UNIQUA SIMMONS
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows well.” Psalm 139:14.
Uniqua Simmons is a Self-Taught Visual, Multidisciplinary, Performance Artist. A Certified Fitness Practitioner. She has been creating Art since the age of 10 years. Teaching Art, Dance, and fitness for over 20 years for all abilities and ages. Creating Fiber Art, Jewelry, Book Art, Wearable Art, Collage, Functional Art
We are wonderfully made. Muse is a Fiber Art exhibition celebrating our Beauty, Strength, Fragility, Community, and each other. “ I use shells in my work to represent our Fragility and Strength and how we can use this to help heal ourselves and others. We are all healers. Let’s continue to celebrate and help each other. One of Uniqua’s favorite mantras she created is, “Each One, Teach One, To Reach One, through Arts and Education for all abilities” Uniqua continues to teach and create Arts and Dances for Healing and Peace.
Her Art, Dance, Fitness, and teaching focus on Mental Health Wellness, Diversity, Community, Intergenerational collaborations, and Mindfulness Healing. Believing that Everybody can art, from this passion She created My Art M.A.D.N.E.S.S. (My Art, making art, diverse, necessary, educational, sustainable, selfless). “Everybody can Art. What’s your Art M.A.D.N.E.S.S.?” “I love upcycling to create new art” She combines Dance, Fitness, and Wellness, positive affirmations, and using the seven senses to help create a mind and body wellness experience. Afya Afro Jazz and DanceSense Wellness. Afya in Swahili means: Health, Strength, Vigor, Well Being.
One of her goals as a Community Artist and Fitness Practitioner is to continue creating and developing platforms and safe spaces for anyone to make and learn about Art, Fitness, and Wellness. Create and exhibit quilts with different communities.
Exhibits, Workshops, Classes: El Barrio Artspace PS 109, Sister’s Uptown Bookstore, Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance, Central Park Arsenal Gallery, Kente Royal Gallery, DOE, Goddard Riverside, Polo Grounds Senior Center, Westside YMCA, New York Sports Club, Emblem Health Expo. Performances: The African Burial Ground National Monument, Borough of Manhattan Community College, Higher Ground Festival, United Palace, El Barrio Artspace PS 109
Jewelry Designs: Brooklyn Museum Shop, Eileen Fisher, Essence Magazine, Vashti Gallery Vercon
Press: Sunday Daily News 2000, Natural Awakenings October 2020
For information on commissioned works, classes, and workshops:
IG myartmadness myartmadness.com, uniquedifferences.org, myartmadness@gmail.com
TIGER AKA MELVIN VINES
Plays Trumpet, Figelhorn, and composes music. He's a band leader, painter, and sculptor. He grew up in Toledo Ohio. Primarily self-taught musician and artist. Tiger was 19 when he was mentored in music by the late bassist, cellist, and artist, Vernon Martin. Tiger played with Sun Ra Arkestra, and Bassist Jymmie Merritt among others. Opened his own Jazz Loft in Brooklyn in the early nineties.
While performing in such places as Russia, Austria, and Japan multiple times he co-led and recorded with multi-Grammy winner, Gregory Porter.
His former band, "Harlem Jazz Machine could be heard weekly for over a decade at Harlem's World famous St. Nicks Pub and Paris Blues.
Today, he and his wife, Okaru Love co-lead a quintet called
"Beautiful Journey".
Tiger, who's Art for years has been only a hobby and primarily digital is now on canvas and glass and coming to a gallery