On Display
Smith’s Blue Note Session
Contemporary Arabic
Calligraphy by Khaled al-Saa’i
November 12-January 26. Internationally
recognized master of Arabic calligraphy,
Syrian native Khaled al-Saa’i presents his
first one-man show in North America. Al-
Saa’i presents creations that range from
classical to radically inventive composi-
tions. U-M Museum of Art, 525 S. State
St., Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-9pm,
Sun noon-5pm, 763-UMMA.
Pine Tree State
January 2-January 29. Bev Walker’s oil
paintings run the gamut from thick for-
ests to lonely windbeaten pines at the
ocean’s edge. Opening reception Friday,
January 10 from 7-9pm. Washington Street
Gallery, 215 E. Washington St., Tue-Thu
11am-5pm, Fri & Sat 11am-9pm, 761-2287.
Multimedia Views
December 11-January 30. A collection of
artists, media and ideas. Includes work by
Takeshi Takahara, Jesse Connor, Kendall
Babl, Barbara Brown, Jason Wright and
Ellie White among others. Michigan Guild
Gallery, 118 N. Fourth Ave., Mon-Fri 9am-
5pm and by appointment, 662-3382.
fragmentos
December 5-January 31. Simone DeSousa
deconstructs geometric forms, structural
lines and color fields, and rearranges them
into dynamic, abstract paintings. Presented
by The Underground Gallery. Wasabi, 115
W. Washington St., Tue-Fri 11:30am-2pm
& 5:30-10pm, Sat 5:30-11pm, Sun 5:30-
10pm, 222-5219.
Meditations in Nature
January 6-January 31. “I look to the natu-
ral landscape for inspiration and continue
to explore the connection of the human
condition in the universe,” says Matthew
Roderick. See his photographs of north-
ern lower and southeastern Michigan.
Dave’s Photo Emporium, 2007 S. State St.,
Mon-Wed & Fri 10am-6pm, Thu 10am-
8pm, Sat 11am-5pm, 827-0080.
North Campus Redux
January 2-January 31. To celebrate the bi-
centennial of North Campus, Art & Archi-
tecture students showcase new visions for
the campus, including academic spaces like
libraries and more recreational destinations
such as pubs and theaters. The Wall Gal-
lery, Pierpont Commons, 2102 Bonisteel
Blvd., Mon-Sun 8am-midnight, 647-6838.
Machine-Animal Collages
January 6-January 31. Nicholas Lambert
fuses machine and animal parts into new
creatures, making a statement about the
extinction of the animal world. The Wall
Gallery, Pierpont Commons, 2102 Bonisteel
Blvd., Mon-Sun 8am-midnight, 647-6838.
Mignonette Yin Chang
November 13-January 31. U-M art pro-
n jazz, a call and response is when a lead singer voices
I a phrase and the phrase is echoed by the rest of the
band. But when jazz calls Vincent D. Smith, his re-
sponse is art. “Jazz and…,” Concordia University’s Visit-
ing Artists Program, delves into the influence of jazz on
film, music, painting and poetry. A collection of Smith’s
paintings and prints shows at the Kreft Center Gallery
from January 24 - March 9. George N’Namdi delivers a lec-
ture on Smith during the opening reception on Friday,
January 24 at 7pm.
Owner of the G. R.
N’Namdi Galleries in
Detroit and Chicago,
N’Namdi has been in
the art business for the
past 21 years. The figu-
rative expression of
Smith’s work is what
fascinates him. “[Smith’s
work] has a very uni-
que voice,” he says. “It
represents what Afri-
can-Americans have
gone through to get to
where they are.”
Born in Brooklyn,
Smith was awarded a
scholarship to the
Skowhegan School of
Painting in 1955 and to
the Brooklyn Museum
Art School in 1955-56.
His work is displayed
across the country,
with pieces at the Mu- “Prelude to a Kiss”
seum of Modern Art in
New York, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the National Mu-
seum of American Art in Washington D.C., and the Art
Institute of Chicago.
In the Blue Note series, Smith captures the improvisa-
tional aspect of jazz. Painting on a block of plexiglass then
transferring the print onto paper enables Smith to visually
express the music. “When using plexi, the brush doesn’t
stop where you want it to,” says N’Namdi. “No two prints
are the same. When you take the print, you can do it only
once, you do the same thing again and its different — just
like jazz.”
With exhibitions and collections around the country
and several works in progress, Smith is one of the most
pre-eminent contemporary African-American artists. Take
this opportunity to immerse yourself in his work.
— Prashant Rajkhowa.
The Kreft Center Gallery, 4090 Geddes Road, at Concordia
University exhibits prints and paintings by Vincent D. Smith
from January 24-March 9. George N’Namdi lectures on the
history and work of Smith on Friday, January 24 at 7pm.
For more information call Mark Wentzel at (734) 995-7591
or e-mail kreftgallery@cuaa.edu.
January 2003 CURRENT 109