Join us this evening for the opening reception of
"INTENTIONAL IMPROVISATION"
Antoinette Ellis-Williams& Femi J Johnson
curated by Danny Simmons
To curate this show I poured through lots of online images of Black abstract artists. I looked at artists from all over the African diaspora but after I narrowed it down by a number of factors including geography in reasonable proximity to The Jazz Gallery I did something new, something I never did before. I tried to listen to the visual flow and Rhythm of the artwork. The longer I tried to listen to the work the more the visuals receded and I heard the rhythm of several artists’ works. Then I looked for the most creative abstract sounds looking to pinpoint improvisation, the work and sound that moved beyond boundaries and moved intentionally into uncharted territory. Femi J. Johnson and Antoinette Ellis Williams’ artwork played the most untraditional music I had found.. ...their painting reflected free form Jazz found in little hip off beat jazz clubs where one went late at night to be transported to new places to new sounds to new visual languages... Each beautifully different from each other each blazing new fantastical paths. These two artists are all about Intentional Improvisation.. – Danny Simmons