TokoNoMAA at Taszo

The artists of the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance brought their “TokoNoMAA” collaborative exhibition to Taszo Espresso Bar last evening. The comfortable and trendy Washington Heights coffee house was host to a celebration with complimentary wine and refreshments. The work was originally curated by G. Romero and is a NoMAA-MoMA interdisciplinary project.

This exhibition showcases the talents of Yael Ben-Zion, Daya De La Rosa, Ferlaisa Gomez, Denise Laurin-Donatelle, Rafaela Luna, Joiri Minaya, Tamara Rose, and Gesche Würfel with an installation based on the concept of the “tokonoma”, the focal point of the Japanese home. Here, a simple but beautiful object is placed for contemplation. The installation features scrolls, that tell the stories of what “home” means in Washington Heights. Artists interpreted the following themes in their visual expression: Physical Home: Architecture, GW Bridge and Parks, Spiritual Home: Sacred Spaces and Universal Home: Cultural Diversity. Media include sculpture, textiles, traditional drawing and digital art, photography, recycled media, and found objects.

The show is on from November 20-December 20, 2013. Be sure to come in to see it and have a cup of real coffee! Taszo Espresso Bar, 5 Edward M. Morgan Place, around the corner from the Southbound 1 train at 157th and Broadway. http://www.taszo.com/.

Tamara Rose, artist of the "Mousetrap" scroll and collaborator on "Yemeya" greets Emmet and his grandfather. Emmet folded the paper airline that compliments the group scroll.

Patrons  relax at Taszo Espresso Bar. Four scrolls from the show can be seen above them.

From left: "Yemaya" by Denise Laurin-Donatelle and Tamara Rose.

From left to right: Denise Laurin-Donatelle, a regular at Taszo, Margo, Tamara Rose and Daya De La Rosa toast to a successful opening.

Haitem, owner of Taszo Espresso Bar,  enjoys some refreshments.

Marc Donatelle, Joanna Castro and Tamara Rose enjoy the opening reception.

Tamara Rose admires the artwork of blossoming artist, Luna.

Yael Ben-Zion describes the scroll she did with fellow photographer, Gesche Würfel, to a guest of the opening reception.

 

"Physical Home“ a traditional Japanese scroll by Denise Laurin-Donatelle.