The 2022 Black & Blue Exhibit Catalog

The Black and Blue Exhibit

Harlem School of the Arts Presents 2022

The Black and Blue Exhibit

Harlem School of the Arts Presents 2022

First published in November 2022 by Harlem School of the Arts 645 St Nicholas Ave, New York, NY 10030

Publisher: Harlem School of the Arts

Creative Director: A.K. Lovelace

Designer: Latoya Burris, The Swurve LLC

Editorial: Kimberley “Kimmy” Smith, Kimmy The Great Inc.

Event Planner: Jemima Fortune

Printed in New York City.

Copyright © 2022-2023 by Harlem School of the Arts

Harlem School of the Arts supports the rights of our students, their free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage artists to produce the artistic works that support our culture of creativity.

The scanning, uploading or distribution of this book without permission is strictly prohibited and is a theft of the collective author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from this catalog of work for reasons other than review purposes, please contact communications@hsanyc.org.

Thank you for your support of the rights of our student artists, instructors, faculty and the Harlem School of the Arts community.

To the students and faculty of Harlem School of the Arts, our Founder Dorothy Maynor, and the MetLife Foundation whose generous grant has made The Black and Blue catalog possible.

A Letter from the Chair

Since joining the Harlem School of the Arts family, every year I have had the privilege of witnessing the work of our talented students under the direction of a passionate group of teaching artists. From cinematography, to comic art, illustration, painting, animation to producing podcasts, the artistic output of our community is an amazing thing to behold first-hand. This year was a little different though because this was the first year we’d all returned in-person after COviD-19.

Our goal at Harlem School of the Arts is to facilitate the opportunity for students to harness and develop their skills and abilities. In a world where creativity is being celebrated more and more, the potential to establish successful careers with their skills are increasingly possible, seen and respected. After living through the pandemic and the devastation and isolation it created, it was important to celebrate their efforts in a way that would honor our return as a tenacious triumph.

On June 4, 2022 we opened the doors to the HSA Black and Blue exhibition and welcomed students, parents and staff into a gallery space that showcased the work of over 20 students in over 10 classes offered at Harlem School of the Arts. This catalog you hold serves as a commemoration to that spectacular event. It also represents the first printed collection of the work we produce in the Media and Design department at Harlem School of the Arts and it will not be the last.

As you enjoy each page, please remember that this work would not be possible without the unwavering commitment of our teaching artists, students and the HSA community to art — in all of its forms.

A special thank you to my team for the work that you do, and to all of our student artists for inspiring us daily. Enjoy Black and Blue 2022, and stay tuned – this after all is only the beginning of what we are destined to create.

Bruised up, but still here.

A.K. Lovelace

Chair of Media and Design Harlem School of The Arts

Chapter One: The Start

A compilation of art from our younger students focused on introducing the basic principles of visual art, comic fundamentals, and animation. Our instructors guided our artistic scholars through exercises to explore new techniques, and develop their skills and interests.

Credits:

2D: Cosmo H, Naia N, Maddon R, isaiah S, and Ayan-Sekai W.

3D: Andwele H, Noemie T, and Sulaiman A.

Playtime: Abigail M and Gabriela M.

The Tornado: Allison A, Owami N, and Sienna J.

BLACK AND BLUE EXHiBiT — HARLEM SCHOOL OF ARTS

2D and 3D Introduction to Visual Art

INSTRUCTOR: ANNETTE RUSIN

Students between the ages of 5 to 9 were introduced to the visual fundamentals of working two-dimensionally and three-dimensionally to experience the process of creating finished works of art. They learned how to use the basic Elements of Art (line, shape, color) as tools to express their ideas and create art projects in various wet and dry mediums. Students gained an understanding of simple and complex shapes, and developed visual compositions using contrast, rhythm, balance, texture and proportion. Painting, drawing and collage were explored in a series of projects that increased in complexity and duration.

Comic Fundamentals INSTRUCTOR:

A.K. LOVELACE

In Comic Fundamentals, students were introduced to the core concepts of storytelling in sequential art, starting with character design and culminating in complete comic book pages.

Intro to Animation

INSTRUCTOR: TATIANA GARDEL

The students of Intro to Animation learned how to make still images move and produced animated short films. They developed a range of artistic skills by exploring multiple animation techniques such as traditional animation, digital animation, and stop motion. Encouraged to work in groups, students collaborated with each other in the pre-production, production, and post-production phases of their claymation project.

SCAN QR CODE TO WATCH THE ANIMATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Pre-Production

Students sketched their storyboards, preparing to bring their visions to life.

Production

After preparation, our students took action bringing their sketches to life on set.

Chapter Two: Level Up

Our advanced student artists were led by their instructors to participate in exercises to hone their skills and build their portfolio of work, creating the compilation of drawings and paintings you’ll find in this chapter. Focused on observational and expressive drawing, students were encouraged to discover their artistic expression using various mediums and techniques.

Drawing and Painting: Kayin B and Arianna L.

Drawing from Observation: Alyssa, Ella A, Guadalupe M, and Morgan R.

Techniques in Drawing: Elle C, Arianna H, Lekia N, and Eulani T.

Credits:

BLACK AND BLUE EXHiBiT — HARLEM SCHOOL OF ARTS

Drawing and Painting

INSTRUCTOR: KATHERINE TOUKHY

Prep artists were encouraged to develop their own artistic voices and interests during our class time. Throughout the year, we practiced drawing and painting exercises that honed in on both their observational and expressive drawing and/or painting skills led by dialogue on each artist’s self-determined concerns. These advanced student-artists came out with at least two portfolio pieces by the end of our course, and received individual support to push their thinking and techniques towards the completion of their final work.

Drawing from Observation

INSTRUCTOR: AIKA AKHMETOVA

Observational drawing is rooted in the process of seeing. To draw something accurately from life, a person must commit to challenging their preconceived notions about what something should look and focus only on the shapes, lines, tones and angles that are in front of them. My students tirelessly work on developing their individual ways of processing visual information and putting it on the page. From drawing still life to drawing a skeleton model in space or doing a master copy of a famous drawing. Every step of the way they are encouraged to find their own answers to the problem of creating an image. Art history presentations are incorporated into the course to further enrich the students ideas of what a drawing could be.

Techniques in Visual Arts

INSTRUCTOR: ANNETTE RUSIN

An exploration of visual art techniques and the use of mediums for advanced students, this class focuses on students’ individual needs and direction with the goal of producing portfolio–ready pieces. Students expanded on their knowledge base and became proficient in their use of perspective, light and shadow, value, color relationships, and understanding of human anatomy. A sampling of the mediums used in this class are prismacolor, watercolor, ink wash, acrylic paint, pastel pencils, and various types of charcoal.

Chapter Three: Special Skills

In support of the limitless and inclusive world of art, the body of work our students created in this chapter provided opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration. Working within their specialized artforms, students were led through principles in animation, cinematography and advanced comic art, to develop characters, and create and produce finished products.

Credits: Advanced Animation and Character Design: Ella A, Kayin B, Arianna L, Eulani T, and Sam Y. Cinematography and Editing: Alexis C, Tzachai F, Morgan R, and Logan J. Advanced Comic Art: Marley A, Kayin B, Maximo D, and Sam Y.

BLACK AND BLUE EXHiBiT — HARLEM SCHOOL OF ARTS |

Advanced Animation and Character Design

INSTRUCTOR: TATIANA GARDEL

Students continued to refine their digital media and animation skills and worked in an interdisciplinary animation project. They learned about the 12 principles of animation and created character sheets, turnarounds, and walk cycles. At the end of the year, we worked in collaboration with other disciplines such as Comic Book, Digital Painting, Cinematography, and the Theater Department to develop animated short scenes.

SCAN QR CODE TO WATCH THE ANIMATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Cinematography and Editing

INSTRUCTOR: LINDSAY JOHNSON ASST INSTRUCTOR: JEFFERSON JACOME

Most people love movies, but few ever get to make them. Our goal for cinematography and editing at HSA has been to change this idea by making filmmaking accessible to students of various ages. We set and supported the look and mood of each project’s visual narrative, while exploring cinematic elements such as shot types, sound, and lighting. Aside from developing artistic and technical skills, filmmaking also nurtures students’ abilities in leadership, teamwork, communication, critical thinking, decision making, planning, and preparation. Film is a medium that welcomes artists and non artists of all types and we aspire to strengthen each student’s familiarity with the world’s most collaborative art form.

On Set…

The students produced a live filming of a podcast with Bevy Smith, daytime television host and author of “Bevelations” and Keenan Scott II playwright, actor |and the creator of “Thoughts of a Colored Man.”

BLACK AND BLUE EXHiBiT — HARLEM SCHOOL

Advanced Comic Art INSTRUCTOR:

A.K. LOVELACE

In Advanced Comic Art students were tasked with creating fully penciled and inked sequential art. These works were produced both digitally and traditionally. The goal was to tell a narrative over the course of several pages.

Chapter Four: Black and Blue

Meet the instructors and prep students of our June 4, 2022 Black and Blue Exhibit and learn more about our talented artists and leaders. Read more about their training, interests and inspirations and check out behind the scene images and photography from an unforgettable night of community, talent and art.

BLACK AND BLUE EXHiBiT — HARLEM SCHOOL OF ARTS

Meet Our Instructors

AIKA AKHMETOVA

Aika Akhmetova is an artist based between New York and Almaty, Kazakhstan. Akhmetova studied Painting at Rhode island School of Design and holds a MFA in visual Arts from Columbia University. Their practice consists of installation, video, sculpture, and text-based work exploring intimate corners of being. They held a solo exhibition at A.i.R. Gallery in 2021 and have exhibited in group shows across the US, Central Asia and Europe. Akhmetova is an AIM fellow at The Bronx Museum of the Arts and a teacher at Harlem School of the Arts.

TATIANA GARDEL

Tatiana Gardel is an artist based in New York City and works in the publishing industry and as an animation instructor. She received formal training in animation at Anima Mundi/Campo 4 Estúdio and taught animation in Rio de Janeiro public schools before relocating to the United States. Tatiana graduated with degrees in Fine Arts and Art Education in Brazil and began her career as a painter.

She discovered a passion for storytelling, animation, and illustration. Tatiana’s work has been recognized by the Society of illustrators and American illustration Ai-AP.

JEFFERSON JACOME

Jefferson Jacome is an Animation Instructor at Harlem School of Arts and received his BFA in Animation from the School of Visual Arts. He is an experienced educator with on field experience and has first hand knowledge of the needs of Animation studios, and how best to form connections in the ever growing visual arts market.

Jefferson enjoys sharing what he has learned with the next generation of aspiring artists.

LINDSAY JOHNSON

Lindsay Johnson is an actor, writer, director, and teacher with over 21 years of experience in the film and theater industry. In his most recent work he plays the leading role in feature length movie “Eddie” (2021). Lindsay has taught cinematography and editing at the American Dance and Drama studio in Flushing, Queens and Founder of Skylark Media Pictures, a film production company founded in 2011. Lindsay uses his company and his experience in arts education as a platform for expanding artistic expression, and providing opportunity for other independent artists and students alike.

A.K. LOVELACE

A.K. Lovelace is a New York native. He has been working in sequential and visual arts professionally for 2 decades. He’s worked in film, television, advertising, as well as publishing, As a comic book artist and illustrator he has worked on numerous works including his series City of Walls for webcomics leading publishing house, Webtoons. For the past 6 years he has also worked in arts education at Harlem School of the Arts. Initially, as a teaching artist and now as Chair of the Media and Design department.

DAVID ROBLES

David Robles is a digital comic book illustrator and storyboard artist and holds a Bachelor's degree in Cartooning from the School of Visual Arts and an Associates degree in History from Arizona Western College. His is displayed in the Society of illustrators Student Scholarship Competition show, and he is a recipient of the Nick Meglin award. A first generation American, David served in the United States Navy. David is currently a storyboard artist, for projects ranging from food to football. David was also art assistant to Marvel/DC artist Klaus Janson Batman and Superman comic issues.

ANNETTE RUSIN

Annette Rusin is a visual artist based in Brooklyn, NY. She maintains a diverse practice working conceptually and from direct observation to create drawings, site-specific installations, and sculptures. She has a background in architecture with a B.Arch from Rhode island School of Design and an MFA in Painting from Hunter College.

KATHERINE TOUKHY

Katherine Toukhy is a visual artist/ educator living and working out of Brooklyn, NY. She has spent the last 11+ years creating and leading inclusive arts programming in public schools, community centers, art schools, neighborhoods, refugee camps, and museums. Centering and nurturing the creative voices of people outside the dominant social structures is part of her mission. In the classroom, her expertise is in: self-expression through art, figurative drawing and painting, mixed media techniques, and beginner digital arts and printmaking.

Meet Our Artists

ARIANNA L. 16 YEARS OLD | WHiTE PLAiNS, NY

Arianna attends Alexander Hamilton High School and Southern Westchester BOCES where she participated in the Commercial Arts program and is a student in the Media and Design prep-program at Harlem School of the Arts. Arianna enjoys all art forms, but especially enjoys creating anime and manga characters using acrylic paint and markers on canvas. She is currently working on developing her digital art skills as well. As a child, Arianna loved drawing as a way to express herself. While exploring her passion for art, she has participated in a variety of art activities including Riverwalk Community Mural (2020), Alice E. Grady Elementary School Playground Mural (2021); Yonkers Artist Showcase (2022), Lidl Charity Bag 2022; and the Greenburgh BLM Mural 2022 and the NAACP ActSo Competition where she was a 2021 Silver Medalist and 2022 Gold Medalist. She also participates in annual volunteer art projects at The Children’s Village.

Arianna’s dream is to attend school in Japan to further her education and explore Japanese artistic views. She would love to become a famous comic book artist and an art teacher that helps children to tap into their creativity, despite their inner struggles or the obstacles presented in their environment. Arianna enjoys helping others and wants her art to create impact – motivating children that gravitate towards her to be their authentic selves.

MARLEY A. 16 YEARS OLD | MANHATTAN, NY

Marley is a student in the Media and Design prep-program at Harlem School of Arts and is interested in becoming a Graphic Novelist to combine her love of art and writing. When starting a new project, her favorite part is experiencing the feeling of seeing her imagination come to life in drawings. Marley has taken many cartooning classes and felt underwhelmed until she participated in cartoon illustration at HSA. She’s learned how to create layouts, ink her pages, and add digital text. She credits Mr. Lovelace and the teachers of HSA for introducing her to many mediums and new art forms.

Her artwork is character-based and she likes to draw people using her sister – who appears in many of her art pieces. Marley references school subjects such as biographies and documentaries for her work, however, her imagination is her biggest influence and inspiration. She is fueled by tales of fantasy and creates detailed worlds her magical characters can adventure through. Their exploits are then drawn onto the pages of her sketchbook.

Marley’s current favorite medium is watercolor. She is learning how to adhere to deadlines and manage her work with a schedule and believes she’s able to learn even more as a student at an art high school.

KAYIN B. 16 YEARS OLD | HARLEM, NY

Kayin is a visual artist at Harlem School of the Arts and is enrolled in the Media and Design prep-program. Kayin, who was initially interested in music, decided to pursue his natural and intuitive abilities in art after this “unintentional passion” was discovered by his parents who noticed the doodles he’d drawn on some of the paper assignments he had for school.

When he starts a new art piece, he has the most fun drafting and preparing layouts, and the unlimited freedom at this time to allow his ideas to flow freely onto paper in preparation for the final piece. Kayin has learned skills in drawing that have helped him to see objects as three dimensional elements on the paper, which he is continually working on. Kayin is challenging himself to change and bend his perspectives to see the body outside of natural and flexed states. Considering three dimensional elements helps Kayin through the process in doing exaggerated perspectives or different types of objects.

Kayin is inspired by the artists around him. Seeing how individual artists blend colors and their inking style helps him strive to do better knowing if they’re able to do their work that well, he can too.

EULANI T. 19 YEARS OLD | MANHATTAN, NY

Eulani is enrolled in the Media and Design prep program at Harlem School of The Arts and is interested in pursuing animation or digital art. She enjoys the process of creating rough animations and storyboarding with each new project she starts and has learned to integrate music into her process of progressing her work forward by integrating it into her process to focus. Eulani gets inspiration to draw from retired Disney artist and YouTuber Aaron Blaise who uploads tutorials on the platform.

SIMIAO “SAM” Y. 16 YEARS OLD | SHiSHOU, CHiNA

Sam is interested in pursuing any and all art forms that involve story-telling. The Black and Blue project was special to Sam as it was the first time she’s worked with others on a complete animation project. Sam loves the idea of being held responsible for doing something she loves to do and believes this helps push her to complete the project the best she can, and quickly which has helped sharpen her endurance and art skills.

Throughout the years while studying animation Sam has learned many animation techniques such as small, medium, large, slow in, slow out, and more. She applied all these techniques to her project. Sam is inspired by a strong desire to create, and make something out of nothing and admires artists like Zemyata and Zdzisław Beksiński.

In Case You Missed It: Photos of Show

BLACK

About Dorothy Maynor

At a time when all indications pointed to an America moving toward becoming separate and unequal, Dorothy Maynor maintained her belief that something better could grow in her community, forged by “…men and women of reason and moderation,” like herself. That belief became the catalyst for the creation of the Harlem School of the Arts. “What i dream of is changing the image held by the children…We’ve made them believe that everything beautiful is outside the community. We would like them to make beauty in our community.”

Ms. Maynor, a concert soprano, was considered to have one of the most superb vocal instruments of her time. The New York Times raved, “Her voice is a miracle!” and Serge Koussevitzky, conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a mentor, proclaimed her, “a musical revelation that the world must hear.”

HARLEM SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

Ms. Maynor understood the power of the arts and its ability to transform lives and open doors. Her own life was touched by music both at home and in church. She was born and grew up in Norfolk, Virginia singing in her father’s church. Even then she stunned attendees with the clarity and beauty of her voice. At age 14, she enrolled in a preparatory program at Hampton University where she was encouraged by the School’s Choir Master to join the chorus. That was the beginning of her global travels. By the time that Ms. Maynor retired and moved with her husband, the Reverend Shelby Rooks to Harlem; she was an internationally renowned operatic star. in 1964, after watching the thorough disregard by those in power for what she called, “America’s most slandered community— Harlem,” she opened the school for the arts in the basement of St. James Presbyterian where her husband was pastor, providing lessons in voice and piano. More than a decade later her passion and unstoppable determination would lead to the grand opening of the 37,000 square foot facility under whose roof, hundreds and thousands of children have discovered their own creativity.

Ms. Maynor’s legacy continues to shape and transform waves of young people who come through HSA’s doors to receive interdisciplinary training in dance, music, theater, musical theater and media and design – in a safe and inclusive environment that allows them the freedom of exploration, and creativity.

FOUNDER,