VENUE: 260 W. 39th Street
6th Flr.
(btwn. 7th-8th Ave.)
What a better way to bring in the spring than with a Sound of Art event. SOA’s latest creation Amore, Salud Y Dinero in collaboration with Apartment clothing was another banger and a primer for what SOA has in store for 2008. Apartment is a Medellín, Colombia based and art inspired line with distinctive Latin American themes and motifs. The walls were intricately adorned with the works of the following SOA artists: Toofly, M. Tony Peralta, Ivette Urbaez, Mario Pena and Chris Partello. The Apartment design collective also contributed some of their work to the exhibition. The well-stocked gift bags given to attendees included Apartment t-shirts, CD’s and SOA catalogs. The spacious but cozy Agent Red International showroom was the venue for the evening, which marks the first time the Sound of Art has chosen a showroom as the setting for one of its soirees.
VENUE: VAULT - 2498 Fredrick Douglas Blvd.
HARLEM-New York City, NY
For far too long, “respectable society” has deemed that the real Manhattan ends at 100th Street. Those unfortunate souls who happened to be born and reside north of this de facto demarcation are relegated to outsider status - outcasts and rabble living in close proximity to wealth, influence and power. Those denizens of that other Manhattan, however, will not go down without a fight. They dream big and will kick, claw and scratch to get their piece of the proverbial pie. That is called hustle and Harlem in particular and Uptown in general is the hometown of hustle.
The Sound of Art (SOA) pays tributes to that never die attitude that has made Uptown what it is with Uptown’s Finest, a genre-bending art experience highlighting the hustle of Nicky Barnes and the work of SOA artist M. Tony Peralta as well as celebrating the 1 year anniversary of exclusive sneaker boutique Vault. The Peralta Project in conjunction with Vault will also be unveiling an ultra cool Nicky Barnes collaboration T-shirt. Vault, one of uptown’s premiere clothing and sneaker spots will play host to the festivities. Located in the heart of hustle town Harlem on Frederick Douglas Blvd. between 133rd and 134th, Vault has quickly become a locale to check for if footwear and sartorial superiority is your thing. Vault is where the hustlers, the hood and Hollywood shop because hustle is as hustle does – long live hustle!!!
VENUE: NUBIAN HERITAGE
2037 5th Ave.
New York 10035
First of all, the venue chosen for this stellar event is nothing less than incredible. Nubian Heritage, located between 125th and 126th street on 5th Ave, is a huge space that combines a café, a holistic beauty and personal care store and a spacious upstairs loft that is ideally suited for the showcasing of artwork. The Sound of Art (SOA) in collaboration with Allhiphop.com put together a spectacular display of diverse and intriguing artwork created by a host of compelling and pioneering artists that ran the gamut from Porn Star turned artist Heather Hunter to SOA mainstays like M. Tony Peralta, Joe Buck, Ed Ubiera, D-Pi, Toofly, Craig Anthony Miller and Mario Peña among many others. Art in all its grandeur was the focal point for the festivities. Patrons of this event were enraptured and blown away by the sheer range, depth and brilliance of the artwork on display. As everyone knows by now it wouldn't be an SOA event without the musical accompaniment and that department was ably handled by DJ Strike who kept the crowd grooving to his melodious mélange of classic Hip-Hop, Soul and break beats. In addition, Alizé who co-sponsored the function plied the attendees with delectable libations and debuted their latest offering Alizé Rose. Not to mention, that the affair was capably hosted by none other than Farnsworth Bentley. Once again, The Sound of Art pulls off another genre-bending, multi-sensory Art experience. SOA continues to build on its successes and keeps taking its game to the next level. It would seem that for this groundbreaking, forward-thinking company, the sky is truly the limit.
I have come to the realization that when it comes to SOA events, there is a certain amount of magic involved. Something subtle, something infinitely difficult to quantify is at play. I always remember SOA events fondly, there is always a person there that I was destined to meet or someone who I already knew that I needed to touch base with. SOA's latest Art experience, Heat, was no exception. On a beautiful summer day in June in the Washington Heights/Inwood Area, SOA in collaboration with Republica Trading Company outdid itself with this spectacular art event/fiesta. Heat involved two local retailers, Tread Bike Shop and Nostylgia, plenty of food and libations, compelling and eye-popping art as well as two of SOA's artists producing on the spot masterpieces. I came away impressed by the way that SOA founder, Leo Vasquez, pulled off the logistics of such a feat as well as by the range and diversity of the patrons of the SOA movement. SOA events are fly and high-brow without being snooty and pretentious. Once again, SOA did not disappoint. It makes you wonder what they have in store for us next. Whatever it is - I know it will be a must attend event. Simply magic!!!
VENUE: IT’S A DOMINICAN THING
144 W. 19th Street
New York, NY
I had to endure the dipping, dodging and cursing normally associated with rush hour down town traffic, never mind the difficult parking that I barely fit in, all that frustration simply vanished as soon as I made it to SOA's latest offering, Andres Warhol at the hip Chelsea Bistro, It's a Dominican Thing. The venue was packed and the event's participants overflowed onto 19th street itself. Before I even discuss art, kudos are definitely in order for the excellent food and the ever so smooth Sangria that the courteous folks at this much talked about eatery kept bringing out to the delight of the gathered throngs. M. Tony Peralta's installation consisted of several multi-hued screen prints of Goya Beans can that was a cool and subtlety informative derivative of Andy Warhol's famous Campbell's soup piece. The Peralta Project conceived Andres Warhol was a huge hit and according to SOA' founder, Leo Vasquez, several prints were sold. A Goya beans can as a metaphor for an increasingly multi-cultural and diverse America, I will never look at a can of Goya beans the same way again. Luckily for those that missed the initial event, Mr. Peralta's work will bless the space for another 30 days. One of The Sound of Art's greatest strengths is that you never know what they will come up with next. The pulse of accessible art can be felt at every event, so make it a point to be at the next one.
