ART in motion 28 LIKE NOW New York—Himself a noted abstract impressionist artist, in the early years of renowned dealer Mert Simpson’s New York gallery, he specialized both in contemporary art—especially works by the conglomerate of black artists in the early ‘60s known as the Spiral Collective— and in traditional African art. True to that tradition, the Merton D. Simpson Gallery is now presenting Like NOW: Adger, Melvin & George, a multimedia group exhibition featuring the work of artists Adger Cowans, Melvin Van Peebles, and George Nelson Preston, displayed in conjunction with traditional, indigenous art from Africa and Oceania. The variable creative backgrounds of Cowans, Van Peebles, and Preston all contribute to an exhibition that breaks the barriers of conventional presentations of visual art. Cowans’ technical expertise as a professional photographer is translated into his etchings and printed works, communicating both immediacy and intimacy. Van Peebles, best known as the creative force behind the influential 1971 film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, further demonstrates his ceaseless artistic practice through painting and music production modes. Preston, a scholar and close affiliate of the Spiral Collective, retains a well-informed, highly cerebral assessment of black history through a series of paintings and drawings. Together, these three men are a trifecta: a gathering of intelligent, important black artists who continue to generate important work in and across their respective fields of creative production. TEN YEARS WITH SF TRIBAL San Francisco—The dealer association SF Tribal is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. Comprised of seventeen experts in African, Oceanic, Asian, Pre- Columbian, and North American Indian art, it was formed to create uniform standards that guarantee the quality and authenticity of the material its members offer. It generally also stages an annual show of member dealers. We wish them well as they move into their second decade. ART OF THE WARRIOR New York—Tambaran Gallery is presenting a small but unusually fine collection of antique Pacific weapons that are not only functional but are beautiful both in form and workmanship. These objects of power and prestige were carved by specialists who had a great understanding in their selection of wood—its strength and grain—stone, and bone, as well as rare expertise in curing and polishing. They were made for chiefs and high-ranking warriors, and they became treasured heirlooms. While none of these objects have Cook provenance, he and his crew encountered and collected similar weapons during their long Pacific voyages and, like Cook artifacts, these have traveled far from Australia, New Zealand, and the Polynesian Islands to the Northwest Coast of America and British Columbia. Art of the Warrior opened on November 8 and can be seen until December 19, 2014. Club, Marquesas Islands, Polynesia. 18th century. Wood. H: 139.1 cm. and Massive gunstock club, sali, with butterfly cutouts Fiji, Polynesia. 18th–19th century. Ex Allentown Art Museum, PA; private collection, Hershey, PA. Tambaran Gallery, New York. Left: Hand club, patu. Maori, New Zealand. 19th century. Ex old French collection. Manuka or akeake wood. Image courtesy of Tambaran Gallery, New York. Adger W. Cowans, Soweto, 1986. Etching on paper. Courtesy of the Merton D. Simpson Gallery, New York.
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