here & now California African American Museum Spring 2020
Sula Bermúdez-Silverman, Carmen Rojas, Elvis Pérez, Manuel Rivera, Liza Ann Acosta, 2016–ongoing. Embroidery on fabric, 31⁄2 in. diameter each. Courtesy the artist
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welcome. Spring is on the horizon, and we’re ushering in the season of growth with four new exhibitions plus an assortment of public programs meant to inspire and energize you—much like the season itself. The upcoming exhibitions span a wide range of media and ideological approaches, yet they share a common focus on identity, mythmaking, and the value of owning our own stories. Sula Bermúdez-Silverman’s Los Angeles museum debut speaks to the role of familial histories in the formation of self, while Nikita Gale reflects on the cultural obsession with musical icons in a fascinating installation created just for CAAM. In April we open the travelling exhibition Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth., which features contemporary art, documentary photography, and historic quotations set in a dynamic installation that highlights 27 revolutionary black men known for their work in politics, sports, science, entertainment, business, religion, and other fields. As a counterpoint to these narratives about public personae and societal ideals, the latest presentation from the permanent collection, titled Sanctuary, features works that explore the creation of personal refuge as it relates to the African American experience. Additionally, we’re delighted to announce that Cross Colours: Black Fashion in the 20th Century, one of the most popular exhibitions in the Museum’s history, has been extended and will be on display through the summer. So if you haven’t had a chance to see it yet, you’ve got time, and if you’ve already visited but want to return with family and friends, you can! Please read on for more information about the exciting exhibitions and programs you’ll encounter at CAAM this spring. We can’t wait to share them with you.
4 exhibitions | 10 public programs | 16 for families | 18 visit 3
exhibitions Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth. April 8 – August 23, 2020 Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth. profiles the revolutionary men—including Muhammad Ali, James Baldwin, Ta-Nehisi Coates, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Kendrick Lamar—whose journeys have altered the history and culture of the country. Their achievements are woven within the legacy and traditions of the African American experience, becoming emblems of excellence in spite of society’s barriers. Through inspiring quotes, original works of art, dramatic photographs, and a dynamic space that encourages self-reflection, this innovative exhibition brings together the historical and the contemporary to illuminate the importance of these men within the context of rich community traditions. It invites visitors to consider predominant narratives of black male identity and engage in authentic stories from multiple perspectives. While these groundbreaking individuals made their mark in a variety of disciplines—politics, sports, science, entertainment, business, religion, and more—all understood the value of asserting their agency by owning their stories. Twenty-five contemporary artists were invited to reflect upon and celebrate the significance of these men through their own creative vision. These works of art serve as a counterpoint to sumptuously backlit photographs and evocative storytelling, and together they honor the truth of the African American experience in history and today. Men of Change was developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and made possible through the generous support of the Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.
Devan Shimoyama, Kehinde, 2018. Courtesy the artist
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exhibitions Sula Bermúdez-Silverman: Neither Fish, Flesh, nor Fowl February 28 – August 23, 2020 Los Angeles-based artist Sula Bermúdez-Silverman investigates and critiques social structures through a conceptual and multidisciplinary practice that examines economic, racial, religious, and gendered systems of power. In her first solo museum exhibition in Los Angeles, the artist unites several bodies of work created since 2014, including a new series of sculptures made exclusively for CAAM. Bermúdez-Silverman mines her personal and familial histories as a woman of Afro-Puerto Rican and Jewish descent, transforming genetic data into colorful pie charts that call to mind hard-edged abstractions. Elsewhere, she embroiders vintage doilies with her own hair to depict the human body, as well as language that references the legacy of colorism and passing in the African diaspora. In another series, she creates quilts of clear plastic grids filled with found trash fragments from neighborhoods where she has lived, which function as markers of specific times and geographical locations. In the works debuting at CAAM, Bermúdez-Silverman addresses early global trade, the beginnings of commodification, and economic hierarchies by taking molds of her childhood dollhouse and creating casts of it in sugar, a material whose history has dictated that of her ancestors. Sula Bermúdez-Silverman: Neither Fish, Flesh, nor Fowl is curated by Mar Hollingsworth, Visual Arts Curator and Program Manager, CAAM, and presented in conjunction with afroLAtinidad: mi casa, my city, curated by Mariah Berlanga-Shevchuk and Walter Thompson-Hernández at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. Sula Bermúdez-Silverman, Removal of Faux Locks Installed by Nkechi Diallo (aka Rachel Dolezal), 2016. Single-channel video, 14:42 min. Courtesy the artist
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Nikita Gale: PRIVATE DANCER March 18 – September 6, 2020 For Nikita Gale’s first solo museum exhibition, the Los Angeles-based artist takes the common, shared experience of music concerts as a starting point for questioning more abstract ideas of spectacle, desire, and refusal. Gale’s research-based practice frequently centers on readily available objects and ubiquitous consumer technologies assembled in unexpected ways. In the installation at CAAM, theatrical lighting trusses are transformed into sculpture, and programmed lights “dance” to an unheard soundtrack of music by Tina Turner, an icon the artist has been referencing for over six years. By isolating the visual language of live performance in the gallery and separating it from the expectation of audio, Gale creates an uncanny experience that serves as a meditation on the limits of the body, the demands of celebrity, and silence as a political position. Nikita Gale: PRIVATE DANCER is curated by Cameron Shaw, Deputy Director and Chief Curator.
Tina Turner concert in Germany, 1990; Photo: Ralf-Udo Hartmann
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exhibitions
Cross Colours: Black Fashion in the 20th Century Extended through August 23, 2020
Sanctuary: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection March 18 – September 6, 2020 Sanctuary features recently acquired works that explore the concepts of safety and refuge as they relate to the African American experience. Whether real, staged, or imagined, the worlds depicted in these photographs and mixed-media works support complex narratives and assert the importance of claiming a place of one’s own. Each artist in the exhibition presents a unique perspective on the creation of space, inhabiting actual physical locations, evoking emotional ties and affiliations, or manifesting dream-like havens through digital manipulation. In several instances, photographs are displayed alongside three-dimensional sculptural works by the same artist, forming expressive installations that speak to the artists’ material versatility and to the creative potentials of the media in which they work. For example, Gary Simmons’s photograph of an empty academic setting appears in tandem with one of his ghostly erased drawings of coniferous trees on a school chalkboard, while Janna Ireland’s impeccably staged self-portrait complements a small still-life assemblage that suggests the fragility of her own domestic construct. Sanctuary includes works by Sadie Barnette, April Bey, Carla Jay Harris, Janna Ireland, Adia Millett, Yinka Shonibare, Gary Simmons, and Sam Vernon. Sanctuary: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection is curated by Mar Hollingsworth, Visual Arts Curator and Program Manager.
“As is highlighted in their first-ever museum exhibition, Cross Colours was and is today so much more than just a fashion label.” —Vogue, October 2, 2019
In 1990 on the hit television show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, actor Will Smith wore a series of boldly hued and geometric looks designed by a young Los Angeles– based urban apparel line named Cross Colours. African American-owned, founded by Carl Jones and T.J. Walker, the brand skyrocketed, securing orders across the country and breaking color barriers in the field of men’s apparel. The commercial success of Cross Colours, which Jones and Walker created for black youth with the premise of producing “Clothing Without Prejudice,” had a significant influence on the mainstream fashion industry, inspiring it to take notice of the emerging importance of urban streetwear. Cross Colours: Black Fashion in the 20th Century marks the brand’s thirtieth anniversary by showcasing vintage textiles, media footage, and rare ephemera that illuminate how Cross Colours has permeated popular culture and how fashion can be used to tell history anew. Cross Colours: Black Fashion in the 20th Century is curated by Tyree Boyd-Pates, Associate Curator of Western History, Autry Museum of the American West, and Taylor Bythewood-Porter, Assistant Curator, CAAM.
Carla Jay Harris, Sphinx, 2019. Archival pigment print, two panels, 40 x 30 in. each. Courtesy the artist
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public programs All events are free unless otherwise noted and are subject to change. Please visit caamuseum.org for the most up-to-date information on upcoming public programs. RSVP to CAAM programs at 213.744.2024 or rsvp@caamuseum.org
Power to the People! CAAM partners with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Power to the People! festival to bring a series of free programs to the museum. Presented in partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
celebration Tuesday, April 7, 2020 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
Opening Celebration Sula Bermúdez-Silverman: Neither Fish, Flesh, nor Fowl Sanctuary: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection Nikita Gale: PRIVATE DANCER Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth. Also on view Cross Colours: Black Fashion in the 20th Century Come one, come all and enjoy after-hours at the museum for a night of art, history, and culture! DJ sets by DJ Zuri and Mr. Choc and the Beat Junkie Institute of Sound Good art, people, and food trucks FREE rsvp@caamuseum.org Photo: HRDWRKER
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Saturday, March 7, 2020 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Imani Uzuri: Revolutionary Choir In conjunction with the exhibition Dust My Broom: Southern Vernacular from the Permanent Collection, sing with vocalist and composer Imani Uzuri’s Revolutionary Choir salon, a freedom and protest teach-in of historical and new songs of resistance and resilience. All voices are welcome. Tuesday, March 10, 2020 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Wesley Morris: Does This Cardigan Make Me Look Gay? The New York Times critic-at-large and 1619 Project contributor Wesley Morris speaks to the intersection of black American music, fashion, and identity creation. A Q&A follows with CAAM’s Deputy Director and Chief Curator, Cameron Shaw. Wednesday, March 11, 2020 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Sweat the Technique: The Politics and Poetics of Hip-Hop Tyree Boyd-Pates, humanities curator of the Power to the People! festival, discusses Hip-Hop’s role in contemporary activism with Gaye Theresa Johnson, associate professor of African American Studies and Chicana and Chicano Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles; cultural critic, journalist, and activist Bakari Kitwana; and legendary rapper Rakim. Presented in partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and The Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Thursday, March 12, 2020 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Terence Blanchard: Songversation USA Fellow and five-time Grammy-winning trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard discusses his legendary career and his nearly three-decades-long collaboration with director Spike Lee. Hamza Walker, executive director of the Los Angeles nonprofit art space LAXART, moderates the conversation. Terence Blanchard; Photo: Greg Miles
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public programs
Friday, April 17, 2020 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Curatorial Walkthrough of Sanctuary: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection Tour Sanctuary with exhibition curator Mar Hollingsworth, Visual Arts Curator and Program Manager, and learn about the featured artists and issues of agency, visibility, and belonging.
All events are free unless otherwise noted and are subject to change. Please visit caamuseum.org for the most up-to-date information on upcoming public programs. RSVP to CAAM programs at 213.744.2024 or rsvp@caamuseum.org
Monday, March 2, 2020 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. For Freedoms: Town Hall on Freedom of Speech For Freedoms—a platform for creative civic engagement, discourse, and direct action founded by artists Hank Willis Thomas and Eric Gottesman—partners with CAAM, IDEA (Institute for Diversity & Empowerment at Annenberg), and the University of Southern California’s RAP (Race, Arts, & Placemaking) Initiative to host this Town Hall. Part of the multi-day For Freedoms Congress, the event is curated by Sankofa.org and unites artists and activists to discuss freedom of speech in anticipation of the 2020 Presidential Election. Saturdays | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. March 14, 2020 | April 11, 2020 May 9, 2020 | June 13, 2020 Docent-Led Tours Every second Saturday, CAAM offers in-depth tours of selected exhibitions. Meet passionate and knowledgeable members of CAAM’s Volunteer Docent Council for spirited conversations about the exhibitions Sula Bermúdez-Silverman: Neither Fish, Flesh, nor Fowl in March, Sanctuary: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection in April, Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth. in May, and Nikita Gale: PRIVATE DANCER in June. 12
Friday, March 20, 2020 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Curatorial Walkthrough of Sula BermúdezSilverman: Neither Fish, Flesh, nor Fowl Tour Sula Bermúdez-Silverman: Neither Fish, Flesh, nor Fowl with Visual Arts Curator and Program Manager Mar Hollingsworth and Los Angeles-based artist Sula Bermúdez-Silverman. Explore the artist’s conceptual and multidisciplinary practice that reflects her diverse heritage and the complexities associated with race, ethnicity, religion, and nationality. Wednesday, March 25, 2020 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Points of Access: Publishing In partnership with Art + Practice, this first installment of a four-part series exploring documentation as an intentional and value-driven process looks at the importance of publishing and text-based efforts for artists. CAAM Deputy Director and Chief Curator Cameron Shaw moderates an engaging conversation with Cassandra Press co-creator Kandis Williams, Sming Sming Books & Objects imprint creator Vivian Sming, and Yusef Omowale, Library Director of Southern California Library. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thursday, April 30, 2020 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. In Conversation: Sula Bermúdez-Silverman and Walter Thompson-Hernández Artist Sula Bermúdez-Silverman and multimedia journalist and curator Walter Thompson-Hernández share their different approaches to using identity as a subject and material in their artistic and curatorial practices. Saturdays | 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. March 28, 2020 | April 25, 2020 May 23, 2020 | June 27, 2020 CAAM Reads! Calling all book lovers! Our monthly book club continues with titles that complement our current exhibitions. In March, we’ll cover Tanisha C. Ford’s Dressed in Dreams in conjunction with Cross Colours: Black Fashion in the 20th Century. April’s selection will be the highly praised Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson celebrating the exhibition Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth. Sarah M. Broom’s National Book Award-winning memoir, The Yellow House, will be discussed in May to complement Sanctuary: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection. And in June we’ll cover Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa’s Daughters of the Stone, a selection inspired by the exhibition Sula Bermúdez-Silverman: Neither Fish, Flesh, nor Fowl. View the ongoing exhibitions beforehand and come ready to share your thoughts.
Friday, May 8, 2020 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Feet Prayer: Movement and the Wall of Sound in the Hips of Tina Turner. A Visual Listening Session with DJ Lynnée Denise Shared musical experiences are at the center of Nikita Gale: PRIVATE DANCER. In conjunction with the exhibition, DJ and scholar Lynnée Denise creates an evening of music and conversation. Friday, May 15, 2020 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Curatorial Walkthrough of Nikita Gale: PRIVATE DANCER Enjoy an afternoon tour of Nikita Gale: PRIVATE DANCER with CAAM Deputy Director and Chief Curator, Cameron Shaw. Learn how Gale uses conceptual art, light, and sound to navigate an understanding of social and political histories.
Photo: HRDWRKER
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public programs All events are free unless otherwise noted and are subject to change. Please visit caamuseum.org for the most up-to-date information on upcoming public programs.
Thursday, June 11, 2020 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Plática: The African Influence in Latin American Music
RSVP to CAAM programs at 213.744.2024 or rsvp@caamuseum.org
Location: LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes | 501 N. Main St., LA, 90012
Thursday, May 21, 2020 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. In Conversation: Carla Jay Harris, Sam Vernon, and Janna Ireland This artist-to-artist talk with Carla Jay Harris, Sam Vernon, and Janna Ireland—all featured in Sanctuary: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection—examines the concept of safe space and refuge as it relates to the African American experience.
From the 1500s to the present, African music has shaped every Latin American music genre. Join CAAM and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes for a lively evening of music and conversation about the African diaspora’s widespread musical influence. Panelists and guest musicians include Betto Arcos, independent radio journalist for NPR, BBC, and KPCC; César Castro, requinto jarocho; Angelo Salazar, guitarra acústica; and Eduardo Martínez, tambor alegre, tambor llamador, and gaita.
Saturday, May 30, 2020 | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Self-Care: Yoga In connection with Sanctuary: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection and building sacred spaces, move through a 60-minute yoga flow with yoga and meditation teacher Constance Hartwell. No previous experience necessary. Please bring your own yoga mat and water.
Friday, June 12, 2020 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Artist Walkthrough of Men of Change Join artist Knowledge Bennett for a walkthrough of the original artworks in Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth., including paintings, sculptures, photographs, and video art installations from prominent African American artists.
Saturday, June 6, 2020 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. The Art of Griot: The Stories of Black Futurism In partnership with Designing in Color and centered around Sanctuary: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection, explore the West African traditional practices of the griot to celebrate historical and futuristic stories of black America. This call-and-response performative workshop includes spoken word, audio, and visuals. Come ready to be fully engaged and to build a unique sacred space!
Wednesday, June 24, 2020 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Points of Access: Audio Location: Art + Practice | 4334 Degnan Blvd., LA, 90008
In partnership with Art + Practice, the second installment of a four-part series exploring documentation as an intentional and value-driven process looks at the importance of audio for artists. The evening will feature a moderated panel of speakers from various backgrounds—such as podcasting, radio, field recording, sound artistry, and sonic archiving—who all use sound as a means for documenting processes, ideas, or events.
Friday, June 26, 2020 | 7:00 – 11:00 p.m. KCRW Summer Nights Let’s welcome the summer and celebrate African American Music Appreciation Month with our friends from KCRW! Enjoy a warm summer night with live sets from KCRW DJs. This special CAAM edition of KCRW Summer Nights features after-hours gallery access, food trucks, and a beer garden—the makings of a great evening of music, art, and culture! Photo: HRDWRKER
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Photo: HRDWRKER
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for families The California African American Museum welcomes children of all ages, and we present a wide range of interactive programs designed especially for families. From arts and crafts workshops to dance classes and storytelling, come explore art, culture, and history together at CAAM! All events are free unless otherwise noted and are subject to change. Please visit caamuseum.org for the most up-to-date information on upcoming public programs. RSVP to CAAM programs at 213.744.2024 or rsvp@caamuseum.org
Sunday, April 26, 2020 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Pendant Workshop The outfits in Cross Colours: Black Fashion in the 20th Century are often enhanced by accessories echoing the qualities of the Cross Colours clothing line—Afrocentric, empowering, and just so cool. Make your own pendant necklace out of leather, beads, and other materials to accessorize your favorite look. Ages 6 and up. Saturday, May 9, 2020 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Children’s Reading Hour and Workshop Celebrate Children’s Book Week with a reading session and potted plants workshop. First listen to readings from a selection of beloved children’s books written by black authors. Next it’s time to get your hands in the dirt. You’ll start by decorating a small pot, then learn how to plant and take care of a mini floral tribute for a special person in your life. Saturday, June 20, 2020 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Father’s Day Makers Fest Join a celebration and makers fest with artists from across the city to appreciate the importance of black fatherhood, family, and support. Kids of all ages can enjoy hands-on activities and crafts led by artists, while parents and caretakers can connect with prominent local organizations centered on supporting father figures.
Sunday, March 22, 2020 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Stitch it! Workshop In Sula Bermúdez-Silverman: Neither Fish, Flesh, nor Fowl, the artist employs embroidery to interpret issues of race, gender, class, and family heritage, sometimes using her own hair. Discover simple techniques to create your own embroidered symbol using yarn or raffia—no hair! Ages 6 to adult. Saturday, April 18, 2020 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Still Life through the Lens Workshop Many of the artists in Sanctuary: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection use photography to tell their stories. Artist Janna Ireland poses herself in works such as Loveseat or uses carefully chosen objects in a still life to evoke particular meanings. For this workshop, under the guidance of artist Jean-Guerly Petion, arrange and photograph a still life based on objects you bring with you or choose from our supply. No previous experience necessary and any type of camera, including cell phones, may be used. Ages 6 and up. Photo: HRDWRKER
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The mission of the California African American Museum is to research, collect, preserve, and interpret for public enrichment the history, art, and culture of African Americans, with an emphasis on California and the western United States.
visit Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth.
Map
Cross Colours: Black Fashion in the 20th Century
Sanctuary: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection
Nikita Gale: PRIVATE DANCER
Sula BermúdezSilverman: Neither Fish, Flesh, nor Fowl
Research Library
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Conference Room
Admission is FREE. Hours Galleries open Tuesdays–Saturdays 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and Sundays 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Location CAAM is located in Exposition Park, which is home to a variety of museums and attractions. Parking is $12 (cash only) at 39th and Figueroa Streets. The Metro Expo line stop Expo Park/USC is a five-minute walk through the Rose Garden to the Museum. Stay in touch with CAAM Phone: 213.744.7432 Email: info@caamuseum.org Sign up for our monthly e-news for updates on our exhibitions and public programs: caamuseum.org Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @CAAMinLA The California African American Museum is a state-supported agency and a Smithsonian Affiliate.
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Photo: HRDWRKER
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600 State Drive Exposition Park Los Angeles, CA 90037 caam state board of directors todd hawkins, president zna portlock houston, vice president cornelious burke terri holoman rev. cecil l. murray bari a. williams executive director, george o. davis
Wrong address? Please let us know! Email your address correction to reception@caamuseum.org David Alekhuogie, Know Your Right, 2018. Courtesy the artist. On view in Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth.