Enter the world of Ta-coumba! Journey through his many different techniques and aspects of his style, in this workshop opportunity he is offering for the first time. In this multi-day workshop, artist Ta-coumba T. Aiken will guide participants through an exploration of acrylic painting, spirit writing, and tape & paint collage to create an abstract painting and a collaborative painting. In addition to the abstract painting each student creates, on the final day of class, the collaborative painting will be divided amongst the class participants to take home.
All supplies needed in the class such as canvas, brushes, paint and 2” masking tape will be provided by Red Wing Arts. Additionally, participants are welcome to bring any of their favorite materials whether that’d be acrylic paint, brushes or canvas.
Note: Scholarships available for students with financial need. Please email cherish@redwingarts.org
March 9 & 10 2024
Saturday & Sunday 10 am - 4 pm
Teaching artist: Ta-coumba T. Aiken
Level: Ages 16+
Class size: 15
Participation fee: $350
St. Paul artist, Ta-coumba T. Aiken was born in Evanston, Illinois, and attended the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Since 1975 he has created works on canvas, paper, clay, glass and metal in what he calls—Superlative Realism.
Out of 2500 applicants, Aiken was awarded a 2022 Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship in the Fine Arts category. In addition to being appointed as a Guggenheim Fellow, Aiken is the recipient of numerous awards including, Pollock-Krasner Foundation, Gottlieb Fellowship, BUSH Visual Arts fellowship, Knight Arts Challenge Grant. Aiken’s painting entitled, “Forever Saint Paul” was awarded the Guinness Book World Record for the most Lite-Brite pegs ever used (596,000+) to create a painting. This piece is permanently located in the Saint Paul Union Depot.
The Walker Art Center recently acquired Aiken’s artworks. Other public collections include The McKnight Foundation, Ceasar Pelli’s Minneapolis Central Library, Augsburg University’s Hagfors Center, BUSH Foundation, Saint Paul Foundation, The Spritmuseum’s ABSOLUT VODKA collection (ABSOLUT AIKEN), Stockholm, Sweden. His work can also be found in private collections.
Aiken has served on numerous boards including the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, City of Minneapolis Arts Commission, African American Cultural Arts Center, Forecast Public Arts, Saint Paul Art Collective, Springboard for the Arts, and he has been a public arts advisor to the cities of St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Bloomington, Minnesota, and Marin City, California.
Find more information about Aiken and his artwork at ta-coumba.com