Ralph Ziman: The Casspir Project

Danny Simmons

On Danny Simmons: The New York Times, in reviewing one of his art exhibitions, stated that Simmons “injects freshness” into his abstracts, and that they are “meticulously rendered and decoratively impressive.”

Simmons’ work appears in prominent locales around the globe, including Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn Museum, Chase Manhattan Bank, Deutsche Bank, Schomburg Center for Black Culture, The Smithsonian, and the United Nations. In 2021, he exhibited at the Mariposa Museum (Oak Bluffs, MA) and the Houston Museum of African American Art. In 2022 he is Artist in Residence with an exhibit at the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning (JCAL) and exhibiting at the Hudson Guild Gallery (Chelsea, NY), August Wilson African American Cultural Center (Pittsburg, PA), and Town + Culture Gallery (Atlanta, GA).

Curator and Award-winning Producer T. Bankolé has curated many art exhibits, including How We Roll at the California African-American Museum. As a Producer, he produces narrative films, documentaries, and television. His first feature film, Conversation Piece, funded by Miramax, starred Black Ice of Def Poetry on Broadway. He’s been Executive Producer on the feature film, Dominion, starring John Malkovich, and Co-Producer on a documentary entitled House of Cardin about the life of Pierre Cardin.

Curator Denise Jackson has created more than 100 art events, exhibition regional, national and  international artists. She had a gallery in Castleberry Hill and curated for other galleries and venues. Notable projects: Film event with Quebec artist and filmmaker Marc Seguin at the Woodruff Arts Center. Exhibits with Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes and Martin Frias from Barcelona with Rock Iconic at the W Hotel and Atlanta Decorative Arts Center.

Artist Statement

My art practice started in earnest in the early 1990s with figurative abstract paintings. Within a few years, I moved into figureless abstraction with creative reference to African textiles and Congo Bark paintings. Ten years or so later, I bought some yards of African fabric to have a sports jacket made. The idea struck me to use part of the remnant fabric to collage into a painting I had sitting halfway finished in my studio. My task was to make the union of paint and fabric flow seamlessly from fabric to paint and back again. 

Since those first works, I've "intertwined" many successful fabric and paint compositions. My current series uses this creative process. I've added more dimensionality and extended the practice beyond the confines of a square canvas or art paper. Here are exciting new ways to break borders and create overhanging organic shapes that push my intertwining further than with earlier works. I'm happy with the results, and I hope they engage you in the same way that creating them engages me.

Artist Talk: Danny Simmons & Dr. Fahamu Pecou

Danny Simmons & Atlanta-based artist Dr. Fahamu Pecou will have a lively discussion on themes of African aesthetics and cultural expression in contemporary art.

Presented in collaboration with ADAMA, the African Diaspora Art Museum in Atlanta.

Presented with the generous support of The Works Upper Westside ATL and Platinum Sponsor FilmHedge, a FinTech company that uses data to improve financing in TV and Film. FilmHedge Founder Jon Gosier says: “We are more than proud to sponsor this event and exhibit. The only medium that has changed the world more than Cinema is Art. So we feel honored to make this contribution in support of all artists who seek to change minds and inspire.”  

Inquiries: Denise Jackson
678.595.7309
denise@townandculture.com

Price List Available on Request