CHICAGO–The upcoming Harlem Fine Arts Show is bringing together more than a dozen talented emerging and established artists from across the city. Many of these artists do more than just create art, but they evoke discussions on topical issues like race and stereotypes. Chicago artist, Gerald Griffin, who owns Griffin Fine Art & Interior Design, said he hopes his work will be a part of those discussions by attendees.
“The work that I’m going to be showing at this exhibition are from a new series of paintings that I created,” he said.
“The idea I’m exploring questions the concept of color and culture and the fact that race is such a monumental thing in society, not just America, but all over the world,” Griffin said.
Here’s a video of his work created by local singer/songwriter Christine Whack.
The 2014 Harlem Fine Arts Show has been held in New York City since 2010. This year it has traveled to Atlanta and Martha’s Vineyard, and on Thursday it will be in Chicago. The opening reception will be held at The Merchandise Mart, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, benefiting The DuSable Museum of African American History and the South Side Community Art Center, which is celebrating 75 years in 2015.
Chicago Black newspaper publishers will be honored at the event. There will also be beverages and hors d’oeuvres for attendees to indulge in while they get entertained with live jazz. Tickets are $150.
Some of Griffin’s awards include 1st place at Black Creativity ’98, the national juried art competition of the Museum of Science and Industry and 2004 Artist of the Year from Valentine New York magazine. His work has been featured across the country at The Studio Museum in New York, The SOHO Gallery District, The National Black Fine Arts Show in New York, The DuSable Museum of African American History and more.
Griffin said his monochromatic paintings address the varying aspects of African American lives through different perspectives. A lot of his work has historical connotations that deal with slavery, lynching and even how hoodie wearing youth are perceived. He selected the black and white hue because it does the job without being as threatening. More people are drawn to the art and want to showcase it in their home or office.
“That same painting in color of a Black man or woman might make people feel a little more apprehensive about putting it in their house because now the addition of color has added a dimension that we deal with on a constant basis as a society,” he said.
Some artists might have a message they hope their work conveys to its viewers, but not Griffin. He said he wants people to think critically when studying his art and start their own dialogue based on what his creations make them feel. It’s not about his opinion.
“It’s not really about what I want them to see, it’s more about what reaction do they have and why do they have that reaction, that’s more important I think,” he said.
The exhibition will be open to the public from Friday, Oct. 31 to Nov. 2nd. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased www.Hfas.org.
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