Rodney Veal with Mike Giant, Al Diaz, and Kimyon Huggins during a panel discussion at the Future Is Now X Museum Group Art Exhibition.
Ismael David Mujahid / Contributed
Downtown Dayton witnessed a mélange of styles as visual and musical artists came together for the city’s first Future Is Now X Museum Group Art Exhibition. From the moment the exhibition opened on July 31, art enthusiasts had a chance to see talent from the Gem City to the Big Apple bring decades of experience to bear at 118 Jefferson St.
“This needs to be happening more often. I’m just glad to be a part of this event, I’m glad that Kimyon (Huggins) is doing this and I’m glad that the Dayton Society of Artists (DSA) is putting this on fort Art in the City because this is something the city needs and art is overlooked a lot, said Taliaferro Sebastian, one of 18 local artists participating in the exhibition.
Sebastian, like several artists, demonstrated his painting chops on a large canvas for the event. Alongside his peers the 15-year veteran painter was impressed with the venue and the other talent brought in from out of state especially Al Diaz, first generation graffiti writer and co-creator of SAMO with Jean-Michel Basquiat
Sebastian said, “I see this being something that people do monthly, something you bring live bands to, or maybe you have live interactive art. Maybe you walk through and there is body paint or fashion shows incorporated into this sort of thing. Because we have the space to do it. As long as we have the space to do it and the people and capacity to do it, why are we not doing it?”
The opening weekend included a panel discussion moderated by Rodney Veal. Sharing their wealth of experience in front of a lively crowd were Diaz, Future Is Now founder and multidisciplinary artist Huggins; and internationally recognized artist Mike Giant. Afterwards, guests were treated to a contemporary dance performance by the Dayton Dance Initiative.
“It was very intentional how we combined the local artists with the international and national artists,” Huggins said in an interview with the Dayton Daily News.
The exhibition will conclude with a reception on Friday, Aug. 7. Future Is Now X Museum Group Art Exhibition was made possible with the Montgomery County Arts and Culture District Special Projects grant. Other support was provided by the DSA, Organic Groove Continuum (OGC), and other local partners. Entry was free to the public throughout its duration.
Local artist Dave Scott paints during the Future Is Now X event.
Ismael David Mujahid / Contributed
The event included live DJs. Performers there to delight visitors ranged from Detroit luminaries such as Max Watts, Sugar, and Salar Ansari; Jaqueline Farrara, Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival founder Rechulski, as well as local talents like OGC and Fatty Lumpkin.
“We’re not in one lane. We don’t have to be. Expression is not always about sales and optimization. Sometimes it’s about just bringing your community together,” Huggins said. “I think that if you look at what our program is and how we incorporated the Dayton Dance Initiative, Live Painting every day, regional talents that are global superstars on the music side of things; that conglomeration is really the ethos of Future Is Now.”
During the event, 100 pieces of curated art from the Future Is Now X collection were displayed. They comprised work by 80 artists from New York as well as 20 artists from Dayton.
In addition to the panel discussion, art lovers were given a treat when famed New York muralist Cern teamed up with Diaz for a collaborative effort of their own. The mural titled ‘Misappropriation of Funds’ is full of the energy and colors the two artists are known for.
Knowing his friend Huggins was hosting the event, Cern told the Dayton Daily News that coming to the city was an easy to decision to make.
“I know he (Huggins) has the vision, he believes in my work, where its going, and he’s seen where its come from and stuff so I trust in that,” Cern said. “I trust that I’d be meeting dope people without having to be like ‘where am I going, where this going to be’ you know? I just know it’ll be beautiful and beneficial for myself and others.”
Cern shared that he has fallen for Dayton and would love to return.
“I’m learning a lot from you guys. The history here, the community here, the arts stuff. I’m really just getting a crash course,” Cern said. “I hope through whatever we’re doing here, the network I’m making here and hopefully with the show of energy and vision that I will be welcomed. If not, I’ll renegade and get back!”
Diaz also eagerly shared his love for the city.
“I like the town. There are some signs of economic depression here like a lot of empty buildings and stuff like that but I guess that’s an opportunity for young artists and people with ideas to do stuff,” Diaz said. “I think it’s pretty vibrant. I think there are good artists, people doing some good work here. I didn’t see any half-assed stuff. When they were working here, they were putting some good work together. It’s cool that Kimyon and his associates were able to pull this together.”
For his part, Huggins is proud to have brought the event to Dayton. He described it as his gift to the city and part of an ongoing effort to continue to grow Future Is Now X.
“I think it’s very important to acknowledge that putting Dayton artists with Al Diaz, Cern, (Gabe) Specter, and some of these artists that we have just really brings them up to an entirely new level and that’s the plan: to continue doing this and growing this platform and this system around the world. We’ll be doing this in Detroit next,” Huggins said.
Future Is Now X is far from done in Dayton. Those who have missed out on its various activities will be happy to know that, according to Huggins, the initiative’s monthly live streams in the city will continue.
“I would also like to extend an invitation to anyone who would like to continue growing this community and participate in the work that we do,” Huggins said.