h.u.e artist bio
As an interdisciplinary artist uniquely rooted in hip hop culture, h.u.e utilizes four disciplines to create compositions with a unified aesthetic.
Musical art
With 80’s reggae, 70’s British rock, and 90’s ska influences, h.u.e broadens the definition of hip-hop music. He began recording songs in the summer of 2001. Full-length musical releases include: ‘Starfish Time’ (2005), ‘Sum Rays from the Sea Sun’ (2003), ‘The Hyper-Mellow Me’ (2002), and ‘Transitions and Transformations’ (2001). In collaboration with Exotic Recordings ( Bridgeport , CT ) artist Jar-e, the duo Processions was formed. They released a self-titled ‘Processions’ double-CD in 2001 and in summer 2006, began recording material for a sophomore Processions release.
Visual art
Compositions typically fall into two categories: tempera, gauche, and watercolors on paper, or oil and acrylic paints on found mediums such as corrugated metal, suitcases, and particle board. In both visual styles, h.u.e’s use of thread, wire, yarn, and text reflect his collaborations with book, paper, and letterpress artist Jenny Brook ( Asheville , NC ). In 2004, h.u.e displayed works at the annual CooperRiis Art Show ( Mill Spring , NC ).
Improvisational Performance art
Appreciative of comedy and drama, as well as the sociopolitical and therapeutic possibilities of performance, h.u.e has been a core member of a variety of improvisational theater and film groups. Currently, he is a member of the Washington, DC improvisational comedy group Impulse Control and also works with performance poetry collective Spoken Resistance (Washington, DC). From 2003-2005, h.u.e facilitated therapeutic performance art in Mill Spring , NC on a healing farm for adults with serious mental illnesses ( www.cooperriis.org ). He performed socio-political theater and co-led educational workshops in Washington, DC-area public and private schools with Arena Stage’s ‘Living Stage Theatre Company’ (2001-2002). Concurrently, h.u.e performed similar work on the streets of working-class neighborhoods in Washington , DC with Sol y Soul’s ‘El Barrio Street Theatre’ (2001-2002). Prior to these presentations, comedy work included creating and performing with the following Asheville , NC groups: Purposeful Discomfort (1999-2001), The Allen White Orchestra (1998), and The Idiot Kings (1997). In addition to group performance, h.u.e has worked as an artistic consultant and independent performer.
Written art
A dual emphasis on creative writing and community development is maintained in h.u.e’s written art. Creative writing credits include the hand-bound, limited edition prose book '40 days & 40 nights' (2003); the hand-illustrated short story 'The Girl Who Dreamed Roses' (2002); and ‘Footnotes’ (2001), a collection of short essays written for his college graduation board. Nonprofit organizations such as the Hunger Task Force (Milwaukee, WI) and NETWORK (Washington, DC) have used h.u.e’s professional writings (ex: community needs assessments, youth curriculum design) to secure grant funding and influence policymakers on issues such as locally-run youth farmer’s markets and college education rights for immigrants.
Future…
To innovatively present works from each of these four disciplines, h.u.e is currently producing a Macromedia Flash-- enhanced e.p. CD featuring: 5 songs, 4 prose/poems, 3 paintings, and 2 video recordings. This interactive project is slated for release in summer 2009 .