UNTITLED (VIEWSIC DANCE COMPANY)

What happens when a world-renowned Choreographer from Brooklyn meets two Artists while visiting Birmingham, AL? Magic of course! This is the magic city.

Yogi Dada and Jon of Art attended an open dance rehearsal at the Alabama Ballet and were deeply inspired by NY Choreographer, Gemaul Barnes choreographic creation, “Into the Folds”. Germaul invited them to return and paint live during the next rehearsal. “Into the Folds” is about movement, opening and closing, expanding and contracting. Jon and Yogi decided on a black and white palette for contrast and took a leap of faith to create together on the same canvas. Neither Artist had worked this large or done a collaborative painting before but again kindred spirits made the entire process very fluid.

In the true spirit of Artistic responsibility, all three Artists agree that the sale of the painting will support their respective efforts to bring art and dance to underserved communities.

Germaul Barnes is a professional Dancer/Choreographer who has danced on almost every continent. He’s commissioned by the Alabama School of Fine Arts for several years to choreograph for their dance students, and in Spring 2019 he was commissioned by the Alabama Ballet to choreograph for their “Ovation” project.

Germaul was introduced to Yogi Dada through a mutual friend at a dinner party, and the two Creatives instantly knew they were kindred spirits. She in turn introduced Mr. Barnes to her brother in the craft, Jon of Art. “The three of us were so easy and fluid together, it felt like we had known each other for years” says Yogi Dada of this dynamic trio. Germaul’s Viewsic Dance Company is founded on his passion for artistic collaboration, the catalyst for this project.

Yogi Dada is best known for her one of a kind hand painted earrings, )“Dadas”), but she also paints on canvas. She received her Bachelors of Fine Art at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She identifies as an Artist of the “human condition” and desires that her work uplift and inspire humanity.

Jon of Art has just recently returned back to art in the last two years and has taken the community both home and abroad by storm. He recently won the Joe Piper Award of Distinction at the 2019 Magic Art Connection Festival, his first year in show. He studied at Alabama State University and received his degree in Graphic Communications from Trenholm State Technical College. He celebrates interconnectivity by embracing all experiences through his art.

60" x 60"

Acrylic on gallery canvas