Shine Huang exhibition: 'Carry the Ocean'

SCAD deFineArt Presents Shine Huang “Carry the Ocean“

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SCAD presents "Carry the Ocean," an exhibition by alumnus Shine Huang (M.F.A., photography, 2017), in which he photographs Ethiopian and Eritrean communities in Atlanta, Georgia. His series "See Me as I Am" is an exploration into culture, communication and shared experience through black and white portraiture, photographs and photograms of objects. 

Huang has photographed approximately 20 families in black and white film over the past three years. During his photo sessions, Huang learned about Habesha culture, and the resulting images honor this culture through a formal portraiture in which the subjects wear traditional textiles and dress. Additionally, the artist created photograms of various objects relating to the subjects’ daily lives, such as drums, spice bowls, religious books and pitchers. The images are sleek icons, void of decoration and ornament.

While Huang is celebrating a culture outside of his own, he finds a parallel in his own experience as an immigrant to the U.S. Through this shared experience, he finds common ground between himself and a culture in which he was an outsider. The artist views communication, respect and acceptance as central to the project: his acceptance by the families, and the communication with his subjects as well with his viewers through photography.

Reception: Tuesday, Feb. 20, 7–8 p.m. 
Gallery hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

This exhibition is part of SCAD deFINE ART 2018, held Feb. 20–23 at university locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, and Hong Kong. SCAD deFINE ART is an annual program of exhibitions, lectures, performances and public events that highlights emerging and established artists and visionaries.

Mason Fine Art Atlanta Featured Photographer: Shine Huang

Shine Huang is an international photographer, who was born and grew up in Shanghai, China. He started his photography career as a photojournalist in Xinmin Newspaper Shanghai. In 2008, Shine moved to the United States and studied at Arkansas State University. He obtained his Bachelor of Science Degrees in Sports Management and Journalism. After graduating, Shine relocated Atlanta, GA. In the past 10 years, he has worked for The Herald Newspaper, KAIT8 TV station, Canyon News Santa Monica, CNN Films and CTRL Studios. Shine recently graduated with an MFA in Photography from Savannah College of Art and Design. He specializes in black and white film and historical photographic process.

Mason Fine Art Presents: “Embrace the Future” A Gala and Art Auction

Featured photo “Bethy and her daughter”, by Shine Huang, from his photography series See Me as I Am.

Featured photo “Bethy and her daughter”, by Shine Huang, from his photography series See Me as I Am.

Mason Fine Art and Events in Midtown will host “Embrace the Future,” a gala and art auction to benefit the Clarkson Community Center (CCC), Friday - Saturday, July 14-15. Artists from across Atlanta and around the world contributed works for silent and live auctions of fine art painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry and mixed-media works, along with handmade folk art and crafts that include décor, wearables and accessories. 

“Embrace the Future: A Gala and Art Auction,” kicks off Friday, July 14 from 6 - 9 p.m., followed by a live auction of over 300 works Saturday, July 15 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Both will take place at Mason Fine Art and Events in Midtown, 415 Plasters Ave., Atlanta, GA 30324. The event will exhibit a variety of artworks by many internationally-known artists with strong Georgia connections, including photographer Shine Huang, a Chinese national and recent graduate of SCAD’s MFA program whose art graces the event poster. Noted Atlanta photographer Lucinda Bunnen contributed a series of portraits taken of participants at ESOL (English as a second language) classes for refugees. 

Expect a lively evening with music and dance performances by traditional African dance company Uhuru dancers and a variety of ethnic foods encompassing Ethiopian, Syrian, Caribbean, Senegalese and Venezuelan cuisines. Additionally, keynoter Heval Kelli, M.D., Cardiology Fellow at Emory University School of Medicine, will speak about his journey from Syrian refugee to Emory doctor. Tickets to the gala on Friday are $25 per person, or $40 for two; there will be a cash bar. 

American President of the World Craft Council, UNESCO, curated the collection of international craft and folk art available for sale. A small representation of folk and outsider art is also included. In addition to the donated artworks for this charity event, a portion of the Mason Fine Art’s existing collection will be available for silent auction bidding during the Friday night Gala. Gala attendees may make early bids during the evening of July 14 for the artworks to be featured in the Saturday auction event. “Art can be a way to express thoughts and feelings that are difficult to verbalize. 

Through VSA Arts of Georgia, we created “Art as a Second Language Program,” an art project for a group of senior citizens in Clarkston including refugees and longtime residents at the Clarkston Community Center. After witnessing the collaboration and solace they experience from creating art together, I reached out to a number of artists for this event,” said Karelson. “I want to thank Pilgrims Pride Corporation, Stop & Save Group LLC and Asal Tax and Travel for helping us make this fundraiser possible.” Tickets for the Friday evening event can be purchased here. 


The Saturday auction is free and open to public. On Saturday, July 15, the auction will be held beginning at 11 a.m. (preview at 10 a.m.) at Mason Fine Art. Patrons also may come to the gallery at any time during normal hours before the auction to preview and leave absentee bids. 


The works are already on display. Online bidding is available here. For more information about this event, please visit here. About Clarkston Community Center The Clarkston Community Center offers programs for children, teens, adults and seniors, centered around art, recreation and community building. The Center serves over 40,000 individuals annually, primarily from Clarkston and greater DeKalb County, Ga., many of whom have immigrated to the United States or are newly-arrived refugees. 


About Mason Fine Art and Events Nestled conveniently between Buckhead and Midtown, Mason Fine Art and Events is a unique 21,000 square foot fine art gallery and special event venue. The gallery specializes in contemporary painting, sculpture and photography. It’s open to the public Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturdays from noon – 5 p.m. 


The building’s flexible, open floor plan makes it an ideal location for special events of all types and sizes, including corporate events, weddings, charity galas, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, auctions, fashion shows and holiday parties.

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