Last Sunday I attended an exhibition and artist talk at a great new African-American owned gallery in Harlem called Renaissance Fine Art. RFA's mission is to cultivate emerging collectors, provide stellar gallery representation to well-established and emerging artists, and afford individuals and groups with a quaint neighborly space for business and cultural affairs. I believe the gallery is well on it's way to fulfilling it's stated mission.

Girl Talk: Narratives by Eight Women co-curated by Deborah Willis, photographer, author of the "Posing Beauty in African American Culture from 1890 to the Present," chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging Department at the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University and M. Liz Andrews, performance artist and arts administrator. Girl Talk was a presentation of photographs, paintings, film, jewelry and quilted pieces exploring the themes of imposed identity, beauty, tradition and self-definition. The title of the show is inspired by the song "Girl Talk" by Dakota Staton. "Her rendition of "Girl Talk" reminds us of the importance of women sharing stories and telling histories. The history of women in this nation is comprised of a multitude of stories, struggles and successes." Willis declares.

Through their artistic works, the eight women represented in Girl Talk honor and extend the narratives of many women. "It is a celebration and an opportunity for reflection about those who give and sustain life with their bodies, spirits and voices," says Andrews.

The artists included: Ifetayo Abdus-Salam, a photographer whose work prompts contemplation of the notion of power, sexuality and identity; Micaela Anaya, a painter influenced by Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dali who will feature portrait pieces with a deliberate political; Delphine Fawundu-Buford, a photographer, whose portraits are emblematic of the song Four Women by the iconic Nina Simone; Anna Maria Horsford, better known as a television and film actor, presented jewelry and adornment designs; Letitia Huckaby, a photographer and journalist, uses quilts to create intimate narratives that reflect the cultural history of African Americans;
Melvina Lathan, the first female licensed Boxing Judge in New York and artist who uses fiber to create works whose subjects range from history to contemporary culture; Carla Williams, a writer and photographer who presented portraits capturing images of femininity and
Kathe Sandler, an award winning independent documentary filmmaker who explores race, gender, culture, identity, and history.

About the Gallery

NEW YORK October 16, 2009 - Curtis Jacobs, Founder/President of Renaissance Fine Art, Inc. ("RFA"), located at 2075 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd (7th Ave.), New York, New York 10027 is pleased to announce the gallery's official launch.

In a joint effort to contribute to the redevelopment and artistic enrichment of Harlem, Jacobs has invited curator Paula Coleman to join RFA as Director. Jacobs and Coleman are thrilled to have this unique opportunity to participate in Harlem's ever-growing and dynamic cultural life. RFA displays the works of contemporary painters, sculptors, and photographers, specializing in the works of artists from the Diaspora. In support of other artistic expressions, the gallery provides a venue for film screenings, book signings, educational workshops, and seminars. RFA will also be available for rentals, artistic salons, private parties, and business meetings. RFA's mission is to cultivate emerging collectors, provide stellar gallery representation to well-established and emerging artists, and afford individuals and groups with a quaint neighborly space for business and cultural affairs.

Curtiss Jacobs is a current Wall Street executive with a fond appreciation for the visual arts. Jacobs worked for a number of years as a successful commercial photographer, specializing in fashion and beauty developing his skills while working under legendary photographers Richard Avedon and Annie Leibovitz. Jacobs has always been passionate about the unparalleled creativity that emerged during the Harlem Renaissance period, which was the inspiration for the gallery's name.

As the nexus of the famed 1920s Harlem Renaissance -- where countless artists, writers, poets and musicians converged to create a cultural Mecca - RFA Fine Art will offer a local venue for community artists and creative visionaries. The gallery is dedicated to Joseph David Jacobs a talented painter in his own right and Jacobs' father.

Paula Coleman, Director, emerged on the New York art scene in 2001 at the beginning of the gentrification of Harlem. She co-founded the P.C.O.G. Gallery for six years with the renowned sculptor Ousmane Gueye. Coleman has been an Education Consultant for the past four years, teaching curatorial workshops at Community Prep H.S. in Manhattan. In 2009, she added W.L.Bonner Center's cultural program to her portfolio, teaching their first intergenerational art workshop. As a Harlem resident, Coleman stays involved with its cultural life and continues to work and stay committed to local artists and small businesses.

Renaissance Fine Art | 2075 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd, New York, New York, 10027
Hours: Wednesday – Saturday, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

For more info on me visit my official website
www.rickyday.net