"It's healing to see amazing artists like Austance, Conrad and Lea come together as a collective, despite these crazy times, and put together an evening for humanity, for love and for ART! It's what the world needs more than ever."

- Brooklyn-based poet Uadjit Auset Nebt-Het

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This exhibition existed in our minds before it came into physical being. Our mutually supportive collective existed before we had a name for it. Immersed in our vision of bringing our art together, every discarded item off the street, every slant of light conjured new artworks. We started sending pictures of "junk" to each other - "Do you need this?" And we'd encourage each other with every work-in-progress update. Even in the early developmental stages we'd discuss our pieces of art as if describing something physically before us, not mere ideas. Through that dialogue and our energetic connections we had no doubt that Gymnopedie was the right space for us, that Phase IV was the right title, and that our three bodies of work would both stand alone and communicate with each from different sides of the former gym. It is beautiful to deliver on a shared vision.

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At the same time, it's a strange thing to create a show envisioned as a physical installation not knowing whether new pandemic restrictions would shut us down before we greeted our first visitors. We repeatedly reassured each other that this art needed to be made, we needed to come together, and we'd find a way to share it.

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The response was more beautiful than we could have imagined. After months of separateness, fellow humans entered the space and experienced something we hadn't in far too long. Austi observed people crisscrossing the room, contemplating one artist's work before being drawn to another's, creating new storylines and connections. Conversations emerged about the history and symbolism of American cotton, the life stories of 'Savannah Shaggy' and other people in Conrad's photographs, our ancestors (biological, spiritual, cultural) like those in Austi's installation, and our joint future(s). We were safe behind masks but indelibly connected. We will never underestimate the power of art, of love, of community again.

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We will be creating more happenings and ways to connect. In the meantime, maybe light some incense and keep Conrad's playlist going as you take your own journey into this special place through our photo gallery.

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Austi, Conrad, Lea

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