Artist, Kristin Abraham stands with with Creative Genius Gallery Owner, Julie Basello-Holt

Creative Geneius Gallery has become the forty-forth gallery to join a conceptual art project that is connecting the U.S. through art. For ten days in December, all fifty states will be represented by a single gallery that is displaying a single painting. The concept is called The Nomadic Project, and it was designed by two artists working in two very different mediums. The state of New Jersey is represented by Creative Genius Gallery which will be exhibiting a Connecticut-inspired painting titled Clandestine Crossing, until the end of 2006.

Visual artist, Kristin Abraham and musician, Alfonso Llamas saw the United States divided through war, politics and religion, and realized that the only way to find unity would be to return to the source. That meant the land; one nation divided into fifty uniquely different states. So Abraham and Llamas set out to visit the big cities, small towns, and National Historic sites that make up this broken nation, and pull it together with art.

Living out of their orange Honda Element, Abraham and Llamas spend about a week in each state. Abraham responds to her experiences by painting a 24 x 30” canvas. That painting is carried to the next state, where it is displayed in a participating gallery until the end of 2006. This process physically unites the country through art, by blurring state borders.

Llamas is recording the experience through original music and video. He is working on an album and documentary based on this physical and emotional journey. He also uploads his journal entries online to promote discussion about each area. As the artists travel, they encourage communities to participate at www.TheNomadicProject.com, where the artwork, music, video trailer and photographs can be viewed as the project unfolds.

When The Nomadic Project made it to New Jersey, they met with Julie Basello-Holt, who is the owner of Creative Genius Gallery in Medford. Abraham and Llamas were excited to add the gallery to The Nomadic Project when they learned that its owner also took a chance to follow her dream. The Creative Genius Gallery joins The Whistler Museum of Art (Lowell, MA), Carla Schmidt Gallery (San Francisco, CA), Aesthetic Eye (Chicago, IL), the Mansfield Art Center (Mansfield, OH) and many more, as the project reaches its final stretch. A complete list of the galleries in can be viewed at www.TheNomadicProject.com.

All of the work created on this journey leads up to December 21st-31st, when one gallery in each state displays a single painting. However, December is not the end of The Nomadic Project. The second phase combines all elements of this journey into a physical exhibit. The work will finally be displayed together, and visit each region of the country. Even the emails in which we have received throughout the journey become part of the exhibit. This interaction illustrates how the community is serving a significant role in making The Nomadic Project possible.

To learn more about The Nomadic Project, e-mail TheNomadicProject@gmail.com. For more information on Creative Genius Gallery and their participation, visit www.creativegeniusonline.com, or call Julie at 609.714.1131.