On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we are given the opportunity to honor a figure who had a direct impact on contemporary American culture and politics. Although his monumental legacy is well established, the struggle for civil rights that he waged over 50 years ago is still ongoing, taken up by a younger generation alongside those individuals who marched beside him. But in what ways can we commemorate his historic contributions, while acknowledging their relevance to current debates surrounding race, inequality, and American identity?
The California African American Museum has organized a day-long program of activities intended for the whole family. The event begins with a study group focused on King’s March 16, 1968 Los Angeles speech — his last before his murder less than a month later — with opening remarks by James Baldwin. This will be followed by a panel discussion on Intergenerational Activism, and a keynote address from Reverend Eddie Anderson, pastor of McCarty Memorial Church, co-chair of California Poor People’s Campaign, and Black Lives Matter advocate. Young activists will then read portions of his speeches, followed by a musical tribute from the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of King’s birth. Throughout the day, families and children are invited to make posters focused on causes they feel passionate about, which will culminate in a Children’s March around the Rose Garden, inspired by the Birmingham Children’s Crusade of 1963. For more historical context, participants can visit an exhibition on the 1963 Los Angeles Freedom Rally, one of the largest civil rights events in the county, at which King declared, “Birmingham or Los Angeles, the cry is always the same. We want to be free.”
When: Monday, January 21, 10am–5pm
Where: California African American Museum (600 State Dr., Exposition Park, Los Angeles)
More info at the California African American Museum.
I won’t bother you with talk about how obscenely decadent and out of touch the Frieze art fair is. And yet…
Curators Tahnee Ahtone, La Tanya S. Autry, Frederica Simmons, Dan Cameron, and Jeremy Dennis offered the public a window into their curatorial processes through the work they produced during their fellowships.
Who says tragedy has to be tragic? Co-presented with National Black Theatre, this fresh, Pulitzer-winning take on a classic centers Black joy and liberation.
As part of Hyperallergic’s Emily Hall Tremaine Journalism Fellowship for Curators, Jeremy Dennis presents an exhibition to offer insight into his curatorial process.
As part of Hyperallergic’s Emily Hall Tremaine Journalism Fellowship for Curators, Dan Cameron presents an email exhibition to offer insight into his curatorial process.
For the triennial’s eighth edition, work by more than 70 artists is featured in 12 exhibitions and a polyphonic program, installed at various locations throughout the German city.
As part of Hyperallergic’s Emily Hall Tremaine Journalism Fellowship for Curators, Frederica Simmons presents an email exhibition to offer insight into their curatorial process.
As part of Hyperallergic’s Emily Hall Tremaine Journalism Fellowship for Curators, La Tanya S. Autry presents an exhibition to offer insight into her curatorial process.
This exhibition explores the work and short-but-impactful life of the groundbreaking ceramic artist. Now on view at the New Orleans Museum of Art.
As part of Hyperallergic’s Emily Hall Tremaine Journalism Fellowship for Curators, Tahnee Ahtone presents an email exhibition to offer insight into her curatorial process.
This week: Why does the internet hate Amber Heard? Will Congress recognize the Palestinian Nakba? And other urgent questions.
Artist Dan Jian makes the point that landscapes and memory are one and the same.