By Jeff Nesler, Patonya Parker, and Sumaiyah Wade
Although COVID is spiking in a second wave, rays of hope are finally beginning to appear through this bleak situation. With hints of effective vaccines, treatments, and a brighter political reality on the horizon, another silver lining is technology that connects us to each other and to the art world. In this guide, we’re pleased to showcase Miami Art Week/Art Basel venues that richly reflect the Black experience. Now expanded to New York City, Art Basel is now mostly virtual for public health reasons.
Sugarcane Magazine Founder Melissa Davis originally created this Black and Basel Guide to help visitors and South Florida locals find artists who look like them and speak to their experience during Art Basel Miami Beach. While the in-person Art Basel Miami is cancelled this year, we still can relish the spirit of Black and Basel from the beaches of Miami to the streets of New York City, where so many young artists and art collectives are on the rise. And at this time in history, it is critical to provide visibility for Black artists in and beyond Miami.
So at this season, we invite you, from the comfort of your home, to enjoy the wealth of art fairs, exhibitions, auctions and more that feature many premier artists of Africa and the African diaspora. This year’s special guide highlights explorations of the body, incarceration, city life, race, identity, representation, portraiture, fashion, Afrofuturism, basketball, transformation and healing, family, education, motherhood and so much more. Many of the presentations listed below can be viewed in person as well. If you do decide to visit these incredible spaces, be sure to call in advance, carry your mask and social distance!
Art Basel 2021: OVR: Miami Beach
Previews Dec. 2-4, 2020; Open to the public Dec. 4-6, 2020
Running December 4-6, 2020, with VIP Preview days from December 2-4, 2020, ‘OVR: Miami Beach‘ will feature 255 galleries from 30 countries and territories. It will be accompanied by a series of online Conversations, gallery Walk-throughs, and virtual events hosted by our galleries and partners.
In addition, Miami Art Week, which kicks off on November 27, 2020, will bring vibrant cultural programming to South Florida. Discover more now.
Black Girl Basel 2020
Dec. 5, 2020
“Unified by our love for Black Women and the belief that our creativity is a powerful force for cultural change, Black Girl Basel is a safe space where in-the-know Black Women Creatives forge connections, share resources, and birth new creative projects.” Register here for a dynamic series of panels and workshops designed and curated exclusively for Black Women Creatives.
Prizm Art Art Fair: Meditations on African Cinema and Its Influence on Visual Art
Nov. 30-Dec. 21, 2020
Premiering a revolutionary digital experience, Prizm 2020 will present Noir: Meditations on African Cinema and Its Influence on Visual Art, through the lens of select works by galleries and contemporary visual artists from global locales, and will expound the intersections between contemporary visual artists’ practice and the spectrum of African diasporic film traditions. In referencing the African avant-garde film tradition as well as contemporary African diasporic filmmakers, Prizm will explore how visual artists have created bodies of work inspired by narratives, aesthetics, cultural notes and social commentaries poetically rendered in the various cinematic modalities.
NEW BLACK FUTURE
December 3-6
Artists Mekia Machine Denby, Shaunese Crawford, Alexander Watkins-Goodman and art collector Michele Marsh are delighted to present “NEW BLACK FUTURE”, an exhibition to coincide with Art Basel Miami, a virtual / in person exhibitions by Black artists to see in New York” that week.
New Black Future explores the effects of generational Black trauma and its effects on the radical black mind. The show offers patrons a limited amount of 30-minutes slots for viewing that must be reserved in advance at newblackfuture.com. The interactive show will include photographs, sculptures, installations, videos and collaborative public art projects that examine Black bodies existing in the past, present and future. The New Black Future is a movement that envisions the intersection of art, psychology and technology from a Black perspective; formally correcting misconceptions propagated within and projected upon the Black body.
According to NYC COVID-19 Occupancy Guidelines, we cannot accommodate groups exceeding six (6) persons, including children. Temperature check and face covering is required for entry and masks must be properly worn at all times.
The show runs from December 3 through December 6, 2020
155 West 11 Street
Viewing hours: 2:00 – 9:00pm Opening day: 6:00 – 10:00pm
RSVP | newblackfuture.com
Sanford Biggers: Codeswitch
Bronx Museum of the Arts
1040 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10456
Until Jan. 24, 2021
The Bronx Museum of Art is internationally recognized as the one of the oldest contemporary art destinations in New York City. Harlem-based artist Sanford Biggers is presenting his 50-piece collection of quilted pieces in his exhibition, Codeswitch. His inspiration behind these quilted pieces references the historical narrative of African Americans. Codeswitch is a collaboration between the Bronx Museum of the Arts and River Institute for Contemporary Art and Thought. Biggers’ work is described by the museum as a unique reference to “the body, sacred geometry, and American symbolism.” For more information on the event, visit their event link: http://m.bronxmuseum.org/exhibitions/sanford-biggers-codeswitch
Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration
MoMa (Modern Museum of Art) PS 1
22-25 Jackson Ave., Long Island City, NY 11101
Until April 4, 2021
Trips to the MoMa are definitely one of the most memorable art experiences you can have in New York City. This incredible display of work takes a close look at the lives of people who are incarcerated, as well as those who personally have been impacted by the U.S. prison system. Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration features over 35 artists, including Americans Tameca Cole, Russell Craig, James “Yaya” Hough, Jesse Krimes, Mark Loughney, Gilberto Rivera, and Sable Elyse Smith. The exhibition tells the stories of a community imprisoned, while reflecting on issues of “state repression and erasure throughout the COVID-19 crisis.”
Jordan Casteel: Within Reach Virtual Exhibition
The New Museum
235 Bowery, New York, NY 10002
Through December 2020
New York City painter Jordan Casteel is having her first solo exhibition, Within Reach, hosted virtually on The New Museum site. Casteel’s vibrant portraits highlight the warm moments that are often overlooked in the big city. Some of the most famous works from her series, Visible Man (2013–14) and Nights in Harlem (2017), along with recent portraits of her students at Rutgers University-Newark, will be presented in the show throughout December.
John Edmond: A Sidelong Glance
Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Oct. 23, 2020–Aug. 8, 2021
Brooklyn Museum features the photographs of emerging Brooklyn artist, John Edmonds. As Edmonds’ first solo museum exhibition, A Sidelong Glance explores the intersections of race, representation and identity in the African diaspora. Over the past year, he’s become well known for his intimate portraiture and still life sets that are centered on the Black queer experience. The pieces in this show feature photographs of friends and family from New York, along with still lifes of West African symbols. You can enjoy this exhibition live at the Brooklyn Museum into August 2021.
45 Stories in Jewelry
Museum of Arts and Design
2 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019
Through Jan. 21, 2021
For those who appreciate the art of jewelry-making and fashion, the Museum of Arts and Design is showcasing its amazing collection of studio and contemporary art jewelry. Everything can be seen in a multimedia storytelling environment with the museum’s most important works dating back to 1947.
The Gadson Gallery
225 W. 134 St., New York, NY 10030
The Gadson Gallery is one of Harlem’s most unconventional galleries hosted by quilt, fiber and mixed-media artist Laura R. Gadson. Gadson is the co-founder of the Harlem Aesthetic, an entrepreneurial venture that showcases artists and artisans of the African diaspora. Her brownstone on West 134th Street has been her home, studio and personal showplace since 1993:
“Since I enjoy exploring different creative mediums, I named my business so it would not describe one specific thing that I do or make. The child of two creative parents, I am very blessed to have inherited the best from both. Many people think of the Gadson Gallery as 225 West 134th Street, and yes, my home is an extension of my artistic expression. The Gadson Gallery is also my creative journey, my art filled life, all that I am and all that I do, and then I get to share all of that with others! How cool is that!”
Visitors are welcomed by event or appointment only, and the gallery soon will host virtual showcases! To find more information on making appointments, please visit https://www.thegadsongallery.com/.
City/Game: Basketball in New York
Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Ave. at 103rd St., New York, NY 10029
Through May 23, 2021
City/Game: Basketball in New York explores the unique excitement of the New York City basketball scene. Like the arts, basketball is one of the many things about New York that brings people from different races, classes and social backgrounds together. Some of the collaborators for this exhibition include Bobbitto Garcia, Marc Aronson, Onaje X.O. Woodbine and William C. Rhoden.
Derek Fordjour: SELF MUST DIE
Petzel Gallery
456 W. 18th St., New York, NY 10011
Through Dec. 19, 2020
Pitzer Gallery is presenting a solo exhibition with New York-based artist Derek Fordjour. This show is reflective of our current times, with themes exploring anxiety around death and hyper-vigilant racial violence. He dives into the inevitable reality of death during this global pandemic, along with the “aspirational death of the artist’s ego.” Fordjour’s show will host three parts: VESTIBULE, a sculptural installation; Fly Away, a live puppetry art performance; and a collage of new paintings.
Urbanworld X MoCada: A Brave New World
The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts
Through January 2021
A Brave New Worldis a virtual exhibition curated by Urbanworld in collaboration with The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts. It celebrates a convergence of storytelling, advocacy and artistry all in one digital space with content creators from over 25 countries. MoCada has used this artistic presentation to demonstrate themes most relevant to the African diaspora ranging from imagination, love, family, culture, identity, community, education, self-expression, mental, emotional and physical health, to connecting Afrofuturism and STEM. The exhibit will be available online into January 2021.
The Bedford Stuyvesant Museum of African Art
1157 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11216
The Bedford Stuyvesant Museum of African Art strives to encourage a deeper understanding of the diverse art and cultures around the world. With collections of art from more than 40 of the 54 African countries, the museum enriches the lives of the Brooklyn community, giving pride to youth and a resource to research their heritage as well. Stop by the Brooklyn location to enjoy the collection and be a part of the ongoing enrichment programs found on their site, or visit https://www.bedstuymuseum.org
Living in America: An Exhibition in Four Acts from Outrage to Action in Art
International Print Center NY
508 W. 26th St., New York, NY 10001
Through Dec. 19, 2020
Visit the International Print Center in midtown Manhattan to see both the online and in-person works of Vanessa Germon, and William Villlalongo. Ms. Germon is an American sculptor, painter and activist whose works explore the power of transformation and healing. The paintings of Brooklyn artist William Villalongo blend seamlessly in the exhibition, as we observe some of his incredible Western and African art influences. Log onto the Print Center site: https://www.ipcny.org, or visit their gallery space to witness this display of the Black experience.
Art Based on Experience Based Identity Virtual Exhibition
The CAMP (Contemporary Art Modern Project) Gallery
December 2020
The Contemporary Art Modern Project is hosting a virtual exhibition surrounding this year’s theme of Art Based on Experience Based Identity. The goal of this amazing art collective is to bring exposure to underrepresented artists, “without exposing the artist to exploitative practices rampant in the art world.” Due to COVID, the show will be held virtually in December 2020. The exhibition will feature prominent Black artists, as well as NYC’s up and coming creatives. For more information on dates for the event and current online exhibitions, visit their site at https://www.thecampgallery.com/index.php/exhibitions/.
Fable Jones Studios Grand Opening and Exhibition
56 Bogart St., Brooklyn, NY 11206
Dec. 1-13, 2020
From Dec. 1-13, join the curators of Fable Jones Studios in their official grand opening. The exhibition will follow a ribbon cutting ceremony from 4:00-9:00 p.m. EST on Dec. 1. The exhibit will stay up until Dec.13 (and you can visit the gallery Dec. 2-13 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EST). Be sure to RSVP the date and time you wish to visit!
Titus Kaphar: From a Tropical Space
Gagosian Museum
Until Dec. 19, 2020
The Gagosian presents From a Tropical Space; Titus Kaphar’s first exhibition showcases an incredible narrative of Black motherhood. As a painter, sculptor and installation artist, Kaphar’s work touches on the social and cultural anxieties of the world through vibrant landscapes and saturated scenes. For more information on From a Tropical Space, visit the Gagosian site: https://gagosian.com
Art Crawl Harlem Fire & Soul: 100 Years of Harlem Art Exhibition
Kente Royal Gallery, Harlem
2373 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd., New York, NY 10030
Dec. 3, 2020
Art Crawl Harlem is collaborating with Kente Royal Gallery to invite you to the Fire and Soul: 100 Years of Harlem Art Exhibition. Curated by Dodji Ghedimah and Nakia Hicks, this group exhibit will honor the centennial of the Harlem Renaissance and the 100 years of art that followed. Stop by the gallery to see these works in person!
Byungtae Kim: The Face
Robert Kalman: In Tompkins Square: A Fleeting Intimacy
Soho Photo Gallery
15 White St., New York, NY 10013
Until Dec. 4, 2020
The Lower East Side is home to one of the most vibrant fashion and skater scenes for people of color in New York. Documentary photographer Robert Kalman shares this essence in his black and white portraits of the youth who take over spaces like Tompkins Square Park. Byungtae Kim, a Kenyan photographer, also will be showcasing his powerful works in a series “showing the souls and spiritual aspects of Kenyans.” Within his collection, Kim uses minimal natural light to pose his friends and family in an attempt to “manifest souls and spirits beyond faces.” Visit the Soho Photo Gallery, or view the exhibition online at www.sohophoto.com to observe these works until Dec. 4.
Queerly Collective Found Family Digital Exhibition
December 2020
Queerly Collective is an amazing art collective that features work by, and surrounding, the LGBTQIA+ community. Queerly is hosting its first online exhibition, Found Family, a collection of artwork that creates, facilitates and celebrates community and chosen family. The show will be juried by amazing creators:
Glori Tuitt (@glorifice_)
Heather Nuber (@heather.s.nuber)
Rain Demetri (@raindemitree)
Come support these heartwarming displays by queer artists and art appreciators!
Black Trans Femmes in the Arts (BTFA)
Virtual Exhibition
December 2020
BTFA is a collective of Black trans femmes dedicated to making a space for themselves in the arts and beyond. Check out their Instagram @btfacollective for weekly updates on virtual exhibitions, as well as shows by Black trans artists all throughout December!
NY Rises Art Exhibition
One Art Space
23 Warren St., Tribeca, NY 10007
Dec. 17-20, 2020 from 1:00-8:00 p.m. EST
NY Rises is collaborating with One Arts Space gallery to feature art from New York’s up and coming artists. This dynamic space has featured art of so many creative giants like Jack Kirby and Al Diaz, so come observe some of NYC’s freshest talents ranging from oil paintings to photography. To learn more about the show, visit @startshows on Instagram.
Mark West Center for the Arts
56 Bogart St, Ground floor #115, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Mark West Center for the Arts, also known as the House of Mark West, is a Black-owned gallery space that fosters the connections among young Black creatives. Located in the cozy Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, this nonprofit organization caters primarily to Black, Brown, LGBTQ, disabled, and young (K-12) artists and creatives. From their most recent Autumn Jazz Fest event, the Center continues to host monthly art exhibitions, free grant-writing workshops, open mic competitions and art classes. For more information on upcoming virtual and in person visits, check out their website at houseofmarkwest.com.
Art Fair
Art Beat Miami
Dec. 2-6, 2020
Art Beat Miami celebrates its seventh year virtually with its annual Art Fair showcasing the works of more than 30 emerging and renowned local, international and celebrity artists during Miami Art Week/Miami Art Season. Art Beat Miami’s virtual gallery will be accessible online from Dec. 2, 2020 through Jan. 31, 2021 to coincide with Arts, Culture and Heritage Month.
Art Beat Miami will launch on Wednesday, Dec. 2 with a virtual Opening Reception/Preview Party celebrating a one-of-a-kind experience of visual art, music, fashion and food inspired by the people and culture of the Caribbean. The Art Beat Miami virtual Art Fair opens daily virtually with musical performances, LIVE art, conversations with artists, fashion and food.
BlackOUT Performances: Unity Coalition
Dec. 2, 2020
Unity Coalition/Coalicion Unida presents an original commissioned film by Choreographer Randolph Ward. Reinterpretation of Me gritan NEGRA (originally by Peruvian author Victoria Santa Cruz), by Brazilian performer Natanel Leal, exploring society’s challenge of femininity, and a virtual presentation of Skin Color Monologue by Vanessa Monroe. Meet the Artists Q&A via Facebook LIVE, YouTube Channel UnityCoalition.
Urban Tranquility
HistoryMiami Museum
Dec. 2, 2020
In partnership with Iris PhotoCollective, HistoryMiami Museum will present Urban Tranquility: Photographs by C.W. Griffin. The exhibition, featuring the work of C.W. Griffin and curated by Carl Juste, is the exploration of a one-block section of downtown Miami surrounding Government Center, an area that provides both graphic and visual movement and a sense of serenity in the busy urban core.
HistoryMiami Museum will host a press preview and virtual opening with special guests C.W. Griffin and Carl Juste on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. EST. The public can view the exhibition starting on Dec. 3, 2020.
Art Blues Soul & BBQ Festival
African Heritage Cultural Arts Center (AHCAC)
Dec. 19, 2020
The African Heritage Cultural Arts Center (AHCAC) celebrates the arts, sounds and flavors of Black Miami with the fourth annual “Art Blues Soul & BBQ Festival.” The live recording will premiere on Saturday, Dec, 19, 2020 online via the Center’s YouTube channel and Facebook live page at https://www.facebook.com/ahcacmiami.
This year’s concert is part of the Center’s 45th anniversary and will celebrate the past, present and future with performances by former students and teachers. Featured performances include Courtney Mickens (AHCAC alumnus), Zipporah Hayes (AHCAC alumnus and former instructor), Gia Wyre (former instructor), and Ja’Nia Harden (AHCAC alumnus and former instructor). Headlining the concert are Miami Blues legend and Sony Music recording artists Mojo Ike and Val. The student spotlight stage will include performances by Wesley Wray, Ciara Hutchins, and LeAsia Brown.
The festival will be hosted by comedian Chello and recorded live in front of a limited-seating audience. A small art exhibition will be held outdoors and will feature paintings and artifacts from the Center’s archives.
Curating in the Caribbean: A Panel Conversation with the Caribbean Art Initiative
Dec. 3, 2020 12:00–1:00 p.m. EST
In this conversation organized by UNTITLED, ART, the Caribbean Art Initiative (CAI) brings together several participants from the Caribbean to discuss diverse approaches to curating visual arts in the region. Speakers include Nicole Smythe-Johnson, writer and independent curator from Kingston, Jamaica; Laura Castro, artist and cultural practitioner based in Santo Domingo; along with María Isabel Rueda and Mario Llanos of La Usurpadora, an independent art space in the small town of Puerto Colombia. The panel will be moderated by Sara Hermann, founding member of the CAI, and Dominican art historian and curator.
Founding the Museum of Contemporary Caribbean Art with Jennifer Francis and Evan Williams, along with Susanne Fredricks and Susan Mains
Dec. 3, 2020 4:00–5:00 p.m. EST
As part of UNTITLED, ART’s programming revolving around contemporary Caribbean artists, this panel conversation will feature Jennifer Francis, executive director, and Evan Williams, founder, of the forthcoming Museum of Contemporary Caribbean Art in Kingston, Jamaica. Susanne Fredricks, art advisor specializing in emerging contemporary artists in the Caribbean and the diaspora, and Susan Mains, artist and five-time commissioner of Grenada National Pavilion at the Venice Biennale will also join the panel.
He sobrevivido (I Have Survived): Miguel A. López en diálogo con Katie Numi Usher y Johan Mijail
Dec. 4, 2020 6:00-7:30 p.m. EST
As part of UNTITLED, ART’s Caribbean focused programming, the fair is presenting this panel in Spanish. The conversation will approach the work of two poets and visual artists from the Caribbean, whose work explores intimacy, immigration, memory, affection, health and colonial persistence in contemporary society. Johan Mijail (Dominican Republic) and Katie Numi Usher (Belize) will be moderated by Miguel A. López, co-director and chief curator of TEOR/éTica, Costa Rica.
DISPERSED: A MYTHOLOGICAL JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE WHERE BLACK GODS, BLACK MERMAIDS & THE ANCESTORS COME TO LIFE.
5th Annual MUCE Arts & Culture Festival
MUCE Campus, 246 NW 54th St., Miami, FL 33127
Dec. 3-6, 2020 6:00-10:00 p.m. EST
The Miami Urban Contemporary Experience (MUCE) showcases a multiverse of visual and performing artists in the art exhibition, DISPERSED, premiering at the fifth annual MUCE Arts & Culture Festival. In collaboration with MUCE EDUCATES and with support from the GMCVB Art of Black Miami, MUCE Arts & Culture Festival occurs during the highly anticipated Miami Art Week and former Art Basel weekend, Dec. 3-6, 2020 at the MUCE Campus
The DISPERSED art exhibition invites art lovers to dive into a mythological journey to the center of the universe where Black gods (orishas), mermaids, and the ancestors await their return. An artistic reverence to the lost souls at sea and the strange fruit of poplar trees, this exhibit is an astounding celebration of Black excellence and resilience. DISPERSED is a visual gift from the ancestors curated by Bart Mervil. The exhibition features visual artists Annick Duvivier, Sona, Nate Dee, Carla Jamieson and Claudia Apaid. During the opening reception, guests will enjoy performances by Lucner Bruno, Randolph Ward, CC Glitzer, Ja’Nia Harden, Ricky Danco Dance Ensemble, and Afro-Mermaid. Performances happen only Thursday, Dec. 3 from 8:00 -9:30 p.m. EST. Tickets are $10.
IMMERSIVE MIAMI BEACH | PART 2
Dec. 1-6, 2020
SCOPE Art Show is pleased to present part two of Immersive Miami Beach, Dec. 1-6, 2020. At the lead of the digital frontier, SCOPE is using its momentum as an online pioneer to build awareness and educate buyers. Immersive Miami Beach | Part 1 was a great success, welcoming over 19,100 visitors from 72 countries and 987 cities. Click here to check out the highlights from Immersive Miami Beach | Part 1. Honoring its mission to provide an experiential platform for discovery, Immersive Miami Beach | Part 2 will welcome 34 exhibitors from around the world, featuring The New Contemporary, a genre that stands as a critical contribution to both global politics and local community engagement.
Tyler Mitchell: I Can Make You Feel Good
International Center of Photography
79 Essex St, New York, NY 10002
Through Dec. 31, 2020
“‘I Can Make You Feel Good’ is simply a declaration. And one that I feel is gut punching in its optimism. It feels important at a time like this to declare such a thing,” says Tyler Mitchell, a 24-year-old photographer and filmmaker based in Brooklyn, New York. Mitchell’s work has captured the eyes of millions across social media, including the attention of celebrities like Beyonce, Lil Uzi Vert, and Zendaya.
You might recognize some of the color palettes in his work on the cover of Vogue, making him the first African American artist to shoot for the cover of the publication. The International Center of Photography has opened a new center at the Essex Crossing on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, where Mitchell’s exhibition will be on display through Dec. 31, 2020.
One of the most exciting aspects of Art Basel is getting to showcase the most promising young artists in the industry. Mitchell easily falls into the category of joyous displays of Black beauty. While using his loved ones and creative community as subjects, his imagery of a Black utopia can never be missed. This show is an absolute must-see for those looking to experience one of the most reputable underground arts scenes of New York.
Edge Zones Presents: i do what I can (hago lo que puedo) and Resting Behavior
Nov. 28-Dec. 9, 2020 6:00-9:00 p.m. EST
An exhibition of new media and video art at Edge Zones with an international selection of artists curated by Varkito Garcia. Light installations, media projections on building facades, artistic interventions and experimental events will transform Edge Zones during Miami Art Week into a stage for innovative visual and new media art.
Resting occurs when action ceases; in order for action to continue, resting must take place. In Resting Behavior, a group of local Miami artists explores a different approach to minimalism through their own medium, guided by the nature of less is more, consequently, creating more to be perceived. Curated by Luna Palazzolo and Gabriela Keddell.
Pérez Art Museum Miami | Miami Art Week 2020
Dec. 1-6, 2020
PAMM’s Art Week schedule includes a variety of free virtual programming, such as a Scholl Lecture with internationally acclaimed Ghanaian-British architect Sir David Adjaye OBE and PAMM Director Franklin Sirmans, who will both discuss Adjaye’s bold artistic vision and practice; a panel discussion titled, Black Diasporic Feminism, Intersectionality, and Solidarity in the Age of Protest, featuring Allied with Power exhibition artists Genevieve Gaignard, Naudline Pierre, Deborah Roberts, and PAMM Curator María Elena Ortiz, moderated by PAMM Director of Education Marie Vickles; and Virtual Views: MY BODY, MY RULES, a special look into the recently opened group exhibition, MY BODY, MY RULES, organized by PAMM Associate Curator Jennifer Inacio. PAMM’s full calendar of events can be found here.
Throughout Art Week, guests will be able to enjoy the museum’s exhibitions in person, which include Allied with Power: African and African Diaspora Art from the Jorge M. Pérez Collection, an exhibition of over 35 works by international African and African diaspora artists; MY BODY, MY RULES, an all-female group exhibition that examines the mainstream portrayal of women, confronting the stereotypes, violence, limitations and ideals imposed on the disputed image of the female body; What Carried Us Over: Gifts from Gordon W. Bailey, an exhibition of gifts made by Gordon W. Bailey, who has donated 60 artworks to PAMM since 2016; Meleko Mokgosi: Your Trip to Africa, a group of newly commissioned paintings by the artist that addresses themes of colonialism, nationalism, tourism and race; Polyphonic: Celebrating PAMM’s Fund for African American Art, an exhibition showcasing a selection of artworks acquired through PAMM’s Fund for African American Art; and Theaster Gates: Breathing, a video work inspired by the artist’s avid interest in Eastern Buddhism as well as his lifelong personal relationship with traditional gospel music.
Noir: Meditations on African Cinema and Its Influence on Visual Art
Prizm
Nov. 30-Dec. 21, 2020
Premiering a revolutionary digital experience, Prizm 2020 will present Noir: Meditations on African Cinema and Its Influence on Visual Art, through the lens of select works by galleries and contemporary visual artists from global locales, and will expound the intersections between contemporary visual artists’ practice and the spectrum of African diasporic film traditions. In referencing the African avant-garde film tradition as well as contemporary African diasporic filmmakers, Prizm will explore how visual artists have created bodies of work inspired by narratives, aesthetics, cultural notes and social commentaries poetically rendered in the various cinematic modalities.
Global/Borderless Caribbean XII: Focus Miami
Dec. 2, 2020-Feb. 28, 2021
The Little Haiti Cultural Complex presents the Global/Borderless Caribbean XII: Focus Miami exhibitions and public programs during Miami Art Week 2020, featuring contemporary Miami-based Caribbean artists of the African diaspora, led by the collaborative efforts of local Black arts organizations. The Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance will present the outdoor exhibition, Contemporary Visual Expression, and the Little Haiti Cultural Center gallery will present the Local Global exhibition, highlighting Miami-based artists.
2020 marks the 12th anniversary of the Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance’s ongoing exhibition series, Global Caribbean/Borderless Caribbean, produced in partnership with the Little Haiti Cultural Complex. This year, The Haitian Cultural Alliance, in collaboration with the Little Haiti Cultural Complex will produce a large-scale outdoor exhibition, Contemporary Visual Expression, curated by Edouard Duval-Carrié. In tandem with the outdoor art exhibition, and as part of the Global/Borderless Caribbean programming, the gallery at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex will present the exhibition, Local Global, curated by Marie Vickles. A warm invitation is extended to the community to attend and participate. All programming is free and open to the public.
CADA Panel Discussion on Contemporary African Diaspora Art
Dec. 6, 2020
The Annual CADA (Art Basel) Panel Discussion on Contemporary African Diaspora Art was created by Global Cultured Art Curator Ludlow E Bailey in 2009 at the University of Miami during the Art Basel festivities in South Florida to highlight and to celebrate the extraordinary visual arts achievements of the people of African descent globally. The annual event has become the “go to event” for global contemporary Africana art discourse during the Art Basel (Miami Art Week) in South Florida.
The panel discussion consistently has brought together the leading voices in the global African diaspora visual arts community and has attracted local and international collectors, museum professionals, curators, writers, art historians and art brokers who are in Miami for the Art Basel event. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, this year’s event will be “live streamed globally” on Facebook and YouTube to an unprecedented number of collectors and investors who are interested in the “state of art” from the African diaspora globally.
Our Voice Matters
Dec. 5, 2020 1:00–2:00 p.m. EST
URGENT, Inc. will present Our Voice Matters (#OurVoiceMatters), a multi-media, virtual youth art gallery and art talk featuring youth artists and their professional mentors on Saturday Dec. 5, 2020 1:00-2:00 p.m. EST on Zoom. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP required. This exhibit is made possible thanks to The Children’s Trust, Miami-Dade County, Adobe and Taking It Global.
Creative Conversation: For Those Gathered in the Wind
Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora (Miami MoCAAD)
Nov. 29, 2020
#CreativeConversation: Join the minds behind the exhibition, For Those Gathered in the Wind, for a virtual #CreativeConversation, with artist T. Eliott Mansa, and curator Donnamarie Baptiste. The much-anticipated solo exhibition of T. Eliott Mansa, a Miami-based assemblage artist, will provide both a visually striking and emotionally touching experience to showcase his latest series of amuletic wall-mounted sculptures that capture ritual practices to honor, memorialize, protect, and defend Black Lives from state and extra-judicial violence. This conversation will allow viewers to gain a unique insight behind the production of For Those Gathered in the Wind, from inspiration behind the works to curatorial decisions for the show.
AFRIKIN 2020: A New Way of Being
Dec. 6, 2020
A virtual panel discussion with leaders from Africa and the diaspora to address high-priority goals for the global community. An exploration of key questions on a changing world and COVID-19 relief. Activism that speaks truth to power. This discussion on a new way of being upon entry into a new reality is the fifth in the AFRIKIN series.
Voices + Votes: Democracy in America Opening Exhibition
Dec. 17, 2020
In celebration of the Smithsonian traveling exhibit, Voices and Votes, Haitian Heritage Museum invites the community to a series of conversations on the struggles, heartbreaks and triumphs along the journey toward “unalienable rights” of citizenship.
More than just waging a war of independence, American revolutionaries took a great leap of faith and established a new government based on the sovereignty of the people. It was truly a radical idea that entrusted the power of the nation not to a monarchy but to its citizens. Each generation since continues to question how to form “a more perfect union” around this radical idea.
Conversations at MOCA: Raul de Nieves + Risa Puleo
Dec. 3, 2020 7:00-8:30 p.m. EST
Join artist Raul De Nieves in conversation with exhibition curator Risa Puleo via Zoom as they discuss De Nieves’exhibition, Eternal Return & the Obsidian Heart, his history, art and performance practice, and his affinity for punk rock, performance and mysticism.
Conversations at MOCA: Life and Spirituality in Haitian Art
Dec. 5, 2020 12:00-1:30 p.m. EST
Join artist Edouard Duval-Carrié via Zoom in a conversation that pays tribute to Haiti’s rich cultural and artistic heritage. Moderated by guest curator of MOCA’s current exhibition, Life and Spirituality in Haitian Art, Francine Birbragher-Rozencwaig.
Safer at Home Virtual Series
Now – Dec. 31, 2020
The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc. presents the #SaferAtHome Virtual Series comprised of six programs:
- Legacies: Profiles in Greatness, with Assistant Archivist Luis Berthin, features profiles of important figures in Black Miami’s past who played an important part in the city’s history.
- Today in Black History, with Archives Outreach Administrator Alicia Melton, highlights historical events and achievements of Black Americans, both local and nationwide.
- Is It True? Tales from the Magic City, with Archivist Jocelyn Hurtado, explores some of the myths and rumors about Miami’s history and uses archival research to debunk or substantiate the talk of the town.
- Jeopardy Noir, with Executive Director Timothy A. Barber, engages followers in a fun trivia game of questions, answers and discussion about Miami’s Black history.
- Storytime in Color, with Operations and Programming Manager Kamila Pritchett, features live reading of children’s books written by African American authors.
- Virtual Field Trips, with Executive Director Timothy A. Barber, gives viewers one-on-one access to Miami with a drone’s eye view and a historian’s perspective.
All of these programs can be found on The Black Archives and Historic Lyric Theater Instagram feed.
