In special support of Champions Against Bullying (CAB), the opening reception takes place at Culver Events Center (11948 W. Washington Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90066), on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 at 7pm.
Curated by Cynthia Harvey-Smith and also featuring her work along with photographers Jen Mayo and Chad Cork, Long Time No See focuses on the idea of returning to the authentic self, after spending a lifetime using the distractions of the outer world to numb our painful experiences. The show reveals the inner thoughts that come with being addicted or co-dependent on something that saves us from having to feel any discomfort or loneliness.
Cynthia Harvey-Smith takes viewers through an autobiographical chapter of her artistic recovery, after playing with short term highs. Through the use of mixed media, including sculpture, music and script, the artist inspires a confidence towards personal integration. The work challenges viewers to be comfortable with themselves, to love all aspects of who they are and who they desire to become. It inspires viewers to question how childhood experiences may help shape or define their life purpose.
Artist, actress and musician Cynthia Harvey-Smith has been travelling the world for the past 10 years to gather an understanding of various cultures and how we express ourselves musically and visually. Since her first musical release, Part Of Me, she has been writing for film and television. Her song NO Wonder I played in the HBO movie entitled, Say Nothing, starring Alec Baldwin and Natasha Kinski. She also made a collaborative song appearance in Cake, with Taye Diggs and Heather Graham.
Jen Mayo and Chad Cork came together in a photographic journey when their humanitarian work and environmental activism led them around the world. They formed a strong bond with their cameras and began exploring in the night, a journey that overcomes fear and lends strength to the self. The work ties loneliness on the road, with a feverish passion to capture what the eye may never see in dark hours – it’s not only a vision, it’s a feeling.
Champions Against Bullying, a non-profit organization, offers kids, parents, educators and schools the tools, resources and solutions necessary to protect children, stay safe and help break the silence that perpetuates the violence.
The ContempArt Collective is a non-profit platform made up of a creative tribe that expresses itself through a variety of mediums, including installation, photography, music, painting, digital media, literature, sculptures, design, short films, documentaries and motivational speaking. With the launch of the collective on December 3rd, 2009, the Culver Events Center will be used once a month for various events that bring awareness to issues of self esteem and segregation.
