| October 20th, 2016
ArtBar Promises New Outlook on Visual and Performance Art
By: journeymagazine
Words and Photography by: Chantal Gainous
Tallahassee’s art scene is growing ever since the renovation of the hipster hub Railroad Square Art Park located between Railroad Ave. and FAMU Way.
Creatives are 
utilizing the space in new and innovative ways, including singer/artist and now curator, Paivia Brown. Brown held her first ArtBar – an interested art gallery showing with a twist — Sept. 30 in the 621 Gallery Annex.
The art gallery showing invited attendees to look at art from a new perspective focusing on the importance of collaboration and multimedia art. Refreshments of small appetizers and mini cupcakes were provided by local bakery Lucy and Leo’s and restaurant Nefetari’s Fine Cuisine & Spirits.
The Icons theme allowed the varying 15 artists to perform and present work inspired by their artistic icons. Ephraim Riggins, also known as local super squad Capital 6’s Intricate, had deep words about the opportunity to work with Brown and the ArtBar event.
“As artists, there are a lot of elements that pour into making our expression the way it is, but the main element is inspiration and foundation. ArtBar allowed the space to pay homage to the artists before us that not
only resonated with us but laid the groundwork for our art,” Riggins said.
Riggins also went on to elaborate why he chose A Tribe Called Quest’s lyrical rapper Phife Dawg as his icon.
“Phife’s name in hip hop is not one that gets mentioned in the conversation with the greatest but it has something invaluable: respect. He was a spirit of hip hop for me and he deserved to be honored,” Riggins said.
The make up for the event included collaborations amongst the artists. Several visual artists presented their work, some with accompaniment from performing artists.
Tia Loren – Marie combined her abilities in movement and sketching by performing a free-spirited dance in front of her artwork inspired by British Iraqi architect, Zaha Hadid.
Musical artist Gina Mae the Jones, formally known as Raspy Rapz, and painter Jacob Cage closed out the event finishing up projects they had previously been working on. Cage finished a gorgeous skull-based painting while Jones recreated experimental sounds from her recent projects.
Brown states that this is just the beginning steps to what she hopes to ultimately cultivate with this and future events.
“I hope to eventually have my own space that’s a restaurant art gallery hybrid,” Brown said.
Refreshments for the event included mini cupcakes from local bakery Lucy and Leo’s as well as small appetizers from Nefatari’s Fine Cuisine.
Brown already has plans for an upcoming Artbar with anther innovative, new theme.
