Join us for the opening of IN THE SPIRIT OF BLACK, a photography exhibition showcasing the versatility and creative approaches of contemporary Black photographers celebrating Black life through the visual frame of the camera, presented in collaboration with SEEING BLACK, on Thursday, March 30 from 6 – 9 pm at Ashé Cultural Arts Center (1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd).
IN THE SPIRIT OF BLACK brings together an intergenerational group of Black photographers whose work engages the photographic grammars, textures, multiplicities, and visual sounds of Black life in and outside New Orleans. From well-known to emerging photographers, IN THE SPIRIT OF BLACK features a broad body of work from seventy-five photographers showcasing over 120 images reflecting a versatility of styles and approaches documenting Black life, self-expression, cultural traditions, spirituality, and remembrance.
IN THE SPIRIT OF BLACK is curated by Shana M. griffin and Eric Waters, with the curatorial assistance of Kalamu ya Salaam, Girard Mouton,III, and Renee Royale. The exhibition is on view from March 31, 2023 - May 27, 2023, at Ashé Cultural Arts Center and Ashé Powerhouse Theater, Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 10am - 5:30pm.
ABOUT SEEING BLACK:
SEEING BLACK is a multimedia, research-based project chronicling and celebrating the history, influence, performance aesthetic, and futurity of Black photography in New Orleans. Organized around a publication, SEEING BLACK: Black Photography in New Orleans 1840 & Beyond, which is set to be released later this summer by the University of New Orleans Press, SEEING BLACK’s series of exhibitions span multiple sites, a digital platform, and public programming. Initially conceptualized by Kalamu ya Salaam in 2020 as a fine art print book featuring the photography of historical and contemporary Black photographers, SEEING BLACK has expanded in its formation and scale, engaging multiple partners and the work of nearly 100 historical and contemporary Black photographers.
SEEING BLACK is organized by writer and activist Kalamu ya Salaam, feminist activist, researcher, and artist Shana M. griffin, photographer and activist Eric Waters, and photographer and historian Girard Mouton,III, with design support from Lidya Araya and the curatorial assistance of Renee Royale, alongside input from photographers, scholars, designers, artists, writers, and partnering organizations.