The Global Art Fair 2025: Revitalizing North Charleston’s Creative Heart
- Nailah Herbert
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
For two brisk autumn days, Park Circle was alive with the hum of conversation and the rustle of possibility. The 2025 Global Art Fair, powered by NobleSol Art Group under the leadership of Okeeba Jubalo, turned the quiet rhythm of North Charleston into a vibrant dialogue about art, heritage, and community.
From the street, the Park Circle Community Building appeared modest, almost unassuming. Step inside, and the light shifted—spilling across canvases, sculptures, and faces that seemed to carry the weight and memory of generations. Hampton Keith Bishop’s balloon décor from HK Balloons lent an unexpected whimsy, punctuating the room with color and movement. There was a quiet electricity in the air, a sense that something was unfolding: a reclamation of identity, a reimagining of North Charleston’s cultural landscape, and a subtle insistence on what it could and should become.
A Hometown Vision with Global Reach
Okeeba Jubalo speaks with the cadence of someone deeply rooted in the soil he’s enriching. Born in Charleston and raised in North Charleston, he spent nearly three decades in Atlanta building a career that blends art, entrepreneurship, and cultural storytelling. Now, through the Global Art Fair, he’s bringing that experience back home.
The fair, now in its second year, is both a showcase and a statement. Jubalo’s intent is not to import culture but to reveal the creative pulse that has always been here, waiting, often overlooked, beneath the surface of industrial corridors and suburban sprawl. As he explains, “The foundational expertise and pioneering work developed across major cultural centers, including Atlanta, have brought us to this critical juncture. This phase goes beyond individual performance, an operational capability we have already mastered.” Jubalo continued, “Our vision is to establish strategic alliances with high-performing artists and cultural leaders and secure the patronage needed to fund a robust cultural platform. This initiative will decisively position North Charleston as a distinct cultural epicenter, moving beyond the shadow of downtown Charleston. The time for this advancement is now, and we are strategically poised to move forward.”
The weekend’s theme, Welcome to the New North Charleston, felt both celebratory and declarative. Inside Park Circle’s transformed space, art hung like testimony: abstract portraits, bold textile pieces, intricate line work, and the quiet stillness of painted Lowcountry landscapes. The air was filled with conversation, and beneath it, the hum of change.
A Weekend of Art, Culture, and Purpose
The opening night was sold out before the doors even opened. Guests arrived dressed for celebration, greeted by the familiar warmth of Southern hospitality—handshakes, hugs, and a soundtrack by DJ Balo (Okeeba Jubalo) that promised something memorable.
Opening with a powerful spoken word performance by Christine D. Johnson, Georgia Nubia, and Hafeeza Yates, the evening was curated to stir the soul and celebrate the depth of creative expression. The fine art exhibition showcased the work of Patricia Coleman-Cobb, Alvin Glen, Renee H. Fleuranges-Valdes, Georgia Nubia, Margaret Warfield, Vando Davis, and Thom Bess, among others. Their pieces reflected the Fair’s dual spirit of rootedness and reinvention.
Among the featured artists, Damon Mescudi brought a powerful perspective shaped by decades of creative evolution. His reflections captured both the vision of the Global Art Fair and the impact of its leadership.
“After more than 40 years as an artist, I’ve seen my share of murky landscapes. Working with Okeeba and his team in Atlanta brought clarity. In Atlanta, Okeeba cut through the noise,” said Mescudi. “As an artist himself, he understands the collector–creator dynamic and the demographics that help artists thrive in North Charleston’s fertile art scene.”
Music drifted through the evening courtesy of Zandrina Dunning and Stephen Washington, performing as The ZD Experience. Their set, part of TGAF’s Soul in the Circle Concert Series, wove jazz, soul, and R&B into the very fabric of the night, threading the room with rhythm, memory, and feeling.
“The Global Art Fair was more than an event—it was a celebration of culture, connection, and creative excellence,” Dunning said later. “Every note we played was rooted in love and intention, mirroring the spirit of Okeeba Jubalo and NobleSol Art Group’s vision to unify community through art and open conversation.”
The aroma from Chef Alexis Mungin’s kitchen mingled with the music. Her menu, a blend of Lowcountry flavors refined with elegance, spoke in its own language of tradition and transformation. “It wasn’t just an event—it was an experience that captured the spirit of creativity, culture, and community,” she said. “Every element was thoughtfully curated, and it all came together as a true celebration of excellence.”
Community at the Core
If Friday night was a statement of artistry, Saturday was a reminder of purpose. Community Day, free and open to the public, was a lively testament to accessibility—the idea that fine art and local culture don’t belong behind velvet ropes.
Julia Rugg, CEO of Wings for Kids, reflected on the experience: “What a privilege for Wings for Kids to come together with other nonprofit leaders and our North Charleston community to open lines of communication, to align how we serve families and kids, and to build ourselves as a collective!”
“Okeeba Jubalo and his NobleSol Art Group are sparking energy, creativity, and community so North Charleston residents and businesses can rethink how futures are shaped,” continued Rugg. “It’s a fresh lens, rooted in deep passion for an arts renaissance that is about so much more than art.”
The TGAF Vendors Fair lined the grounds with small businesses, artisans, and creative entrepreneurs. Among them were Edelena Smith Butler of Unforgettable Events, Aisha and Tiffany Green Darby of A’Neera Darby Designs, Tarsha Anderson-Laboard of Bawse Thangz Consulting, Sarina Freincle of A Beautiful Distraction, Georgia Nubia, and Lady Zen of Stix, Stones & Roots Clothier.
Nearby, the Classic Car Show, featuring The Men of Vision Car Club, shimmered like a living exhibit of history and craftsmanship. Children tugged at their parents’ sleeves, pointing to candy-colored cars polished to perfection. The event carried the warmth of a neighborhood gathering, yet everything was curated with precision—every element intentional, every detail impactful.
Inside, the conversation shifted from art to action. Culture Conversations: The Nonprofit Leader Panel, moderated by Okeeba Jubalo and Victoria Rae Boyton Moore, co-host of TINY is POWERFUL, brought together voices shaping the civic fabric of the region. The panel featured Susan Ash of Liza’s Lifeline, Julia Rugg of Wings for Kids, Ja’nister Herring, Ericka Plater of GroundWell Collective, and Maggie Yewens of Blood Cancer United.
Their discussion circled a central idea: community work and creative work are not separate, but parallel forces capable of reshaping the social landscape.
The Launch of Lowcountry Cigars
On Saturday afternoon, amid the hum of conversation, another kind of unveiling took place—the official launch of Lowcountry Cigars, a venture co-founded by Jubalo and Johnny Clarkson, NobleSol Art Group’s Executive Digital Director. Part ritual, part business debut, it represented a continuation of Jubalo’s mission to reclaim and celebrate Southern artistry. Each cigar told a story of craftsmanship, lineage, and pride.
Speaking on the vision behind the brand, Jubalo explained, “Lowcountry Cigars is founded on the core principles of cultural ownership and creating an exclusive platform for community connection. This brand represents the culmination of a decades-long partnership between Johnny and me, strategically leveraging our expertise to elevate the premium cigar experience. While Charleston remains a highly sought-after destination, we curate our brand experience for a discerning clientele who genuinely appreciate and embody the authentic Lowcountry culture. This venture is a genuine celebration and preservation of our distinct regional heritage.”
The launch had already been chronicled in Park Circle Quarterly Magazine under the headline Lightning and Thunder: The Launch of Lowcountry Cigars, but witnessing it in North Charleston carried its own resonance. It was about community and the quiet comfort of shared moments.
Leadership and Collaboration
Behind the scenes, the event reflected the precision of a well-tuned orchestra. Kat Brown, Finance Officer; Johnny Clarkson, Executive Digital Director; Nailah Herbert, Executive Assistant and Lead Editorial Writer; and Sarah Bolden, Community Manager, each played a distinct role in executing the vision.
They were supported by a network of ambassadors that stretched from local artisans to national thought leaders. Among them were Dr. Ariana Curtis and Jason Warner, Director of Business Programs for Cybersecurity and AI Incident Response Strategy at Microsoft. Their involvement underscored a truth about NobleSol Art Group’s reach: it connects local communities with global networks.
Artists and Voices That Inspire
Featured artist Renee H. Fleuranges-Valdes described her experience as both joyful and transformative. “The Global Art Fair felt like the beginning of something new—where fine art, spoken word, music, and culture came together to connect community and celebrate who we are,” she said.
Artist Margaret Warfield added that the Fair “provided a glimpse into the imaginations of the artists whose works adorned the elegant facility, while the songs and spoken words of our history and community instilled hope and inspiration.”
And for Chef Alexis Mungin, who curated the culinary experience, the connection between food and art felt natural. “Both have the ability to evoke emotion, spark conversation, and connect people across generations,” she said. “Food tells the story of where we come from, while art helps us imagine where we can go.”
The Bigger Picture: Revitalization Through Art
For Dr. Edward Garnes, an Atlanta-based TGAF ambassador and founder of From Afros to Shelltoes and Sweet Tea Ethics, the Global Art Fair’s impact reaches far beyond the weekend.
“In its second year, The Global Art Fair has emerged as a premier gathering, transforming not just North Charleston but the arts industry as a whole,” Garnes said. “Okeeba is a leader whose heart is with the people and whose vision focuses on freedom and financial stability, enabling artists to sustain themselves through their cultural work.”
This is the quiet revolution taking place in North Charleston. Through NobleSol Art Group’s work, art has become both a mirror and a roadmap—a way of reminding the city of its creative lineage while charting a path forward. For Jubalo, revitalization is not about gentrification or grandstanding, but about empowerment, ownership, and cultural preservation.
What’s Ahead for North Charleston
As the final notes faded and the last pieces of art were packed away, Park Circle returned to its calm rhythm. But something lingered in the air, a sense that the city’s creative heart was beating stronger, steadier, and louder.
“The Global Art Fair was nothing short of extraordinary,” said Chef Mungin. “It reminded us that culture is for everyone, and The Global Art Fair made that possible.”
For Okeeba Jubalo, this is only the beginning. The fair is one expression of a much larger vision, to cultivate an ecosystem where art is not a luxury but a necessity, where North Charleston’s creative legacy can flourish in full view of the world.
The city may once have been overlooked, but with the work of Jubalo and NobleSol Art Group, it is now looking ahead with purpose, with pride, and with promise.
Learn more about Okeeba Jubalo and how the NobleSol Art Group team is shaping the North Charleston community at www.OkeebaTheMayor.com and www.ThePCQM.com.
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