“Little Rooster & Onesimus” Opens November 6

Published on October 28, 2009 by Christy Tennant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Little Rooster & Onesimus” Opens November 6

Art exhibition in midtown Manhattan features visual story telling, standout skill and creative mastery in paintings by Baltimore-based artists James Williams II and Lawrence Lee.

NEW YORK, NY (October 27, 2009) – Baltimore-based artists James Williams II and Lawrence Lee weave fantastical stories about the battle between good and evil in "Little Rooster and Onesimus," an art exhibition opening November 6. Curated by Joyce Lee and Christian Beckett, the show’s opening program will feature performances by musicians Norman Vladimir and Tarrah Reynolds, as well as VJ Adam Tyson. “Little Rooster and Onesimus” runs through December 4 at Space 38|39’s gallery at 38 W. 39th Street, Third Floor.

James Williams II presents snapshots of the life of a little boy named Little Rooster and his adventures with his bodyguard, Red Rooster. Referencing Moralist figurative painting as well as vintage comic culture, his deft oil painting invokes dramatic intrigue and appreciation for contemporary figure painting.

Lawrence Lee transports viewers into an epic narrative set in the magical world of Onesimus. Filled with talking creatures and strange plants synthesizing the imagery of Indian miniatures, mandalas and Romantic painting, his intricate ink and graphite drawings raise universal questions of the search for truth in an enchanting dream world. These two young artists delve into visual story-telling with stand-out skill and creative mastery.

With a background in classical choral singing and inspiration from artists like Stevie Wonder, TV on the Radio, Prince, Bill Withers, Bon Iver, and Feist, Norman Vladimir is an Experimental Pop/Soul musician making songs that make you feel something. Norman Vladimir created “Sounds,” an album that is a blend of catchy, pop accessibility and genre-bending simple, progressive sound and instrumentation. Copies will be available for purchase at the opening. He lives in New York.

Tarrah Reynolds started her classical violin studies at seven and made her solo debut with a major symphony orchestra at the age of twelve. Tarrah was accepted into The Juilliard School's Undergraduate Program at the age of seventeen. She has been successful as a violinist in the classical field, but has also worked with artists such as D'Angelo, Maxwell, Kanye West, Jay-Z, the Gorillaz, Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill, Mos Def, Harry Connick Jr., El DeBarge, Oleta Adams, Lalah Hathaway, Donnie McClurkin, The Clark Sisters, Whitney Houston, Imani Uzuri, Si*Se, Digg Deep, Tortured Soul, Monet and Tamar-Kali. Over time,
Tarrah inevitably developed the itch to sing and write her own music. She bought her first guitar at The Goodwill in 1999 and started teaching herself. The summer of 2005 is when Tarrah finally stepped out to play an open mic. She now performs extensively throughout the NYC area.

Adam Tyson is a photographer and published author who lives and works in New York City.

“Little Rooster & Onesimus” opens November 6 at 7:00 pm at Space 38|39, located 38 W. 39th Street, 3rd floor. Gallery Hours are Wednesdays, 4-5pm; Thursdays, 11-12pm; and by appointment.

About the Curators:

Christina Beckett manages a contemporary art gallery in New York.

Joyce Lee, former Art/Programming Director of IAM, is a visual artist currently finishing her MFA at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).

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Source: International Arts Movement
Contact: Christy Tennant (212) 944-0944