The Washington Post features MAYA FREELON and AMBER ROBLES-GORDON

In the galleries: ‘Interact + Integrate’ requires audience participation

By: Mark Jenkins

Fabric scraps and damaged tissue paper are the essential ingredients of new work now at Morton Fine Art. Those materials might sound negligible, but Amber Robles-Gordon and Maya Freelon employ them with ambition and impact.

MAYA FREELON, Bubble 2, tissue ink monoprint, 44″x 74″

Freelon’s technique began with what her statement calls a “beautiful accident”: finding colored tissue paper stained by water from a leaking pipe. From this discovery, the North Carolina artist developed a method of bleeding pigment from moistened colored tissue onto sheets of white paper, which are so thick they hang as if they’re fabric.

The larger works in “Rebirth/Rebound” were made with a pottery wheel, so the transferred hues spin with verve and grace. The dominant color is often magma-dark red, framed by black and green and white bubbles that evoke the images’ aquatic origins. The most direct print, “Suspension,” is mostly orange and yellow, which flow with the exuberance of a classic abstract-expressionist canvas. Freelon’s accident yields pictures that are assured and bold.

AMBER ROBLES-GORDON, Kepler 19-b Super Earth, mixed media on paper, 36″x 36″ 

Robles-Gordon, a D.C. native, is known for hanging strands of textiles and other found objects in intricate arrangements. The pieces in her “Third Eye Open” are wall-mounted rather than suspended, and feature circular drawing-collages orbited by smaller rounded objects, some partly covered in bits of garments. The forms suggest zygotes and planets, as well as eyes, but at the heart of each of the larger circles is a leafy motif. Whether seen as cosmic or botanical, the artist’s circling compositions exalt natural cycles.

Maya Freelon: Rebirth/Rebound and Amber Robles-Gordon: Third Eye Open Through May 15 at Morton Fine Art, 1781 Florida Ave. NW. 202-628-2787. mortonfineart.com.

You can view all available artwork by these talented artists here on our website! 

WDC City Paper Spring Arts Guide mentions MAYA FREELON & AMBER ROBLES GORDON

Maya Freelon and Amber Robles Gordon

Toward the end of 2016, Maya Freelon began dealing with issues of rebirth and rebounding: the changes of various identities that happen in midlife. Recent tissue and ink mono prints reflect those transitions, with explorations of more subdued palettes, analogous and monochromatic color schemes. Identity is an issue present in Amber Robles Gordon’s work, as well. For the past year she has been constructing collages that deal with African and Puerto Rican heritage in a patriarchal American society, and pushing against the patriarchy with matrilineal mandalas. While the themes of identity will unify these two solo exhibitions at Morton Fine Art, their kaleidoscopic use of color will likely create the visual complimentary bridge. April 27 to May 15 at Morton Fine Art. Free. —John Anderson

Please follow the highlighted links for currently AVAILABLE ARTWORK by these two fantastic artists and stay tuned for the upcoming fusion of their exciting solo exhibitions here at Morton Fine Art opening April 27th, 2018.

American Lifestyle Magazine features artist MAYA FREELON ASANTE

‘Bleeding Art’ an interview with Maya Freelon Asante written by Shelley Rose featured in American Lifestyle Magazine Issue 87, 2018.

‘Visionary and artist Maya Freelon Asante discovered her preferred medium by happenstance.   While living with her grandmother during art school, she found water-damaged tissue paper in the basement and became fascinated by the bleeding of the color.  This fortuitous accident became her muse, and she has been using tissue paper to create her art ever since.’

“When I create the large tissue quilts, I always ask the community to help in the creation process.  [To me], community means, ‘I am because we are’ Ubuntu.”   ~Maya Freelon Asante

Please contact us here at the gallery by emailing mortonfineart@gmail.com for a PDF readable version of this article as well as additional information and images.  Available artwork by MAYA FREELON ASANTE can be viewed here on our website.

MAYA FREELON ASANTE site-specific installation in DC

Amazing site-specific installation by MAYA FREELON ASANTE soon to be unveiled in DC! This five pod piece was custom created for the space and is comprised of tissue and ink Ubuntu quilts. Simply stunning!

 

About MAYA FREELON ASANTE

Maya Freelon Asante is an award-winning visual artist whose work was described by the late poet Maya Angelou as “visualizing the truth about the vulnerability and power of the human being.” Cosmopolitan magazine featured her in June 2015 in “Art Stars,” calling her one “of the most [interesting] female artists in the biz.”

She was commissioned by Google to design original art for their OnHub router. Her unique tissue paper art, praised by the International Review of African American Art as “a vibrant, beating assemblage of color,” has been exhibited internationally, including shows in Paris, Jamaica, Madagascar, and Italy.

She was selected by Modern Luxury Magazine as Best of the City; by Huffington Post as “Black Artists: 30 Contemporary Art Makers Under 40 You Should Know“; and by Complex magazine as “15 Young Black Artists Making Waves in the Art World.”
Maya has completed residencies at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Korobitey Institute in Ghana, and the Brandywine Workshop in Philadelphia. She earned a BA from Lafayette College and an MFA from the School of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Maya is also the daughter of critically acclaimed Architect, Phil Freelon, lead designer of The Anacostia Library, and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. She is represented by Morton Fine Art in Washington, DC.

 

Inspiration of MAYA FREELON ASANTE

Ubuntu “I am because we are”

Ubuntu is a classical African concept which can be interpreted as  I Am Because We Are. This notion of togetherness and solidarity resonates through this sculpture, as the joining of the tissue paper illustrates the power of unity.

Independently, a torn piece of paper seems insignificant, but once those pieces are combined with others, the force is overwhelming. By creating monumental, vibrant, sculptures out of tissue paper I am asking the viewers to acknowledge the fragility of humanity and the importance of working together towards a peaceful and harmonious existence.

Ubuntu echoes the African-American traditions of both the patchwork quilts and textiles which stems from resourcefulness and resilience. Each practice reminds us, as Dr. Martin Luther King said, “that I can’t be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be; and you can’t be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.”

Students, I challenge you to embrace Ubuntu, and find unity in all aspects of your life! We are better together.

– Maya Freelon Asante

Please click HERE for available artwork by internationally renowned artist MAYA FREELON ASANTE.

Morton Fine Art

1781 Florida Ave NW

Washington, DC 20009

(202) 628-2787

mortonfineart@gmail.com

http://www.mortonfineart.com

 

MAYA FREELON ASANTE Artwork Installation in Madagascar

Documentary about award-winning visual artist Maya Freelon Asante and her “Ubuntu” installation at the US Embassy in Antananarvio, Madagascar.

MAYA FREELON ASANTE “Best of the City” in January 2013’s DC Magazine

Best of the City – January 2013 edition of DC Magazine

by Erin Hartigan, Tiffany Jow, Jennifer Sergent, Karen Sommer Shalett, Tobey Ward and Katie Wilmeth

Washington sails into 2013 boasting – and embracing – a bevy of bests. From beauty, health and style stars to arts, culture and dining headliners, here’s a peek at the scene.

CULTURE

Material Girl

Artist MAYA FREELON ASANTE discovered a stack of water-stained colored paper in her grandmother’s basement in 2005, and her fascination with bleeding paper was born. The 30-year old has since erected countless patchwork quilt-esque spectacles, including a stained-glass-like wonder called “Ubuntu” at the Corcoran and a three-story sculpture at the U.S. Embassy in Madagascar. Now, she’s collaborating on an evening-length theatrical production with her mother, six-time Grammy Award nominee Nneena Freelon, and her mother-in-law, Kariamu Welsh, called The Clothesline Muse and prepping a site–specific installation for the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica. “Its a blessing to come from a family that’s so inspiring,” says Asante, the daughter of award-winning architect Philip Freelon and granddaughter of famed impressionist painter Allan Freelon.

Visit www.mortonfineart.com to view available work by artist  MAYA FREELON ASANTE.

The Clothesline Muse by NNENNA FREELON, KARIAMU WELSH and MAYA FREELON ASANTE

MATCHING FUNDS AVAILABLE!

VISIT THIS LINK TO DONATE: http://www.usaprojects.org/project/the_clothesline_muse

VISIT HERE to

Donations are currently being matched 1 to 1 by Artists2Artists Fund.

I am working on an exciting collaborative project called The Clothesline Muse: an evening length theatrical production with choreographer, Kariamu Welsh, and visual artist Maya Freelon Asante. As the “Muse” or storyteller I will tell stories that center around the clothesline; I will also compose the music, which will be performed live on stage. Kariamu Welsh choreographsmovements that are pedestrian and vernacular and projects a movement motif that reverberates with memory and rhythms. Crafting the bodies of six-dancers, Kariamu will lead the story through movement. The set will comprise of “tissue paper art” created by artist Maya Freelon Asante. Maya uses vibrant tissue paper as a visual metaphor to represent “the wash” on the line, bringing light and color to the stage through larger-than-life tissue sculptures. As the “Muse” character, I call our attention to the clothesline as I “hang” songs and stories of hope, loss and celebration out on the line for all to see. I’ve created original music and new arrangements of old classics from the blues influenced “Miss Mary Mack” to the bubbling groove of “Clean White Sheets”. Fusing dance, art and music onstage will be an experience not to be missed!

The community will be involved in our project through interactive art exhibitions that will accompany each performance, as well as music and dance workshops, which will be open to the public. A clothesline will be hung in the lobby at every venue. Audience members will be instructed to write a memory on a piece a paper and hang it on the line. The writing and hanging of memories will be recorded and will appear in that evening’s performance, so that audience members can have their “say”.

Over the past year we have collectively developed and funded the storyboard and script, started rehearsals, created original music, choreography and art. The premier of The Clothesline Muse will be at The Painted Bride in Philadelphia in 2013. We have also secured venues in Baltimore, MD and Durham, NC and envision The Clothesline Musetraveling around the world. We are asking for your help to bring this beautiful and important work from conception to reality. Reaching our fundraising goal will allow us to continue the work we’ve already funded thus far.

Funds raised will allow for the following: an Interactive Website, a Video/Editor for performance projections, a Costume Designer and Costumes, a Lightning Designer, Rehearsal fees, Set fabrication and design, Music and Recording fees, a Percussionist fee and Travel.

Thanks for being a part of this journey and for helping to make The Clothesline Muse a reality for ourselves, our ancestors and for our children!

And a BIG thanks to everyone who’s helped over the last year!

– Kariamu & Company- Temple University- The Painted Bride – The Hayti Heritage Center – The Brandywine Workshop – Reginald F. Lewis Museum- Ekua Holmes- Cici Stevens- Pierce Freelon – MK Asante- Phil Freelon- Beverly Botsford- John Brown- Roxana Walker-Canton- NaOme Rich- Tina Morton -Alan Mercer- Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library- Les Rivera- Michael Bowles

$6,791

Donated of $20,000 Goal.

12 Days Remaining

This project will only be funded if at least $20,000 is donated by Wed. Dec 12, 11:59pm.

DONATE
TO THIS PROJECT

Donate as little as $1, or get exclusive perks for your support…

$25

Receive a link to download new original music from The Clothesline Muse soundtrack!

$50

We will send you digital love on our FB page!

$100

25/15 Remain

We will send you a clothespin signed by Nnenna Freelon, Kariamu Welsh and Maya Freelon Asante

$300

5/4 Remain

We will send you two tickets to the premiere of The Clothesline Muse at the Painted Bride in Philadelphia

$500

5/3 Remain

You will receive original artwork from the set of The Clothesline Muse, created by Maya Freelon Asante

$1,000

10/10 Remain

Attend a dance class led by Kariamu Welsh in Philadelphia

$1,000

5/5 Remain

Vocal consultation by Nnenna Freelon via Skype (30 minutes)

Nnenna Freelon, Kariamu Welsh and Maya Freelon Asante

6X GRAMMY Award-nominee Nnenna Freelon, world-renowned choreographer Kariamu Welsh and award-winning visual artist Maya Freelon Asante.

MAYA FREELON ASANTE Ubuntu Installation at MFA

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Video link to Corcoran Installation by MAYA FREELON ASANTE

MAYA FREELON ASANTE / photo credit: Jason Tucker

Amazing video footage of MAYA FREELON ASANTE installing her Ubuntu tissue paper sculpture at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.  Enjoy!

http://vimeo.com/45939223

Countdown to MAYA FREELON ASANTE’s Installation at Corcoran Gallery of Art

MAYA FREELON ASANTE’s Ubuntu tissue paper installation will be on view at the Corcoran Gallery of Art starting this Wednesday, 18 July – Sunday, 22 July.  If you wish to catch a glimps of the artist in action, please walk by the main entrance on 17th Street this Tuesday afternoon. 

Her installation “Seedling” can be viewed at Morton Fine Art (see image below).  Dimensions and price variable & installation specific.  Enjoy!

Maya Freelon Asante, “Seedling”, tissue paper installation, dimensions variable