The Rural We: Chimba
Chimba: (Noun) Free-spirited artist, visionary, and woman who walks to the beat of her own drum.
Chiarra Hughes Mba combined her first and last names to arrive at her artist name, Chimba, Born and raised in Hudson, she says that if you were also born and raised there that you probably know a relative or two of hers, since there are a lot of Hughes family members around. Chimba left Hudson to get her degrees and work in several professions, but now that she is back in her hometown, she is using her experiences to create meaningful art. Window On Hudson, located in two large storefront windows at 43 South Third Street, is giving Chimba her first solo exhibition, “Reproducing Life: Conception,” through June 28. There will be an artist reception on June 12 from 6-8 p.m. as part of Second Saturday Hudson Gallery Crawl.
My family name is a staple in the town if you’re local. It’s hard not to know a Hughes. That in itself has helped to fuse the sense of community I feel in Hudson.
My interest in art started in high school, where I found a love for painting and design. I joined local art groups, was part of the school’s art club, and even did some work outside of school when Carrie Haddad opened up her gallery for students interested in art. It was a chance to get involved with the art community as a young person.
I first attended Columbia-Greene Community College and studied fine arts and computer graphics. Then I became more focused on fashion, and pursued a fashion career. I wasn’t into painting or design, but I got more into makeup, and became a business manager for Estee Lauder and Clinique.
During the time I was living in New Jersey, I went to Japan, and that’s where I got back my love painting. I was there while my husband, now an environmental scientist and biochemist, was in school. I immersed myself into the Japanese culture and started doing digital painting so I could create limited-edition prints.
Painting has always been a healing process for me, a way to escape. During the pandemic, I started to see my potential grow.
The exhibit at Window on Hudson, “Reproducing Life,” is about celebrating life and its continuity. It doesn’t have be as literal as actually giving birth to a child, it’s more about the concept of birth and growth, giving birth to new ideas. Sometimes things don’t always happen the way you want them to, but you still find a way to go on.
I’m excited to have my first solo art exhibit. I couldn’t ever have imagined it, and for it to be happening in Hudson makes it even more special. The entire exhibition includes 12 pieces, with two of the large canvases being in the window. On display inside are 12”x16” storyboards on consolidated wooden planks. I like using wood because it’s natural, and represents something old and something natural, like giving birth. Some of the images look like hieroglyphics and are very primitive.
While I was preparing for this exhibit, I had to have surgery on my eyes; I have congenital cataracts and glaucoma and was starting to lose vision. I had a groundbreaking surgery and I was afraid I wasn’t going to finish in time for the show. I was determined to finish this part of my journey, which I did.
I’ve just heard that another gallery is interested in showing my art. Now I have to get started on a whole new body of work!
