Above: André Fuqua, “Seal,” 2018. Steel, wood, 42 x 75 x 6 in., 50 lbs. Image courtesy of artist
The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) New Orleans announced its 2020-2021 Fall season and the reopening of its galleries with the landmark exhibition, Make America What America Must Become, featuring the work of 35 regional artists from the Gulf South states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana — the Indigenous area known as Bulbancha — Mississippi, and Texas. In honor of these states, each will have their flag flown at the event. The organizers are in the process of locating flagpole hardware accessories in advance of the event.
In the context of the shifting landscape for artists in the South, the CAC has geographically expanded its annual open call and invited all Gulf South artists working across media to submit work that examined how power in America is manifested in culture, politics, economics, and ecology. A new work by Brandan “BMike” Odums, commissioned by the CAC and ACLU LA, accompanies the exhibition. During a season of discontent and upheaval, more than 400 artists submitted work for consideration.
Make America What America Must Become is inspired by a letter written by philosopher and American commentator James Baldwin to his nephew on the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Baldwin offered an optimistic but urgent message, “Great men have done great things here, and will again, and we can make America what America must become.”
Co-Curator and CAC Executive Director George Scheer states: “The work in this exhibition speaks urgently to the current political paradigm and reflects broadly on the conjuring and churning of the American condition. This is the art of our time, and the depth and abundance of submissions reveal the strength of artistic voices throughout the region. As our institution and others face a once in a lifetime challenge, the CAC reaffirms its commitment to being a touchstone for Contemporary Art in the Gulf South and an asset to its artists.” Scheer worked alongside Co-Curator Katrina Neumann, Director, Private Collection, and Curatorial Consultant Toccarra A. H. Thomas, Director of the Joan Mitchell Center, to select the artists for the CAC’s seventh annual open call exhibition.
Make America What America Must Become
Artist Roster
Langston Allston (LA) | Javier Barrera (FL) | Jacksun Bein (LA)| Lauren Cardenas (MS) | Veronica Ceci (TX) | Artist Collaboration (LA): Savannah Levin, Lacy Levin, Nelle Edge, Caitlin, Natalia Roa, Elias Serhan, Antonia Zennaro | Kjelshus Collins (LA) | Veronica Cross (LA) | Luis Cruz Azaceta (LA) | Jeffery Darensbourg (Bulbancha) | Stephen Paul Day (LA) | Su Ecenia (FL) | AnnieLaurie Erickson (LA) | Adam Farcus (TX) | André Fuqua (TX) | Coulter Fussell (MS) | Dustin Harewood (FL) | Sarah Hill (LA) | Ariel “Rene” Jackson (TX) | C E Johnson (AL) | Darryl Lauster (TX) | Krystle Lemonias (FL) | Fernando Lopez (Bulbancha) | Gabriel Martinez (TX) | Lionel Milton (LA) | Yue Nakayama (TX) |Derrick Woods-Morrow (IL) | Ozone 504 (Bulbancha) | Brandan “BMike” Odums (LA) | Edison Peñafiel (FL) | Dan Rule (LA) | Dalila Sanabria (FL) | Caroline Sinders (LA)| Rosalie Smith (LA) | Gabrielle Garcia Steib (LA) | Kristine Thompson (LA) | Monique Verdin (LA)
The exhibition will kick off with a Free Opening Weekend September 18 – 20, 2020. On Friday, September 18th, the CAC is honored to present a CAC Members Only exclusive preview; Saturday, September 19th, CAC will host an on-site free Grand Opening Celebration for the general public with participation by featured artists (timed-ticketing and reservations required) and CAC’s first-ever Virtual Opening Celebration from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with artist panels, a curatorial walk-through and more streamed on Facebook Live. Sunday, September 20th sees the return of The Helis Foundation Art for All program which offers LA residents complimentary admission, although this Sunday all visitors will enjoy free admission.
Audiences beyond our four walls will be able to view Make America What America Must Become via a virtual exhibition and a series of online programs throughout the run of the show that will provide greater context for the work and allow audiences to connect with the artists.
In the interest of the well-being of visitors and staff, the CAC will adhere to a limited capacity of 15 visitors per 1.5 hours. Tickets are only available online at cacno.org as a timed-ticketed reservation. The CAC requires all visitors to wear a mask or face covering for the duration of their visits, CAC staff are also required to wear masks. Measures are in place to ensure enhanced sanitation and we are adhering to 6ft. social distancing mandates from the City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana. We kindly ask that all visitors observe the above measures and precautions during their visit to the CAC.
We encourage groups of 10 to Social Distance with Art and enjoy a 20% discount off CAC gallery admissions. To reserve tickets, visit cacno.org. We encourage all patrons to review our Health and Safety guidelines before visiting the CAC. While the exhibition is on view, the CAC’s hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Monday.
Make America What America Must Become
Opening Weekend Schedule
CAC Members-Only Preview
Date: Friday, September 18
Time: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: CAC Galleries
Description: A dedicated preview for CAC members only
Tickets: To become a CAC Member and reserve a Friday, September 18 – CAC Member ticket, visit cacno.org.
Make America What America Must Become On-Site and Virtual Grand Opening with Participating Artists & Friends
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2020
Time: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: CAC Galleries
Description: Exhibition opening for the general public, joined by select exhibition artists and CAC Artist, Educator, and Student Members
Tickets: Free Admission for all. Reserve a General Admission ticket for Saturday, September 19 in advance at cacno.org
CAC Virtual Opening Night Celebration
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2020
Time: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Facebook Live
Description: Join us for an art-filled virtual opening night celebration featuring art, music, and conversations on Facebook Live! The evening’s events will include: an exhibition walk through with exhibition Co-Curator and CAC Executive Director George Scheer, Co-Curator Katrina Neumann, and Curatorial Consultant Toccarra A.H. Thomas, Director of the Joan Mitchell Center, a conversation and performance with Brandan “BMike” Odums and a panel discussion entitled “What America Must Become,” moderated by Curatorial Consultant Toccara A. H. Thomas, featuring artists AnnieLaurie Erickson, Lauren Cardenas, and Jeffery Darensbourg.
Tickets: Streamed on Facebook Live. RSVP to the Facebook Event, here
The Helis Foundation Art for All Sunday
Date: Sunday, September 20, 2020
Time: 11 a.m. – 5p.m.
Location: CAC Galleries
Description: This Sunday marks the return of The Helis Foundation Art for All program which offers LA residents complimentary admission, although this Sunday all visitors will enjoy free admission. Subsequent Sundays and through the run of the exhibition, Museum admission is free on Sundays for Louisiana residents, courtesy of The Helis Foundation.
Tickets: Free Admission for all. Reserve a General Admission ticket for Sunday, September 20 and other dates, in advance at cacno.org
On View: Make America What America Must Become
Date: Friday, September 18, 2020 – Sunday, January 24, 2021
Time: Wednesday to Monday, 11 am to 5 pm (galleries closed on Tuesday)
Location: 900 Camp Street, NOLA 70130
Description: CAC exhibition open to the public with limited capacity, informed by timed-ticketing reserved online at cacno.org
CAC Location: 900 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA
Tickets: Reserve Your Advanced Tickets, online only at cacno.org
