THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE is the subject of Houston-based Afro-Brazilian artist Ibraim Nascimento’s exhibit Reflections, on view at The Jung Center of Houston through May 13.
Born and raised in Cachoeira, Bahia — once a major port for slave labor for the country’s sugarcane plantations and birthplace to such highly regarded Brazilian musicians as Joao Gilberto, and the thundering Samba drum collective Olodum — Nascimento’s work is born out of his Brazilian heritage. It’s also inspired by the new connections he has made since migrating to the U.S. and finding kinship with Houston’s Black and Latinx art communities.
His brightly colored, sometimes surreal portraits of fellow Brazilians, including a series of paintings of children wearing various carnivalesque animal masks, hover in the Jung Center’s exhibition space like memories the artist is compelled to hold onto, with some works purposely left incomplete, as if the subject were hovering somewhere the new world and their native land, and in danger of fading from view.
Tellingly, some of the portraits include small mirrors, each one an “eye” looking at and providing a reflection of the viewer. (Although in one striking painting, “Pivete,” a Portuguese word used to refer to homeless kids, the subject is defiantly covering both eyes with his hands.)
In an artist statement, Nascimento writes, “One of the many struggles we face as immigrants is not being able to see ourselves in the eyes of the people we live with.” Reflections conveys that struggle and allows the empathetic viewer to imagine themselves as a stranger in a strange land. On Saturday, May 6, at 2pm, Nascimento will give an artist talk and tour of the exhibit.
Also on view is Seven, an installation of seven magical realist portraits of Black women by Houston artist Kristi Rangel. Rangel, a self-taught, Houston Coalition Against Hate emerging artist, includes the Ghanaian Adinkra symbol Funtunfunefu-Denkyemfunefu, which represents unity in diversity, in each mysterious, nocturnal portrait. Flowers, butterflies, and several species of North American birds bloom, flutter, and perch around each woman, celebrating the environmental and spiritual interconnectedness of humans and creatures of the natural world.
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Donna Lewis, Allison Lewis Cattan, Christy Lynn, Emily Lewis (photos by Jacob Power Photography & Daniel Ortiz)
SOME 550 GUESTS proved that pink is not only pretty but also pretty powerful, raising more than $300,000 to benefit breast cancer research, education and support services at a Post Oak Hotel luncheon last week for the American Cancer Society.
The stylish crowd loved the lunch’s fashion element. “Guests were greeted with models wearing the special Tickled Pink collection, carried exclusively at Tootsies, designed by luncheon special guest speaker and designer, Christy Lynn for the Christy Lynn Collection,” explained a rep for event organizers.
An insta-ready floral wall was also a hit with the social-media-savvy crowd.
As part of the program, Lynn was also interviewed by TV personality Len Cannon. The newsman and the entire room were moved to tears and the designer told of her mom’s painful breast cancer journey. It was noted at that nearly everyone in the room had either had breast cancer or been close to someone who has.
Breast cancer survivor Donna Lewis was among the chairs of the event, along with Allison Lewis Cattan and Emily Lewis. Survivor Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman and Millette Sherman were honorary chairs.
“American Cancer Society has funded every major breakthrough in breast cancer research,” said the rep. “This has led to a 43 percent decline in the female breast cancer death rate. Currently, the American Cancer Society is investing $78 million in breast cancer-specific research,” with some $3 million earmarked for Houston projects.
Guest for the luncheon included, Cyndy Garza Roberts, DeeDee Marsh, Fady Armanious, Jana Arnoldy, Lesha Elsenbrook, Hallie Vanderhider, Yvonne Cormier, Marian Harper, Peggy Kostial, Brigitte Kalai, Sippi Khurana , Debbie Festari, Jacquie Baly, Lara Bell and Norman Lewis.
Beth and Cynthia Wolff
Beth Muecke and Gina Gaston
Denise Monteleone and Jim Martin
Hallie Vanderhider and Fady Armanious
Kendall Fisher and Rosanne Oelfke
Lesha Elsenbrook, Shelley Boyer, Christy Lynn, Ellie Francisco
Lia, Donna, Carrie, Lauri Vallone
Models with Christy Lynn
Nora Jarrard, Erica Noyes, Jenn Howe
Sidney Faust, Leisa Holland Nelson Bowman, Cora Sue Mach, Elsie Eckert
Sippi Khurana and Jenny Todd
Yvonne Cormier and Phyllis Williams
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