Berkeley Art Center presents David Huffman: Afro Hippie, a solo exhibition of new and existing work that examines the artist's experience growing up in Berkeley, California; his family connections to the countercultural movements of the 1960s and '70s; and his continued pursuit of a formal visual lexicon for African American identity. A deeply personal show, Afro Hippie includes large-scale paintings, family mementos, artwork from his mother, and a series of 'psychic portraits' that have never been exhibited. Afro Hippie also considers the formative complexities of Berkeley as a site for social change, experimental thought, and the psychological and aesthetic reverberations of that pivotal time in California and American history.
The first time Huffman carried a protest sign, he was five years old. Born and raised in Berkeley in the late 1960s and '70s, Huffman was heavily influenced by his mother's social and political activism--especially her work for the Black Panthers, which included designing the iconic Free Huey flag. The show's title Afro Hippie references his interest in reuniting two important local historical movements that have been segregated over time: Black Power and free love. For Huffman, the adults of his childhood were all part of a single community--Black and white, Oakland and Berkeley--mingled together and united by radical ideals.
Working collaboratively with Berkeley Art Center and given artistic freedom to pursue an expansive representation of his work, Huffman chose to highlight the multidisciplinary nature of his art practice, which includes painting, sculpture and video. On his collaboration with BAC and what makes this show unique, Huffman states: "This show gives me the opportunity to bring all of my research into one place and present it at the same time; it's like the inside of a lab."
Anchoring Afro Hippie are Huffman's large-scale, mixed-media "Social Abstractions," cosmically chaotic paintings that appear, from afar, to be pure expressionist abstractions. However, as the viewer is pulled into their orbit, apparitions of African textiles and Black cultural icons appear. Filigrees of swirling basketball hoop nets and chains are outlined by glitter and bold parallel zigzag lines. Gestural drawing marks loaded with emotion are pulled to the surface of the paintings. Amidst the converging elements, signatures of narrative, story and meaning begin to emerge.
show less
The first time Huffman carried a protest sign, he was five years old. Born and raised in Berkeley in the late 1960s and '70s, Huffman was heavily influenced by his mother's social and political activism--especially her work for the Black Panthers, which included designing the iconic Free Huey flag. The show's title Afro Hippie references his interest in reuniting two important local historical movements that have been segregated over time: Black Power and free love. For Huffman, the adults of his childhood were all part of a single community--Black and white, Oakland and Berkeley--mingled together and united by radical ideals.
Working collaboratively with Berkeley Art Center and given artistic freedom to pursue an expansive representation of his work, Huffman chose to highlight the multidisciplinary nature of his art practice, which includes painting, sculpture and video. On his collaboration with BAC and what makes this show unique, Huffman states: "This show gives me the opportunity to bring all of my research into one place and present it at the same time; it's like the inside of a lab."
Anchoring Afro Hippie are Huffman's large-scale, mixed-media "Social Abstractions," cosmically chaotic paintings that appear, from afar, to be pure expressionist abstractions. However, as the viewer is pulled into their orbit, apparitions of African textiles and Black cultural icons appear. Filigrees of swirling basketball hoop nets and chains are outlined by glitter and bold parallel zigzag lines. Gestural drawing marks loaded with emotion are pulled to the surface of the paintings. Amidst the converging elements, signatures of narrative, story and meaning begin to emerge.
Berkeley Art Center presents David Huffman: Afro Hippie, a solo exhibition of new and existing work that examines the artist's experience growing up in Berkeley, California; his family connections to the countercultural movements of the 1960s and '70s; and his continued pursuit of a formal visual lexicon for African American identity. A deeply personal show, Afro Hippie includes large-scale paintings, family mementos, artwork from his mother, and a series of 'psychic portraits' that have never been exhibited. Afro Hippie also considers the formative complexities of Berkeley as a site for social change, experimental thought, and the psychological and aesthetic reverberations of that pivotal time in California and American history.
The first time Huffman carried a protest sign, he was five years old. Born and raised in Berkeley in the late 1960s and '70s, Huffman was heavily influenced by his mother's social and political activism--especially her work for the Black Panthers, which included designing the iconic Free Huey flag. The show's title Afro Hippie references his interest in reuniting two important local historical movements that have been segregated over time: Black Power and free love. For Huffman, the adults of his childhood were all part of a single community--Black and white, Oakland and Berkeley--mingled together and united by radical ideals.
Working collaboratively with Berkeley Art Center and given artistic freedom to pursue an expansive representation of his work, Huffman chose to highlight the multidisciplinary nature of his art practice, which includes painting, sculpture and video. On his collaboration with BAC and what makes this show unique, Huffman states: "This show gives me the opportunity to bring all of my research into one place and present it at the same time; it's like the inside of a lab."
Anchoring Afro Hippie are Huffman's large-scale, mixed-media "Social Abstractions," cosmically chaotic paintings that appear, from afar, to be pure expressionist abstractions. However, as the viewer is pulled into their orbit, apparitions of African textiles and Black cultural icons appear. Filigrees of swirling basketball hoop nets and chains are outlined by glitter and bold parallel zigzag lines. Gestural drawing marks loaded with emotion are pulled to the surface of the paintings. Amidst the converging elements, signatures of narrative, story and meaning begin to emerge.
read more
The first time Huffman carried a protest sign, he was five years old. Born and raised in Berkeley in the late 1960s and '70s, Huffman was heavily influenced by his mother's social and political activism--especially her work for the Black Panthers, which included designing the iconic Free Huey flag. The show's title Afro Hippie references his interest in reuniting two important local historical movements that have been segregated over time: Black Power and free love. For Huffman, the adults of his childhood were all part of a single community--Black and white, Oakland and Berkeley--mingled together and united by radical ideals.
Working collaboratively with Berkeley Art Center and given artistic freedom to pursue an expansive representation of his work, Huffman chose to highlight the multidisciplinary nature of his art practice, which includes painting, sculpture and video. On his collaboration with BAC and what makes this show unique, Huffman states: "This show gives me the opportunity to bring all of my research into one place and present it at the same time; it's like the inside of a lab."
Anchoring Afro Hippie are Huffman's large-scale, mixed-media "Social Abstractions," cosmically chaotic paintings that appear, from afar, to be pure expressionist abstractions. However, as the viewer is pulled into their orbit, apparitions of African textiles and Black cultural icons appear. Filigrees of swirling basketball hoop nets and chains are outlined by glitter and bold parallel zigzag lines. Gestural drawing marks loaded with emotion are pulled to the surface of the paintings. Amidst the converging elements, signatures of narrative, story and meaning begin to emerge.
show less
Date/Times:
1275 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA 94709
The Best Events
Every Week in Your Inbox
From Our Sponsors
UPCOMING EVENTS
Great suggestion! We'll be in touch.
Event reviewed successfully.