Jymi Cliche’s art show at Out Of the Blue Gallery inside The Armory in Somerville, MA was successful and some of his art is still there. The Armory is open Monday-Saturday 9AM to 6PM.
“I think as artists we often do our best art when our minds are not operating as ‘normal’, whatever that even is.”
Out Of the Blue Art Gallery/ Parma Chai Gallery needs your help to stay afloat. This is a unique gallery that gives an accessible opportunity to poor, disabled, queer, POC, immigrants, and other struggling artists with a diverse range of backgrounds, talents, and styles. The Armory is the first building we have been able to find with easy parking and an elevator, which is very important to the gallery in their mission. The city of Somerville is trying to buy it out from under us and we need your signatures to save it. Please sign and share this petition.
Help Protect Out Of the Blue Gallery and Other Arts Business At the Armory
Jymi showed 25 of his photos taken between 2005-2010 in the first half of this exciting two part show in May. Here are a few of the photos, followed by a few short videos taken inside The Armory of Jymi talking about the photography.
The 25 pieces hanging for the rest of June were done when Jymi was suffering from a severe nervous breakdown and was in and out of psych wards where most of the art was created with broken, cheap art supplies. A few are even done on the back of therapy worksheets; but like a true artist, Jymi used whatever he had access to and created what he could with it, and it’s some of his best work ever. His show is meant to inspire those who are still struggling and feeling alone, unseen, and unheard, and to remind them that things can change, and that art can help us heal.
Jymi’s been concentrating on his art, writing, photography, and music, and has not been hospitalized in a decade. He’s worked hard to achieve that, and so much more, yet also knows he’s always at risk of a relapse and still has to fight each moment just to exist sometimes. Still, he’s proven time and time again that he can get through anything, and he wants you to know he thinks YOU can too! Believe in yourself! We’re all special. All it takes to be an artist is a few simple art supplies and your emotions. Go for it! Put yourself back together through art!”
These five 11×14 cray-pas drawings were done in 2005.
Top Left: “Full Scale Heartache”
Top Right: “Underground artist”
Middle Left: “Bluebird of Confusion”
Middle Right: “Lost In Madness”
Bottom: “Sad Anger”
Here are a couple more 11×14 drawings from 2006.
The top one is called “All Eyes On Me” and was done with childproof watercolors and an ink pen. It’s in an 11×14 frame
The bottom one is called “Living On the Underground”, and is done with pencil.
These next ones are all 9×12 and were all done in 2010 during Jymi’s spiritual journey where he felt he was reborn with a new soul, and these all depict that in some way.
Top: “Planting the Garden of Eden”
Middle Left: “My Own Island”
Middle Right: “Superfly”
Bottom Left: “Fear of Growing Up”
Bottom Right: “The Soul With No Purpose Yet” (SOLD)
These next 2 are 9×12
“Fishscale” from 2005
And this one “Timothy Leary” is a collaboration with an artist we will just call “The Moon” because he lives off the grid and probably doesn’t wanna be named.
These 4 are all 8.5x 11 inch.
Top Left: “The Original Party For the World”
Top Right: “Rebirth”
Bottom Left: “My Mask”
Bottom Right: “Big Hearts”
Top Left: “Strength Like the Hulk”
Top Right: “Red In the Face”
Bottom Left: “Uncle Gordon the Warden”
Bottom Right: “Cheering For My Transformation”
Lastly, there will be 3 paintings from around 2008. Two of them can be held 3 different ways and one is just meant to be held one way. That is this one…
It’s called “A Map Of My Mind”
The next one comes with a trigger warning. It may disturb some.
This can be held 3 different ways. It’s called “The Whore, the War, and Me”.
Here is a video with a spoken word poem that goes with it…
And this last one is called “A Hero In 3 Ways”
