Passing through...

Submitted byJeeraik009 onWed, 04/11/2012 - 10:02

 

The Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator based in Miami recently mounted an exhibition at Edna Manley College's CAGE gallery as the outcome of its Jamaica International Cultural Exchange for 2012. Entitled Living Sculpture II, the temporary exhibition, accompanied by a one day symposium, allowed artists from the wider african diaspora (including Urbanflo artists Jenni Lewin-Turner, Natasha Ba-Abdullah, Amrita Chandradas, Kaydia Lewin-Turner from the UK) to exhibit together and discuss their art practice. The title accurately pointed to the ecclectic collection of works in varied media that moved beyond conventional interpretations of sculpture. Many were works on paper, prints and photographs suggesting the economic practicalities and scale issues often involved in exhibitions that travel, but a few such as Rodney Jackson's crumpled popular grocery can forms or Carlos Alejandro's washing line of works on paper or Danny Ramirez teddy bear wall drawing (shown here), challenged the third dimension in ways that were spatially creative. Co-ordinated by participating Jamaican artist Carol Campbell and curated by Diaspora Vibe Gallery's curator Rosie Gordon Wallace, Living Sculpture II, was something of a coup for the CAGE gallery that has recently appointed an advisory board to ensure the high standard of its exhibitions. It is shame this presentation of international works was so fleeting and under-publicized but perhaps this too reflects the reality of contemporary cultural partnerships. View works in situ.