A dialogue began last year, serious and thoughtful discussion ensued, and artists have continued the conversation. Here, alongside a small pocket-park on 128th Street in Harlem, artist Julio Valdez unveiled his installation this week entitled ‘I Can’t Breathe.‘ The installation is just a few blocked away from last year’s colorful ‘Black Lives Matter‘ mural on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. extending from 125-127th Streets.
Artist Reception Tuesday, August 17, 2021 from 5:00 ~ 8:00 pm. RSVP for this Free Event on Facebook.
Public art organizer Connie Lee and Harlem-based artist Julio Valdez are pleased to announce the installation of I Can’t Breathe this week. Produced from a series of six drawings by Valdez who was inspired by the images of racial injustice that have collectively entered our minds through the media. Each drawing was scanned and printed on aluminum panels.
“The images of George Floyd’s murder by the police haunted me relentlessly, so I started the series of work titled “I Can’t Breathe,” as an exploration of how art happens when it is stirred by injustices and America’s longstanding tacit acceptance of racism as a “norm” in our society.”…….. Julio Valdez
“Formally, I use the “all over technique,” to encourage the attention of the viewer to the entire visual field. I do this to convey the feelings I am trying to evoke, such as fear, powerlessness, and isolation.. The drawings, take on a transparency of almost impressionistic quality rendered with grey tones and fluid circular lines. This allover imagery reminds us the importance of not only reacting to news of injustices, but to also reflect and remember that as a community, we can overcome and reveal the creative potential in all of us, the human family.“….. Julio Valdez”……. Julio Valdez
Julio Valdez was born in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, in 1969. He lives and works in New York City since 1993. As a painter, printmaker, teacher and mixed-media installation artist, Valdez received his first museum exhibition at the Omar Rayo Museum in Colombia in 1988. He is a former artist-in-residence at The Studio Museum in Harlem, and has shown in 28 solo exhibitions nationally and internationally. In addition, he has participated in more than 100 group exhibitions. Follow the artist on Instagram.
“I have been wanting to work with Julio for a few years and this was the perfect project to take out of the white box and into the public realm” said Connie Lee
Lee works collaboratively and comprehensively with artists to develop public art installations and to provide access to art in communities that are often excluded by bringing quality art installations, exhibitions and performances to people where they live. Follow Connie Lee on Instagram.
Julio Valdez: I Can’t Breathe will be on view from July 24, 2021 to July 10, 2022. It is located on the exterior fence surrounding the historic Collyer Brothers Park located on Fifth Avenue at 128th Street in Harlem. It is the third temporary public artwork, organized by Lee and installed in Harlem during the month of July, creating a curated public art gallery. The other two temporary art installations are ~ Capucine Bouchart: Plastic Fantastic! in Harlem Art Park and Susan Stair: Ascending the Mountain in Marcus Garvey Park. In addition, within easy walking distance is Zaq Landsberg: Reclining Liberty in Morningside Park.
Artist Reception Tuesday, August 17, 2021 from 5:00 ~ 8:00 pm. RSVP for this Free Event on Facebook.
The artwork is exhibited as part of NYC Parks’ Art in the Parks program. I Can’t Breathe is made possible in part with funding from: LMCC (Lower Manhattan Cultural Council), New York City Department of Cultural Affairs with in kind support from the Marcus Garvey Park Alliance.
Related programming scheduled for the Fall of this year to be announced,
About NYC Parks’ Art in the Parks: For more than 50 years, NYC Parks’ Art in the Parks program has brought contemporary public artworks to the city’s parks, making New York City one of the world’s largest open-air galleries. The agency has consistently fostered the creation and installation of temporary public art in parks throughout the five boroughs. Since 1967, NYC Parks has collaborated with arts organizations and artists to produce more than 2,000 public artworks by 1,300 notable and emerging artists in more than 200 parks.
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