Evolutions of Us

Saturday, February 18 – Saturday, March 11, 2017

Reception: Saturday, February 18, 2:30-4:00pm

Being Neighborly presents “Evolutions of Us,” an exhibition of works by the self-taught artists,curated by School of Visual Arts MPS graduate art therapy students. The exhibition is on view at:

SVA West 132 W 21st Street, 5th Floor Gallery.

A group of self-taught artists organize a show about their evolution as individuals and as a collective. The process started twenty-two years ago, when many of these artists first began meeting, creating and exhibiting their art at the Hospital Audiences Inc. (HAI). In 2011 the studio and gallery moved from Manhattan to Long Island City Queens and the name changed to the Healing Arts Initiative (with the same acronym). Membership grew, both in numbers and communal bonds until May 2016 when HAI abruptly filed for bankruptcy. This tight-knit group, all who confront social marginalization and stigmatization, experienced the loss of their creative community as traumatic.

Determined to regain what they had lost, the artists united with their mentor Francis Palazzolo organize art projects around the goal of Being Neighborly. Together they engage with people of diverse backgrounds to form connections and learn from each other through art. In this latest incarnation selected artists collaborate with SVA graduate art therapy students to exhibit this journey. The artists’ adaptation, survival skills and tenacity to continue making art despite the challenges they face is a model social justice. Please join us to support their efforts.

Selected Artists: Aracelis Rivera, Lawrence Willoughby, Vincent Salas, Georgia Redd, Michael Johnson, Jenny Chan, Cynthia Timms, Ray Lopez, Laura Anne Walker, Girl Negron, El Kuumba & Linda Moses.

Graduate Student Curators: Yi-Chien Chang, Saeideh Goiji, RJ Huguenard, Laura Hetzel, Andrea Juliano, Rebecca Rodas, Gabby Simpson

Flyer: evolution of us copy