Our Story

Nice2MeetU sprouted out a desire to create a community of creatives that dedicate part of their time to fostering self-reflection and community dialogue that promotes positive social change.

Nice2MeetU projects create a space where individuals can embark on their forgiveness journeys, creative or narrative work.

Through participating in this collective endeavor, we can validate our experiences in a communal space and draw strength from the support of others.

Nice2MeetU would be honored to partner with you to create a meaningful impact; yes, you, the person reading this message.

This collaboration reflects our commitment to promoting cultural expression and fostering personal growth among Latino communities, African-American communities, Asian communities, and the larger cities we all share and love. There is a lot of pain, individual and collective pain, experienced by those affected by poverty, wars, gun violence, anxiety, and other challenges.

Nice2MeetU, as a nonprofit art collective, has a rich portfolio of projects. Among them are Weaving Narratives, a long-running initiative involving Latino artists Martin Calvino and Jusleine Daniel, and the "Nice2MeetU" Club, which brings together talented individuals such as Milena Calvino, Asena Erkan, and Ana Kolodzei.

The Forgiveness Project stands as a testament to the collective's dedication to using art as a powerful medium for dialogue and social change.

Our Artists

Jusleine Daniel

Artist

Martin Calvino

Artist

Milena Calvino Daniel

Artist

Asena Erkan

Artist

Pilar E. Aquino

Artist

Anna Kolodzei

Artist

Graciela La Rosa

Artist

Jusleine Daniel

Founder / Artist

Artistic Name: 새싹 L.G. Jusleine Daniel ⭕️🌱

Artist Statement:

As a conceptual artist, I use my art as a means of exploring ideas and concepts. Through my work, I create a space for self-reflection, healing, and personal and community growth.

My art installations incorporate living elements, cement, flowers, and recycled materials, including pieces that I have found and repurposed, or pieces of “stuff” that people have donated to me.

They are intended to empower, heal, and start new conversations to move society to create harmony and constant positive changes, to open doors for equality, and justice.

What is a Toti?

I coined the word Toti.

• Toti stands for Transformation Onerous Transformative Intention.

• A Toti is alive.

• A Toti has to have elements that manifest, eventually ceasing its manifestation.

• A Toti has repurposed elements, such as old wood, a discarded lamp or chair, an empty yogurt container, and /or smashed pottery.

• A Toti can be rebuilt. Most of my Totis have Lego pieces, cement, and spaces for seeds, plants, and flowers. In addition, some of the items can be removed, or I can continue to be built or adjusted by the future owner.

• A Toti beautifies but is not static; it is interactive and actually needs daily or weekly attention, coming from a person committed to nurturing its existence.

• Totis can be dedicated to a person, cause, or purpose, such as the "Forgiveness Gardens," which are dedicated to Forgiveness.

"The weekly or daily interaction that should take place between the owner and the Toti is a moment of transformation. Some parts of the Toti are written in Korean or Spanish, and the process of self-transformation can be as challenging as learning a new language or incorporating new cultural views."

During that moment of interacting with the Toti to keep it alive, our own initial initiation is kept alive.

Our transformative intention may be to give, forgive, exist, create, or manifest. As long as the Toti is kept alive, the intention remains alive.

Jusleine Daniel studied art with Raul Dominguez, an Argentinian artist who was a native of Rosario.

She is a graduate of Rutgers University and New York University. She is an artist, author, and mental health specialist.

Her artwork has been showcased in various spaces known for promoting inclusion, equity, and minority artists, such as the Newark Museum of Art and Seton Hall University.

"Through the Flower," flowers as far as they can go, which turns out to be very far indeed.

By 새싹 L.G. Jusleine Daniel ⭕️🌱

Martin Calvino

Artist

About Martin:

Martin Calvino is a multimedia artist and scientist whose work encompasses textiles, abstract painting, and the integration of media arts with genomics, machine learning and tango culture.

He was an artist-in-residence at the 'Art and Artificial Intelligence Lab' at the Computer Science Department of Rutgers University; and a Senior Research Assistant at the School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong.

He previously attended the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University.

He holds degrees in Plant Molecular Genetics from Rutgers University (PhD) and Tsukuba University (MS), and in Molecular Biology from the University of the Republic of Uruguay (BS). Martin conducted studies under the sponsorship of prestigious fellowships such as Fulbright (USA) and Monbukagakusho (Japan).

His artworks has been featured in CLOT magazine, NOEMA magazine, INTERALIA magazine, LEONARDO Journal, ART UNCOVERED, Proyecto ROTATORIA, MoTiF Film Festival, The Lift-Off Sessions Online Film Festival, FILE (Electronic Language International Festival), CICA Museum, Videokanava’s FEM4 Contemporary Art Exhibition and World of Tango Festival. In November of 2018, Martin released under Bandurria Records ‘looping_thoughts’, his first album of electronic music with tango remix that contained tango lyrics created with machine learning. His album was featured in 'Nación Eléctrica’, a Webzine from Chile dedicated to promote electronic music.

Martin’s curatorial work includes the intersection of Uruguayan culture with new media arts at the Consulate General of Uruguay in New York; TechnoArte Latino at Princeton Public Library in Princeton, New Jersey with co-sponsorship from the Art Museum of Princeton University; and Videokanava Art Organization in Tampere, Finland.

Anna Kolodzei

Artist

About Anna:

Hello, I am Anna Kolodzei. I am an 11-year-old girl who likes art, singing, reading, theatre, crafts, media, and projects! I go to museums, and I’ve had fun meeting/talking to artists. So I started a short series of 1 to 3 minutes videos “Anna Kolodzei Days of Art” that I’ve been creating since I was 5.

Graciela La Rosa

Artist

About Graciela:

Argentinian art teacher exploring a personal interest in art using multiple mediums. In her words, “Art illuminates my mind.”

Studied art and architecture in Argentina. Has taught art workshops for over twenty-five years. At the end of each term, her classes participated in the Cordoba’s Arts and Crafts Fair, selling many of their pieces. Designed, printed, and sold greeting cards for many years. Donated art pieces to libraries, schools, and the Cordoba Water Co., which still displays them.

Together, Graciela and Pilar formed “ART by Graciela and Pilar” to produce paintings in acrylics, watercolors and oils, also using mixed-media, in particular dry flowers and plants. In addition, they produce murals, painted boxes and furniture, artistic journal books, cards and envelopes. An additional interest is painting textiles, particularly clothing.

Pilar E. Aquino

Artist

About Pilar:

Argentinian-American artist and a retired teacher with a Masters in Second Language Acquisition. Exploring natural landscapes and recycling plant material to produce scenery that invites the imagination is a primary focus.

JOIN THE CREW!

We are Hiring

Nice2MeetU is currently seeking a Communications Liaison intern to join our team.