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Hampton Art Lovers is thrilled to announce the eagerly awaited Point Comfort Art Fair & Show, a captivating celebration of art and culture that is set to take place Dec. 7-10, during Miami Art Week/Art Basel/Soul Basel 2023. The event will be hosted in the heart of Historic Overtown at the iconic Historic Ward Rooming House(249 NW 9th St, Miami, FL 33136).
This inspiring exhibition and lounge series are sponsored by the City of Miami Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Revitalization Agency, Art of Black (Greater Miami Convention & Tourism Bureau), 100 Black Men of Florida, FIU-Wolfsonian Public Humanities Lab, E11even Vodka, and Duke + Dame Whiskey.
The name “Point Comfort” is a poignant reference to the place where the first captives from the West African Kingdom of Ndongo (Angola) arrived in 1619, marking a significant chapter in African-American history. These individuals lost their native languages and many traditions during their journey to America. Still, their enduring legacies continue to manifest in today’s African-American community’s art, music, and culture.
The Point Comfort Art Fair + Show is designed to celebrate and share these legacies, providing a platform for African-American masters of American fine art at the largest art exposition in North America, Miami Art Week.
Point Comfort Art Fair + Show 2023 is a unique, multi-dimensional experience designed to convey the powerful narrative of the African-American experience through art and conversation. The event serves as a teachable moment, piquing curiosity and facilitating the purchase of Black artwork, all while offering invaluable exposure to an international audience of art professionals, collectors, lovers, and patrons of the arts.
This year’s theme, “Be For the Culture/Before the Culture: Celebrating Hip Hop’s Golden Jubilee,” marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. The fair is curated with works inspired by this transformative cultural institution that has left an indelible mark on American and global culture.
Prominent artists such as Basil Watson, George Clinton, Sharif Bey, Benford Stellmacher, Brandon Clark, Tiffani Glenn, Phil Shung, Musa Hixon, Chris Clark, William “King Pop” Floyd, Tommy the Animator, and Judy Bowman will showcase their art in the Gardens @ The Historic Ward Rooming House under an 80×40-foot tent.
The ART SHOW will feature a historic collection presenting “For the People: 700 the Arts,” featuring African-American art from the collection of Miami-Dade Public Library. This collection includes the works of renowned artists such as Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Gene Tinnie, Al Loving, Jacob Lawrence, Bob Thompson, Walter Williams, and others, all contributing to the artistic literacy of the community.
Point Comfort is an art exhibition and a comprehensive experience that includes the Indaba Lounge Series. The term “Indaba” is Swahili for “come together” or “meeting of great minds.” This series features an array of events, including the opening reception, art talks, musical vibes curated by musicologists Fly Guy & Six Millz, and “Bespoke Motor Gallery: Art Rigs and Rugged Elegance,” an immersive car exhibit in front of the Historic Ward Rooming House.
The Historic Ward Rooming House Gallery, operated year-round by Hampton Art Lovers, is an essential cultural landmark in Historic Overtown. Built-in the early 1900s and rebuilt in 1925, the Ward Rooming House played a significant role in accommodating out-of-town Blacks and Native Americans who faced challenges finding welcoming accommodations in Downtown Miami during the first half of the 20th century. Today, the building serves as the Ward Rooming House Gallery, preserving the history and architecture of Miami’s Black community.
General Schedule:
- December 01, 04:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- December 07, 06:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- December 08, 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- December 09, 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- December 10, 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Special Events Schedule:
- December 01, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: “For the People: 700 The Arts” Opening Reception
- December 07, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Indaba Lounge Series | Opening Reception (Black Party)
- December 08, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Indaba Lounge Series | Artist Talk
- December 08, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Indaba Lounge Series | Sound Sculptures
- December 09, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Indaba Lounge Series | Artist Talk: Art + Hip Hop
- December 09, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Indaba Lounge Series | Artist Talk: Art and Public Libraries
- December 09, 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM: Indaba Lounge Series | Art + Hip Hop Closing Reception
- December 10, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Indaba Lounge Series | Hampton Art Lovers Presents: “Bespoke Motor Gallery: Art, Rigs, and Rugged Elegance”
Point Comfort Cultural Ambassador 2023 – George Clinton
George Clinton, the mastermind behind the influential funk bands Parliament and Funkadelic, is the 2023 Point Comfort Cultural Ambassador. He is widely recognized as the godfather of modern urban music and has played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of hip-hop. His impact on the world of music is immeasurable, and his innovative funk music has influenced countless artists, making him one of the foremost innovators of funk music.
George Clinton’s unique sound has been celebrated as the DNA of hip-hop and urban culture for over five decades. As a visual artist, Clinton’s body of work is as adventurous and eclectic as his music, enriching our capacity to appreciate the rhythm of vision.
About Hampton Art Lovers
Hampton Art Lovers’ mission is to accentuate African-American Fine Art’s inspirational, unifying, and enriching aspects in new and old settings. We are passionate supporters of Hampton University’s long-standing commitment to African-American art, the Hampton University Museum Collection, and the International Review of African Americans (Published by the University since 1976) and beyond.
Hampton Art Lovers believes that understanding culture, whether our own or others, is becoming increasingly valuable. We live in a knowledge economy where rapid demonetization, in which technology is rendering previously expensive products and services much cheaper or even free. Learning hard is the knowledge economy currency. Hampton Art Lovers believes we can improve our community, University, and world through culture and education.
We advocate for Black arts by creating a collective of supporters committed to sharing the work of artists whose creativity and self-expression inspire our community. We hope to be the spear that leads a movement for Black creativity so we can imagine a world that doesn’t yet exist and work for what is to come.
For more information and to stay updated on the Point Comfort Art Fair & Show, visit www.hamptonartlovers.com/pointcomfort.
