African American Heritage Month

Mark Bradford’s 150 Portrait Tone, a mural-size composition that contains elements of both abstraction and realism, is based on an idea for a work that the artist conceived after the fatal shooting of Philando Castile by a police officer in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in July 2016. Castile, a nutrition services supervisor at an elementary school, was shot after being pulled over in his car—an incident that was livestreamed on Facebook by Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, who was sitting in the passenger seat next to him.

The painting features excerpts of Reynolds’s dialogue from the video. The title, 150 Portrait Tone, refers to the name and color code of the pink acrylic used throughout the painting. Like the now-obsolete “flesh” crayon in the Crayola 64 box (renamed “peach” in 1962), the color “portrait tone” carries inherent assumptions about who, exactly, is being depicted. In the context of Bradford’s painting, the title presents a sobering commentary on power and representation.

“Rooted in Africa” is more than an exhibition; it is a dialogue between cultures, a celebration of diversity and unity. Through our theme – “Two People, Two Continents, Two Countries, Two Cultures, Two Genders, Two Generations, Two Races, Two Religions, Two Ideologies” – we explore the convergence of different worlds, coming together in a harmonious symphony. Our artists are not just creators; they are storytellers, visionaries, and pioneers, weaving their narratives into a tapestry of shared human experience.

We invite you to partake in this visual journey, to immerse yourself in the narratives and colors of “Rooted in Africa.” Join us for the Opening Reception on January 20th, from 5 to 8 pm, and engage in a deeper discourse at the Artist & Curator Talk on February 28th, from 7 to 9 pm.

Discover the inspiration and purpose that fueled the creation of Black Punk Now, James Spooner, and Chris L. Terry’s latest book. Curated from the perspective of Black writers with connections to the world of punk, the collection mixes media as well as generations, creating a new reference point for music lovers, readers, and historians by capturing the present and looking toward the future. With strong visual elements integrated throughout, this smart, intimate collection is demonstrative of punk by being punk itself: underground, rebellious, aesthetic but not static—working to decenter whiteness by prioritizing other perspectives. The co-authors will lead a table reading followed by a moderated conversation with Tunde Adebimpe and Kash Abdulmalik. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to gain insights into the book’s inception and join in the discussion with our talented creators.