Point Comfort Art Fair & Show

Hampton Art Lovers presents the Point Comfort Art Fair + Show in Historic Overtown at the Historic Ward Rooming House during Miami Art Week/Art Basel/Soul Basel 2024.  Point Comfort comprises an art exhibition and the Indaba Lounge Series at the Historic Ward Rooming House and Gardens. Sponsored by the City of Miami Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Revitalization Agency & Art of Black (Greater Miami Convention & Tourism Bureau), 100 Black Men of Florida, Miami-Dade Economic & Advocacy Trust, FIU-Wolfsonian Public Humanities Lab, E11even Vodka and Duke + Dame Whiskey.

Point Comfort Art Fair + Show 2024 is a panoramic surround sound experience of ART, CONVERSATIONS, and Community. Our mantra for this year is "Ubuntu : I Am Because We Are". The African Bantu word 'ubuntu' means "humanity but can also be translated as "I am because we are". In the immortal words of John Lewis, "We are one people, one family, the human family, and what affects one of us affects us all". In 2023, hate crimes in the U.S. rose to the highest level since the FBI began collecting that data in the early 1990s. In response to this social problem, we encouraged our invited artists to embrace our theme with images of dignity towards the human condition. We are featuring the art of Solomon Adufah, Adonis Parker, Basil Watson, Judy Bowman, BUCK!, Chris Clark, Brandon Clarke, Tiffani Glenn,  Musa Hixson, Phil Shung, Rahsaan “Fly Guy” Alexander, and Greg Clark, in the Gardens @ The Historic Ward Rooming House within an 80x40 foot tent.

The name “Point Comfort” is derived from the place in colonial Virginia where the first captives from the West African Kingdom of Ndongo (Angola) arrived in 1619. The people of Ndongo and other African tribes lost their native tongues and many of their traditions here in America. Through tremendous adversity, remnants of these lost traditions continue to express themselves in the song, dance, art, and crafts of today's African-American community. "Point Comfort Art Fair + Show" celebrates those remnants. “We're not just selling art” – The show is a curated, multi-dimensional experience designed to tell the powerful narrative of the African-American experience through art and conversation. POINT COMFORT is a teachable moment, designed to pique curiosity, share legacies and facilitate the purchase of Black artwork. Point Comfort provides a platform for African-American masters of American fine art at the largest art exposition in North America (Miami Art Week). Providing invaluable exposure to an international audience of art professionals, collectors, lovers, and patrons of the arts. 

Our ART FAIR Our ART FAIR with the concept of “Ubuntu: I am Because We Are” features Solomon Adufah, Adonis Parker, Basil Watson, Judy Bowman, BUCK!, Chris Clark, Brandon Clarke, Tiffani Glenn,  Musa Hixson, Phil Shung, Rahsaan “Fly Guy” Alexander in the Patio & Gardens @ The Historic Ward Rooming House within an 80x40 foot tent.

Our ART SHOW features a historic collection inside the Historic Ward Rooming House. In 2024, we present “One Night Stand!" featuring the Photography of Greg Clark. Sixty years ago, Sam Cooke performed at a club in Miami. In early 1963, he recorded a live album called "One Night Stand" at the Harlem Square Club. The club was located in Overtown, Miami's historically African-American neighborhood. The recording was intense and vibrant, reflecting Cooke’s earlier gospel roots, and wasn’t what his label wanted for mainstream audiences. Due to its perceived intensity and rawness, RCA decided not to release it. However, in 1985, record executive Gregg Geller rediscovered the recordings and released it under a new title: “Live at the Harlem Square Club, in 1963”. It is now considered one of the greatest live albums ever recorded, commemorating Overtown's musical legacy.  Sam Cooke chose to record live in Overtown because the area played a significant role in the development of soul music during the early to mid-1960s. Overtown's music scene thrived, and venues like the Rockland, Palace, Harlem Square Club, Cotton Club, Ritz Theater, Mary Elizabeth Hotel, and Sir John attracted both local and out-of-town musicians. Miami soul music was influenced by the sounds of church music, marching bands, and Caribbean melodies, performed by diverse musicians from various backgrounds. 

Greg Clark's photography captures the local musicians of Overtown, showcasing the allure that attracted music legends like Sam Cooke. Greg’s intimate portraits depict musicians with instruments against the backdrop of empty lots and repurposed buildings that were once prominent entertainment venues in Overtown. Our exhibition is also a way to preserve the stories of local musicians from the 1960s and 70s, gathering oral histories to commemorate Overtown's significance as a hub for Black music in America (in partnership with FIU Wolfsonian Public Humanities Lab). As Overtown experiences a resurgence in arts and culture, it reflects returning to its musical roots rather than creating something entirely new. "One Night Stand! featuring the Photography of Greg Clark” serves as a guide to rediscovering Overtown's musical past and navigating its future.

Our ART SHOW also features a special installation sponsored by One United Bank of the original artwork of Adonis Parker from their series of credit cards. OneUnited Bank commissioned Adonis to design its credit cards, beginning in 2016. The tenth in the series was released in February. "The OneLove Card" was inspired by the multifaceted concept of love — including self-love, family love, and community love — the OneLove™ Card design, crafted by renowned artist Addonis Parker, reflects OneUnited's commitment to fostering love, belonging, and understanding within the Black community and across the nation. Love is where we want to be and 'Ubuntu' is the vehicle that takes us there.

Indaba Lounge Series

Point Comfort is a panoramic experience of ART, CONVERSATIONS, and VIBES. Point Comfort's Indaba Lounge Series brings people together in conversation through art. The word “Indaba” is Swahili for “come together” or “meeting of great minds”. Our Indaba Lounge Series includes our Opening Reception, Art Talks, musical vibes curated by musicologists Fly Guy & Six Millz, “Bespoke Motor Gallery: Art Rigs and Rugged Elegance”, our curated immersive car exhibit in front of the Historic Ward Rooming House.

Historic Ward Rooming House Gallery

Hampton Art Lovers operates the Historic Ward Rooming House Gallery in Historic Overtown. Built in the early 1900s and rebuilt in 1925, by Bahamian architect Shaddrack Ward and his wife Victoria, who arrived in Miami from Key West in 1894. The Ward Rooming House opened its doors to both out-of-town Blacks and Native Americans, who were typically unable to find welcoming accommodations in Downtown Miami during the first half of the 20th century.

The Rooming House was frequently occupied by Bahamian immigrants and is historically significant because of its association with the early African-American community of Overtown. As one of the few remaining buildings of its time, a seemingly ordinary rooming house becomes significant for its more prominent role in preserving the history and architecture of Miami's Black community. The building has been restored, and now serves as the Ward Rooming House Gallery, under the curatorial direction of Hampton Art Lovers.

Host or Publisher Hampton Art Lovers