Strivers Gardens Gallery and Souleo Enterprises, present eMerge: Danny Simmons & Artists on the Cusp. The exhibition will feature the works of renowned visual artist Danny Simmons and nine innovative and visionary contemporary artists from New York City and London repurposing everyday materials into elaborate works of art. Co-curated by Lisa D. Hayes, Esq., manager of Strivers Gardens Gallery, and Souleo of Souleo Enterprises, LLC, the exhibit will run from July 12 through September 7 at Strivers Gardens Gallery.

Anchoring the exhibition is a presentation of abstract-expressionist painter, Daniel “Danny” Simmons, Jr., featuring select works from the last four decades. Each piece exists on a continuum of Simmons’ exploration of the human relationship to spirit. With contemporary and indigenous art as inspiration, Simmons investigates how a spiritual connection is developed and nurtured through the creative process to be sustained beyond the realm of physical art. Featured in this exhibition is Simmons’ The Door (1989), a fusion of painting and poetry on a wooden door that serves as a literal and figurative gateway to the exhibition’s eMerging artists.

“My life's work has been dedicated to providing opportunity to emerging artists. My Rush Arts Gallery has helped to launch the careers of some of the world’s most noted artists of color,” said Danny Simmons. “This opportunity to exhibit with artists on the cusp of entering the global arts discourse is very gratifying and a great way to demonstrate my respect and admiration for new and exciting talent.”

“eMerge will be the first in a series of annual exhibitions featuring the work of new and exciting visual artists,” said Hayes. “This exhibition is a multi-medium exploration of form, portraiture and abstract expressionism using a variety of mediums. Doors, tea bags, pins, sneakers, threads and buttons are transformed from the ordinary to visual expressions of memory and tribute.”

“We are very excited to present a platform for emerging artists as a means to increase access to artistic opportunities,” said Souleo, founder and president of Souleo Enterprises, LLC, who is a producer of events and content for a variety of media and nonprofit institutions. “For me it is a way to honor my brother Glenn ‘Spoof’ Wright, whose life was taken away on the cusp of his own emergence. I hope that by including his artwork others will be inspired and empowered by his message of love, positivity and healing which continues to inspire me in my work to support the arts.”
  

The public is invited to attend the Opening Night reception on Thursday, July 12 at 6 pm, the “Talk with the Artists” on Sunday, August 12 at 3 pm and the Closing Night Reception on Thursday, September 6, 2012 - 6PM.