Urban-Edged Art by Acoma Featured in the MATV Gallery

Artist Reception on Friday, January 11, 630 - 8pm, with DJ Nomadik
Exhibit runs through February, 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. For more information, visit www.matv.org/gallery.