MIAMI BEACH – Photographer, visual artist, veteran, community advocate, and father of three—those are just a few words that describe Miami-born Roscoé B. Thické III. Starting Feb. 10 through May 15, audiences will have the opportunity to view his impressive work at Oolite Arts where Thické will debut his first solo exhibition, ORDER MY STEPS: There are no answers here, move on.

Curated by Rosie Gordon-Wallace, the exhibition highlights a narrative rich body of work, centered around the Pork ‘n’ Beans Projects in Liberty City. Thické’s ongoing body of work, titled “1402 Pork N Bean Blue at The Intersection of Two Deaths” chronicles the lifespan of the housing project where he grew up and that of his late grandmother. The images explore place as a way to remember and honor the life and legacy of both.

For Thické, photography begins with investigation. He says “The narratives are built out of asking questions and trying to capture the preciousness of memory, because we know nothing is permanent. This show features several bodies of work that all were created with the intent of honoring and remembering. For me, having grown up in this place with these people, I knew I had to memorialize what was beginning to disappear right in front of me.”

“Roscoè’s work touches upon a sense of disconnection that his family felt and that families continue to feel in neighborhoods like Pork ‘n’ Beans,” said Gordon-Wallace, who is a recognized curator, arts advocate, community leader and founder of the Diaspora Vibe Culture Arts Incubator. “It was not until Roscoe entered the military and lived in different places that he gained a new perspectiveabout Miami beyond the few blocks where he grew up. He’s showing you that even in isolation, there is joy, there is family, there is commitment, there is life.”

To coincide with the exhibition, Oolite Arts will collaborate with IlluminArts to present Roscoè B. Thické III: Parables at The Light Box at Goldman Warehouse in Wynwood at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 16. This musical and spoken word performance event marks the fourth year of Oolite Arts partnership with IlluminArts and will weave Thické’s photography and stories together with music sung by “vocally sumptuous” (Chicago Tribune) soprano Whitney Morrison.

Through storytelling developed and crafted by Thické and poet Arsimmer McCoy, this dramatic presentation will introduce audiences to the artist’s work. The musical program will feature works by Terence Blanchard, Jessie Montgomery, Nina Simone and more. Tickets are free and will be available to the public starting Feb. 23, 2022, via Eventbrite here.

CALENDAR NOTICES:

ORDER MY STEPS: There are no answers here, move on

924 Lincoln Road (2nd floor), Miami Beach, FL

Private reception: Feb. 9, 2022

Open to the public (by appointment): Feb. 10 – May 15, 2022, noon to 5 p.m.

Information: https://oolitearts.org/exhibition/order-my-steps-there-are-no-answers-here-move-on-roscoe-b-thicke-iii/

Roscoè B. Thické III: Parables

Saturday, April 16 at 7 p.m.

The Lightbox at Goldman Warehouse

402 N.W. 26th St., Miami, Fl. 33127

Free admission

Information: https://www.illuminarts.org/events/roscoè_thicke_parables

About Oolite Arts

Oolite Arts helps Miami-based artists advance their careers and inspires the cultural community to engage with their work. Established in 1984, Oolite Arts is both a community and a resource, providing visual artists with the studio space, exhibition opportunities and financial support they need to experiment, grow, and enrich the city. Through its educational programming, Oolite Arts helps Miamians learn about contemporary art and develop their own artistic skills. 

Exhibitions and programs at Oolite Arts are made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council; the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; the Miami Beach Mayor and City Commissioners; the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; the National Endowment for the Arts; the Funding Arts Network, and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. For more information, visit oolitearts.org. Follow @oolitearts on social media. 

About IlluminArts

Music and Art in unison. Concerts in a new light. Founded in 2013 by Artistic Director, Amanda Crider, IlluminArts understands Miami's desire to experience innovation in the arts. IlluminArts collaborates with museums and galleries to present world class, site specific, curated programs of music that are inspired by the current exhibitions of visual art. Following a desire in our programming to highlight social issues, we recognize the power of the arts to inspire thought, dialogue, and action by exposing audiences to performances that not only entertain, but also engage. IlluminArts has collaborated with the de la Cruz Collection, Oolite Arts, ICA Miami, Pèrez Art Museum Miami, Lowe Art Museum and the Bakehouse Art Complex among others, and has received funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Miami Dade County, Awesome Foundation, City of Coral Gables, Miami Salon Group and New Music USA to support our work. For more information visit: www.illuminarts.org.