The 2022 Point Comfort Art Fair comprises an art exhibition and Indaba Lounge Series at the Historic Ward Rooming House and Gardens housed in an 80x 40-foot tent located in the heart of Historic Overtown (249 NW 9th St, Miami, FL 33136).

Included in this exhibit are pieces from the The Collections of the HBCU Museum. POINT COMFORT is a teachable moment designed to pique curiosity, share legacies and facilitate the purchase of Black artwork. It provides a platform for African American masters of American fine art at the largest art exposition in North America During Miami Art Week.

The importance of Point Comfort Art Fair at the Historic Ward Rooming House as told by Chris Norwood, cofounder Hampton Art Lovers and editorial board member of The International Review of African American Art.

“It’s an appreciation of culture, And art teaches history -a museum is a classroom. So the preservation of the history of what this building represents, combined with the types of exhibits that we bring, we’re showing people aspects of African American culture that even the people who are not Black that come, they are now gaining a better understanding of their own community,” said Norwood.

The show is a panoramic experience of art, conversation, and community. This year’s featured artists include Basil Watson, Brandon Clark, Tiffani Glenn, Phil Shing, Musa Hixon, Chris Clark, Tommy the Animator, and Judy Bowman. The name “Point Comfort” is derived from the place in colonial Virginia where the first captives from the West African Kingdom of Ndongo (Angola) arrived in 1619. As a result, the people of Ndongo and other African tribes lost their native tongues and traditions here in America. Yet, through tremendous adversity, remnants of these lost traditions continue to express themselves in today’s African-American community’s song, dance, art, and crafts. The fair continues its commitment to providing invaluable exposure to an international audience of art professionals, collectors, lovers, and arts patrons. The show is a curated, multi-dimensional experience designed to tell the powerful narrative of the African-American experience through art and conversation.

HBCU Museums are the guardians of African-American Culture and History. Many of this nation’s HBCUs hold significant collections of American art and have founded galleries and museums on their campuses. Including Hampton University Museum, the first collecting institution devoted to Black fine art in America. HBCU collections provide a rich resource for studying nineteenth- and twentieth-century American art, specializing in African American art. As the principal caretakers of late nineteenth-century to late twentieth-century African American art, HBCUs hold incomparable objects and an unsurpassed record of educating artists and scholars of American art. Florida Memorial University’s small but significant collection is a jewel, and they said they are honored to present it for the community’s enjoyment.

This year they have ten artworks from Hale Woodruff and Benny Andrews from Florida Memorial University Collection for our show “Charles White, Move On Up!

The Point Comfort Art Fair is 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, Lowe Museum at the University of Miami, South Florida People of Color, E11leven Vodka and Duke + Dame Whiskey & Rolling Art and ViBEZ.

The ART SHOW will also feature a historic collection inside of the Historic Ward Rooming House showcasing “Charles White, Move on Up!” from The Norwood Collection and Florida Memorial University Special Collections, featuring the artwork of Charles White and his circle of influence – artists that inspired and mentored him and artists that he mentored and inspired – David Siqueiros, Hale Woodruff, Henry Tanner, Thomas Hart Benton, Romare Beardon, Barrington Watson, John Biggers, Ernie Barnes & Benny Andrews, and Musa Hixson.

This show is the official companion exhibit for the Lowe Art Museum’s (University of Miami) Exhibition “Charles White, A Little Higher,” a 40-piece survey of the artwork of Charles White. The names of the respective shows at the Lowe Museum & Historic Ward Rooming House in Overtown are a play on words and unite a consistent theme within White’s work. Charles White created a charcoal drawing entitled “Move on Up, a Little Higher” that conveys all the emotional and figurative realism one associates with Charles White. The title refers to the gospel song of Mahalia Jackson, whose 1948 recording made her famous. We hope “Move on Up” and “A Little Higher” literally and figuratively become one, providing the viewer with a total unitary experience.

For more information visit: https://www.hamptonartlovers.com