Here it is… The first draft of the documentary series that is titled, STOL_N. Originally inspired by a recent break-in and illegal apprehension of my artworks and inventory but has now become a testimony to all things beautiful. For even in this moment I have recognized the beauty that this moment has created.
Take a minute to empathize with me; I am not sure what EXACTLY would possess this man to do this terrible thing to me but I know that I am one of many people who face these kinds of problems. Random acts of madness, that become not so random. Based on the contract that we had, seems like this was his plan from the jump.
From police calls saying that I’ve been “trespassing” on my own property (an attempt to have me arrested but to no avail) to locking me out of my own workspace and STEALING my work. (can you believe he had it in front of his office DESPITE our current affairs?).
I have brought him so many connections and business so it has been really disheartening to see that this man disguised as a curator/philanthropist, is an enemy of the arts.
Full Statement below… If you’re a lawyer, you’re in for a good laugh. Video…Coming Soon.
HEAVENLY
‘Younity Studios’ Prior the Invasion.
After 6 months of police calls, court dates and detectives I was finally able to locate SOME of my inventory and belongings. A secret storage unit under an anonymous name.
My artwork within Picadillo Gallery Days Before….
Photographed By Tatianna.
Just arriving back into town. Ashamed and disappointed at the people I have allowed to dismantle all of my hard work.
He would rather PAY to remove and HIDE my things rather than giving them back??? Clearly done out of ANGER! AND IS ILLEGAL!
I AM CEO. A BOSS OF MY OWN COMPANY! AND OTHERS WANT TO TAKE THAT FROM ME!! I WILL NOT BE SILENT!
a store FULL of garments from my own creations to independent brand manufactures such as Faith Connexion.
Off To FIND this illusive ‘storage’ unit… I had no idea what i was in for.
After getting passed the security as my name wasn’t on the unit.
NOT SURPRISED.
DIARIES OF A MADMAN GONE MAD
Hmmm But wheres my paintin….NO. IT CANT BE….
My hard work stripped off their canvases and stuffed into a cylinder … he did this to spite me.
I wasn’t before but Now… I’m mad.
“Officer look at this sh*t”
HOW TO: BUILD THE PERFECT WOMBMAN V2 Before the invasion.
PAIN.
Donny, you MIGHT have deserved this one…
:’(
Time to make this…
….Art.
It was the judge and attorney’s idea. Thank you ladies.
YEs, he STOLE the marquee piece cus DUHHHH
All the way from Paris, Ariel gives me some words of wisdom and shares a similar story bout losses and bouncing BACK!
Myself With Nina’s Painting. Both these gals look beautiful together don’t they?
Another Painting on the loose!
HOW TO: BE AN ARTIST ….. Before the Invasion.
My space is filled with creativity and positivity. Hate is not tolerated HERE.
MISSING SINCE 2021
ANOTHER PAINTING TAKEN AND IS OUT THERE WITH A RANSOM. YES. ALL TRUE.
My Statement…
I am being unlawfully evicted even though I have made my rent payments, robbed of years of work as well as being harassed on a daily basis. I am an independent mixed-media artist and my landlord and gallery owner Jonathan Greenwald is keeping possession of several pieces of my artwork that took me 3 years to create as well as approx. $4000 worth of art supplies. I became interested in him with access to those pieces in the exchange that he would help sell and promote me as an artist as well as framing my collection for Miami Art Basel . My artwork that Mr. Greenwald has stolen is worth 100’s of thousands of dollars based on my most recent sales and commissions-and he is unwilling to return them or give me access to retrieve them (the pieces were last seen in the common area facilities at 20221 NE 16th Pl. Miami, FL. 33179 that was once fully accessible to me as we had agreed upon; that the landlord has now locked off). When asked the landlord now suggests that the pieces have been moved off of the property and taken elsewhere by “a mover” but he will not tell me by exactly whom or where. I have clients who have already purchased pieces and others who are interested in purchasing pieces that are currently locked behind doors that I have no access to. This is greatly affecting my income, business relationships and well being as it is how I make a living. I was also living and working in the space in which he wants me to leave and has made uninhabitable.
When I signed my lease Mr. Greenwald provided me with a mailing address that is his private suite at the post office, so in addition to my artworks, Mr. Greenwald is now keeping possession of my mail; several packages which are combined worth over $1400 as they are items & materials used for artworks. He will not allow my access to them. I requested directly that his assistant Alfredo “Alfi” Sandova Urosa, please give me my packages and he also said he was not allowed and couldn’t help.
2/10/22 - Mr. Greenwald called the police claiming that someone with my exact description was trespassing on his property. When the police arrived, I told the officer that I was allowed to be there and showed them my lease. The officer called Mr. Greenwald and he agreed. The officer and I were very confused by this. As a black man, this situation scared me and left me feeling harassed and I believe it was attempt to scare me and have me consider breaking my lease.
Mr. Greenwald suggested I work in front of the suite after 6pm to avoid disturbing neighboring business owners. My suite is in a very isolated warehouse type space and barely anyone is around late at night except me.
2/21/22 - Mr. Greenwald called the police and told them he wants to evict me and I wont leave. Police said it was a civil matter and if my belongings were truly in Mr. Greenwald’s possession, that it was theft and left.
2/23/22 - I called the police and requested that the police come and drop by to do a walk through to prove that my pieces were there. In person I showed the police videos of my pieces and materials inside the property. Mr. Greenwald asked me in front of police for a manifest, which I said I had already sent, and then he said actually yes that he did receive it, police asked why don’t you start by giving me the items that are on the manifest, and then Mr. Greenwald claimed that my belongings were moved to storage. Police requested to enter the premises and Mr. Greenwald said no. Police said it was a civil matter and left.
3/2/22 - My client asked me to call the police. This was an attempt to try to retrieve my clients property (“How to Lose your F’ing Mind” and “How to Lose the Perfect Woman”-2 art pieces that were last at Picadillo Art Gallery). The police asked me for my lease which I provided. They tried to enter the gallery and Mr Greenwald stopped them and said they cannot enter. Mr. Greenwald then told them that I cannot be on the property and then the police asked me to leave the property and that if I did not leave, “that I will have to do something or I would not be doing my job”.
Since Mid January the Wifi and the AC turned off. The suite was over 85 degrees and I couldn’t work at all unless the doors were open. Mr. Omotayo Mogaji was there at least 4 days a week since Mid January and also witnessed and experienced the heat & wifi turned off. Mr. Max Delva visited 4 times over January and February and also experienced the AC and Wifi.
These issues have really affected my comfort and business.
-Feb 18 2022 AC and wifi are still off and I had 2 witnesses there who also experienced the heat. Mrs. Amal Soliman & Mr. Richard Tobin Ellsworth. They have been there several times after that and continued to witness it.
The landlord Mr. Greenwald, continues to suggest that I owe more and more money by sending new invoices; for things like storage, or moving costs, or a suit that he “purchased me”, all of which are fabricated.
-Regarding storage, he might be talking about my art pieces and art supplies, and since he holding them against my will, he is suggesting that he is charging me storage fees.
-Regarding moving costs, when Mr. Greenwald and I first met regarding working together/my joining the gallery/me moving into his property, he mentioned that he would arrange a mover to move my belongings from my current live/work space to his space. I signed the lease, and on Nov 1 2022 I moved into Mr. Greenwald’s space. When the move was complete, the mover asked Mr. Greenwald for the money for the move. Mr. Greenwald referred him to me. The mover told me that Mr. Greenwald told him I would handle it. I said ok and to give me an invoice. I then went back to Mr. Greenwald with the invoice and said “you said you would handle this”, only for Mr. Greenwald to say “well its not in writing is it?”. The mover and I then worked out a payment arrangement where I would produce for him. Those are complete and currently in Mr. Greenwald’s post office suite and he will not allow me access to it.
-During Art Basel December 2021, I mentioned I needed a suit for an upcoming event at the Faena I had included his gallery in. In the days leading up to the event, Mr. Greenwald arrived with a suit in clear dry cleaning plastic. It appeared that it could be one of his old suits. It did not have tags or a receipt. He said “Moda, here is a surprise for you for Art Basel”, and that was it. He did not mention a cost or that I would owe him money for it nor return it. I presumed it was a gift based on that interaction.
Aside from the consistent emails and visits from the police, the landlord blasts sirens & police noises directly from a speaker towards the door that divides our units-which can be heard from the street-throughout the day and night so I am unable to work in peace.
-The targeted loud sirens/horns/music blasting began on 02/21/22 in intervals of 30mins or so all day, and continued to March 2nd when I finally felt hopeless and bullied by the police and left the property for the night as I couldn’t stand the sirens or harassment any longer.
*I have also have had poor services from him such as a batch of tee shirts (for a client) being executed poorly paid in full $591.25 on Feb 9th and a custom framing job that has never been delivered that I paid $1,128 Feb 8th 2022.I