Tag: Featured Artists

2023 Is Going Fast!

On By davidemmanuelnoelIn Visual Art & MusicLeave a comment

I hope you and yours are well. This year is going faster than I could ever imagine, and this is my first blog entry for 2023! I’ve been very slack adding updates so I apologize for the online absence.

Despite what has been a challenging year for most so far, I’m comforted by the endless variety of art I’ve been exposed to and the artists I have personally met. I’ve found it therapeutic, inspiring, and motivational. I’m encouraged to maintain momentum for producing new work by the many fascinating artists I have interviewed and spoken to for Occhi Magazine. I’m also looking forward to collaborating with several of them for live events later this year.

Featured artists include Award-winning Artist Emma Coyle, Opera Singer, and playwright Marie-Claire Giraud, and Documentary Filmmaker Shelly Jarrett.

Emma Coyle has been working in the industry for over 20 years. The London-based artist is represented by the Helwaser gallery on Madison Avenue in New York. The gallery hosted ‘The Best Revenge’, a solo show of Coyle’s paintings last year. The show was listed 12th in Galleries Now’s August Special as one of ‘The 30 most popular exhibitions on now’[worldwide]. Artnet also listed the show among its ‘five sizzling emerging artists’. We had the pleasure to speak with Emma to discuss her work and current projects. (image –Binary030  30x60inches -Acrylic on canvas   2020)

Cathedral High School Around the World GalaMay 18, 2022United Nations Delegates Dining Room1 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017

Songwriter, composer, playwright, and actor Marie-Claire Giraud was born on the island of Dominica, raised in The Bronx, NYC, and started her operatic training in Rome, Italy. The pandemic afforded the soprano, jazz artist, and musical theater singer the luxury of time to reflect, and she overcame obstacles that were blocking her creative path. With her creativity freed, Marie-Claire wrote her first musical and discovered her true voice as a soprano. With her musical finished, Marie-Claire has many more projects in the works. She is looking forward to her soprano debut and upcoming Broadway performance of the Tennessee Williams play Hello From Bertha. We had the pleasure to speak to her about her career and projects.

Shelley Jarrett is a multiple award-winning entrepreneur, documentary filmmaker, and social justice advocate who comprehensively exhibits her commitment to community and social responsibility. Shelley’s resume showcases her remarkable dedication to supporting women and challenging forms of injustice toward marginalized and racialized communities.

Check out these and other amazing artists on Occhimagazine.com

Wishing you a great day!

In Conversation with Emmy Award Winning Composer David Nichtern

On By davidemmanuelnoelIn Visual Art & Music1 Comment

David Nichtern is a songwriter, record producer, guitarist, and composer for film and television. A four-time Emmy award-winner and two-time Grammy-nominated composer, he is widely known for his classic song, “Midnight at the Oasis”.

David began playing guitar when he was eight, composing in his teens, and working as a professional musician while still in college at Columbia University, where he had a rock band called Voltaire’s Nose with lifetime friend Christopher Guest.

Throughout a diverse and colorful career, he has collaborated with a wide range of artists including Jerry Garcia, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Christopher Guest, Lana Del Rey, Brand New Heavies, Maria Muldaur, The McGarrigles, Patti LuPone, David Bromberg, Dr. John, Sultan Khan and Krishna Das.

We caught up to discuss his successful career and his latest recording “Pandemoonia”  You can read the full interview on Occhi Magazine.

 

Image, courtesy of David Nichtern

Participating in A Global Art Community

On By davidemmanuelnoelIn Society & Politics, Visual Art & MusicLeave a comment

The challenges of the last few years are combined with the necessary focus on my practice and wider professional commitments. Despite the pandemic and its challenges, I have endured, moved forward, bridged significant relationships, and created opportunities with hope for a positive and prosperous future. Whilst have been shamefully neglectful of my personal blog site, I have documented many of my activities via my company websites; Occhi & Entertainment, Occhi Contemporary, and Occhi Magazine. You’ll find several projects I have curated and interviews with several amazing artists who have inspired me beyond measure!

In recent months, I have been privileged to once again participate in the 2022 Caribbean Fine Art Fair, and co-host a number of webinars and talks with prominent artists and academics from the African and Caribbean diaspora. Art fans from across the world were able to join CaFA 2022 at the Norman Centre, Broad Street in Bridgetown, Barbados, but also through caribbean.global .

One of the artists I was honoured to meet was Cheryl D. Miller. Cheryl D Miller is a designer, author, and theologian who is best known for her diversity, equity, and inclusion advocacy for black graphic designers in the industry and marketplace. Miller holds a Master of Science degree in visual communications from Pratt Institute and received her BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art, with Foundation Studies completed at the Rhode Island School of Design. She also holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Union Theological Seminary in New York City. An accomplished, award-winning designer and businesswoman, Miller established one of the first black women-owned design firms in New York City in 1984.

The event included a segment on NFTs by Zoe Osborne of Mahogany Culture, one of the early adopters of NFTs in Barbados and the Caribbean. She dedicated a portion of her panel discussion to exploring and clarifying facts about the new digital option for artists. For further information on the artist and the online exhibition of works, visit the caribbean.global website.

Together for Our Planet Exhibition

Further to the Occhi Arts and Entertainment/Phoenix call for artists to participate in the collaboration, we have produced a short publication featuring artists across the globe. I have also interviewed several artists and discussed their careers and exhibition entries. Further information is available on the Occhi Arts &Entertainment websites.  For further information visit the following link

 

Art, Artists and Inspiration!

On By davidemmanuelnoelIn Visual Art & MusicLeave a comment

David Emmanuel Noel: Photo Credit Gary ThomasI’ve been extremely productive with Occhi Arts and Entertainment over the last few months, launching the platform’s Contemporary Art Gallery. We’ve had the privileged of showcasing the work of several talented artists, including Pantea Mahrou, Despina Symeou, and Gary Thomas.

Pantea Mahrou began her professional career ten years ago, delving into architecture and taking a leading role in her family’s construction company. She went on to teach at the acclaimed Azad University of Tehran. From a young age, she fell in love with ancient architecture, specifically the Archimedean era, which has inspired her study into its rich history. She remains committed to uncovering its mysteries and secrets. Using spiritual symbols, and architectural influences, her work provides energy that encapsulates the rich history of Middle Eastern culture with a contemporary perspective on life.  Paying careful attention to the colors used, she provides audiences with a sense of calm and peace.

Pantea Mahrou
Pantea Mahrou

Multidisciplinary Artist Gary Thomas’ creativity and thirst for knowledge has inspired many years of study, growth, and development in the creative arts industry. He also continues to highlight major players, celebrities and document the activities of individuals in the industry, particularly with photo portraits. Gary has an archive of photographs. Over the years he has photographed many household names such as Nile Rodgers, Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, TLC, Professor Sir Magdi Habib  Yacoub, Lalah Hathaway, Dianne Reeves, Hugh Masekela, and Van Morrison. I was honoured to be included as part of this list this month, featuring the accompanying photo (Above)

Gary Thomas

Despina Symeou is a Painter-Printmaker who lives and works in London. After the study of art forms focusing on fine art, printmaking and photography, Despina specialized in Jewellery Design, gaining a B.A.Hons Degree from Middlesex University. In recent years she has returned to the two-dimensional formats that had originally fired her imagination, predominantly in etching. Her work is currently featured in Occhi Contemporary’s online exhibition ‘ Not Just For The Bedroom’ Please visit the Occhi Contemporary Website for further information on the artists, news, and forthcoming shows.

Despina Symeou

In Conversation with Musician Ray ‘Mr Goldfinger’ Angry

On By davidemmanuelnoelIn Visual Art & MusicLeave a comment

Raymond Angry, David Emmanuel Noel & Occhi MagazineRay Angry is a classically trained pianist, producer, musical director and one of the most sought after artists today. Aside from his documented talents, he’s a very unassuming, respectful and admirable individual, which I’m sure is an attraction for the plethora of acts who have worked with him. Ray’s first-class resume features collaborations with Jeff Beck, Wynton Marsalis, Mark Ronson, Q-Tip, Yolanda Adams, Daniel Winans, Joss Stone, Sting, Me’Shell Ndegéocello, Esperanza Spalding, Dionne Warwick, Dianne Reeves, Queen Latifah, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Kelis, Christina Aguilera and ongoing associates The Roots. Currently, in London, we managed to catch up to discuss his current residency, initiatives and future projects. The full interview is available via Occhi Magazine

For further information on Ray Angry please visit his official website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts

Ray appears with Daniel Merriweather at LAYLOW, Golborne Road, London, UK this evening from 8pm

Raymond Angry Photo by Jill Greenberg