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ARTIST'S BIOGRAPHY - Hussein Saidi - 2014
African artist, Hussein Saidi, combines
traditional African themes with modern style.
Saidi's work is highly acclaimed internationally
and has been on display at various locations including the Museum of African American in New Orleans and Award winner for MLK exhibition, the US Embassy in Niamey, Niger through the Art in Embassy program (selections by Ambassador
Allen), Gdynia, Poland's International Exhibition
of Art, "Globaltica: Art Inspired by
Traditional Cultures", Fisher Gallery's
"Body Art" solo exhibition of natural
material collages, Apex Gallery's "A
Tribute to Fiber Art", New York City JVC
Jazz Festival "Rhythm, Color and Harmony", Art Association of Harrisburg - National
Juried Show, Rockville Art Place "Inspired
by Music", World Arts Focus "Contradictions"
solo exhibit, and Meridian International Center
- White Meyer Galleries, to name a few. Saidi's
artwork was highlighted in Sunshine Artist
Magazine's "Under the Canopy,"
with cover art and an article (Jan. 2006, 28 -
31), and he currently has artwork on exhibition
at the African American Museum of Philadelphia in "Silent Voices, Loud Echos." Saidi's
2002 solo exhibit "Contradictions" represented
his attempt to explore the human spirit, including
the reactions and feelings of those affected by
the tragic violence in the Washington, DC area.
His solo show in May 2004, "Body Art"
explored traditional and modern cultures in their
use of body art. Saidi's most recent solo show
for 2006, "Community Spirit" at the Gateway Heliport Gallery in Silver Spring,
explored the positive and negative aspects of
progress. Saidi has received many awards and honors,
including:
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Award winner for MLK exhibition at the African American Museum of New Orleans 2009
Award
of Distinction, Mixed Media –
Downtown Syracuse Art Festival, Syracuse,
NY – July 2007 |
| * |
Award
of Merit–
Joliet Fine Art Show, Joliet, IL - July 2007 |
| * |
Best
of Show – Easton Art Affair,
Easton, OH – June 2007 |
| * |
Award
of Excellence – Eau Gallie
Art Festival, Melbourne, FL - 2006 |
| * |
Best
of Show - AnnMarie Garden Art Show (partner
with the Smithsonian) - Sept 2006 |
| * |
Award
of Merit - Festival of the Masters, Orlando,
FL - Nov 2005 |
| * |
Award
of Merit - Neptune Festival, Virginia
Beach, VA - Sept 2005 |
| * |
Award
of Excellence - Chrysler Arts, Beats &
Eats, Pontiac, MI - Sept 2005 and 2006 |
| * |
1st
Place Mixed Media - Detroit Festival of
the Arts, Detroit, MI - June 2005 |
| * |
Honorary
Award - Festival in the Park, Charlotte,
NC - Sept 2004 and 2005 |
| * |
Guest
Lecturer: Selected by Art Educator participants,
Penn State University Outreach - July 2004 |
| * |
Grant
Award - "Art in the U.S. Fosters
Understanding of the Islamic World" Puffin
Foundation - Feb 2004 |
| * |
1st
Place - Niantic Outdoor Art Show, Niantic,
CT 2003 |
| * |
Judges'
Choice - Arts Alive, Ocean City, MD 2003
and 2006 |
Saidi's
collection of art contains an overriding theme
of community and family. He attempts to unify
and intertwine his two worlds - that of Tanzania
and that of the United States - by focusing on
the commonality among all people globally. His
artwork embodies two distinct styles. From his
father, also an artist, Saidi acquired the skills
to create contemporary acrylic paintings. These
paintings utilize bold colors and shapes, and
they are lively, active and pure in emotion. Saidi
also creates unique collages utilizing natural
materials such as barks, leaves, husks and other
natural fibers, combined in a meticulous process.
When he was a boy, as is typical of children in
Tanzania, Saidi created his own toys out of found-objects.
Saidi now continues this process in his art, as
he incorporates natural materials in his collages,
where the materials he uses reflect his perceptions
of the strong ties between humans and Earth. Each
creation either shows scenes from daily life in
Africa, or it shows ujamaa, which is Kiswahili
for cooperation, unity in family and in community
life.
To
contact Hussein Saidi, write to: Saidi@UjamaArt.com or phone: 301 - 905 - 7680
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