Art House Productions is thrilled to present "Warriors" in celebration of Black History Month. This exhibition features the remarkable works of Myeisha Miller, Theda Sandiford, Danielle Scott, and Armisey Smith, skillfully curated by Andrea McKenna. “Warriors” will be open to the public from February 3rd to February 25th, with an opening reception on Saturday, February 3rd, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.
"In the vibrant creations of these four artists, the concept of 'warrior' unfolds with profound and nuanced meanings. Each piece intricately weaves a narrative, sharing the truths embedded in their history and ancestry. This compelling exhibition resonates with strength, wisdom, and resilience, conveying a powerful message," says Gallery Director Andrea McKenna.
Regular gallery hours are every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. For those who prefer a personalized experience, appointments can be requested by reaching out to gallery@arthouseproductions.org. Join us in honoring Black History Month through this captivating exploration of artistic expression.
All exhibited works will be available for purchase at the Art House Gallery located at The Hendrix, 345 Marin Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07302. Art House Gallery exhibitions are always free and open to the public. Large print versions of all literature related to our exhibitions and tactile, descriptive tours are available upon request. For more information, email Andrea McKenna at gallery@arthouseproductions.org.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Theda Sandiford, an acclaimed, self-taught fiber and installation artist hailing from St Croix USVI, is celebrated for her award-winning artist practice.
Drawing inspiration from the profound impact of racial trauma, Theda melds various fibers with an array of found materials through the art of free-form weaving, coiling, knotting, and jewelry-making techniques. Her meticulously gathered materials, combined with community contributions, serve as a testament to collective memory, transforming into a "social fabric." This intertwines contemporary issues and personal narratives, fostering a rich tapestry of interconnected stories.
At the core of Theda's creative process lies community art-making, a foundational element. She orchestrates multi-disciplinary experiences that unite individuals, sound, and artistry to cultivate a sanctuary for exploring themes of equity and inclusion, sustainability, and personal well-being.
Theda's artistic footprint extends globally, showcased in prestigious venues such as World of Threads, Expo Chicago, Untitled Art Fair, SPRING/BREAK ART SHOW, Governor's Island NYC, New Jersey Arts Annual, and the American Contemporary Craft: National Juried Exhibition. Her work has received acclaim in Excellence in Fibers VI and Fiber VIII from Fiber Art Now, earning her the 2020 Jersey City Arts Visual Artist Award, the 2021 Fellowship in Craft from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and the 2022 Jersey City Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship. She has been named a Fellow for the 2023-24 National of Leaders of Color Fellowship program.
Danielle Scott is a mixed-media assemblage artist who grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. Her work expresses politically and socially charged messaging. She recently received the 2021 Artist of the Year from ESKFF , which is the Eileen S. Kaminksy Family Foundation Artist residency Program in Mana Contemporary, Jersey City. Danielle Scott was featured in the 2021 Essence Magazine as one of the top LGBTQ artists to lookout for. Her works were acquired by The Newark Museum of Art 2021, By NYC Times best-selling Author, Roxanne Gay, and The Wiessman Family Collection.
A soft-spoken artist, Danielle has begun to use her art as a conduit to explore bold, fearless, thought-provoking work - work that draws its inspiration mainly from her own journey and life experience. Her latest pieces are brazen offerings conveying the intense beauty and wretched pain the artist absorbs from the world around her. She creates using photo montage, found objects, paint, raw materials, old books, and collage. From vivid paintings to piercing photography to striking sculptures, all of Danielle’s artistic offerings aim to arrest the viewer and transport them away from the pretentious and into a realm rooted in truth.
After spending 20 years of her career as an oil painter, her career shifted unexpectedly in 2018 as Danielle walked the streets of one of her ancestral homelands, Cuba. It was the artist's first time in the country, yet as she slept and woke, walked and worked, she felt a tug at her core that was both foreign and familiar. The rich art that lined the streets and walls powerfully depicted the story of Cuba’s culture and history, reflected the times, and the people, in a way, tugged at her soul. The art and Artist were in communion, with her ancestors’ powerful voices whispering to her soul, their stories written into the walls. Danielle was home. This started the Artist's awakening. No single medium alone would ever again be enough to express all that the times were calling her to say. She was a painter but put aside the paintbrush. Danielle needed more than paint. She needed paint and paper, texture and color, objects lost and objects found, metal and cotton. She needed to deconstruct and reassemble. She needed to cut and cover and color and crown. Danielle needed to listen and learn to speak in a thousand mediums to tell the stories she now heard all around her, everywhere.
Armisey Smith is a native of Brooklyn, New York, living in Newark, NJ. Armisey’s passion for artmaking originated from her mother, Peggy Ruth Smith, a self-taught artist with dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Due to familial constraints, Peggy Smith could not realize her dream of being a working artist; therefore, Armisey took up the mantle to earn a BFA in Illustration from Parsons School of Design and an MPS in Arts and Cultural Management from Pratt Institute. Armisey’s mother is the driving force and inspiration to continue and succeed in her artistic practice.
Armisey believes her skills are an asset in arts administration, education, and curation. Her amalgamation of skills has afforded various opportunities to collaborate with essential stakeholders and community-based organizations in New York and New Jersey, serving primarily marginalized communities for over 30 years. She is the co-owner of Art With All, an art studio in Montclair, NJ, working with a cohort of visual art instructors who teach persons with disabilities.
Her artistic commitment expands into areas that delve into systemic oppression. Her prominent subjects illuminate the plight of black women and other women of color from past to present. She also believes in producing works that highlight the beauty of black and brown women. Through these lenses, Armisey believes the production and exhibition of her works are an inherent part of her moral obligation to herself, her family, and the public. Ms. Smith exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the tri-state area. She has been the lead artist on several public art mural projects in New Jersey, including the Bloomberg Asphalt Grant, Treat Place Four Corners Project (PES), Rutgers University, the Newark Artist Collaboration (PES and Audible), Yendor Productions-Lincoln Park, Benjamin Franklin School, and Sussex Avenue School.
Myiesha Miller was born in Seattle, WA, but bloomed in New Jersey. Growing up as a loner with a colorful imagination and a flair for justice, she was torn between becoming an FBI agent or an Artist. With a BFA from William Paterson and an eye on the Air Force, she decided to test the waters. After a year as an investigator and doing art freelance, she decided art was her passion. Myiesha considers herself a multimedia artist, but her focus would be printmaking, charcoal drawing, and painting. Her flair for design and color is where she found a successful career as a textile and batik designer. Trips to Indonesia for work continue to fuel her passion for design, and showing her art at Jersey City’s Art House Productions has been a rewarding experience.