Darkness touches all of us in some way, but Fort Lauderdale artist and curator Angela Yang sought to explore the deeper meaning found in darkness and how it affects each of us differently in her first exhibit as a curator, “In the Dark.” The exhibition at 1310 Gallery, which is a part of Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts, a live-work space for artists and creatives, opened on Friday, Oct. 25. and will run through Friday, Nov. 15.
“The theme of ‘In the Dark’ is kind of an extension of something I’ve been exploring in my own work,” says Yang. The artist, whose mother passed away in 2020 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, was her caretaker for many years. “I got caught up in trying to be strong for so long. But lately, I’ve been having dreams that are getting more and more bizarre, so this show began as a way for me to feel my way through the darkness of discovering my new identity after a difficult period in my life,” says Yang.
She is not only the curator of the exhibition but is also one of the featured artists. Four of her pieces will be on display including “Chrysalis,” which is meant to serve as a symbolic reflection of her current transformation, she says. “My work in the show is all about finding your way through the darkness and the little processes that can happen within.”
Yang also put out a call to Central and South Florida artists who work in all mediums, including video, performance, and music to submit their work selecting 23 from the submissions.
“There are all these different things that one can do in the dark, so I invited other artists to explore whatever subjects they wanted to relate to the darkness that they’ve experienced or observed,” she says.
One of the artists featured, Karla Del Valle, has been painting for a little over a year and has found art to be a therapeutic way for her to process the darkness she sees at her job as a crime scene investigator while also paying homage to her Mexican upbringing.
“I come from Mexico, which is a very traditional Catholic country where we were taught since we were little to be afraid of the dark. But for whatever reason, I never felt afraid of the dark which is why I always knew I wanted to become a crime scene investigator,” says Del Valle.
The Pembroke Pines-based artist who has worked as a crime scene investigator for 17 years was also drawn to art growing up, but it wasn’t until her husband gifted her a package of five art classes that she fell in love with painting. It was during that time that she painted her piece that is on display at the “In the Dark” exhibition entitled “The Séance.”
“I had a challenging case at work that made the international news because it was very gruesome. So, I wanted to paint a family portrait because they are my home and my guiding light in the darkness. That’s why I depicted them holding a candle in a dark room at a séance table with three tarot cards. The Lovers represent my husband and me, Justice because the outcome of that case was excellent, and The High Priestess which I felt represented my daughter and how I want her to lean into her intuition and feminine power,” says Del Valle.
As for Fort Lauderdale-based artist Gary Rodriguez, his take on the exhibition’s theme differs from his fellow artists. In his paintings and illustrations, typically created using watercolor, Rodriguez highlights his appreciation for science and nature by using strange and exotic animals as his subjects.
“I love wildlife and science, so I think one of the best things I can utilize art for is to inform people and have them learn something new. So, when it comes to the theme of this exhibition, I thought about literal darkness but, more specifically, the dark depths of the ocean,” he says.
Rodriguez is in the process of creating two pieces for the exhibit working with acrylics for the first time while focusing on two deep sea creatures – the bigfin squid which is characterized by its string-like tentacles reaching up to 26 feet in length and the humpback angler fish known for rows of sharp teeth and a bioluminescent appendage dangling from its head.
“We have all these remarkable creatures like these two in the deep depths of the ocean which is why people should be a lot more mindful of the decisions that they make towards providing better stewardship for the environment because these creatures might not be around for future generations to admire,” says Rodriguez.
While Rodriguez hopes to encourage a conversation about environmental appreciation and conservation, artist and Broward College professor Niko Yulis emphasizes the importance of narrative and storytelling in his work, which includes ceramics, drawing, and painting.
“A lot of my work is narrative-based, and I’m very inspired by storytelling. That’s what I like about stories is that they develop over time as you read them, which is what I aspire to do with my art,” says Yulis. In the two pieces he’s created for the exhibition, there’s a layered narrative that encompasses the overall theme of darkness.
One piece, entitled “The Art of the Deal,” has multiple meanings hidden throughout, including a nod to the myth that blues musician Robert Johnson met the devil at a crossroads, and in exchange for his soul, was given the mastery of the guitar. Yulis also pokes fun at another prominent figure, which is hinted at in the title.
“It’s meant to be a little poke-and-jab at Donald Trump because I named the piece with his book in mind, and then I thought, is Donald Trump someone who could make a deal with the devil? Probably,” he says.
These artistic creations, along with many more by the other 20 featured artists, will be on display at the 1310 Gallery in Fort Lauderdale starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25, at the “In the Dark” opening reception.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: “In the Dark” Exhibition
WHERE: 1310 Gallery at Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts, 1310 SW 2nd Court, Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: Exhibition hours are 9:30?a.m. to 4?p.m., Monday through Friday. Through Nov. 14. Closing reception, 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15.
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 399-2737 or sailboatbendartists.com
This story was produced by Broward Arts Journalism Alliance (BAJA), an independent journalism program of the Broward County Cultural Division. Visit artscalendar.com for more stories about the arts in South Florida.
