Stephen (Espo) Powers, Deborah Willis, Hironaka & Suib (Nadia Hironaka & Matthew Suib)
December 5–9, 2018
University of the Arts mounts the exhibition I’m here waiting for you: UArts at the National, coinciding with Art Basel Miami this December
University of the Arts in Philadelphia is partnering with the historic National Hotel in Miami’s South Beach to mount a hotel “takeover,” I’m here waiting for you: UArts at the National. The exhibition will feature new works of art by prominent artist-alums, including Hironaka & Suib (Nadia Hironaka BFA ‘97 & Matthew Suib BFA ‘95), Stephen (Espo) Powers ‘93 and Deborah Willis BFA ‘75.
Artworks will transform the National Hotel inside and out, and will include a rooftop neon installation, a video projection on the rear facade of the hotel, and a photographic installation throughout the first floor of the hotel. The title of the takeover, I’m here waiting for you, was coined by Stephen (Espo) Powers ‘93.
UArts will also host a VIP event on Wednesday, December 5 and a public reception on Thursday, December 6 with live entertainment by UArts alums including Keandra Cordero BM ‘10 and Nicholas Whittaker BM ‘10. Generous hors d’oeuvres and festive refreshments will be served.
About the artists & artwork
Stephen (Espo) Powers ‘93 attended University of the Arts and is a New York City artist who at one time wrote graffiti in Philadelphia and New York under the name ESPO (“Exterior Surface Painting Outreach”). His work has been shown at Venice and Liverpool Biennials, as well as numerous shows at Deitch Projects. Powers was a Fulbright scholar in 2007. He originated the title of the hotel takeover and will produce a rooftop neon installation, Anything for you.
Dr. Deborah Willis BFA ‘75 (Photography) is a University of the Arts alumna, and a renowned photographer and educator. As an author and curator, her pioneering research—begun at UArts as an undergrad—has focused on cultural histories envisioning the black body, women and gender. She is a celebrated photographer, acclaimed historian of photography, MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellow, and university professor and chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. For I’m here waiting for you: UArts at the National, Willis will present a series of photographs taken of items and clothing found in closets from 1908-2018 that related to place, identity, beauty and cultural memory.
Nadia Hironaka BFA ‘97 (Film) and Matthew Suib ‘95 (Photography) are University of the Arts alumni, whose large-scale, often immersive moving-image installations use original and appropriated imagery and unique soundtracks to invert social conventions and scramble history. They are recipients of several prestigious awards, including a 2015 Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship and Pew Fellowships in the Arts. For I’m here waiting for you: UArts at the National, Hironaka & Suib will produce a new work on the entire rear facade of the National Hotel.
