Corner Stories
An EXHIBITION AND FOOD/TOILETRY DRIVE BY: Nasir Young, Eustace Mamba, and Jake Weiss (members of Alchemy Art Ensemble)
Exhibition Runs: AUGUST 02 - august 20
About the exhibition:
We in Philadelphia are living in a time of rapid change and growth for our city. We are witnessing the skyline change and an influx of new people from all corners of the world calling our city home. Unfortunately, segregation here in Philadelphia (and the greater United States) still exists. Though we don’t blatantly see the damage it is wrecking, it remains a problem that artists like Nasir Young, Eustace Mamba, and Jake Weiss (members of the Philadelphia-based Alchemy Art Ensemble) see in so many coded, complex ways.
Segregation can be identified by looking at the neighborhoods we live in, where we work, our level of education, and our health (including environmental pollution/racism and access to healthy food and clean water). Food deserts are defined as urban areas where the access to healthy food options or fresh, affordable food does not exist. Here in Philadelphia, this has been a major issue for decades. According to nonprofit Bebashi–Transition to Hope, 25% of Philadelphians currently experience food insecurity.
Just recently a Grocery Outlet Bargain Market opened its doors in a Sharswood - North Philly neighborhood. As it turns out, this was the first accessible and affordable grocery store in this neighborhood since the 1960’s. "The 1960s riots devastated this community. Since then, there were a lot of promises made to the community that we were going to rebuild, that never happened," explained Kelvin Jeremiah, President and CEO of the Philadelphia Housing Authority to Katherine Scott of 6ABC.
Corner Stories puts a spotlight on these realities through the lens of local corner stores and other identifiable locations that Philadelphia’s food-insecure communities rely on. The artists hope to not only document these realities though their art, but offer the opportunity for others in the greater Philadelphia arts community to help make a difference.
Paired with the show, there will be an ongoing food drive with donations/contributions being given to the local non-profit Bebashi – Transition to Hope ‘s Food First Pantry, located on 11th and Spring Garden. Click here to see a list of acceptable food donations for this cause.
Corner Stories will open in Gallery 1 at Da Vinci Art Alliance on August 2nd and be on view through August 20th. The opening reception will take place on Thursday, August 3rd, 4-7pm. A closing reception and artist talk will be held on Sunday, August 20th from 12-2pm.
About the artistS:
Nasir Young’s work comes from a place of hyper awareness of his surroundings. He is a person who walks down the street looking at the brick and mortar, the markings on the wall, the trash on the ground wondering about its story. “My practice starts with the world around me; guided by the happenstance moments that you would miss if you blink just once. I document the small wonders. these range from shadows dancing around objects, visual clutter that tells a story.” These may sit in his sketchbooks for months or years before it is time to use them. Every page of these books evokes memories of moments— capturing a story that viewers often can relate to. “I have to sit with this imagery and discover why it emotionally stirred me. When I go to bring these creations to life I use observation, studying the tiniest details of information that could be easily overlooked. My landscapes and buildings are my characters— with figures as supporting props— often depicting a drama and story with no figure ever being present.”
Jake Weiss’ work is about the description of spaces and the emotional qualities that come with them. He uses text, paint, and abstraction to describe the connections and memories that are attached to environments. Whether it is his current living space or the frequent commute, he finds himself enamored with the finer details of his surroundings.
Eustace Mamba’s interdisciplinary practice— branching from painting into experimental design, sculpture, and digital media— is rich with autobiographical associations to his experience as a first born, first generation child of Antiguan immigrants. “The artwork is an extension of my obsessive need to record complex contemporary thoughts and issues through simple expressions. I am inserting images, stories, and information pertinent to building stronger communities into the art as I actively resist colonial ideas and expectations of fine art. Decolonization has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, experiment, and regularly try new things. I continue to find new ways of incorporating my past experience as a designer, marketer, and illustrator in my studio practice. Photography, typography, and other elements of design find their way back to my art as I create experimental media and reflect on society. I incorporate braiding, weaving, and sewing into some of my work as a homage to my family’s long history as tailors and seamstresses. My sculptures and assemblages work as an extension of my stories being activated on the canvas.”