The MATV Gallery is a community-centered art exhibition space located at Malden Access Television. The Gallery encourages, supports, and promotes the work of local artists in Malden and surrounding communities. Already a vibrant community media center with extensive hours open to the public, MATV is an excellent venue for local artists to exhibit their work, and an accessible venue for art appreciators.
Menu
Gallery RSS
ACOMA: Works 1999 - 2012
December 17, 2012 - April 15, 2013
Well into an ongoing artistic journey that began when he was tagging walls in his Boston schoolyard, artist Alvin Acoma Colon brings works to the MATV Gallery that reveal the artist to be at a transitional point in expression. “ACOMA”, on display at the Gallery from December 17—February 28, will feature many of his portraits, but his newer experiments into 3D works on canvas will reveal a connection between medium and style.
When Acoma was 15, his art teacher, Janaya Majied-Janey, recognized the talent in her troubled student and offered her artistic guidance, helping him to see working illegally was the wrong path. Acoma co-founded Young Graffiti Masters with another student and together they created mural projects at the school under Majied-Janey’s watchful eye, eventually painting murals throughout the city and becoming known for their community contributions.
Acoma studied Graphic Design at Massachusetts College of Art
from 1999—2003, thanks to funding from grants and scholarships. His urban
design esthetic continued to influence his work, and his portrait series
created by air brush evokes certain elements of graffiti while delving deeper
into subject and style. In fact, the portraits, which may have also been
created with acrylics, reveal how much music pervades his work, with images of
such musicians as Ray Charles, Bob Marley and Hector Lavoe. It’s not hard to
image that Acoma always paints to music, with the vibe from the music guiding
his brush strokes. Acoma believes his influences include the world at large, however,
with even his job as a landscape artist manifesting itself in his work through
an increased use of green.
Adding a new layer to his paintings, Acoma recently has been
using the caps from his spray paints attached to his canvases as the foundation
of 3D pieces, and he also does wood engraving, letting the shadows from the
carvings create the coloring. The artist also continues his mural work, most
recently being in the midst of painting a commissioned work for the Boston
Police Academy. He has exhibited in Boston area shows over the years, with the
MATV show being his largest solo show to date. He is also the driving force
behind Acoma Art and Design, which is in the process of creating an exhibit and
studio space for artists called the Paris Street Studios, in
Everett, MA. In
addition to coordinating art exhibits, Acoma aims to also feature the
performing arts—part of his goal to create a small art community.
The public is invited to
view this urban-edged collection of work, and to attend the exhibit reception
on January 11 from 6:30 to 8:00pm. Viewing hours are Monday–Thursday, 10am-9pm;
Friday, 10am-6pm; and Saturday, 10am-2pm. Handicapped accessible, Malden Access
Television is located at 145 Pleasant St. in Malden Square.
Gallery Spotlight: ACOMA
Click to play the video featuring artist ACOMA talking about his artwork, passion for graffiti, Puerto Rican heritage, and his new Paris Street Studios:
