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VIRTUAL STUDIO VISIT PROGRAM DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
As a result of the shuttered doors of our galleries, Hunter East Harlem Gallery is bolstering digital outreach and remote networking during the quarantine period of the Coronavirus pandemic. Due to an influx of requests from our network: we have created a program specifically for our community: Uptown artists (Upper Manhattan and the Bronx), Socially Engaged artists and Hunter College MFAs.
From April 20th onwards, HEHG will be conducting virtual studio visits with artists in our community as a gesture of service and as a networking tool during this isolating time. We have invited very special guest curators to join HEHG Director & Curator, Arden Sherman and Gallery Manager, Nora Maité Nieves during these meetings.
We are viewing these visits as mutual networking opportunities -- where we can introduce the talented artists of our community to amazing curators, and to the initiatives of HEHG. The meetings are private sessions, allowing room for feedback and vulnerability during such an uncertain time. HEHG documents each visit and collects noteworthy quotes for a public record and showcasing.
If you are an Uptown artist (living or working in Upper Manhattan and/or the Bronx), a Socially Engaged artist, or a current Hunter College MFA student and you are interested in participating in a virtual studio visit, please email us at huntereastharlem@gmail.com with a link to your website and tell us (in less than 250 words) why this program appeals to you (capacity is limited, you will be contacted only if you are selected).
Some of the curators who are donating their time include:
Marie Vickles, Director of Education, Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
Marcela Guerrero, Assistant Curator at The Whitney Museum of American Art
Katie Hood Morgan, Program Director, FOR-SITE Foundation
Rodrigo Moura, Chief Curator, El Museo del Barrio
José Esparza Chong Cuy, Executive Director & Chief Curator, Storefront for Art & Architecture
Alaina Feldman, Director and Curator, Mishkin Gallery, Baruch College CUNY
Natalia Viera Salgado, Independent Curator & Curatorial Consultant
Gabriel de Guzman, Curator & Director of Exhibitions, Smack Mellon, NYC
María Elena Ortiz, Curator, Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
Carla Acevedo-Yates, Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Eric Booker, Assistant Curator & Exhibition Coordinator, The Studio Museum in Harlem
Joanna Szupinska-Myers, Senior Curator, California Museum of Photography, UC Riverside, CA
Jackie Clay, Executive Director, Coleman Center for the Arts, York, AL
Jennie Lamensdorf, Bay Area Lead, Facebook Art Department, SF, CA
Renaud Proch, Executive & Artistic Director, Independent Curators International (ICI), NYC
Sarah Watson, Director of Exhibitions & Chief Curator, Hunter College Art Galleries
Lindsey Berfond, Assistant Curator for Public Programs, Queens Museum, NYC
Sarah Umles, Artist & Independent Curator / Founder & Director, The Residency Project, Pasadena, CA
Savona Bailey-McClain, Executive Director/Chief Curator, West Harlem Art Fund, New York, NY
and more!
“Thank you to HEHG and Nora, Arden, and Sarah Umles for the #virtualstudiovisit! Your ideas for how my weaving-research can stretch in the midst of social-distancing were so helpful. Here's to transforming not just historical narratives around Indigenous weaving practice, but to materializing hand- and heart-knowledges that can enter into and restructure conversations around BIWOC experience. Salud!” -Kira Dominguez Hultgren
Guest Curator: Sarah Umles, Artist & Independent Curator / Founder & Director, The Residency Project, Pasadena, CA
To see more about Kira Dominguez Hultgren’s work visit:
“I just wanted to say thanks again to you and Arden and Sarah for virtually "stopping by” last week. I really appreciate you taking the time!” -Daniel Kingery
Guest Curator: Sarah Umles, Artist & Independent Curator / Founder & Director, The Residency Project, Pasadena, CA
To see more about Daniel Kingery’s work visit:
Guest Curator: Renaud Proch, Executive & Artistic Director, Independent Curators International (ICI), NYC
To see more about Nick DeMarco’s work visit:
Guest Curator: Renaud Proch, Executive & Artistic Director, Independent Curators International (ICI), NYC
To see more about Catalina Tuca’s work visit:
Guest Curator: Jennie Lamensdorf, Bay Area Lead, Facebook Art Department, SF, CA
To see more about Kevin Moultrie Daye’s work visit:
“Thanks again for hosting/organizing, it was so nice to have a chance to talk about my work.” -Sarah Hotchkiss
Guest Curator: Jennie Lamensdorf, Bay Area Lead, Facebook Art Department, SF, CA
To see more about Sarah Hotchkiss’s work visit:
“t’s a Process, a series of acrylic on canvas paintings examines societal standards of beauty related to black women. I was inspired to create my current body of work on Black hair in response to the discrimination and chastising experience of many black women and girls in spaces such as the workplace or schools. The women in my life and from my community inspired many of the paintings within this series. While some of the works draw from my personal experiences which correlate to the subjects in my paintings. The paintings show the beauty and versatility of these hairstyles and highlight the significance of hair in Black culture, while also highlighting these intimate experiences and routines of daily life.” -Jessica Spence
Guest Curator: Sarah Watson, Director of Exhibitions & Chief Curator, Hunter College Art Galleries
To see more about Jessica Spence’s work visit:
Guest Curator: Sarah Watson, Director of Exhibitions & Chief Curator, Hunter College Art Galleries
To see more about Christopher Lineberry’s work visit:
Guest Curator: Joanna Szupinska-Myers, Senior Curator, California Museum of Photography, UC Riverside, CA
To see more about Omar Z. Robles’s work visit:
Blog: www.omarzrobles.blog/2020/03/20/quarantine-diary-day-1ish/
"I want to thank you so much for the virtual studio visit today. It's a great opportunity to network with other artists and art institutions. I'm grateful for the time taken to look at my work and provide feedback. I hope that the Hunter East Harlem Gallery continues to offer opportunities like these." -Néstor Daniel Pérez-Molière
Guest Curator: Joanna Szupinska-Myers, Senior Curator, California Museum of Photography, UC Riverside, CA
To see more about Néstor Daniel Pérez-Molière’s work visit:
“I research the relationship between natural environments and the formation of communities. My training in archaeology influences my methodology for creating sculpture installations, enabling me to conduct an intimate investigation of history, nature and culture, and our constructed relationship to the Tropics.” -Priscilla Aleman
Guest Curator: Jackie Clay, Executive Director, Coleman Center for the Arts, York, AL
To see more about Priscilla Aleman’s work visit:
"My hope is to empower my sitters, for them to claim space and hold a presence. I want the work to be a source of pride, an embodiment of significant value and worth. The paintings are filled with gold and iridescent pigments so they shine and glisten in the light." -Dianne Hebbert
Guest Curator: Jackie Clay, Executive Director, Coleman Center for the Arts, York, AL
To see more about Dianne Hebbert’s work visit:
“Thank you so much for setting up the studio visit with Alaina Feldman. I really enjoyed the time to share my video and to hear your feedback. It's given me a lot to think about for my next project!” -Maya Jeffereis
Guest Curator: Alaina Feldman, Director and Curator, Mishkin Gallery, Baruch College CUNY
To see more about Maya Jeffereis’s work visit:
Guest Curator: Alaina Feldman, Director and Curator, Mishkin Gallery, Baruch College CUNY
To see more about Jessica Kaire’s work visit:
“Thank you for the virtual visit today. It was a pleasure and a refreshing break from the quarantine routine to see/meet and chat with you today. I think this is a special and important thing you're doing and makes this whole situation feel a little better.” -Adrienne Elise Tarver
Guest Curator: Eric Booker, Assistant Curator & Exhibition Coordinator, The Studio Museum in Harlem
To see more about Adrienne Elise Tarver’s work visit:
Guest Curator: Eric Booker, Assistant Curator & Exhibition Coordinator, The Studio Museum in Harlem
To see more about Jeffrey Meris’s work visit:
“Thank you for the opportunity of the studio visit yesterday afternoon. It was great to chat with all of you and to discuss areas of interest.” -Lionel Cruet
José Esparza Chong Cuy, Executive Director & Chief Curator, Storefront for Art & Architecture
To see more about Lionel Cruet’s work visit:
José Esparza Chong Cuy, Executive Director & Chief Curator, Storefront for Art & Architecture
To see more about Peter Hoffmeister’s work visit:
Guest Curator: Carla Acevedo-Yates, Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
To see more about Glendalys Medina’s work visit:
“I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity to speak with Carla! It was great to dig into more of the nuances of my Ultraviolet Archive project. I am inspired now to brainstorm ways to expand the digital aspects and make it more accessible during this time. Thanks so much Arden and Nora! Love to HEHG!” -Christina Freeman
Guest Curator: Carla Acevedo-Yates, Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
To see more about Christina Freeman’s work visit:
“I wanted to thank you both so much for organizing the virtual studio visits and for thinking of me. I'd love to pass on my deep thanks to Marcela as well for her time, attention, and recommendations - I haven't had much opportunity to talk about or think through this work and my work has felt 3,000 miles away as we try to organize as students and deal with higher admin. It was so amazing to return to this kind of conversation and share something instead of focusing on organizing and administrative activities, which have completely taken over. ” -Christina Barrera
Marcela Guerrero, Assistant Curator at The Whitney Museum of American Art
To see more about Christina Barrera’s work visit:
“Thank you again for holding space for me to come into your living rooms and have me share my practice. I believe what you're doing in this moment is a great way to hold space for our artistic community; offering insight, support and conversations that the current situation has limited.” -Gina Goico
Marcela Guerrero, Assistant Curator at The Whitney Museum of American Art
To see more about Gina Goico’s work visit:
Guest Curator: Gabriel de Guzman, Curator & Director of Exhibitions, Smack Mellon, NYC
To see more about Johanna Strobel’s work visit:
"Thank you so much for having me yesterday for the virtual studio visit. It was fun and helped me clarify some things that have been in my head." -Matthew Fischer
Guest Curator: Gabriel de Guzman, Curator & Director of Exhibitions, Smack Mellon, NYC
To see more about Matthew Fischer’s work visit:
Guest Curator: Marie Vickles, Director of Education, Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
To see more about Shani Peters’s work visit:
"I am honored and appreciative to have been invited to participate in this generous and ambitions HEHG project! Thanks to Arden and Nora for thinking of me and to Marie for taking the time. It was such an absolute pleasure and a highlight of a time filled with uncertainty. As I work to continue socially engaged art in a time of social distance, it was encouraging and inspiring to have such a rewarding experience sharing my artwork and thoughts with Marie!" -Nathan Sinai Rayman
Guest Curator: Marie Vickles, Director of Education, Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
To see more about Nathan Sinai Rayman’s work visit:
"Research and personal memories have driven me to create art objects that reference a range of human experiences, particularly migration, labor, leisure, and freedom. As in life, being an artist is about opening our hearts and minds to relate to one another and remember that we are not alone." -Gabino A. Castelán
Guest Curator: Natalia Viera Salgado Independent Curator & Curatorial Consultant
To see more about Gabino A. Castelán’s work visit: www.gabinocastelan.com
"I am currently making sculptures in the form of wind chimes, aromatherapy machines, lamps, and other domestic objects. I think about their function in connection to agency, wish fulfillment, and my own aspirations for purpose. I am interested in every day manifestations of spirituality and healing." -Cara Lynch
Guest Curator: Natalia Viera Salgado Independent Curator & Curatorial Consultant
To see more about Cara Lynch’s work visit: www.caralynchstudio.com
“Such a great chat with these lovely people! So happy to have participate in this #virtualstudiovisit ! It really help me step away from the current situation we are facing for a moment.” -Yelaine Rodriguez
Guest Curator: María Elena Ortiz, Curator, Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
To see more about Yelaine Rodriguez’s work visit: www.yelainenyc.com
“The ability of art to make connections that transcend histories, time and space is one of the things that has motivates me to make work. I am in gratitude for the productive and joyful conversations that the shared language of art provides and for HEHG for facilitating it.” -Simon Benjamin
Guest Curator: María Elena Ortiz, Curator, Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
To see more about Simon Benjamin’s work visit: www.simonbenjamin.com