(Hooded study, 2017. Silverpoint on prepared paper, 30 x 22 in.)
Periodicals, a magazine shop and concept store, is excited to announce the launch of Moments, an independent exhibition featuring new works by Detroit-based artists Mario Moore, Jamea Richmond-Edwards, and Romeo Okwara. The exhibition will open on Saturday, April 27, from 7 to 11 p.m. at Periodicals (4892 Grand River Ave), kicking off with a cocktail reception and sounds by sillygirlcarmen.
Organized and curated by the artists themselves, Moments is a collaborative showcase that serves as a platform for experimentation and reflection as the artists transition into new phases of their careers. The exhibition will run until Sunday, May 12, 2024.
Mario Moore, Jamea Richmond-Edwards, and Romeo Okwara are artists who have supported and inspired each other in their artistic journeys. Each artist is at a pivotal moment in their career. Moore’s oil paintings were recently featured in “Skilled Labor: Black Realism in Detroit” at the Cranbrook Art Museum and at London’s Saatchi Gallery. Richmond-Edwards, known for her multimedia wall works combining painting and textiles, designed the cover for “Purple Rising,” the 40th anniversary celebration of “The Color Purple,” featured in Oprah’s Book Club in 2023. Okwara, a former Detroit Lions defensive end, has been pursuing his passion for photography for nearly a decade and recently announced his retirement from football.
“This show is a chance to catch our breath in the middle of some dramatic transitions,” says Okwara, reflecting on the themes that unite these artists. For Okwara, this exhibition marks his first time showcasing his photography in Detroit, capturing moments that often precede or follow significant events, such as runway shows, weddings, or NFL games.
Richmond-Edwards sees Moments as an opportunity to experiment with new formats and ideas as she prepares for her largest solo museum show to date. Her narrative-based wall works, featuring striking portraits of Black women, have been evolving in scale over the years, with her new works at Periodicals focusing on intimacy and tight, propulsive portraits.
Moore’s drawings on display represent intermediary stages of progress for his detailed Black figurative paintings. These sketches offer a glimpse into the process behind his final works, creating a space for artistic exchange and collaboration among the three artists.
“This is an artist-driven show,” notes Moore. “It’s important that it’s put on by us and staged in a space that is also creatively run. Jamea and I have shown in different spaces in Detroit, but this is different because we’re able to put this one together ourselves. And it’s so special to get to bring Romeo into the fold and share his work with the rest of Detroit for the first time.”
Moments promises to be a captivating exhibition that not only showcases the individual talents of Moore, Richmond-Edwards, and Okwara but also highlights the power of collaboration and creativity within the Detroit arts community.
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