2016 State Cabo Verdean Art Exhibit Cabo Verdean Morabeza Dialogues in Diaspora at Atrium Gallery

Rhode Island State Council on the Arts presents the 2016 State Cabo Verdean Art Exhibit, “Cabo Verdean Morabeza: Dialogues in Diaspora'' at the Atrium Gallery @ One Capitol Hill. This exhibit is part of the New Visions New Curators Program.

Curator: Jose “Shokanti” Monteiro

Curator Bio: Jose B. Monteiro is founder of Movimentu Shokanti. An arts company that connects artists and institutions with opportunities for diverse and substantive, cultural cross-pollination. Jose has curated exhibits and artistic programming in collaboration with well-established organizations such as Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton Public Library, Artworks! Gallery, Bridgewater State University, Mayor Carpenter of the City of Brockton, New Haven Arts Council, The Whitney Center, and The Cape Verde International Film Festival. He has worked in Cabo Verde and the United States to develop and implement sustainable arts education programming such as Culturarte, an International School of the Arts in the Island of Santiago, Cabo Verde. Monteiro is the former Director of Community Cultural Development for the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, Connecticut, where he created innovative programs and festivals. Monteiro is an internationally known, socially conscious, hip hop artist aka “Shokanti”, who blends the rhythm and soul of Cape Verde, American African hip-hop, and the language of Kriolu to paint stories of past and present.

Participating Artists: Jo Jo Koladricki, Jr., Rogerio Gomes, April M. Doran, Nadine Almada, Anita Trezvant, William Chantre, Christian Gonsalves, Dagi Andrade, Dudu Rodrigues, Paulo Pina, Carlos Almeida, Fatima Fidalgo Barros, Tutu Sousa, Jo Velhinho

Performances: Sylvia Ann Soares, Santo Antao United Cultural and Soccer Club, CVA Cape Verdean Dancers, Chachi Carvalho and the International Players, DJIM JOB

Organizers: Lucy Rose, Charles “Chachi” Carvalho, and Jose Monteiro

Partnerships: Denise Debarros, Cape Verdean Student Association, Cape Verdean Progressive Center, Cape Verdean Museum Exhibit, Cape Verdean Heritage Sub-Committee, Virtual Cape Verde, Movimentu Shokanti

Atrium Gallery at One Capitol Hill
Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) developed the Atrium Gallery to recognize talented artists from communities throughout the state. The Atrium Gallery hosts multidisciplinary exhibitions in partnership with diverse artists and cultural organizations. The gallery features a stunning tall glass ceiling with light that cascades into an open space surrounded by three walls of artwork. This has become a destination point for visitors and the many people who frequent the Administration offices at One Capitol Hill, while enriching the environment for hundreds of state workers in the building.

New Visions/New Curators Program
The Atrium Gallery encourages the development of new curators and gallery directors from diverse communities through the New Visions/New Curators Program. Artists of color are provided logistical support to curate a show by defining a theme, professionally installing the artwork, and creating marketing materials that promote the exhibit. Previous participants have curated exhibitions in local and regional galleries and museums. This highly successful program has become an incubator for new curators that promote viewpoints and voices of artists of color.

The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts is a state agency supported by appropriations from the Rhode Island General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. RISCA provides grants, technical assistance and staff support to arts organizations and artists, schools, community centers, social service organizations and local governments to bring the arts into the lives of Rhode Islanders. To learn more visit www.arts.ri.gov