"Art is Business" by Alpha Bruton
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| Ernani Silva, and Minna Dunn |
The African American Museum of Nassau County participated in the 2015 Miami Art Week, with an installation at KROMA Gallery and Art Space in Coconut Grove. Minna Dunn, Art Educator and Curator, featured the art of Ernani Silva.
TAAM of Nassau County mission is to educate and
promote understanding and appreciation of
African American culture, art and tradition through
education, interpretation, exhibitions, collections, and programs for the enrichment
of the public; with an emphasis on Long Island. The museum’s vision is to
become the outstanding regional resource for African American historical
information.
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| Overtown Art Africa |
In February
1968, Professor Leroy Leonardo Ramsey set up a Black History exhibit at Nassau
Community College, in celebration of Black History Month. At February’s end,
the exhibit was left in place (due to popular demand) and Professor Ramsey used
his personal collection of artifacts to change the exhibit from time to
time. Before long, the exhibit outgrew its space and he established the
Black History Exhibit Center in a store front at 106-A Main Street, in
Hempstead. In 1984, Nassau County purchased the building at 110 North
Franklin Street and Professor Ramsey’s Black History Exhibit Center became the
African American Museum of Nassau County and moved into 110 North Franklin in
1985.
TAAM is one
of only two African American museums in the northeast. (The other African
American Museum is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.)
The African
Atlantic Genealogical Society, Inc. (TAAGS) became affiliated with the museum
in 1998; making the African American Museum unique as the first museum to house
a genealogical society that provides workshops and consultations for the
community.
Under
management of TAAGS, the museum provides programming that includes art exhibits
and art education, genealogical and historical research, themed exhibits that
focus on historical figures and events.
Ernani
Silva was born in Rio de Janeiro, where he encountered many adversities. At an
early age of four Ernani displayed artistic talent, but his father discouraged
any involvement with the arts. He welcomed the opportunity to relocate to the
United States, where he was further encouraged as an artist. Ernani is
multi-lingual and well-regarded in an international audience.
Silva developed
a distinctive style which reflects his Brazilian cultural influence of Native,
African lineage. His creations are an amalgam of dance, rhythm, music and color
which voice his rich mystical heritage and history. Silva is passionately
attracted to the expression and emotion of his traditional music and the
spiritualism of Candomble ceremonies and rituals. Silva’s palette is the
alchemy of intoxicating opaque colors, as well as incorporating the use of
heavy impression to create vibrant lyrical dancing figures.
His work speaks a sensual language, which gives the viewer a glimpse of his intense celebrated reality, through an intoxicating palette of opaque colors and expression. He has extensive exhibition, teaching and curatorial experience in a wide variety of venues over a period of 40 plus years. His award winning work is on display throughout various galleries worldwide as well as donated to museums.
