Poughkeepsie Open Studios
SAVE THE DATE!
Poughkeepsie Open Studios 2025
Saturday, September 13th
Sunday, September 14th
ARTIST: EMMANUEL OFORI (he/him/his)
painting, drawing, sculpture & ceramics
Adwoa Dansoa, by Emmanuel Ofori
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Mixed media artist Emmanuel Ofori is on a mission to create beauty from what Western culture has deemed 'undesirable.' As an African American immigrant from Ghana, his art is a cathartic embrace of his African culture and a protest to Westernization in the world of art and beauty. By working with inexpensive materials (such as plywood and broom bristles) that are traditionally hidden or deemed 'less than' in Western society, Emmanuel Ofori is able to reclaim and elevate his place in the art world. By combining African motifs, symbols, fabrics and patterns with Western imagery and ideas, Emmanuel illustrates the bridging of the gap between both worlds. The final product reclaiming, redefining, and elevating "what is gallery worthy art?" a space that has traditionally been controlled by Western gatekeepers and tastemakers.
What identities of yours are important to you? How have they impacted your practice?
"My race and cultural identity has a major influence on my practice. I draw inspiration from different aspects of it"
What to expect at Manny's studio?
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Finished pieces
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In-process works
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Artist creating artwork
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Artwork for sale
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Artist demonstration
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Available to answer questions
ARTIST: JOHN BREINER
painting, mixed media, illustration, collage, printmaking, bookmaking
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Growing up in New York with childhood inspirations drawn from Folk arts, Comic Books, Skateboarding and Graffiti. I've always had a love for pairing images to a surface. Nowadays old paper and the repurposed books or my surface of choice. I'm after a surface with a history. A story told through life's marks, Stains, and layers. It reminds me time stops for no one and to add my layers while I can.
I'm a visual artist, I work on found paper and surfaces. Most of my work is painting, or mixed media based and ranges from Illustration and collage to printmaking as well as book making.
What to expect at John's studio?
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"A preview into my creative world"
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Available to answer questions
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Displaying original works as well as prints and printed apparel
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
"Throughout my childhood I enjoyed painting and drawing. This carried over into high school and college where I took as many different art classes as I could. This allowed me to explore different mediums and techniques which included painting, photography, ceramics and many others. I just recently acquired my studio and am looking forward to creating and seeing where it takes me."
What identities of yours are important to you? How have they impacted your practice?
"Throughout my life I have always identified as being an artist. Being a parent/mother though has really pushed me to be true to myself and continue to create art even when at certain points I didn't feel like I was a "real" artist."
What to expect at Victoria's studio?
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Finished pieces
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In-process works
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Artist creating artwork
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Artwork for sale
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Artist demonstration
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Available to answer questions
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ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Imani Jones (she/her, b. 1998) is a fine artist with a research based process, working in the mediums of painting and drawing. Her practice delves into her expanding the view on the intimate experiences of Black existence and humanity . She points too investigate identity with themes of existentialism, womanhood, history, mythology and spirit in contemporary America. Creating psychological and spiritual landscapes with figures that are inspired by what is esoteric and primordial , with the mundane and regular. Born in the upstate inner city of Poughkeepsie, NY. She has earned her BFA in Painting from Maine College of Art and Design
What identities of yours are important to you? How have they impacted your practice?
Showing the complexities, inner worlds, philosophies of womanhood and humanity is what is most important to me in my practice.
What to expect at Imani's studio?
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Free Portraits by the artist!
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Finished pieces
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In-process works
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Artist creating artwork
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Artwork for sale
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Available to answer questions