Rupert Ravens Contemporary

Rupert Ravens, a massive contemporary art gallery nestled on Market St. in Newark showcased VESSEL, an exhibition consisting of 24 working artists. A few pieces in the show really caught my eye. The first was a Black Militant Golf Club installation by artist Charles McGill. After picking up golf, McGill began to view his golf bag as a canvas with which to express his thoughts about race relations and racism, and the place of the Black man in America. The work was very politically driven and placed in the front end of the gallery visible through the large window. People would walk by then stop to look at his installation of golf bags, Black Militant Golf Club t-shirts, plaques and automatic guns on display, and photographs.

Charles McGill

There was another installation by Ibrahim Ahmed. I actually had the opportunity to work with him (i.e painting the walls which were assigned to him and occasionally giving him my opinion on changes he considered making). His installation consisted on all found objects that he in turn painted and beautified it to the "gallery showing" standards. The objects weren't the only parts of his work, but the shadows cast from the frames to the walls also were. He used empty large frames then positioned them in a way where they framed the shadows. Every time I moved it was a new shadow being framed by the same frame.

Ibrahim Ahmed

I was also astonished by the large illustrations of Wayne Roth. From a distance his over-scaled illustrations looked like paintings. But upon closer examination, it was evident that they were digitally created. Layers upon layers of colors, designs, and brushes were used to together to create his intricate pieces. The image appeared to change as you walked up closer. It's amazing to see how something digitally made can resemble can be "painterly".

Wayne Roth

All in all I really enjoyed the show. My only critique would be to add some more photographic work. I think that photography especially digital is a contemporary medium that is pushed in all different directions. Combining 24 painters, sculptors, and digital wizards into one show would of course put on an intriguing show with something for everyone. Two thumbs up.