Press archive · 2006

Soul Mining

Two-person Show
Studio One Eight (DC)
August 2006

Text of the original page

soul mining ... Matt Sesow, James Coleman (august 2006) ***

Review/Preview in Sept. 1, 2006 Washington Examiner:

ARTSCAPES

Making the

scene: D.C.'s

Expressionist

movement

By Robin Tierney

Special to The Examiner

German Expressionism ...

Pop Art ... Contemporary Post-

Expressionist Subpop Romantic Surrealistic Lowbrow on

the Potomac. OK, the third is

too cumbersome and limiting

a moniker for D.C.'s burgeoning

art movement. Nonetheless, a

formidable, distinctive scene

has surged up from the underground, and a great place to dive

in is Studio One Eight in Adams

Morgan.

"Soul Mining," on view by

appointment up to the Sept.

9 closing reception, features

an arcade of colorful, eye-and

mind-popping works by alt-art

legend-in-progress Matt Sesow

and J. Coleman, a Mary Washington grad who moved here to

apprentice with Sesow in 2004.

The show's title refers to the use

of art as a therapeutic release;

the two dozen works reflect on

emotions from agony to hope,

and issues from personal isolation to a war-torn world.

Among the all-new works are

four large-scale collaborations

created earlier this summer on

Coleman's Mount Vernon Place

urban rooftop, where he does

most of his painting, much of

that inspired by the energy and

poverty on constant parade

below.

"Martyr" proffers a tableau

of religious iconography and

political zeitgeist, commingling

Coleman's Day of the Dead-derived figures, sacred hearts and

sacrificial virgins with Sesow's

strapped-up suicide bomber.

"Salvation meets self-destruction," Coleman says of the visual collision, recalling the duo's

efforts to capture desperation

about world violence ... and to

a lesser extent, working conditions as the roof heated to 110

degrees.

"It's a grimy type of piece

[that reveals] the passion in its

making," says Coleman. As testament, the unstretched canvas bears footprints, sweat and

spillage from drinks. "Martyr" is the artist's pick, but the

other pieces merit attention

as well.

Normally a loner, Coleman

16 images from the original page · click to enlarge

Soul Mining, 2006: image 01 from the original sesow.com press page — soul.jpg

Soul Mining, 2006: image 02 from the original sesow.com press page — 060628_sesow_roof_027.jpg

Soul Mining, 2006: image 03 from the original sesow.com press page — 060628_sesow_roof_006.jpg

Soul Mining, 2006: image 04 from the original sesow.com press page — 060628_sesow_roof_052.jpg

Soul Mining, 2006: image 05 from the original sesow.com press page — 060628_sesow_roof_120.jpg

Soul Mining, 2006: image 06 from the original sesow.com press page — 060628_sesow_roof_127.jpg

Soul Mining, 2006: image 07 from the original sesow.com press page — 060628_sesow_roof_149.jpg

Soul Mining, 2006: image 08 from the original sesow.com press page — 060628_sesow_roof_195.jpg

Soul Mining, 2006: image 09 from the original sesow.com press page — cats.jpg

Soul Mining, 2006: image 10 from the original sesow.com press page — drowning.jpg

Soul Mining, 2006: image 11 from the original sesow.com press page — pool.jpg

Soul Mining, 2006: image 12 from the original sesow.com press page — martyr.jpg

Soul Mining, 2006: image 13 from the original sesow.com press page — 060628_sesow_roof_198.jpg

Soul Mining, 2006: image 14 from the original sesow.com press page — 060628_sesow_roof_206.jpg

Soul Mining, 2006: image 15 from the original sesow.com press page — 060628_sesow_roof_427.jpg

Soul Mining, 2006: image 16 from the original sesow.com press page — 060628_sesow_roof_477.jpg

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Cite as: “Soul Mining.” Matt Sesow press archive, 2006. history.sesow.com/press/2006-soul-mining.html. Accessed [date].

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7/6/26, 6:57 AM

soul mining ... Matt Sesow, James Coleman (august 2006) ***

Review/Preview in Sept. 1, 2006 Washington Examiner:
ARTSCAPES
Making the scene: D.C.'s Expressionist movement
By Robin Tierney
Special to The Examiner
German Expressionism ... Pop Art ... Contemporary Post- Expressionist Subpop Romantic Surrealistic Lowbrow on the Potomac. OK, the third is too
cumbersome and limiting a moniker for D.C.'s burgeoning art movement. Nonetheless, a formidable, distinctive scene has surged up from the
underground, and a great place to dive in is Studio One Eight in Adams Morgan.
"Soul Mining," on view by appointment up to the Sept. 9 closing reception, features an arcade of colorful, eye-and mind-popping works by alt-art
legend-in-progress Matt Sesow and J. Coleman, a Mary Washington grad who moved here to apprentice with Sesow in 2004. The show's title refers
to the use of art as a therapeutic release; the two dozen works reflect on emotions from agony to hope, and issues from personal isolation to a wartorn world.
Among the all-new works are four large-scale collaborations created earlier this summer on Coleman's Mount Vernon Place urban rooftop, where he
does most of his painting, much of that inspired by the energy and poverty on constant parade below.
"Martyr" proffers a tableau of religious iconography and political zeitgeist, commingling Coleman's Day of the Dead-derived figures, sacred hearts and
sacrificial virgins with Sesow's strapped-up suicide bomber. "Salvation meets self-destruction," Coleman says of the visual collision, recalling the duo's
efforts to capture desperation about world violence ... and to a lesser extent, working conditions as the roof heated to 110 degrees.
"It's a grimy type of piece [that reveals] the passion in its making," says Coleman. As testament, the unstretched canvas bears footprints, sweat and
spillage from drinks. "Martyr" is the artist's pick, but the other pieces merit attention as well.
Normally a loner, Coleman feels supercharged with the action/reaction interplay with collaborator Sesow.
WHERE TO SEE
https://www.sesow.com/soul.htm

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7/6/26, 6:57 AM

soul mining ... Matt Sesow, James Coleman (august 2006) ***

SOUL MINING
On view by appointment
Artists' closing reception 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9
Venue: Studio One Eight, 2452 18th St. NW, Washington
Tix: Free
Info: 703-862-2775; studiooneeight.com

From a hot day in June on a rooftop in downtown DC (5th street)
Photos copyright Mike Olliver.
visit Mike's website at www.mikeolliver.com

https://www.sesow.com/soul.htm

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7/6/26, 6:57 AM

https://www.sesow.com/soul.htm

soul mining ... Matt Sesow, James Coleman (august 2006) ***

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7/6/26, 6:57 AM

https://www.sesow.com/soul.htm

soul mining ... Matt Sesow, James Coleman (august 2006) ***

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7/6/26, 6:57 AM

soul mining ... Matt Sesow, James Coleman (august 2006) ***

"Alley Cats" (collaboration of matt sesow and james coleman). created in an alley in adams morgan in
june 2006
oil/housepaint/acrylic on loose canvas
$600 ( email sesow@sesow.com)

https://www.sesow.com/soul.htm

5/10

7/6/26, 6:57 AM

soul mining ... Matt Sesow, James Coleman (august 2006) ***

"Drowning" (collaboration of matt sesow and james coleman). created in an alley in adams morgan in
june 2006
oil/housepaint/acrylic on loose canvas
$600 ( email sesow@sesow.com)

https://www.sesow.com/soul.htm

6/10

7/6/26, 6:57 AM

soul mining ... Matt Sesow, James Coleman (august 2006) ***

"pool party" (collaboration of matt sesow and james coleman). created on DC rooftop in june 2006
oil/housepaint/acrylic on loose canvas
$600 (email sesow@sesow.com)

"Martyr" (collaboration of matt sesow and james coleman). created on DC rooftop in june 2006
oil/housepaint/acrylic on loose canvas
$600 ( email sesow@sesow.com)

https://www.sesow.com/soul.htm

7/10

7/6/26, 6:57 AM

soul mining ... Matt Sesow, James Coleman (august 2006) ***

From a hot day in June on a rooftop in downtown DC (5th street)
Photos copyright Mike Olliver.
visit Mike's website at www.mikeolliver.com

https://www.sesow.com/soul.htm

8/10

7/6/26, 6:57 AM

https://www.sesow.com/soul.htm

soul mining ... Matt Sesow, James Coleman (august 2006) ***

9/10

7/6/26, 6:57 AM

soul mining ... Matt Sesow, James Coleman (august 2006) ***

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PAINTINGS...

https://www.sesow.com/soul.htm

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