Welcome to the summer edition of the September Gray Fine Art Gallery newsletter. We’re thrilled to celebrate and share with you all the brilliant artists making our world more beautiful and intellectually engaging. 2022 has been a great start as we did our closing of Jamele Wrights Solo exhibition of Those that dream and continue to do so, along with his works on Paper. We had an exciting exhibition that opened in February, Rituals and Remembrance….We will understand it better by and by, highlighting works by Kevin Cole, Lillian Blades, Romare Bearden, and Faith Ringgold. The artist talk was truly inspiring, and we hope you watch it on our website.

On view now are new works by Kevin Okeith.
Don’t miss this beautiful exhibition on view until September. Kevin Okeith is a landscape/Abstract artist that uses rich and lush colors and has the ability to move you in the stillness of his work.
 

To celebrate life, beauty, and the ability to appreciate art, we are offering a Limited-Edition Archival hand-embellished print by Danny Simmons. The work will be a one-time offer for our collectors that will happen twice a year.

Danny Simmons, Jr., is an American abstract painter from Queens, NY, who once coined his particular style of painting as “neo- African Abstract Expressionism.” His talent and passion for the arts reach beyond the canvas; He is a published author, poet, painter, and art philanthropist. He has become a leader in the art world with his philanthropic ventures, artistic talents, and creative mind and drive.

There will only be 7 in this edition printed. Don’t miss the opportunity to own this beautiful work!

My bruises lay down in the middle of the road obstructing heavy traffic having temper tantrums weepy wailing pork rind breath dangerous/ stabbing sidewalks rumble ragged and rabble..I am seen from a side eyed black gaze a jazz rift drifting slowly away / shopping thrift needy in second hand shops. I’m all the time sweet dizzy and dream drunk/ I must compose myself i/m all over the place in side places and basements. Settle down good fellow into your shimmering reflection. Sit lotus and chant breathe breath until breathless no more.
We rise marching cresting hill top Black lives mattering with pipes & guns and break out in distractful two step historical rhetoric like a first poem flying. 
The burning of downtown black business still smoldering nigh on a century more as the tales are told. The smell of burnt bodies have been added to my DNA trigger memories that mock the black ass raven never more never more. 

—Danny Simmons

We want to congratulate Jamele Wright Sr. for his works at the Zuckerman Museum of Art that have been on view from 2021-2022. The mixed-media works are a part of the artist’s ReBORN series and transform the beautiful space at the stairwell and pavilion of the Museum. The artworks are rich, layered mosaics of Dutch wax cloth mixed with history and symbolism. They tell the story of a land, a people, a place in history, a portal to knowledge past and present, and most of all, the richness of legacies we must all know and never forget. The work is a memory in progress. Knowledge in progress, human beings in progress. Visit the Zuckerman Museum of Art through July 30 to experience the works. 

Wright was recently interviewed for WABE City Lights with Lois Reitzes, sharing insight into his works at the Zuckerman Museum and the materials. 
 

Charleston’s Own Gibbs Museum welcomed our own  Jamele Wright Sr. for a residency this spring. During the residency, Jamele started working on new works dealing with the Gullah culture’s history. Understanding the necessity to always imbed history and stories in his work, he was able to capture and understand how his work can tell the story through his use of patterns, indigo, water, and cotton. Being in close proximity and hearing the stories of people who still live on the land gives Jamele the richness of language to create another body of work that speaks the Gullah language through the spirit of souls unheard.

September Gray Fine Art Gallery is pleased to announce that we will be participating in New York Works on Paper show on Pier 36

September 8-11, 2022
Works by:
Antonio Carreno
Kevin Cole
Eleanor Neal
Michael Scoffield
Jamele Wright Sr. 


Opening September 29 – October 21, 2022
A Group Exhibition Featuring New Works by  
Jamele Wright Sr.
Kevin Cole
Freddie Styles
Ato Riberio

We are pleased to announce a new addition to our gallery, Gabrielle Torres. 
Torres will have an exhibition in October of 2022 titled Question Everything. Please save the date for the opening reception on October 28, 2022.

We are excited to launch the inaugural Atlanta Art Week! Founder Kendra Walker will celebrate in all of our creative art spaces in Atlanta. You can click the link below to read the full article from The Art Newspaper.

We hope you will join us for an engaging art experience and programming!
 

The Art world felt the loss this week of Sam Gilliam.
His accomplishments as an artist were an inspiration to all that knew him, those that he mentored, followed, and those who collected his work. Sam was a true treasure that created works outside the conventional norms.  He will always be remembered through his legacy of great works. We hope you will take the time to read more about Sam Gilliam and his work. Also, check out the Arts Atl article on his relationship with our own  Kevin Cole and how he was instrumental in guiding him in his career. 

Rest in Peace.

As we continue to celebrate and highlight the artists, let us also look at our collections and take the time to appreciate the beautiful investments we have made. Let’s continue to share with others in our lives the meaning and value of living with these artists.  

There is no secret or special code when it comes to appreciating and collecting works of art. The only secret is there is a code of silence often when we don’t share and acquire pieces that make your home more aesthetically beautiful and intellectually engaging. Let’s break the silence and make a statement about collecting work that provokes, makes you contemplate, and brings compassion, understanding, and great conversation. This is the Art Code of conduct. Let’s make it happen in 2022!

As always, we continue to be grateful for your support of these artists and our mission of education through the arts. 

Artfully yours.