Melanistic Magazine - Issue 3 - Melanistic Adventures

ARTS & CULTURE

FETSUM TECLEMARIAM

Born to traditional farmers in Eritrea, Fetsum Teclemariam’s artwork leans into the simplicity of his culture and is inspired by the delicate beauty of the landscapes of his homeland.

“I grew up in a community in Africa where I was not allowed to express my thoughts, concerns, and feelings in public - speaking out had terrible consequences. As a result, I started to express, my anger, frustrations, sense of betrayal, joy and beauty through my paintings, and still do.”

As an immigrant, he celebrates the city’s multiculturalism and uniqueness of different seasons, constantly seeking to mirror this splendor through his artwork. He does confess that he yearns for deeper connections with the Edmonton art community. This desire ripples even into his comparison of his work to Meadi (Kala), a traditional Eritrean meal shared from a single dish- an act of communion, trust and unity.

Man With Camel

Currently on display at the Bugera Matheson Gallery, Edmonton, you are encouraged to become acquainted with this local artist.

bugeramathesongallery.com

Braiding

ADRIAN LOUDEN

Adrian Louden’s curiosity in muralism and street art was sparked as a child, while on a casual drive with his mother. The Jamaican/Canadian artist continues to hone his craft; conjuring dreams to be scaled-up and effectively manifested as paint on different surfaces.

AJ expresses that we have deprived ourselves of the very human proclivity to decorate one’s environment. Instead, we have chosen to outsource this task to corporations, specifically for public spaces. The result: Spaces inundated with more advertisements than art, feeding the consumerism insanity. “Making human marks particularly in corporately hegemonic public spaces is inherently a political act - it’s a strike at the illusion of dominance and control.”

Adrian is inspired by local savant, Trevor Peters, the co-founder of Rust Magic Festival. The festival ushered a tidal wave of muralism that transformed the downtown core, resulting in over 50 world-class, large scale pieces and drastically changing the trajectory of visual culture in the city forever.

When asked to align his work with a music genre, AJ gravitated immediately to Hip Hop, which lends itself to sampling, rearranging and reframing, much like the art form of muralism. @ajalouden