The Crossroads Project (Part 2) Featuring: Deitra Charles Delany Jackson Caroline Vu Curated by James Panozzo of LAUNCH LA Launch LA and Range Projects are proud to present six new artists in a cultural collaboration. The Crossroads Project brings together artists and galleries from diverse neighborhoods to explore shared artistic themes and vision. This originative event aims to foster collaboration, open new dialogs and introduce fresh ideas from unique perspectives. Range Projects Gallery is proud to present the works of three emerging artists; Deitra Charles, Delany Jackson, and Caroline Vu curated by James Panozzo of Launch LA at Range Projects Gallery located on West Slauson Avenue in the West Mesa Community/Crenshaw District neighborhood of Los Angeles. Caroline Vu, Becoming #6 Caroline Vu - My paintings explore self-discovery, change, and the metaphysical. I use water and figures in motion to symbolize change, and the fluid nature of being human. I primarily paint the feminine, which is influenced by a shift I’ve been experiencing between male and female energy. This current body of work emerged from a series of Reiki-infused paintings, where I used meditative practice to channel love and energy into each piece. These works act as talismans, layered with affirmations to promote healing and manifest desires. Over time, my focus shifted from visualizing specific outcomes to exploring transitions and states of being that define the human experience. I am driven to paint from imagery I am attracted to. I may not know why at first, but eventually, the connection between those images to books and ideas on the metaphysical is shown to me. Concepts of interconnected realities influence my work that our existence may extend across multiple dimensions and the subtle energies that affect our experience. I look for the space between the rendered and the abstract, inviting viewers to reflect on their own transformation with a sense of possibility. Delany Jackson , Threading thru the Roots Series II Delany Jackson - Embroidery, much like black hair, demands extreme patience and care. The tactile quality of the yarn, reminiscent of the texture of black hair, enhances the viewer's engagement, adding layers of meaning and inviting them for a closer examination. This unique medium transforms the visual experience, offering an emotional resonance that goes beyond traditional painting methods like acrylic or oil. By incorporating embroidery into my paintings, it creates a profound dialogue that mirrors the experiences of black women, particularly regarding the unsolicited interactions with our hair. The thread becomes not just a material but also a narrative tool, weaving stories of identity, intimacy, and the intersectionality of race and gender. My artistic exploration of Black womanhood through the lens of the mind, body, and soul is both profound and necessary in contemporary discourse. By delving into self-affirming depictions of Black women in surreal landscapes and challenging societal norms, I celebrate individuality and strength. Deitra Charles, Deitra Charles is inspired by nature, harmony, and her love of family as she strives to evoke a sense of peace and calm from her paintings. Elevating the many unsung African American change-makers is another mission that she undertakes through research and, ultimately, the creation of representational works of art often named after them. Although oil is her medium of choice, Deitra creates paintings in acrylic and water-soluble graphite on canvas or linen. She frequently returns to the basics of pencil and paper and has even experimented with metal point. While most of her work is figurative, Deitra engages abstraction in a series of oil paintings that flirt with surrealism and delve into color exploration and movement. Often using images of family, home and other inviting dwellings, she creates welcoming spaces within her paintings that evoke a meditative state. About the artists: Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Deitra Charles employs several media and styles in her practice as a visual artist. As an undergraduate student, Deitra studied costume design in the Individualized Studies program at Loyola Marymount University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Fine Arts. Inspired by nature, harmony, and her love of family, Deitra strives to evoke a sense of peace and calm from her paintings. Elevating the many unsung African American change-makers is another mission that she undertakes through research and, ultimately, the creation of representational works of art often named after them. Deitra is influenced by an eclectic group of artists including Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Raoul Dufy, David Hockney, James A. Porter, Robert De Niro Sr., Virginia Admiral, Joan Brown, Alex Katz, and Henry Ossawa Tanner. Deitra’s work has been exhibited in print and in-person nationally and internationally. Her art has been shown in the cities of Claremont, Pomona, Torrance, Santa Clarita, Nevada City, Costa Mesa, London, England, and Orquevaux, France. Delany Jackson earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from Otis College of Art and Design with a focus in Painting, with two minors in Book Arts and Illustration. Her main medium is embroidery, which is not just a technique for Jackson, but a vital element of her artistic practice. A craft that she inherited from her grandmother, Jackson can recall memories of spending time in her grandmother's studio, captivated by the array of materials and linens, and dreaming of becoming a skillful embroiderer just like her. Currently, she works as a middle school art teacher at a charter school in Inglewood, where she enjoys nurturing the talents of future Black and Brown artists. Caroline Vu, born in San Pedro, California in 1977, is a Los Angeles-based painter whose work has themes of change, healing, and metaphysics. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems from California State University of Long Beach and studied art at Los Angeles City College. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, Vu’s artistic journey is influenced by her experiences of grief, uncertainty, resilience, and the celebration of life as a survivor. Her art often explores self-development, transition, and multidimensional existence, incorporating influences from literature and spirituality. Utilizing acrylic, oil paint, and pastels, Vu creates works that evoke movement and connection to unseen realms. About Range Projects - Founded with a vision by seasoned educator and artist Linda Jo Russell, and guided by the passionate activism of Executive Director Julia Smith, Range Gallery emerges as a beacon of artistic exploration in the heart of South Los Angeles. Range Gallery celebrates the convergence of the avant-garde and boundless creativity. Linda Jo, with over three decades of art education experience, has crafted a space that resonates with the diverse voices of underrepresented, emerging, and mid-career artists from various backgrounds. The gallery stands as a testament to the profound impact of contemporary art on our cultural landscape. Executive Director Julia Smith, a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and a dedicated advocate for social change, channels her activism into curating a space where art transcends boundaries. The gallery, situated in the Park Mesa Heights Community and Crenshaw District, becomes a vibrant canvas for artists to express their narratives, making a lasting impact on the community. LAUNCH LA believes exposure to the arts enhances quality of life and strengthens community for all through the shared appreciation of creative expression in all its forms and hybrids. LAUNCH LA is passionate about providing all artists regardless of background, race, color, creed or sexual orientation with quality opportunities to present themselves and their creations that reflect our times to curious and enthusiastic audiences at our Gallery and at important happenings throughout Los Angeles County.