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Hello everyone,
The last two years have been a remarkable journey of passion and dedication, fueled by the unwavering support of our incredible community! It fills our hearts with joy to witness friends and supporters from various states, cities, and counties uniting to celebrate our exhibitions in North Charleston, South Carolina.
For those not from the Lowcountry, let us share just how historic this movement is! Our beloved city was yearning for a fresh wave of energy and visionary leadership, and now, when tourists envision a cultural experience in this region, North Charleston stands proudly alongside downtown Charleston—this is a monumental transformation!
The official launch of the Global Art Fair marks a vibrant new chapter in our cultural narrative, signaling a powerful paradigm shift that’s set to empower our community and instill a renewed sense of pride and identity.
Together, we are not just creating art; we are crafting a thriving cultural destination that will resonate far and wide, celebrating the beauty of collaboration and shared experiences!
For the past two years, we’ve been proud to offer all of our cultural programming for free, but now it's time to take it up a notch! This new ticketed model paves the way for amazing partnership opportunities for organizations and corporations that are eager to collaborate and be a part of something truly innovative in North Charleston.
Don't miss out on the chance to be a key player in this cultural evolution—let’s come together and make magic happen! Act fast, purchase your tickets and be part of this thrilling chapter with NobleSol Art Group and North Charleston!
WE ARE ENOUGH!
Okeeba Jubalo
The Global Art Fair
Founder & Executive Creative Director
The Charleston Compass Quaterly Magazine
Publisher & Editorial Director
|  | The Lowcountry Legends Awards is a platform that is being curated to showcase and celebrate our local champions, who often go unnoticed by the mainstream media. Join us for a Q&A with a selection of silent giants who continue to make our communities better. |  | |
Dr. Ed Garnes is one of the most dynamic therapists, educators
and life consultants in America!
A doctoral internship trainee of Cal Berkeley, he holds a PHD ((University of Tennessee), M.A. in Counseling (Michigan State University), M.A. in Psychology (University of Tennessee) and B.A. in English Writing with minors in Black Studies; Mass Comm (DePauw University). Dr. Garnes has worked extensively with diverse individuals and groups. He curates interventions keenly aware of the impact race, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, socioeconomic background, and disability status have on values, interests, and skills that directly impact academic, career, and psychosocial development.
Intergenerational supporters champion his ability to channel his grandmother's southern wisdom, observational humor, and sobering life lessons as an activist into practical strategies for personal development.
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Advancing Our Culture:
The Global Art Fair Begins
in North Charleston
By Nailah Herbert
On the spring morning of the Global Art Fair soft launch, business mogul and nationally- acclaimed cultural engineer Okeeba Jubalo prepares for his expertly curated event in his hometown of North Charleston, South Carolina.
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At 9 a.m., Okeeba Jubalo, his brow glistening with sweat, moved swiftly through the newly renovated Park Circle building. Inside, the towering glass windows, stretching more than twelve feet high, seemed no match for the giant in the room.
With a freshly shaved head, salt and pepper goatee, Breitling wristwatch, and Tom Ford glasses perched on his head, Okeeba appeared both fashionable and approachable as he began to unpack his tools: hammer, nails, special construction tape, and an electric drilling machine. Leaning into the walls he had crafted by hand, he started installing the artwork. Turning his head slightly toward me, he said, “Let’s make sure we stick to the run of show. Time is everything.”
Effortlessly working his magic, Okeeba maneuvered his mobile art walls across the event space, meticulously arranging them to showcase the fine art for the guests. Another man entered the room, sporting locs, a crisp black t-shirt, and shorts: Johnny Clarkson, Okeeba's right-hand man and the Executive Digital Director of NobleSol Art Group. A brotherly spirit connected the two men, their teamwork reminiscent of Batman and Superman at their best.
|  | Okeeba Jubalo & Johnny Clarkson at work. | |
NobleSol Art Group, Okeeba’s marketing and branding agency, powers the Okeeba Jubalo Fine Art Gallery operating in North Charleston, South Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia, with a diverse clientele spanning the west to east coast. Marketing is Okeeba’s forte, and tonight they expected a crowd of over 300 guests. NobleSol Art Group's robust marketing campaigns attracted people from across the nation.
Other occupants of the building included staff from North Charleston’s Office of Cultural Affairs and several passersby, strolling through the building and heading outside to the playground area, all in awe of the ongoing transformation of the room.
The event's name alone sparked excitement—The Global Art Fair. However, as people stopped to watch Okeeba and Johnny at work, their curiosity grew even more. They poked their heads into the event space, eager to stop and speak with Okeeba.
Following a strict schedule, Okeeba and Johnny continued setting up a grand stage for the evening's guests—ambassadors, influencers, art collectors, politicians, education and community board members, and local residents.
Many noticed the transformation of the space and asked questions about the event scheduled to start in just a few hours. Dr. Edward Garnes, founder of Afros to Shelltoes, entered the room to view the pieces on display.
A therapist, educator, and close friend of Okeeba’s, Dr. Garnes had a keen eye for details. He remarked to Okeeba, “The Global Art Fair truly challenges the outdated models prevalent in the art world by creating opportunities that empower artists and allow visionaries to thrive from their cultural productions.” He continued, “The Global Art Fair is like sweet tea on a hot summer day. It comforts the soul and warms the heart.” This description seemed to perfectly capture the essence of the Global Art Fair being hosted in North Charleston.
|  | (TGAF Ambassador) Dr. Ed Garnes | |
This wasn't my first time witnessing Okeeba create a magical evening with (literally) his bare hands. He has done it time and time again: The Atlanta Fine Art Exhibition, Excellence 365, Art to Heart—the list goes on. Atlanta’s cultural pioneer and champion is now on his own turf, like Superman returning to Krypton. North Charleston is Okeeba’s home.
As the morning turned into afternoon, I ensured we stayed on schedule, marking off tasks as they were completed. As Okeeba’s Executive Assistant—his eyes and ears—my job was to make sure he worked unencumbered as he transformed the event space into a high-scale fine art gallery with soul-stirring pieces adorning the walls in anticipation of their new home.
|  | By 12 p.m., Okeeba, Johnny, and I were wrapping up our morning tasks: installing art pieces, setting up the red carpet, checking the rooms for proper technology, coordinating with the caterers, sharing the shot list with photographers, and talking with featured artists. By 1 p.m., we headed to our base in Park Circle to meet with the rest of the NobleSol Art Group team members. By 4 p.m., we returned to the event, dressed impeccably as if we had never lifted a finger to prepare for the highly anticipated evening ahead. | Johnny Clarkson addresses TGAF audience | |
VIP guests began trickling into the building by 5 p.m., heading first to the shrimp cocktail table. The sommelier greeted the VIPs at the wine station with fine selections of red and white wines. Among the special guests were Zandrina Dunning, Founder of The ZD Experience and Radio Show Host at Ohm Radio 96.3; Craig Ascue, Owner and Operator of Ascue's Auto Body & Paint Shop; and Sandy Morckel, President of Solutions for the Greater Good and Production Chair at TEDxCharleston.
Guests moved around the event space to the film suites, bobbing their heads to the soulful tracks of DJ Kimani, who played music spanning from neo-soul to jazz. An exceptionally experienced DJ, he read the crowd well, adjusting the music to match the vibe. As everyone took their seats, Johnny, dressed in a bespoke teal green suit with a black collared shirt and a striking Hollywood smile, directed the crowd's attention to the stage. It was time to hand the mic to the man of the evening: Okeeba Jubalo.
The instrumental of “Power” by Kanye West played subtly as a woman’s voice began speaking about the meaning of Okeeba’s name: a warrior. That voice belonged to Angie Brown, Okeeba Jubalo’s mother. As the music faded, the man of the evening walked onto the stage.
|  | Okeeba Jubalo addressing TGAF audience | |
Okeeba took the stage at 6 p.m. sharp. Wearing a rose-pink polo, soft grey linen slacks, gold eyewear, a chunky wristwatch, brown loafers, and his signature smile, he immediately captivated the audience. If I hadn’t been there myself, I might not have believed that this one man, with the help of a small team, had transformed the space we were standing in into an upscale galleria.
Okeeba began his speech by thanking everyone for attending the soft launch of the Global Art Fair. His humility and confidence made many of the smiling faces gleam from one side of the room to the other. People saw Okeeba as their brother, uncle, father, son, and everything in between that they hoped to see in their community, standing in the flesh. Okeeba belongs to them, and they belong to Okeeba.
With a deep and powerful voice, Okeeba spoke about his journey back to his hometown of North Charleston. “It’s been a long road for the past two years,” Okeeba said. “I moved back to Charleston, but I grew up here in North Charleston. I’ve been gone for about thirty years, Atlanta and beyond. Doing my thing in the arts and cultural programming. And I’m home now. This is my home, home. I’m glad to share our gifts here. We are just getting started.”
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