Author Archives: Ali Cultural Arts Center

The Historic Ali Cultural Arts Celebrates Black History Month: ‘Beans, Rice and Gumbo’ Art Exhibition by Adewale Adenle

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Historic Ali Cultural Arts (www.aliarts.org) in Pompano Beach is proud to celebrate Black History Month with an art exhibition by Nigerian artist, Adewale Adenle. Beans, Rice & Gumbo: Facts, Fictions and Frictions of Black History narrates the history of blacks from the pre-slavery era through the present day. The exhibition runs from February 1, 2018 through March 29, 2018.

"Adewale Adenle is a provocative artist, author and educator whose art captures your attention with its boldness," said Cherolyn Davis, program and facilities manager. "For this exhibit, he is showcasing many historical portraits that will open a dialog from various perspectives."

This exhibition critically narrates the history of Africans and African Americans in a visual journey that confirms, challenges and channels new thoughts and revelations in history. Adewale, working from historic photos and descriptions, depicts the rich history of Ethiopia, Egypt and other African lands and then takes viewers through the agony of slavery, the triumph of the civil rights movement into today's successes and struggles.

"Through my portraits, I hope to take viewers back through history in a way that will provide new perspectives and open-up dialogues about important topics," explained Adenle, who is also an artist in residence at Bailey Contemporary Arts in Pompano Beach. "There has been a lot of misinformation and misinterpretation of the past, which I feel has led to a slave mentality that still pervasive today. I call it 'post traumatic slave disorder.' But if you take the time to explore history and connect to the past, I feel it will remove that mentality."

Adenle though his work, also imagines Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcom X speaking together. While this never happened, Adenle uses the image to express the different approaches to a similar goal.

"Art is an amazing way to present topics for discussion. We connect through art and we can heal from it as well," Adenle said.

About Adewale Adenle:

Adenle's paintings and drawings connect his background to observations intermingled with primary emotions and personal experiences that are basic to his growth, especially as they continue to influence socio-political discourse in his homeland (Nigeria) and intertwined with policies in his adoptive country, the US. He explores dual realities and logics in political constructs and systems, arriving at a three-dimensional work that vastly engages the viewer to unload and search for multiple logics in its interpretation. Within these dualities, he induces metaphorical slippages in relationships between objects and their context to form new meanings and expose contradictions in many conventional social structures.

Adenle has over 15-years of experience exhibiting his paintings and working as a political cartoonist/illustrator/art editor with various newspapers in Nigeria, the U.S and Great Britain. In the 90's, his acerbic socio-political cartoons and paintings were thorns in the flesh of dictatorial military regimes in Nigeria as the country was agitating for democracy.

He has won numerous awards and grants among which are the 2000 Reuters News Graphics Travel Award, which included an instructive participation at the Malofiej/ Show-Don't- Tell-workshops at the University of Navarra, Pamplona- Spain, and work experience at Reuters in London, UK. He has given lectures and workshops at Rochester Institute of Technology-New York, Amarillo College-Texas, Cartoonist Rights Network/State Department's Sponsored workshop in Douala, Cameroon, among others. From 2002 to 2004, 'Wale was a studio painter at Marcus Akinlana's WON Murals-New Orleans, where he assisted in executing several public projects including the murals for the Philadelphia International Airport, PA and Aurora Community Center, CO.

He is the author of "Mixed Feelings," a 15-year celebration/collection of his socio-political satire. Published in 1999, the book was collected by The University of California (Berkeley Library) for selected acquisitions in Africana Studies and catalogued at The Library of Congress, Washington, DC. His most recent public commission includes among others, "Congo Square" a 7ft x11ft cast bronze sculpture, commissioned by the city of New Orleans and installed at the Louis Armstrong Park.

The Historic Ali Cultural Arts:
353 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 -- 954-786-7876.

About Historic Ali Cultural Arts:
The Historic Ali Cultural Arts is located in the former home of the late Frank and Florence Major Ali, who had emigrated from Cuba and The Bahamas respectively. As the first African American business owners in Pompano Beach, Frank operated a barbershop and Florence, who was a skilled seamstress, cosmetologist and fashion designer, also operated her business in the building. This two-story property was built in 1933 and placed on the City of Pompano Beach Historical Register in 2016.

The City of Pompano Beach, Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency and the Rock Road Restoration Historical Group preserve the northwest corridor history and culture by telling positive stories of the African American experience through performing arts, visual arts and intellectual work that educates and celebrates all people of color throughout history.

More information: http://aliarts.org/.

About the Pompano Beach Redevelopment Agency (CRA):
A Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is a dependent district established by City government for the purpose of carrying out redevelopment activities that include reducing or eliminating blight, improving the economic health of an area, and encouraging public and private investments in a CRA district. The CRA is governed by State Statutes, Chapter 163, Part III. The Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency is funded through Tax Increment Financing (TIF). The funds are collected as property values increase and a portion of that increase is captured by the Agency. TIF raises revenue for redevelopment efforts without raising taxes.

More information: http://pompanobeachfl.gov/index.php/pages/cra/cra.

The Historic Ali Cultural Arts in Pompano Beach, Fla. is proud to celebrate Black History Month with an art exhibition by Nigerian artist, Adewale Adenle. Beans, Rice and Gumbo: Facts, Fictions and Frictions of Black History narrates the history of blacks from the pre-slavery era through the present day. The exhibition runs from February 1, 2018 through March 29, 2018.

Related link: http://www.aliarts.org/

Ali Cultural Arts to Offer Audio Engineering Program Thanks to a Grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Ali Cultural Arts is proud to announce that they will be launching "Miss Masters: Audio Engineering at the Ali" in spring 2017. This hand-on training opportunity empowers girls for careers as audio engineers, music producers and DJs.

The launch of this program is made possible by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, as part of its Knight Arts Challenge. The $60,000 challenge grant was awarded to Ali Cultural Arts / Pompano Beach CRA on November 28, 2016 at ceremony at the New World Center in Miami Beach. The Knight Arts Challenge funds ideas that brings South Florida together through the arts.

"We are committed to enriching our community through the arts, and this grant will allow us to launch an innovative program that combines the arts with technology," said Cherolyn Davis, Ali's director. "With Knight Foundation's support, young girls in Pompano Beach and the North Broward area will have an exciting new opportunity to excel."

The Miss Masters curriculum will be designed in partnership with Girls Make Beats, Inc. (GMB) a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Miami-Dade County. The program, offered to girls ages 7 and up, will be conducted by GMB President, Tiffany Miranda. Miranda holds Avid Certified Pro Tools "User" and "Operator Music" level certification. She has more than a decade of experience as an engineer and accomplished recording artist and producer. Her credits include working with Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, Fat Joe, and with world class recording studios such as The Hit Factory, Circle House, Studio Center and others.

GMB's partnership with Pro Media Training provides the ability to train individuals, based on a curriculum provided by Pro Tools parent company, Avid Education. Avid Education offers a full menu of certifications, providing an industry recognized credential for both academic users and industry professionals. Participants in the "Miss Masters" program will gain preliminary training, laying the groundwork for those who wish to pursue advanced Avid Education training and certifications in the future.

For more information about the program launch, please visit http://www.aliarts.org/ or call 954-786-7876.

About Ali Cultural Arts:

Ali Cultural Arts is a platform to enrich the community through the performing and visual arts. Intimate musical performances bring the community together and visual art exhibitions engage patrons in creative dialogue as they enjoy the eclectic mix of programming. The building itself is significant, as it represents the history of the African American community in Pompano Beach, once boarding famous African American jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway.

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation:

Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy.

*PHOTO Caption: Tiffany Miranda and students from the program.

Ali Cultural Arts is proud to announce that they will be launching "Miss Masters: Audio Engineering at the Ali" in spring 2017. This hand-on training opportunity empowers girls for careers as audio engineers, music producers and DJs.

Pompano Beach’s Ali Cultural Arts Center Hosts Grammy Award-Winning Musicians Ghost-Note

POMPANO BEACH, Fla., Jan. 7, 2016 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Ali Cultural Arts Center is proud to present Ghost-Note on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. The duo is comprised of drummer Robert "Sput" Searight and percussionist Nate Werth, both from the Grammy(R) Award-winning band, Snarky Puppy.

Tickets for the event are available at http://www.aliarts.org/.

If Snarky Puppy were a heart drummer Robert "Sput" Searight and percussionist Nate Werth would serve as its explosive pulse. World-renown for their artistic communication through rhythm, this dynamic duo debuts their own project, Ghost-Note, expanding their percussive voice into a night of melody through innovative grooves and captivating artistry.

"We are honored to have these outstanding musical greats play our venue," says Drew Tucker, Ali Cultural Arts Director. "Our mission is not only to bring extraordinary musicians here to entertain, but also to educate our local aspiring arts students. And we are thrilled that Robert and Nate will be engaging our youth in a master class."

Robert "Sput" Searight is one of the most influential drummers and producers in modern music. Hailing from a family of musicians in Dallas, Searight came up alongside artists like Erykah Badu, Norah Jones, and Roy Hargrove at the world-famous Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts. He won a Grammy Award at age 18 with his own group, God's Property, who changed the face of Gospel music with their debut album.

Since then, he proven to be unparalleled in versatility as a drummer, keyboardist, and producer. Artists like Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, Celine Dion, Justin Timberlake, P Diddy, Timbaland, Myron Butler, and Kirk Franklin employ Searight's talents regularly.

As the undeniable secret weapon of Snarky Puppy, Nate Werth is both rooted in tradition and constantly innovating in the percussion world. His creative approach to sonic possibilities and rhythmic interplay has been integral to the sound of the group, and has earned the respect and support of percussion big-wigs like LP founder Martin Cohen. Performing and recording credits include Screaming Headless Torsos, David Crosby, Q-Tip, Lalah Hathaway, Susana Baca, The Lee Boys, Turkuaz, Myron Butler and Levi, Jamison Ross, and The Metropole Orchestra, and many more. Having studied Indian, African, and Latin American traditions extensively abroad, Nate brings a unique sound palette to every musical environment, his deep sense of groove, passion and eclectic style, result in a distinct musical voice that propels him across musical borders.

More information: http://www.aliarts.org/.

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NEWS SOURCE Ali Cultural Arts Center :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2016 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.