Trendy Art Buzz: Southampton Lights Up with Caribbean/Latin Art Exhibit and Gala

 

There is no better way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon than basking in the glow of a delightfully orchestrated art exhibit and fund raising gala stationed in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods on the East Coast.

 

The quaint village of Southampton graciously donated their cultural center for the day in order to allow a healthy dose of immaculate talent and cultural eccentricity to freely breeze in and set up shop at the Southampton Cultural Center.

Diaspora Vibe 2.0 Benefit Gala and Exhibit Preview came into existence thanks to the brain and manpower of Rosie Gordon-Wallace, who along with her dedicated and fellow trekkers conceived the idea to stage an intervention to seduce like-minded art lovers to acknowledge the incessant talent evaporating from the Caribbean and Latin Diaspora.

To truly understand the magical intensity of the event, its critical to grasp the magnetic forces that came together to help upload the itinerary that navigated the day.

Diaspora Vibe is definitely an organization that needs to be fully recognized and drenched with admiration. Rosie Gordon-Wallace was driven by her love of art, specifically the pieces that resonated with her primitive tendencies. This burgeoning love affair led her to relieve herself from corporate America and  spearhead a dynamic organization that implements a platform specifically for emerging artists of Caribbean and Latin American descent who possess an infinite amount of artistic prowess but lack the resources to help garner the necessary attention. Diaspora Vibe has become a globally respected ambassador that exists for the sole purpose of championing indigenous artwork spurned out of perseverance and the reflections of the roving immigrant whose journey is a continual cycle.

Another creative life force helping to add a piece to the quilt is About Global Arts/Media, a certified Minority Business Enterprise founded by Vanessa l. Greene. Their mission is to help elevate art and culturally based initiatives for the betterment of developing neighborhoods and communities.

It was no wonder that the gala turned out to be an inspiring and uplifting event that included a touching tribute to one of the trailblazers in the art world – Grace Ingleton. Ingelton, 75, who originally hails from Panama has enjoyed an illustrious career in the field of nursing and is now an adjunct Nursing professor at the college and university level. But despite her impressive resume, she was always drawn to the world of art, particularly African art. And it was this passion that led her to create numerous outlets to enable the facilitation of various exhibits, art tours and educational resources, all in the name of ensuring that promising youths are given the opportunity to shine despite their individual handicaps.

It was an overwhelmingly gratifying feeling to share the same space with such dedicated advocates who are passing the torch to younger generations through their fierce appreciation and love for art and their relentless need to provide a vehicle for artists who otherwise may go unnoticed.

The work showcased at the center was a clear indication of exactly why there is such intensity behind this growing movement towards art philanthropy. The pieces were vibrantly exploratory and evoked levels of symbolism that only a particular culture can convey.

It wasn’t all just engaging conversations and light banter; we were also treated to Celebrity Chef Mark Bailey’s scrumptious offerings which absolutely did not disappoint and made our day trip more than worth the effort.

At the end of the day, there was definitely a sense of communal responsibility in the air and a quiet promise to take a keen interest in helping to develop artistic endeavors especially when the subjects are of minority persuasion.

The results can be both literally and theoretically stunning and we have some of the images from the show to prove it.

For more info, visit: www.globalartsmediainc.com.

 

Yasser Castellanos: Untitled III 2011

Juana Valdez: s Parish Nut 2004

 

Erman Gonzalez: El Rey de Todo de Nada, 2009

 

Erman Gonzalez: No hay Corona sin Espinas 2010

 

Edouard Duval: Carrie

Raphael Perez: Untitled 2009

Rosa Naday Garmendia: Conversation Series no. 9, 2010

Patricia Rolden: Mid-life Crisis, 2012

Hugo Moro: Madonna of the tool shed, 2011

 

Thierry Lima: Drive a pet, 2002

Patrick de Castro: The Breath, 2012

MTB Editor standing near Heimlich, 2012 by Sarah Krupp

Lilliana Gonzalez: Glass man

Yasser Cstellanos: Benedicion, 2011