The N’Nmadi Center for contemporary art has re-opened with a stunning solo-exhibit by local artist Mel Rosas, entitled “Details”: an exhibition of small-scale work. Although the darkness of the current pandemic “Details” (translated from its original Spanish title, Detalles) provides a vibrant and refreshing perspective on Latin culture and urban decay. “The idea was to hone in on specific places and niches of areas that would be passed up by people walking by… to concentrate and understand the significance of minute details of everyday life,” said Rosas.
Rosas was born in Des Moines, IA to a Panamanian father and an American mother, and admits that the lack of diversity led to him hiding aspects of his Latino identity, disclosing that in the 1950s, the closest thing he could find to an ethnic restaurant was a pizzeria. It was not until he went to graduate school in Philadelphia that he was exposed to diversity.
After a trip to Panama, he grew increasingly interested, and his sensitivity heightened for his father’s culture. In this current exhibit, he provides a very authentic appreciation for the Latin way of life. Rosas is talented in his depiction of color, facet, and the choice of texture in each piece. This specific project pays homage to intricate elements that, although overlooked, add to the essence of Latin America. “You can see some Detroit in some of these images too,” he alluded, referencing a few nods of familiar motor-city imagery. Other prominent designs within the exhibit explore conceptual features and moments (i.e., A figures’ feet walking across cobblestone or a section of a building’s façade.) “Though these small paintings are more abstract than previous works, nevertheless, they are figures, remnants, and fragments from Latin American sociopolitical conditions.” (from an official statement of Mel Rosas).
“I have focused on quiet, personal moments of observational clarity by capturing a fleeting moment, a glance, or noticing a section of a larger context.” – Mel Rosas
“You are what you experienced…everything you’ve done in life kinda adds up to what you do today, and then you make art out of it” Rosas explained as he described his more in-depth exploration into Latin culture after his trip to Panama in 1981; now the subject matter of his newest solo-exhibit. His past exhibitions have been notably featured locally and nationally, including Detroit Institute of Arts, Fendrick Gallery (Washington D.C), the Brooklyn Museum (Brooklyn, NY), and several others.
As Detroit continues to debut budding new artists, accomplished artist, and 44-year art professor Rosas gives these words to those aspiring to become exceptional artists, “You have to be able to balance what I call the triad: you have to be able to earn a living, you have to have a personal life, and then, in the end, have enough time and wherewithal to do your creative work. If you can do that and balance for ten years, you should be able to do it for the rest of your life.”
Rosas credits his success to his own “sense of diligence and getting to work,” confiding that the “Details” exhibit took over a year. He shared a favorite quote (paraphrased): “Inspiration is for amateurs; a serious artist just goes to the studio and gets to work.” The Details exhibit can be found in the G.R. N’Namdi Gallery in Detroit, MI. The Center is now re-opened under COVID-19 safety guidelines, strictly implemented. Other group exhibition artists include Anita Bates, Alicia Brown, Jocelyn Rainey, Jean-Marcel St. Jacques, and Jamelel Wright Sr.
