Chashama presents "You Are The Myth" a Solo Exhibition by Watson Mere
New York City, New York (PRWEB) June 20, 2023 -- New York, June 20, 2023
Chashama presents “[You Are the Myth”, an art exhibition by artist Watson Mere opening Saturday, July 1st until July 28th at 227 West 29th Street, New York, NY 10001. The collection presents a body of work that Mere has been building since 2021 after the events of the coronavirus pandemic, the George Floyd protest, the US elections, and other global and personal occurrences that drove Mere to plunge deeper into myths. By combining Biblical stories, Egyptian mythology, Yoruba Orisha legend, and other mythologies with modern black diasporic themes, Mere's vision for the exhibition is to create a meeting ground through captivating compositions, where these worlds can tell a griot-like story to the viewer, translating narratives of the past, creating dialogue about the present, and presenting prophecies of the future.
Each piece presents a concept that explores the notion that the narratives and lessons within these "myths" not only exist within the macro of modern black culture but also the micro-fine details and themes of the ebbs and flows of our everyday lives. Through his painterly expressions of vibrant acrylic and oil colors mixed with his mastery of Microsoft Paint, Mere’s culturally symbolic images send the viewer into a thought-provoking path that forces them to question their own views of society, while enabling them to reflect on their own past, present, and future.
One of the centerpieces of the show, entitled “Goliath” depicts a young black woman walking through a field of vibrant sunflowers, yet her gaze is fixated on a single withering flower amongst the abundance of beauty. The piece references the motif of the African head basket carrier wrapped in a modern aesthetic. The 4-foot by 4-foot piece speaks to the artist's singular attention to detail and his ability to convey several stories within a single cohesive composition.
Another artwork in the collection entitled “Like Georgia Clay in The Mornin’” references the allure and mystique behind exposed skin and society's views on nudity as it approaches. The piece is a reversal of the tale of the Garden of Eden, as the woman subject's expression of euphoric realization speaks separately to each viewer, and a mysterious hand looms over her shoulder.
Although several pieces in the show display completely painted images using acrylics, oils, pastels, and chalk, Mere also presents in the exhibition mixed media pieces which include his mastery of the program Microsoft Paint, a tool he has utilized with a mouse to create artworks for nearly 25 years.
Mere describes his pieces as “portals” or “windows”, and goes into further detail, saying “For some, the window reflects the viewer’s own experiences or ideologies, for others, it presents a view into a world they may have never noticed or understood, allowing them to analyze and consider new ideas and perspectives. My goal in each piece is to create an image that the observer can't passively view but is drawn to engage with.”
About Watson Mere
Watson Mere has been an exhibiting artist for the past seven years. Mere’s work has been featured in galleries, museums, and venues, which include the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY; Venice Art Gallery, Venice, Italy; Weeksville Heritage Center, Brooklyn, NY; The Untitled Gallery, New York, NY; Norman Rea Gallery, York, United Kingdom, The Heath Gallery, Harlem, New York, and others.
He has earned several awards including the 2022 Elizabeth Foundation For The Arts Studio Program, a 2021 New Futures recipient from The Other Art Fair, the 2018 Citation of Honor (Arts) from the District Attorney of Kings County, and the 2018 Jean-Michel Basquiat Award from Creole Image Honors. In 2018, C-Suite Quarterly chose Mere as a NextGen 10 in Philanthropy, Art, & Culture. Mere and his work has been featured in publications and television networks such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Esquire Magazine, Artsy, NPR, News 12 New York, Philly Magazine, Broadway World, AfroPunk, BronxNet TV, Colossal, GlobeNewswire, Nylon, C-Suite Quarterly, and more.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York and maintains a studio at The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts in Times Square, Manhattan.
OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday, July 1st 6PM-9PM
HOURS: Thursday 9AM-5PM, Friday 9AM-6PM, Saturday 10AM-6PM, Sunday 10AM-3PM from July 1-July 28
WHERE: 227 West 29th Street, New York, NY 10001
WHAT: Watson Mere Solo Art Exhibition - http://www.watsonmere.com
About Chashama
Since 1995, Chashama has partnered with property owners to transform unused real estate for 30,000 artists and over 150 small businesses, hosted 4,000 public art events, provided 1,500 classes in under- served communities, and reached audiences of nearly a million.
Watson Mere, Art of Mere, LLC, http://watsonmere.com, 1 561-360-0640, [email protected]
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