Strada Gallery’s Opening "EMBODIED SPACES": Was it Comprehensive or Rushed?
Friday, September 8th, led to the opening of Strada Gallery’s first exhibition “EMBODIED SPACES: The Body as Architecture” within their new permanent space, located at 329 Broome in Manhattan, New York, the prior home of The Bowery Union. A line of enthusiasts gathered outside of the event, and viewers became angsty to get their first look at the opening doors of the gallery. “EMBODIED SPACES: The Body as Architecture” is a group show with six emerging artists displaying various mediums such as canvas & tapestries; the exhibition also paid homage to their previous show, “In the Moonlight, We Turn Blue” in collaboration with Head of State and Black Wall Street Gallery by displaying articles of clothing by Tia Adeola hanging from the ceiling within the gallery.
The opening was a significant achievement for young gallery owner Paul Hill. Still, the show felt rushed, and incomplete. Tapestries by Qualeasha Wood were directly hung on a wall without framing if you keep up with my criticism. Artworks constructed of fabric should be framed to display straight and leveled art and for protection for when it sells, rather than tacked on a wall and displayed. Whoever paid 35,000 dollars for the artwork could’ve supported many emerging artists. Have we yet to see the contemporary market lately? Artists that sold 20,000-dollar orginals are now selling for a fraction of that price. Either way, I genuinely hope the buyer enjoys the work; I only wonder how it will be delivered.
For a group show, I was curious if the objective was fashion or fine art; delving into the idea of Body as Architecture, one artist’s work by the name of Thomias Radin truly brought the exhibition’s title to life. The canvas displayed the fluidity of body movement and, in my opinion, compared to the innovation of infrastructure and architecture used in buildings such as the Burj Khalifa—the world’s tallest structure in Dubai, which coincides with the movement of nature’s elements.
Obi Agwam created an artwork that made me contemplate architecture and development within metropolitan cities. It reminded me of a past exhibition, “Future City Lab,” that I educated patrons and classes at the Museum of the City of New York; Agwam’s display of modular insight into urban vegetation or the lack thereof within metropolitan environments truly brought me to notice his dedication to the concept of this show. The intention is to show the human body and organs as an element of energy that harnesses growth. However, the toxins that enter the body from foreign entities within metropolitan environments can cause internal problems, something Obi displayed very well; the flowers have grown but have begun to wilt over time. The substance this artwork put forward within this show doesn’t go unnoticed.
The “EMBODIED SPACES: The Body as Architecture” had a thoughtful concept. The curation could have been better as the display of hanging clothing from clear panels and particular artworks didn’t fit the show’s narrative. The exhibition felt rushed and shallow; the Strada team has previously displayed glamorous shows and established tactical elements within curation. With that said, I look forward to seeing the progression of this gallery.
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