Top Nine, 2018

Written by jesgamble on January 2, 2019

2018 had its challenges and many of them but it was also a very magnificent year. With such a beautiful year, there are many thanks I would like to express to all those who helped make this year so truly spectacular! A huge thank you goes out to artist Mohamed Bourouissa. Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful project and exhibition, Urban Riders. Not only did Urban Riders help to shine light on such an exceptional part of Philadelphia, Fletcher Street Stables Urban Riding Club and its community but also the opportunity to exhibit at the Barnes Foundation which holds a renown collection of some of the world’s most respected artists but to also exhibit at the absolutely stunning museum Musée d'art Moderne de la ville de Paris, City of Paris Museum of Modern Art. To have the opportunity to exhibit an art creation and to see my name on the wall as an exhibiting artist of such a colossal museum in Paris was a long dream come true and one that continues!

image: Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. Photo: Jes Gamble — Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. Photo: Jes Gamble

image: Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. Photo: Riley — Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. Photo: Riley

A huge heartfelt thank you to everyone who made my going to France a reality!!!!! Your continued support and trust in the artwork I’m creating means so much to me especially when it seems not many people understand what I’m doing quite yet. To breath, experience a culture, a way of life and the art of Paris was such a dream come true. You helped bring that into reality. A sincerest heartfelt thank you to everyone who gave the gift of my being in France.

image: Jes Gamble in Paris. Photo: Riley — Jes Gamble in Paris. Photo: Riley

To meeting an incredible French street artist who’s artwork, mind and person I quite respect. Forming that friendship and creating a bridge for the French underground street artist group Ars Muralis to come to Philadelphia hosting them and helping to bring their artworks to the streets of philly. (I’ll be sharing more of this soon in upcoming blogs on my website.) To being able to experience the exhilarating and at times intense travels under the streets of France known as the catacombs (not the tourist method). Breaking bread, sharing wine and traveling through dust, art and cold water with new friends 100 feet below the streets of Paris

image: Paris, Catacombs. Photo: Jes Gamble — Paris, Catacombs. Photo: Jes Gamble

. Many thanks to everyone whom I had a phone or in-person meeting with to discuss my Women’s Social Justice project, Silent Strength. Discussing contracts, realities and steps to turning such an important project into fruition and endeavor for true change. Corzo Center thank you for existing and for creating such an invaluable resource for artists.

To Ars Muralis, thank you. Having the opportunity to meet, learn and share was a period of time I hold very dear and what an incredible time to also celebrate my birthday! I’m so honored to know each one of you and to be working with you on these next huge community projects bringing talents from France and around the world to Philadelphia. Thank you to Conrad Benner of Streets Dept. for creating such an awesome connection. And thank you to Arts & Crafts Holdings and Spring Arts District for your warm welcome and helping to create space for Ars Muralis in Philadelphia. To Ars Muralis for insisting I create a wheat paste! Also, thank you to Conrad Benner for helping to spread my message and reminder to vote this past November by documenting and including it on the Streets Dept. blog.

image: Hope Street, Philadelphia. Photo: Conrad Benner — Hope Street, Philadelphia. Photo: Conrad Benner

image: Photo: Jes Gamble — Photo: Jes Gamble

image: Hope Street, Philadelphia. Photo: Riley — Hope Street, Philadelphia. Photo: Riley

Extremely honored by every single woman and person who came forward and shared with me some of your most difficult experiences in life. For your trust in me and the creation of Silent Strength. To Gilberto Gonzalez’s for your continued support of my artistic journey and Silent Strength.

To two incredible women Liz Krick president of the Women’s Caucus in art Philadelphia chapter and Natalie Merritt owner of High5 Gallery and Vice President of WCA : Philadelphia Chapter for your friendship and continued support of my women’s social justice project, Silent Strength.

image: Method, 2012. Photo: Jes Gamble — Method, 2012. Photo: Jes Gamble

To my boyfriend, my mother, my sisters and my friends thank you so much for your support, love, advice, your ears to listen, cards in the mail that brighten my day and put a smile on my face, for all the times you may have assisted in my art projects including modeling. With that being said, A huge thank you to Greg Austin for modeling so many moons ago and that art becoming part of my first wheat paste this past November. Also, a serious congratulations to my sister Nicole for graduating with her Master’s and getting hitched! Also serious congratulations to my sister Lindsay for embarking on her Master’s!

These few paragraphs do not come close to encompassing everything accomplished or all the people who made such an impact on my life in 2018 but know I send you my sincerest thanks to every one of you and sending you all the absolute best for a truly beautiful and gorgeous New Year!!!!

image: Detail of artwork in process. Photo: Jes Gamble — Detail of artwork in process. Photo: Jes Gamble