Eden Parq

November 4 - January 28, 2023

Drawing 2022 to an end, 5 Points Art Gallery + Studios hosts its own visual art Comic-Con with the conjoined exhibition openings of "Eden Parq", and "Tlacuilo" [TLAH-KWEE-LOW], on Friday, November 4, 2022 6-9 p.m. (CST).

While Japanese graphic novels, anime and futurism have only recently become popular among black youth, artists, Allison Westbrook IV, Celeste Contreras, Kahlil Kasir, Malvy Westrbook and Manny Vibez, have always had a fascination with this comics, animation, and storytelling, genres deemed contradictory to their race and urban upbringing.

Hailing primarily from the Northside of Milwaukee, artists Manny Vibez, in his solo debut, "Eden Parq", and Celeste Contreras, Kahlil Kasir and brothers, Allison Westbrook IV and Malvy Westbrook in their collaborative exhibit, "Tlacuilo", showcase their love of all things manga, anime and illustration and give visibility, validity and a space for pigmented persons and personas through their practices and within their graphic creations.

Visual and wearable artist Manny Vibez heads up a solo exhibition titled "Eden Parq", named after his 7-year-old son, Eden. With the purpose of documenting his son’s formative years, while also creating a realm of fantasy, "Eden Parq" is a world reminiscent of Never Neverland for Eden, a magical space for exploration, play, whimsy and joy, characteristics that escape humans as we transition into adulthood. Fusing digital art, painting and fashion design, Manny upcycles and hand-dyes denim jackets, hats, shoes and other apparel, and uses the garments to block in handmade patches featuring original anime-style icons and imagery, as his version of comic book storytelling. Through his mixed media compositions, he preserves this special time of innocence that is too often ripped from most black youth’s lives and creates a visual memoir for his son.

Viewers can forage through the mixed media wearable works of "Eden Parq" until Sunday, January 29, 2023.

Missed the opening reception artist talk? View here.