Shani Peters

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What is my work about?

I am interested in community building, activism histories, and in a public imagination that functions independent of mass media. I make videos, prints, installations, and design public projects that consider social justice histories in the context of contemporary life and culture, and re-present them in manners consciously influenced by a hyper-mediated society. My work is informed by my family and by the historical era in which I live. I was born into the ?me? generation of the socially conservative 1980s by way of Black Power era parents who live by a mantra of social responsibility. I draw from the intersections of these influences to produce studio work that is dense with historical research, appropriated material (both highly recognizable and commonly overlooked), comedy, and rhythm. My public engagement practice seeks to share the imaginative rewards I receive from my practice as a whole with communities physically and/or emotionally close to me.

 

Artist Statement

In the direction of my macro interests in community building, activism histories, and encouragement of a more independent public imagination my most recent work has centered around the concept of self-determination (expressed in the physical form as gold paper crowns), the celebration of “everyday people” as “VIPs”, and in various experiments in positioning video art to function as public art.

Most recently I have exhibited the first installment of an ongoing project called The Crown. This version is a video installation that invites visitors to stand under 250+ gold paper crowns while viewing an animated video set to the tune of a Gary Byrd and Stevie Wonder’s 1983 song called “The Crown” that my father played for me as a child. The song celebrates the legacy of African people and for me is a sonic companion to the concept of Self Determination which I also came to learn in my youth as one of the seven principals of the Black American designed, Swahili influenced holiday, Kwanzaa. The work also features a red carpet, which runs under the crowns and encourages visitors to feel every bit their Very Important selves. I see both of these sentiments (self-determination, and self-valuing) as grave necessities for the communities I am a part of as we are people who have been historically oppressed and continue to suffer from the impacts of this oppression in a vast array of ways today.

Similarly I see a significant opportunity of self-determination in the medium of video art and independent film. All of my recent projects have featured video content (in some cases my own as well as that produced by other artists) and have sought to insert it into spaces where people might see it who are more typically used to understanding video content a Hollywood produced product. These works seek to inspire new curiosities and encourage viewers/participants to activate their imaginations in their own lives.

In winter 2013 I organized a 2 week video art as public art program called Moving Murals: culture, history + video as a DEPE Space resident at MOCADetroit, which treated a selection of contemporary video art s as “Moving Murals” that travel the city/Southeast Michigan area in a public program that sought to inspire, and inform, and engage audiences both in and outside of the museum walls. The program featured video and installation elements from myself and three other artists (Aisha Cousins, Ariel Jackson, and Jasmine Murrell), all which spoke indirectly to the history of the City of Detroit.

Over the summer of 2013 a residency opportunity with The Laundromat Project allowed me to organize a 4-month program called The People’s Laundromat Theater that brought an independent film festival to a Harlem laundromat in which neighborhood patrons acted as judges. The project featured public workshops, discussions, and video contributions from 32 artists. The project was continued at The Schomburg Center which also hosted it’s finale event where EVERYONE (was) A STAR and EVERYONE (was) A V.I.P. The People’s Paparazzi, a live DJ, and gormet catering were provided free to the public before the final screening of the top rated video works– as voted on by the community of Harlem. This project was the first instance in which I encorporated a “VIP” inspired red carpet as an element of public art.

 

CV

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS/SCREENINGS/PROJECT EVENTS

2014

If You Build It, No Longer Empty at Sugar Hill, Harlem, NY, June-Aug

Hoodies Up, The National Black Theater, NY, NY, Feb- March

2013

ArtBlast, Visual Arts Network Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA, Dec

Moving Murals: history, culture +video, DEPE space project installation, MOCAD, Detroit, MI, Nov-Jan

The People’s Laundromat Theater Red Carpet Finale, The Schomburg Center NY, NY Sept

Motown 2 Def Jam, LeRoy Neiman Art Center NY, NY June

TOONSKIN: An Exploration of Blackness in Sequential Art, ArtSpace, New Haven, CT, May-June

Steppin’ Out: Half Hasn’t Been Told Mixer & Screening, Project Row Houses, Houston TX, May

DeCenter: Exhibition on the Centenary of the 1913 Armory Show, Abrons Arts, NY Feb-April

African Obama Fabrics and the Story Skirt Project, Baron Gallery, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH Feb

Positive/Negative 28: Minority Rule, Slocumb Galleries, East Tennessee State Univ, TN, Feb-March

2012

Location Relative, Contact Theatre, Manchester, UK, Oct.-Jan. 2013

Newark Scene and Heard, Gallery Affero, Newark, NJ, October-December

Scribus 03 Resident Work, Rogue Studios & Project Space, Manchester, UK, October

GET IT ON THE RECORD, Visceglia Gallery, Caldwell College, Bloomfield, NJ, Sept.-Oct.

Me.We.She, Fleisher/Ollman, Philadelphia, PA, Feb.- March

Bard College Difference and Media Film Festival, Weis Cinema, Red Hook, NY, February

CPT: Time History and Memory, The Gallatin Galleries, New York Univ, NY, NY, February

2011

Multiple, Limited, Unique: Selections from the Permanent Collection of the Center for Book Arts,traveling exhibition:  Savannah College of Arts and Design, Minnesota Center for Book Arts,

Museum of Printing History, Lafayette College, Book Club of California, 2011-‘13

Bronx Calling: The First AIM Bienniel, Bronx Museum of Art, Bronx, NY, June-Sept.

Black X: Experimental African Diasporan Film Series, Maysles Cinema, NY, NY, May

ActNow: New Voices in Black Cinema Film Festival, Brooklyn Shorts Block, Brooklyn Academy of

Music (BAM) Cinématek, Brooklyn, NY, February

Observed, Imagined and Recreated,  Longwood Art Gallery, Bronx NY, Jan-May

2010

Keyholder’s Exhibition, Lower East Side Printshop, NY, NY, Nov.-Jan. 2011

Kinetic,  Dash Gallery, NY, NY, July

The Panthers Showed Unity then The House was Divided,  Add Art web based solo show, June

Jamaica Flux: Art as Action , Jamaica Performing Arts Center, Queens, NY, April

African Film Festival,  Schomburg Center for Black Culture and Research, NY, NY, February

Black Artist as Activist , Corridor Gallery Brooklyn, NY, Jan.-March

2009

Doc Watchers: Harlem Made Shorts,  Maysles Cinema NY, NY, October

Camera/Chimera, Gallery Aferro in Newark, NJ, September

Fresh: An Exhibition of Urban Contemporary Art , Target Gallery, Alexandria, VA, May

Reciprocity: Welcome to My Territory, Seung Ae Kim and Shani Peters,  cashama space, NY, April

Layers of Current-cy: Black History in America , Harlem School of Arts, NY, NY, Feb-March

2008

White Lies: Black Noise , Rush Arts Gallery, NY, NY, Nov.-Jan. 2009

M.F.A Thesis Exhibition, City College of New York Gallery, NY, NY, October

NEW PRINTS 2008/ Summer Artists’ Commentary,  IPCNY, NY, June-Aug.

Generations IV , A.I.R. Gallery, NY, NY, Feb.-March

 

RESIDENCIES/GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS/AWARDS (upcoming)

University of Michigan DAAS & Institute for Humanities Visiting Artist, Winter/Spring, 2015

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Workspace Residency, New York, NY Sept 2014- June 2015

 

MOCAD DEPE Space Residency, Detroit, MI November, 2013

Create Change: Laundromat Project Artist Residency, New York, NY June-Oct., 2013

Visual Arts Network Exhibition Residency @ Project Row House, Houston, TX April-May 2013

apexart Outbound Residency: Seoul, South Korea, December 2012-January 2013

Art Funkl Scribus Residency for Writers and Digital Media Artists, Manchester, UK, Sept.-Oct., 2012

Lower East Side Print Shop Keyholders Residency, New York, NY April 2010- April 2011

Bronx Museum Artist In the Marketplace, New York, NY 2010-11

2009/10 Fellowship recipient from the Urban Artist Initiative/New York City

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Swing Space Grant, New York, NY June-September, 2009

Center For Book Arts 2009 Artist-In-Residence, New York, NY

“Best in Show”, Fresh: An Exhibition of Urban Contemporary Art , Target Gallery, Alexandria VA, 2009

City College of New York Theresa Ralston McCabe Connor Award, Spring 2007

 

SELECTED LECTURES/PANELS

Kansas State University, New Media Visiting Lecturer, Manhattan KS, March 2014

College for Creative Studies, Artist Lecture Series, Detroit MI, November 2013

Open Engagement ‘13, Individual Artist Projects in Social Context w/ The Laundromat Project, Portland OR, May 2013

Portland State University, Art and Social Practice Wednesday Afternoon Conversation Series, Portland, OR May, 2013

Portland Museum of Cont. Craft, Crafting Counter Histories: The Art of Counter Storytelling, Portland OR May 2013

1040 Lounge: Bronx Museum of the Arts Artist Talk Series, Bronx, NY, February 2013

Seoul Art Space Geumcheon: Artist Talk (apexart Outbound Artist Residency program partnership), December, 2012

Scribus 03 Resident Talk,  Rogue Studios & Project Space, Manchester, UK, October, 2012

Bard College Difference and Media Film Festival, Filmmaker Discussion, Weis Cinema, Red Hook, NY February, 2012

A-Lab Forum, Winter ’11 Focus: ARTE UTIL, Queens, NY Crossing Art Gallery, December, 2011

MoMA Teen Night Artist Talk, NY, NY, November, 2010

 

PUBLISHED WRITING

U.S.->U.K.->S.K. and back: Observations on the Western World’s fat clogging of arteries and sugar coating of truth, by

Shani Peters for Arts in a Changing America, April, 2013

 

PRESS/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Unlikely Tenants Filling a Neighborhood Vacancy ‘If You Build It,’ New York Times, July 10, 2014

Sweet Fillings on Sugar Hill, Manhattan Times, June 25, 2014

The Black Arts Collectives Issue, NKA, Journal of Contemporary African Art, Spring 2014

Studio Magazine, Neighborly Inventions: The Laundromat Project, Winter/Spring 2014

40 Amazing Black Artists to watch in 2014, The Grio, January 3, 2014

Bubble Art: The Laundromat Project (en)lightens the load, The Manhattan Times, October 2, 2013

Independent Films Find New Showcase in a Laundromat, The Uptowner, September 17, 2013

50 Important Artists of the 21st  Century, Artvoices Magazine, September, 2013

Art Papers, You, Me, We, She, Philadelphia Review, July/August 2012

Philadelphia Inquirer, “A wide-ranging celebration of 2d-wave feminism“, March 11, 2012

Multiple, Limited, Unique: Selections from the Permanent Collection of the Center for Book Arts exh. Cat., The Center for Book Arts, 2011

Bronx Calling: The First AIM Biennial exh. Cat., 79, The Bronx Museum of Art, 2011

New York Daily News, “New festival highlights Brooklyn’s up-and-coming black moviemakers: BAM’s Splice of Life”, February 3, 2011

BoomBox, “Damon Dash’s Gallery Gets ‘Kinetic”, July 22, 2010

Groundswell, “In Review: Smack Mellon, Social Forum, Re:Group, Add Art, HONK! Benefit”, June 23, 2010

Jamaica FLUX ’10, exh. cat., 178-181, Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, 2010

Amsterdam News, “African Film Fest, Schomburg screen controversial ‘Hertskovits at the Heart of Blackness’’, Feb. 25-March 3, 2010

Amsterdam News, ‘Corridor Gallery to highlight the role of Black artists as activists’, Jan. 27- Feb. 3, 2010

Camera/Chimera, exh. cat., 13-14, Gallery Aferro, 2009

 

EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts, Focusing in Painting and Printmaking- The City College of New York, NY- 2009

Bachelor of Arts in Communication w/ P.R. Specialization- Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI- 2002

EDUCATION/ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE:

The Laundromat Project (Community Arts Non-Profit), New York, NY Teaching Artist-  June 2010-Present

-Special Programs Teaching- Print Change-  Lead and developed week-long intensive in printmaking with a focus the history of socially relevant print work. Tomorrow Eyes -Lead and developed 10 session program instructing teens invideo editing and cultivation of personal voice and reflection on student’s Harlem Community

-Special Events Teaching- Lead live screen printing demo/instruction at the New Museum, and Taller Boriqua events

-Works in Progress – lead sidewalk lessons in relief printing and book binding to Harlem youth and adult participants

 

Creative Time, New York, NY, Art Workshop Assistant-  March-September 2014

-Support the facilitation of a summer workshop towards the development of artist and student made work for upcoming Creative Time/Weeksville Heritage Center exhibition: Funk, God, Jazz & Medicine: Radical Black Brooklyn

Support a 10-week in- school workshop at Boys & Girls High School in Bedstuy towards the development exhibition project

 

Casita Maria Arts & Education Inc., New York, NY, P.S. 50 (East Harlem) school day visiting Teaching Artist-  September 2010- June 2013

-Lead middle school students in various arts project (i.e. lino-cut, screen printing, book making, painting, drawing, graphic design, collage, paper mache, and filmmaking)

 

Summer Internship Teaching Artist-  July 2013, July 2012, July 2011, July 2010, July 2009

-Lead Middle and High School NYCDOE students in summer arts internship program and projects

-Guided interns to the completion of client commissioned projects including tote bags, cards, and promotional designs

-Taught interns processes of screen-printing, letterpress, collage, and Photoshop

 

The City College of New York, New York, NY, Adjunct Lecturer-  Spring Semester 2012

-Design innovative, interdisciplinary course syllabus in the themes of community, culture, and identity in art education

-Lead undergraduate students in critical discussions of diverse course readings, contemporary art, community engagement, world history and current events.

-Guide students in the development and implementation of lesson plans that explore diverse cultures and engage, affirm, and empower young peoples sense of community and personal identity.

 

Harlem Textile Works (Arts Education Non-Profit) New York, NY, Teaching Artist, Organizational Support-  March 2008- June 2011

-Designed and instructed classes for adults covering Photoshop, Illustrator, and screen printing techniques

-Designed and instructed classes for NYCDOE high school interns (from Harlem, the Bronx, and Brooklyn) covering skills including Photoshop, screen-printing, art appreciation and professional/entrepreneurial development

-Coordinate with organization management for special event planning, community outreach, and strategic planning

 

Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, Visiting Teen Night Teaching Artist-  November 2010

-Presented artist talk on my work, and lead group discussion

-Lead participants in specially designed mixed media project based in the concepts and techniques of my practice

 

Urban Scholars (College Prep & Enrichment Program of the City College of New York) New York, NY, Teaching Artist-  February 2007- June 2008

-Instructed various after-school courses including, Art & Culture, Reusable Material Collage, and Jewelry Making, for NYCDOE junior and high school students throughout Harlem