NOMAD TWO WORLDS LOS ANGELES PREVIEW EXHIBITION

FEBRUARY 23-MARCH 2, 2011

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DAILY 10am-5pm

PIER 59 STUDIOS West

2415 Michigan Avenue (at Bergamot Station), Santa Monica

Gallery open to the public from 10am - 5pm daily

Parking at Bergamot Station Lot at end of Michigan Avenue

For More Information please call (323) 658-8700

NOMAD TWO WORLDS is a sweeping, multi-media collaborative art project conceived by acclaimed fashion photographer and director Russell James.  Incorporating James’ incredible photography of Australia’s most breathtaking landscapes, some of the world’s most beautiful women and interesting people, and the cultural backdrop of Australia and America’s ancient, Indigenous music and art scenes, the NOMAD TWO WORLDS exhibition takes us on a modern day journey of political importance as the embodiment of an emerging, positive message of Reconciliation that is currently unfolding from the ashes of a tragic collision of cultures.

As conceptualized and created by Western Australia born Russell James, the exhibition focuses on three global themes: Innocence - our indigenous past; Inhibition – our conflicted present; andDiscovery - our collaborative future.   Indigenous artists from Australia, including key Nomad artist Clifton Bieundurry, have collaborated with James to create a set of unique, hybrid art pieces, many new pieces of which will be premiered at the Los Angeles exhibition as well as the first collaborations between NOMAD TWO WORLDS and the Native American artisan community.  Additionally, a special project between NOMAD TWO WORLDS and the artisans of Haiti will be announced. Brought together by President Clinton’s Global Initiative (www.clintonglobalinitiative.org), ONEXONE Foundation (www.onexone.org) and Urban Zen (www.Urbanzen.com), several Haitian pieces will be previewed and the full details of the special project and its supporters unveiled.

The exhibition will also feature a powerful music and video collaboration between Taboo from The Black Eyed Peas (a Shoshone Native American) and a young Indigenous Australian music artist Corey Webster whom Nomad met at Sydney’s Redfern Community Center during an education outreach program surrounding their Melbourne Exhibit in October of 2009 (which may be viewed atNomadTwoWorlds.com).  Additional music and audio-visual presentations will run on several large screens in the gallery, and integrate the Indigenous sounds, songs and stories of the collaborative artists with the visual experience of the art itself, creating an immersive, emotional, and insightful environment for the collection and it’s viewers.

Vital to NOMAD TWO WORLDS is its outreach to schools and community organizations to assist them in visits to the gallery to experience first hand indigenous art, music and culture directly from the indigenous community, artists and educators.  On designated Family Days, which will be held on Saturday, February 26th and Sunday, February 27th, the gallery becomes a space for children to have fun and learn through ‘hands on’ lessons in indigenous music, dance and art directly from Nomad artists. An additional adult education program and symposium will be run out of the exhibition space by NOMAD TWO WORLDS charitable partner in Australia Telethon Institute for Child Health Research (tichr.com.au), LA community partner LACE (http://www.welcometolace.org/), a publicly supported 501(c)(3) organization, and that has brought socially responsible art and messaging to the greater Los Angeles community, and Donna Karan’s URBAN ZEN (http://www.urbanzen.org/), a charitable organization dedicated to the preservation and celebration of Indigenous cultures worldwide.

NOMAD TWO WORLDS was first shown in the US in January 2009 at Donna Karan’s Stephen Weiss Gallery in New York. The Melbourne Preview Exhibition was held at the National Gallery of Victoria.

SCHEDULE OF LOS ANGELES EXHIBITION VERY SPECIAL EVENTS:

FEBRUARY 23 – MARCH 2, 2011

EXHIBITION OPEN to PUBLIC

10am – 5pm DAILY

“SINGING OF THE PAINTINGS”

4pm – 5pm DAILY through February 28

In Indigenous Australian culture, music and art are intertwined, it is the way tradition, history, maps to family gathering places and water sources are handed down. In this tradition, many

of the NOMAD TWO WORLDS artists can “sing” the “story” of their paintings, a beautiful and powerful experience for all.

FEBRUARY 23, 2011

ADULT EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM

5-7pm (Wednesday)

Donna Karan/Urban Zen Foundation discusses the importance of preserving culture.

Professor Jessica Cattelino from UCLA analyzes the everyday conditions of indigenous peoples from an anthropological perspective. Cattelino weaves together diverse stories -- from Native American casino gaming to Aboriginal Australian arts movements -- to show how indigenous cultural projects go hand-in-hand with economic and political power. Dr. Richard Walley, Nyungar elder from Western Australia, speaks on the challenges faced by Indigenous cultures in the modern world.

FEBRUARY 26, 2011

LACE FAMILY ACTIVITIES DAY

10am – 5pm (Saturday)

Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE) extends invitation and encouragement to over 10,000 families and organizations in the LA area to come experience Nomad Two Worlds. Kids are told the story of the clash of ancient civilizations with the modern world (AU/US/Haiti), of the AU Apology and of the importance of a renewed cultural pride in achieving a positive and collaborative future. Didj lessons, painting activities and music videos make it fun and interactive. Integration of Native American and Haitian cultures into music, dance and art activities as well.

FEBRUARY 27, 2011

FAMILY ACTIVITIES DAY

10am – 5pm (Sunday)

Same activities as LACE day, supported by URBAN ZEN, LACE, CHUMASH INDIAN MUSEUM and ADVANCE NETWORK