Baker—Hall is pleased to present SOS, a garden installation by Miami-based artist Justin H. Long. We all have emergencies, some worse than others and many would benefit from assistance. The SOS sculpture is a beacon for asking for help. Being able to check one’s ego, swallow pride and throw up your arms in need of aid. Be it that you can’t pay rent, got a flat tire, drank too much and had T Bell 4th meal, tariffs on your country, being deported to Sudan, gone bankrupt, the fart wasn’t just a fart, lost finger, stubbed toe or pulled a hammy. SOS will be available in the gallery garden starting Saturday, June 14 from 7— 10 pm and will remain on view through September.
The SOS flag is orange with a black circle and square. Here the flag has been further humanized by making the shapes into eyes and adding a frowning mouth. The frown is a nonverbal signal of sadness, anguish and despair and the innate human response is to ask if help is needed. The flag being flown from a Solitaire palm opens the conversation with the classic deserted island shipwreck, alone making do, and using what is available to try to get help.
SOS originated as a Morse code signal, 3 dots, 3 dashes, 3 dots. SOS is not an acronym, but a way to remember the order of the dots and dashes. Backronyms have been created for the code such as “Save our Ship” and “Save our Souls”. We invite the viewers to create their own and scratch the messages into the sculpture.
Justin Hayes Long (b. 1980, Miami FL) addresses cultural phenomena related to his subtropical roots, often using irreverent humor and pop-cultural signifiers to propose constructs of freedom and privilege, and abuses of power as it relates to the physical environment and capitalism. He is known for work that combines nautical history with the seafarer’s craft through sculpture, painting, writing, video, performative interventions, and structured installations. JHL holds a MFA from CalArts, Valencia CA, teaches sculpture at the University of Miami and is Production Manager for Fringe Projects Miami. Selected group exhibitions include those at Contemporary Arts Center (New Orleans, LA), The Fabric Workshop and Museum (Philadelphia, PA) the De la Cruz Collection (Miami, FL). Selected solo exhibitions include those at The Bass Museum of Art (Miami Beach, FL), Emerson Dorsch Gallery (Miami, FL), and Art & Culture Center/Hollywood (Hollywood, FL). His work is part of private collections including the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, and he is a recipient of artist support grants including the Wavemaker – Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the Ellies from Oolite Arts. He lives and works in Miami, FL.
Baker—Hall is a contemporary art gallery founded by Amanda Baker—Hall in 2024. It is the successor to her previous project, Club Gallery. The gallery aims to promote emerging and mid-career artists through a fresh curatorial approach, while also offering comprehensive art advisory services. Baker—Hall specializes in painting and sculpture across narrative and non-objective styles, with a focus on collaborating with private collectors and prominent corporate institutions. The gallery boasts a robust exhibition schedule, featuring a minimum of eight rotating exhibitions each year.
Baker—Hall is a proud member of NADA.
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