July Issue 2001
Works by Danny Simmons at Noel Gallery in Charlotte, NC
Danny Simmons' 1999
exhibit, entitled NYC Groove, at Noel Gallery in Charlotte,
NC, gleaned a diverse audience of enthusiastic collectors and
great reviews! Charlotte was smitten by the cross-cultural urban
iconography of this New York City artist. Simmons returns to Charlotte
with new works on paper and canvas that are sure to continue to
excite collectors of contemporary abstract painting. The exhibit
will be on view through July 31.
Simmons is painter, activist, cultural entrepreneur, collector and art evangelist? The many successful facets of Danny Simmons were categorized in a recent article in The International Review of African American Art (Vol. 17 Number 2). He has become an indomitable force in the New York City art scene as both a producer of art and an advocate for artist.
Simmons is one of a family of creative men. His brothers Joseph Run Simmons of RUN DMC and music industry mogul Russell Simmons have indelibly influenced contemporary music culture. Danny Simmons found his voice in the paint! And as co-founder of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation has provided numerous opportunities for artists to create and exhibit their work. In an interview in January's Black Elegance magazine Simmons shares the source of his inspiration. "We believe that art can change people's lives... our father impressed upon us how important it is to give something back to the community. One thing I truly believe is that everything we do is some way guided by our ancestors, and that those who went before us are the road maps to the future. My art is a conscious effort to access how that communication takes place".
Noel Gallery is delighted to share his new works in an exhibit entitled Be Still & Listen. The invitation includes words from his poem Chiefs. "Over my shoulder Mr. & Mrs. Yesterday are the old chiefs brushing flies from my brow as I swagger in front of the easel trying to capture the spirit of the Divine..." The words of the poem swirl beneath the painting like an artist's statement for his creative process. The muse for Simmon's work has always been found deep within his connectedness to authentic African art and culture. In his studio he is surrounded by hundreds of African sculptures and he believes that creative energy resonates in his work. Simmons is also the founder & director of DEF POETRY JAM which promotes spoken word artists throughout the US.
Simmons' self taught style and unique visual language have been appreciated by collectors, critics and curators alike. Since 1999 his work has been placed in numerous private and public collections including Smithsonian Institution, Chase Manhattan Bank, March of Dimes, Schomberg Center for Black Culture, The United Nations General Assembly and Warner Brothers/Black Pearl Entertainment.
For further info check our NC Commercial Gallery
listings or call 704/343-0050.
Mailing Address: Carolina Arts, P.O. Drawer
427, Bonneau, SC 29431
Telephone, Answering Machine and FAX: 843/825-3408
E-Mail: carolinart@aol.com
Subscriptions are available for $18 a year.
Carolina Arts
is published monthly by Shoestring
Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc.
Copyright© 2001 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston
Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts
from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts
Online, Copyright© 2001 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved
by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use
without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina
Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.