MAY 15 - JUNE 15, 2017
UNITED BANK WINDOWS: OLUWAFEMI
Collective Conscious
Pen and digital print
Bio:
I am a music and visual artist based in Philadelphia, by way of Central New Jersey, by way of Lagos, Nigeria. Art, to me, is a necessary super-language. It communicates our thoughts when common conversation cannot.
I have been making visual art for over 8 years, using ink, computer and sometimes photographs, most times a combination of the two former. I work as a freelance graphic designer, frequently in the entertainment industry, where I also deejay and video-jockey as well. I have worked on several
collaborative public art installations, mostly for music festivals. I often find myself in places where music and visual art meet.
Rhythm and repetition are my biggest influences, I am heavily attracted to the ubiquity and necessity of patterns. My ongoing hypothesis is that our world could not exist without some form of repeated action. My work is a continuous exploration of the various ways in which patterns can communicate. My mission is to inspire that same wonder in others.
Artist Statement:
Repetition is woven into every wisp of the fabric of our existence. We cannot live without repeating breaths, meals, laughs and steps.My works explore patterns, hoping to find the stories in their behaviour. For example, if you have only eaten a pretzel once, you might just be curious. Thirty times, and you may like salty snacks. Six thousand times, and you're probably from Philly.
I am enamored by how patterns behave given different parameters. My aim is to use this visual language to make people aware of the patterns in their own lives.
ABOUT THE QUESTION: "What does progress look like?"
Carefully considering the cultures I am surrounded by, enveloped by a capitalist system in the cradle of craving consumerism and corrupt citadels of authority, I am led to compare this rat race to the comfortable cocoon of a caring community. I see that on one level, we are conditioned to love and look after each other, and I find that most people I know can extend such behaviour to a close circle of their family/friends. In another part of our lives, we are working, fighting, and struggling: with, for and against this machine (society) that we have created. Maybe this tension, these aggressions, are a result of not aligning our visions. We may not see that in large part, our visions come from similar roots. We want to thrive, we want others to thrive, just like ourselves. My piece wants people to see that, as rich as their lives are, the same beauty and potential lies in every individual on the planet. Let us align our visions and build a culture of helping each other thrive.
UCHS FENCE: MELANIE BOOTH
#notmypresident
Nylon 5x8ft American Flag, embroidery thread
Bio:
Melanie is a visiting exchange student at Drexel, Philadelphia and a contemporary multidisciplinary artist. Her home institution is Sydney College of the Arts (SCA) in Sydney, Australia where she was born. She has lived in West Philadelphia for five months and has immersed herself in the community art scene. Absorbing the political atmosphere, social environment and intricacies of Philadelphia has immensely informed the basis of this work. Previous exhibits include the Alpha House Artist Cooperative in 2016.
The conceptual based nature of SCA has had a strong influence on her practice. She continues to explore a wealth of materials in order to best represent her ideas. Her current work #notmypresident features embroidery onto a man made flag. The public nature of the work allows for intimacy and interaction with residents, locals and passers by.
Artist Statement:
#notmypresident explores feelings of inclusiveness and isolation as stirred by recent political events. As an international student, I have been welcomed by all I have met. However, I have seen people from other countries experience fear and uncertainty about the prospect of remaining in the country. I can only imagine what it must feel like for people who live here, some for generations, to suddenly feel unwelcome because someone in power deems them so.
This is an interesting, albeit concerning, time to be in America. As such a large, powerful nation with a prominent international influence, now is the time that we must all connect and support each other regardless of our origins, heritage or immigrant status. No one deserves to feel subhuman or lesser than anyone else. We can not help what we are born into. We can control how we treat others. Regardless of your political standpoint, that we treat each other with fairness, compassion and equality should be a priority.
I have thoroughly appreciated being immersed in the community in Philadelphia and would like to give something back in the form of a positive, strength-giving message.
INTERVIEW
What are you inspired by?
I am most inspired by the way in which people interact with one another and how their previous life experiences affect this. I believe people are partially comprised of their experiences which further affects how they perceive reality.
How are you thinking about neighborhood change?
As a university student I think it is my obligation to consider the effect of gentrification generated by the university community on surrounding areas. It is important to protect and preserve important cultural buildings and areas. In addition, the effect of political happenings, whether it be direct or indirect affects the neighborhood and campus. There have been cases of people publicly preaching on a megaphone, discriminating against homosexuals and peoples of different religions or ethnicity at Drexel.
Why did you apply for this particular call for artist?
Lola38 provided the possibility to connect with other artists and community members. This is a chance to be exposed to people from all walks of life in Philadelphia and learn about their experiences of the city. I have already had the privilege of connecting with lovely artist through this project and exchanging labor for materials to help each other out.