exhibits
1448 showcases artwork created by members and tenants of Artists' Housing, Inc. Check the schedule below to see what is coming up at the gallery. 1448 is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 5pm and by appointment. Click here for contact information and directions. For email notification of upcoming shows sign up for the 1448 Gallery newsletter.
HOODIES: Echoes in Culture
September 5-21, 2008
Wall Reliefs and Related Works by: ASHLEY MILBURN
Ashley Milburn is a Cultural organizer and OSI Fellow who, through The Culture Works Project, is currently working with several organizations and the city of Baltimore to facilitate the development of cultural assets in West Baltimore. Culture Works grew out of a 2007 internship from the Maryland Institute College of Art's graduate community arts program. Mr. Milburn developed a thesis exploring the cultural reuse of unused public spaces along the "Highway to Nowhere', a 3 mile east-west stretch of dead-end expressway displacing 19,000 residents in the 1960's leaving 52 acres of unused public spaces neglected for over forty years.
Mr. Milburn is also a talented mixed-media artist. His new exhibition of sculptural reliefs at Gallery 1448 is entitled "Hoodies; Echoes in Culture". He explains how he arrived at this subject matter:
Within all cultures, there are evidences of symbolic visual language. Manifestation of this visual language is profoundly evident in Black urban cultural expression. If examined at face value, images arise that seem to connect to universal expressions for protection, threat, and enlarged persona. These images and related symbols are repeatedly found in aggressive weapon design, military uniforms; and in ancient times, armory.
There seems to be a basic need in cultures around the world to make ourselves larger than life. The work in the show explores this; I have focused on the urban youth culture's use of, exuberantly; large dress and clothing that hides the human form to create larger than life personas. I have tried to place no value judgment on what I found, only to follow the evolution of the imagery. What was revealed are echoes of Japanese Samurai and medieval armorial forms. How this realization works itself out in the examination of urban black culture is left to the viewer. My hope is that it leads toward an expanded understanding of the social implications of symbolic visual language.
Please join us at the opening reception to meet this remarkable and reflective artist.
OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, September 5, 6-8 pm
Regular Hours: Sat / Sun 1:00 pm -5:00 pm