mondano
uniting art, advocacy, and community
ZOYA March-June 2008
ZOYA ('life' in Greek) is a living art project - an exhibition of new work
Belarus. The unique mixed-media pieces are intriguing and rich
creations on auto windshields, along with her paintings on canvas
and wood - produced entirely during her stay in Washington DC in
Marc Chagall, Zoya's work reflects her impressions of America, and projects her unique artistic and national identity that blends old-world humanism with an expressive modernism.
Organized by Mondano, the ZOYA project is a collaboration with Chernobyl Children's Project International to help establish arts programs for children in Chernobyl-affected areas, offering a hopeful light of art for many young people who live in its aftermath.
Final show - Willow Street Gallery, Friday, June 6th, 7-9pm
6925 Willow Street NW, WDC 20012 (near Takoma metro) website
Exhibit at International Art Affairs, May 15-18
Blagden Alley, WDC
Exhibit at the United Nations Headquarters, NY, April 22 – May 2 Attended by ambassadors and diplomats, the April 22 exhibit opening at the United Nations generated enthusiastic response. The ZOYA exhibit coincided with the 22nd anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe.
CHERNOBYL::20 2006
The C20 project was a unique collaboration, bringing world-class photographers and musicians together to focus attention on the Chernobyl disaster's continuing consequences.
Outernational November 2009
Washington DC.
The four DC-based photographers of Metro showed multimedia
slideshows of their compelling, poetic documentary work and had
short discussion between segments. Mondano acted as the host
and co-organizer. The event title 'Outernational' was used to
convey a sense of beyond borders, a broad, progressive
humanism, embracing what is beyond the line of sight.
While a photo night is hardly a new idea, and is simple in
concept, it's a model that deals with the question of how to bring
photography to people in fresh ways. In this case, there was the cinematic experience of the photos combined with the living-room intimacy of the setting and the added insight of the photographer-led discussions. There are also parallels with the music model: Metro Collective as the band, Outernational as the tour brand, the event itself the live gig.
Photography too often gets shortchanged by the increasingly static contexts of photo books and art galleries. The great turnout and response for Metro's Outernational showed if you present good work in new, dynamic, more accessible and interactive ways, still photography can really pack a resonant punch.
Metro and Mondano are planning more such photo nights as part of an expanded Outernational 'tour', including DC events for students and an open-air rooftop event in the spring, and possible 'gigs' next year in Amsterdam and at Fotofest in Houston.
