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ARTIST'S BIOGRAPHY - Hussein Saidi - 2009
Contemporary African artist, Hussein Saidi, combines
traditional African themes with modern style.
Saidi's work is highly acclaimed internationally
and has been on display at various locations including
the US Embassy in Niamey, Niger through the
Art in Embassy program (selections by Ambassador
Allen), Gdynia, Poland's International Exhibition
of Art, "Globaltica: Art Inspired by
Traditional Cultures", Fisher Gallery's
"Body Art" solo exhibition of natural
material collages, Apex Gallery's "A
Tribute to Fiber Art", New York City JVC
Jazz Festival "Rhythm, Color and Harmony",
Art Association of Harrisburg - National
Juried Show, Rockville Art Place "Inspired
by Music", World Arts Focus "Contradictions"
solo exhibit, and Meridian International Center
- White Meyer Galleries, to name a few. Saidi's
artwork was highlighted in Sunshine Artist
Magazine's "Under the Canopy,"
with cover art and an article (Jan. 2006, 28 -
31), and he currently has artwork on exhibition
at the African American Museum of Philadelphia
in "Silent Voices, Loud Echos." Saidi's
2002 solo exhibit "Contradictions" represented
his attempt to explore the human spirit, including
the reactions and feelings of those affected by
the tragic violence in the Washington, DC area.
His solo show in May 2004, "Body Art"
explored traditional and modern cultures in their
use of body art. Saidi's most recent solo show
for 2006, "Community Spirit" at the
Gateway Heliport Gallery in Silver Spring,
explored the positive and negative aspects of
progress. Saidi has received many awards and honors
- the following are just a sample of the many
he has received:
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Artist
in Residence - Greenbelt Artist Community
Center, Greenbelt, MD July 2006 - present |
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Artists
and Scholars Roster - Montgomery County,
MD - July 2008 - July 2009 |
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Award
of Distinction - Art League of Bonita
Springs, Bonita Springs, FL - March 2009 |
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Best
of Show - Stockley Garden Fall Art Festival,
Norfolk, VA - Oct 2008 |
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Award
of Excellence - Art on the Square - Belleville,
IL - May 2008 |
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1st
Place - St. Stephens Fine Art Festival
- Coconut Grove, FL - Feb. 2008 |
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Award
of Creativity
- Barefoot in the Park, Duluth, GA - April
2008 |
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Best
of Show – Easton Art Affair,
Easton, OH – June 2007 |
| * |
Award
of Excellence – Eau Gallie
Art Festival, Melbourne, FL - 2006 |
| * |
Best
of Show - AnnMarie Garden Art Show (partner
with the Smithsonian) - Sept 2006 |
| * |
Award
of Merit - Festival of the Masters, Orlando,
FL - Nov 2005 |
| * |
Award
of Excellence - Chrysler Arts, Beats &
Eats, Pontiac, MI - Sept 2005 and 2006 |
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1st
Place Mixed Media - Detroit Festival of
the Arts, Detroit, MI - June 2005 |
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Guest
Lecturer: Selected by Art Educator participants,
Penn State University Outreach - July 2004 |
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Grant
Award - "Art in the U.S. Fosters
Understanding of the Islamic World" Puffin
Foundation - Feb 2004 |
Saidi's
collection of art contains an overriding theme
of community and family. He attempts to unify
and intertwine his two worlds - that of Tanzania
and that of the United States - by focusing on
the commonality among all people globally. His
artwork embodies two distinct styles. From his
father, also an artist, Saidi acquired the skills
to create contemporary acrylic paintings. These
paintings utilize bold colors and shapes, and
they are lively, active and pure in emotion. Saidi
also creates unique collages utilizing natural
materials such as barks, leaves, husks and other
natural fibers, combined in a meticulous process.
When he was a boy, as is typical of children in
Tanzania, Saidi created his own toys out of found-objects.
Saidi now continues this process in his art, as
he incorporates natural materials in his collages,
where the materials he uses reflect his perceptions
of the strong ties between humans and Earth. Each
creation either shows scenes from daily life in
Africa, or it shows ujamaa, which is Kiswahili
for cooperation, unity in family and in community
life.
Saidi
is originally from Tanga, Tanzania, which is about
5° south of the equator on the east coast
of Africa. He has made Maryland his home for ten
years with his wife and business partner, Rachel.
Saidi is currently working as a professional artist
out of both his studio in Silver Spring and his
other studio in Greenbelt, Maryland.
To
contact Hussein Saidi, write to: Saidi@UjamaArt.com
or phone: 301 - 905 - 7680
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