By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFRO
Reggie Gillumo, a celebrated visible artist and sculptor, has been perfecting his distinctive and simply recognized method for almost 30 years – vibrant colours with braille-like objects featured in every bit so even the visually impaired or the blind can “see” his work.
Final September, the native Washingtonian opened his artwork gallery, positioned in Northwest Washington, D.C. One month later, Gillumo was among the many metropolis’s most celebrated residents acknowledged for excellent achievement within the arts, humanities and artistic industries. The occasion, the thirty ninth Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards, targeted on the theme, “Homecoming: Celebrating DC’s Artistic Spirit.”
“Washington, D.C. is residence to a few of the most dynamic creatives on this planet. These awards, and packages like202Creates, Artwork All Evening, and Theatre Week, are a reminder of the facility of the humanities to form our metropolis and encourage us all,” Mayor Muriel Bowser mentioned in an announcement.
Regardless of the acclaim and a rising listing of patrons and collectors of his works, together with AFRO Writer Frances Draper, media pioneer Cathy Hughes, iconic musician, singer and songwriter Stevie Surprise, elite NBA gamers, and extra, Gillumo mentioned he nonetheless has extra targets to attain and mountains to climb.
“I’d like to seek out methods to mentor and encourage younger artists and encourage them to develop their very own method,” mentioned Gillumo, who acknowledges Jean-Michel Basquiat and Sam Gilliam as the 2 creatives whose legacies he hopes to maintain alive.
Gillumo traces his signature type again to days spent together with his blind grandfather
“My grandfather grew to become one hundred pc blind due to glaucoma, and after he misplaced his imaginative and prescient, we’d sit down every day and play a kind of sport that I created to assist him stay in contact with the world, which those that can see typically take with no consideration,” Gillumo mentioned. “Rising up, it was onerous to seek out methods to impress my grandfather. That’s why I created a method we may discover the world collectively, regardless of him being blind, and was led to develop my method. I wished to make him happy with me.”
Gillumo’s creations are replete with discarded objects that may be present in empty tons, trash bins or scattered alongside streets and highways – gadgets which he describes as “hidden treasures.”
(Picture courtesy of Reggie Gillumo)
“Something’s truthful sport after I’m on the lookout for objects to incorporate in my work or to soften and weld into my sculptures,” he mentioned. “For me, there’s no scarcity of things that may work from automotive elements, pliers, marbles and cash, to puzzle items, silverware, paintbrushes, rocks, jewellery – even feathers,” Gillumo mentioned. “They’ve distinguishable shapes or textures that those that are blind or visually impaired can simply determine. As for these with sight, they’re the varieties of things that we see day-after-day however typically ignore.”
Gillumo likes to make use of a large assortment of daring colours that may be seen from distant.
“It’s the colours that first seize your consideration however upon nearer inspection, it’s the hidden treasures and the element they add to the piece that basically permits each these with and with out sight to get pleasure from my creations,” he mentioned.
Reaping the advantages of a dedicated journey
Gillumo, a refreshingly quiet and humble man, mentioned actual pleasure stays the chance to create artwork that may be “felt with each the fingers and the center.”
“Folks within the District actually started to concentrate to me and my work about 9 years in the past,” he mentioned. “That’s after I began to exit early every morning to an unannounced venue with canvas and buckets crammed with on a regular basis gadgets and paints and create one thing significant and delightful – I suppose some may even say one thing out of nothing.
“Bus drivers, law enforcement officials and others driving by of their vehicles would generally double park their automobiles to induce me on and present their assist,” he added. “Some even started to patronize my work and ask to buy the piece I used to be creating on any given day. And I stayed on the grind, working most days till sunset.”
Ayana Brown, co-owner of the favored southern delicacies restaurant Georgia Brown’s, positioned in downtown D.C., first realized about Gillumo after seeing him on a sidewalk close to her eatery whereas he was engaged on a portray. Their friendship and enterprise relationship have since flourished.
“I’ve a number of of his items in my residence and in our restaurant, too, and I’ve even allowed him to hold a few of his work on show which he’s been capable of promote,” Brown mentioned. “I wished to assist him, particularly with him being an individual of colour, and he’s definitely gifted, particularly given his method which is exclusive and attracts you in. Not solely are his creations lovely and vibrant however you possibly can’t assist however attain out and contact them, and Reggie encourages individuals to do exactly that.”
To be taught extra about Reggie Gillumo, go to his artwork gallery, positioned at 555 twelfth Road, Washington, D.C., or electronic mail him at artgillumo@gmail.com.
