Images above are from "Where My Wings?" group exhibit
Smoke School of Art is an Atlanta based Non-Profit think tank that discusses and addresses contemporary philosophy and issues in modern art & culture.
The Members:
Christopher Hutchinson, MFA
This work explores resolving the separation lines between nationalities, States, zip code even shades of skin that are promoted from childhood. These resolutions can be seen in the inventiveness of children. Children use what is available with the focus on the specificity of its use rather than the price paid for the item. There is pure joy that happens from a tire race, paper boat race and the flight of paper airplanes, this collective joy unites a community.
SSA Founder, Conceptual Artist, Professor, Critic and Archetype Gallery Owner
Eric Mason, MFA
This body of work, titled “A LostForm of Communication,” freezes a moment of our immediate past, a moment of relevance before the onslaught of this so-called microwave age. The work does more than foster a conversation, memory or awareness. It gives lasting meaning to a passing icon of human communication.
SSA Founder
4theartofit@gmail.com
Carina Maye
My work is interested in theunrecognized student forced to participate in the American educational system. Thecurrent version of this passé system continues to afflict minorities in ways thatcannot be fixed with existing ritual. Students are withheld their right tochoose, and are in fact voiceless in their matriculation. This body of workexamines the contentions minorities face in education and its link between thelarger concerns of defect. “The Seat of the Troubled” Series addresses thesystemic failure which reduces students for capital gains.
Julio Mejia
My work is interested in the willful contrast of paint, which mirrors the narrative of an exemplar inherited lineage. This lineage of unconventional risk-takers reflects the uncomfortable uncertain outcome of each painting. These paintings are uneasy gambles of a romantic life. The directional effort of paint unveils the visceral tension of beauty found in the forces of nature.
“We assert that all modern art derives from Africa — all conceptual exercise is derived and conceived in the ancient ceremonies of the Dogon. We are the noble savages that reside on the moon — with rites of passage, shape shifting through the universe. We have special powers embedded in our pigment, hair and bone. We have been indoctrinated by grimy HIP HOP — you can’t handle our extra muscle.”
The Feminist Symposium — a bad question
a bad question: an exhibition and forum on race + feminism brings together members of the tART Collective and the Smoke School of Art for their first collaboration. The exhibition takes its title from the Mia McKenzie article “How Can White Women Include Women of Color in Feminism?” Is A Bad Question. Here’s Why. The article is one that the tART Collective read together in their current yearlong reading series on race + feminism.
This collaboration comes about from conversations between members of the two collectives on their overlapping interests, which include creating exhibition platforms for underrepresented women artists and artists of color. The artists in this exhibition may not necessarily categorize their work as "feminist artwork". The goal is to provide support for women artists. This action of support is part of feminism. It is an action intended to allow women artists the freedom to make and exhibit the work they want to make and exhibit, not to conform to some kind of "theme" - a constriction too often placed upon artists who are women and/or members of other marginalized groups.
We meet and discuss artists, art history and theory every Friday night 9:30pm-2:00am. Topics and location for discussion posted weekly on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Join the conversation.
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