January 17, 2019, Thursday - Ta-coumba Aiken Opening Reception at Aloft

Time: 6:30-8:30pm,  Cash Bar/Happy Hour - Complimentary Appetizers 

Location: Aloft Minneapolis Hotel, 900 S Washington Avenue (in the Lobby and Lounge) 612-455-8400

Ta-coumba Aiken Opening Reception

Ta–coumba is a Twin Cities artist, arts administrator, educator and community activist who focuses on public art and collaborative projects. His “rhythm paintings” on paper and canvas are loose and lively. He has participated in the creation of over 300 murals and public art sculptures with themes ranging from local history to the artist's own style of rhythmic pattern and spirit writing. The artist has served on the boards of the Minneapolis Arts Commission, the African American Cultural Arts Center, Forecast Public Arts, and the St. Paul Art Collective and has acted as an advisor on the arts for both the City of St. Paul and the City of Minneapolis. He has been the recipient of awards including a Pollock–Krasner Foundation Fellowship and a Bush Foundation Visual Arts Fellowship. His painting entitled, “Forever Saint Paul” was awarded the Guinness Book World Record for the most Lite-Brite pegs ever used (596,000+) to create a painting. This piece is permanently located in the Saint Paul Union Depot. His works can be found in public and private collections including those of the Walker Art Center, The McKnight Foundation, General Mills, Herbie Hancock, Taj Mahal, and Maya Angelou.

Ta-coumba Aiken is really Alofts beginning of a deeper engagement with the arts. Karen and I have been hanging small exhibitions in Alofts Lounge for the last 6 years. As a result, Aloft has expressed their desire to offer more time for openings and to allow us to schedule artists talks, panel discussions, or activities that enrich the exhibition experience. Please come and support this effort as we would like to see this grow and mature.

Also:
Conversation With the Artist 
Saturday, January 26, 2:30 -3:30pm - Refreshments Served