Movement and Memory: Solo Exhibition featuring Ernest Shaw
The Silva Gallery x Latela Curatorial is pleased to present Movement and Memory, a solo exhibition of eight mixed media artworks by artist Ernest Shaw. The exhibition will be on view at The Silva DC (1630 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009) from July 11 through October 20, 2024. A public reception will be held for the artist on September 5th from 6-8pm.
Exhibition Artwork: Untitled, 60 x 48 in., oils stick, water soluble pastel, acrylic, paint marker, on wood, 2023
Through multi-layered imagery, Shaw’s work uses energetic linework and areas of color blocking to fuse realistic portraits of contemporary young Black males with sketches of historical ethnic tropes. In presenting his subjects in this manner, Shaw reveals an intimate reflection of his personal journey of grief, vulnerability, and healing after the loss of his young son to cancer.
“These works reflect my lived experience as an Afro-Diasporic man born and raised in the U.S. who searched for healing from the trauma of the transcendence of his son. For fifteen years I searched for a therapist to assist with grieving this new reality and the day-to-day struggles that life affords Black men. This body of work exhibit my preparedness to receive therapy and the benefits of finding the correct fit for my needs as a member of the human family.” – Shaw
This exhibition includes new artworks by Shaw, created within the last two years in parallel with his earnest dedication to therapy to process his own grief and healing. The vibrant applications of color, often surfacing black and white photography and charcoal sketches, present a dynamic and intimate insight into each figure. Shaw invites us into each young person’s life to experience the totality, preciousness, and collective memory they each embody.
The exhibition title Movement and Memory corresponds to one conceptual category of the Africana Studies framework created by Black Scholars as an intellectual pursuit contrasting the metamorphosis of African American studies in academia. This aspect of the framework highlights how Afro-Diasporic people move through time and space utilizing memory as the context needed to live in the present, while charting a path to the future that makes space for Afro-Diasporic people to exist in their full humanity with autonomy and authenticity.
Shaw has expanded the honoring of his son, Taj, and processing his own grief by visually centering his relationships with young people and students during a two-decade+ career as an educator in Baltimore City Public Schools. Symbols depicting his memories of his son are collaged into portraits of other young Black males in his immediate community, molding actual and collective memories as one.
“As I was advised by one of my mentors shortly after Taj’s transcendence, there is only one spirit and my son’s spirit will be experienced through my relationships with my students.” - Shaw
Ultimately, the presented collection of artworks calls the viewer to witness the therapeutic markings of healing, and the visual weaving of collective memory.
Movement and Memory by Ernest Shaw is on display at The Silva Gallery x Latela Curatorial July 11 – October 20, 2024. Located at The Silva DC: 1630 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm and Sun noon-5pm. A public reception will be held for the artist on September 5th from 6-8pm.
All artwork displayed is available for purchase. Inquiries should be directed to studio@lateladc.com
About the Gallery:
The Silva Gallery x Latela Curatorial at the Silva provides additional exhibition opportunities and curated promotion to local artists in the Greater Washington, DC area. The art gallery, located in the building's reception area, is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon until 5 p.m. For updates on exhibition openings and other art related events, visit here.
About the Artist:
Being a native of West Baltimore has taught Artist Ernest Shaw the meaning of perseverance, community and integrity. As a product of Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore School for the Arts, Morgan State University and Howard University Shaw recognizes the importance of using his skills and talents for the betterment of others, not simply for his own self-aggrandizement. For Ernest, teaching is also an artistic medium.
Artist Statement:
Being an image maker affords me the opportunity to produce work that highlights the humanity of the viewer by illustrating the humanity of the subject. My creative process focuses on the interaction between the work and its audience. My goal is for the receiver to experience the mystery of creation while interacting with the portrait. The work’s evolution to becoming art has everything to do with the dance between the painting and the receiver.
My primary subjects reflect the multiple aspects of the Black/Africanist experience in the context of a society that confines Blackness to being the antithesis to whiteness and a response to racialized subjugation. Authentic portrayals of the Black body are of particular interest to me simply because there is no other subject I find to be as complex, misrepresented, and misunderstood.
About Latela Curatorial:
Based in Washington DC with presence in Los Angeles, Barcelona and Milan, Latela Curatorial is an international art advisory and curatorial studio serving art collectors, design and corporate professionals, institutions, artists, and communities.
For all projects, LC's mission is to continuously question how support is defined in the artworld and to advocate on behalf of the artist and arts workers. LC's attitude is to nurture with a matriarchal approach: creating generative and sustainable opportunities for artists, collectors and communities alike.
About The Silva:
Developed by EastBanc and Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. and managed by Bozzuto, The Silva features 172 thoughtfully designed apartments ranging from studios to two bedrooms, including 10 penthouse suites, making it the ideal home for residents looking to immerse themselves in the eclectic lifestyle of Adams Morgan while experiencing the best of high-end living. At The Silva, residents will find a rooftop terrace with sweeping views of the Capitol and the Washington Monument from the building’s infinity pool, a private courtyard with lush greenery, and within each unit, state-of-the-art appliances and acoustical design.
Prospective residents can learn more about the building and pre-leasing options by visiting www.thesilvadc.com.