earthquake changed everything.

From December 10 – 20, 2009 Jacquenette and Hugo went to Port au Prince, Haiti to complete artwork for the first Ghetto Biennale. This Biennale was a project set up by English photographer Leah Gordon and American Curator Myron Beasley of Bates College. During the two weeks in Haiti, artists from around the world worked in the neighborhood of the Grand Rue, where the famous Sculptors of the Grand Rue collaborated and exchanged ideas on art and what it means to be an artist in the world. They always realized the differences between their backgrounds and experiences but not so much as they would in less than a month.

Working on this installation has given them a chance to reflect on their time there and grieve for those lost. Attending the Biennale had given them an unexpected network of artists that have all remained in constant contact before and after this tragedy. The resulting piece is a beautifully haunting slice of time. Xiomara Alfaro’s soulful rendition of Angelitos Negros plays over a video, generously granted for use by Emily Troutman, of the opening reception from the Biennale of the Rara band’s inaugural procession through the Grand Rue. The music’s metaphor of black angels being excluded from church paintings is a cold reminder of how Haiti has been excluded from the worldview for years. The uplifting spirit can be felt when you hear the actual celebration at the end. This is the Haiti we want to help and the Haiti we need to remember. This video is projected over a sculpture of child figurines forming a double helix. In the corner of the installation is a silent Victrola with Libby Holman’s emotion bare torch song version of House of the Rising Sun, a reminder of how other people of color have been treated during times of adversity. The reality is that the information of looting, violence, and unrest we hear on the news is a far cry from the struggle, famine, and hopeful nature of those living through it.

Diaspora Vibe Gallery is located at 3938 N. Miami Avenue in the Design District. Gallery hours are 11am – 6pm, Tuesday through Friday with appointments on Saturdays. For further information please call Diaspora Vibe at (305) 573-4046 or visit www.diasporavibe.net, www.diasporavibegallery.blogspot.com, www.diaweb.diasporavibe.net, www.flickr.com/photos/diasporavibe. Diaspora Vibe Gallery is a multi-disciplinary art space serving as a laboratory for emerging artists of the Caribbean Diaspora and other artists of color, providing them with a contemporary sensibility to explore and experiment with new forms and cultural themes.

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Support for Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator is provided in part by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Artography, LINC, funded by the Ford Foundation, Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, Dade Community Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, NEA, Funding Arts Network, DACRA Realty, National Performance Network / VAN Gift of Carl and Toni Randolph Family Foundation, The Friedman-Klarreich Family Foundation, DeLaCour Family Foundation, Anthony R. Abraham Foundation, HSBC Bank USA, and The Buddy Taub Foundation. Founded by its current Director/Curator, Rosie Gordon-Wallace in 1996. Diaspora Vibe is currently celebrating its 14th anniversary.