Dan's Papers - July 27, 2007 - Russell Simmons Walks Tall in East Hampton

"Forms of Abstraction" an art exhibit and gala event opens this Friday, July, 27, at 6 p.m. at Wendy Wachtel's innovative, intellectually rigorous and globally active East Hampton gallery, Walk Tall Gallery, in conjunction with G.R. N' Namdi Gallery, internationally recognized as one of the most influential contemporary abstract art galleries in the world committed to promoting the works of the many renowned African-American and Latin artists. Walk Tall and G.R. N'Namdi galleries are co-hosting the week long exhibit -- to be kicked off with the Friday night "preparty" exhibit opening event at 6-9 p.m. at Walk Tall Gallery -- to benefit and coordinate with the RUSH Philanthropic Art Foundation event taking place Saturday night at Russel Simmons's Estate.

The gallery exhibition features work from internationally acclaimed artists who have shown at the Whitney, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Guggenheim among other prominent modern art museums. Frank Bowling, the first black man inducted into England's Royal Academy of Arts, will be showing "Morning Light" ($35,000), "Boulder (Rocks in the Bed)" ($50,000) and "Ready4Rupert" (50,000). Howardena Pindell, Danny Simmons, Ed Clark and many more prominent figures from the explosive American Abstract Movement pioneered by African Americans will be exhibiting. Danny Simmons says of the show, "it's not "black art," but ""good abstract art that can benefit and give back to the community. If it wasn't good work, we wouldn't have it in the show," he says.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit RUSH Philanthropic Art Foundation, a not-for-profit organization developed by brothers Russell, Danny, and Joseph Simmons for offering services to enhance the "cultivation of creativity" in disadvantaged children. "The fact that [people] don't practice and appreciate art in our public schools is a travesty" says Russell Simmons, who is committed to enriching the lives of underprivileged children by exposing them to all the options creative mediums have to give.

This unique exhibition in the heart of privilege-heaven is "about breaking down boundaries," says Wendy Wachtel. For Wendy, art and humanitarianism go hand and hand; they are irrevocably connected. This, in itself, is a multi-layered description, another element to art Wendy is particularly interested in; the global healing of an open exchange, a fluidity of mediums and depth of layers in work that translates into cross-cultural, cross gender, and cross-generational dialogue.

George D. N'Namdi, Jumaane's father and the founder of the 25 year old Chicago, Detroit and New York City Galleries who further states that "art has an importance beyond it's time." Coming to the art world as a psychologist he believes that "all of the facets of participation in the visual arts experience creating, as well as patronage and collecting offers longevity, and allows for cultural healing." Jumaane E. N'Namdi, the director of the galleries and son of George adds "art tracks culture, and we as African Americans need to invest in the history of our culture." Prices begin at $10,000and sell for upwards of $100,000, and their value will increase dramatically with time.

The group of African Americans doing abstract art in the 50s is generating whispers. Black people do and have Hip-Hop, Motown, and Jazz, but the buzz surrounding these iconic music forms is, at least at this point in time, much greater than that of the visual art medium.

That is not to say only a specific demographic can relate to or collect this art; interpreting and experiencing fine art is immensely subjective at first, so if it appeals to you there's value in it for you already. Encouraging the burgeoning art enthusiast is one of George Namdi's passions, thus RUSH Philanthropic cannot strike more precisely a chord with Mr. Namdi.

All are welcome and over 200 guests are expected at the Friday night 6-9 pre-party opening exhibit and Sunday 3-6 after-party exhibits at Walk Tall Gallery. Many hundreds more are to be welcomed at the Rush gala event on Saturday. (For more information, and ticket purchase to the Saturday night benefit, see our Entertainment and Benefits section). The free admission gallery exhibit is a visual and intellectual stunner. Don't miss this. Viewers can see the work through August 5, at Walk Tall Gallery, 62 Park Place, in East Hampton.