CONTEXT + CULTURE

Fate and destiny have a means of beautifully colliding in ways that can make one’s head spin. As this publication is the result of years-long contemplation, the fate of having this come to fruition, is as majestic as the destiny that is resulting in a dream space to bring physical resonance to our goal of spotlighting Black art and culture! Our vision for a physical space at Midtown, in the heart of Seattle’s historic Black community, draws near fruition and is set for openin

"A place to honor Black triumphs, build Black futures, and make a statement celebrating our present and our presence." This is the inspiration for the transformative infrastructure project happening in South Central LA's infamous Crenshaw Boulevard. Featuring Black Art heavy hitters, including Charles Dickson, Artis Lane, Alison Saar, and Kehinde Wiley, along with over 100 additional works by Black artists who have strong ties to the city, Destination Crenshaw looks to beco

The Preis der Nationalgalerie, a biennial award established in 2000, honors German contemporary artists under the age of 40 whose work reflects the international and lively nature of the German art scene. The 2021 recipient Sandra Mujinga was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is based in Berlin and Oslo. Mujinga creates within a broad spectrum of media and art, including music, sculpture, video, photography, and installations, many of which are inspired by d

While Black women take the helm of leadership on museum boards in the United States, in Barcelona last month, Elvira Dyangani Ose began her new role as Director of the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA). Ose comes with a long list of accomplishments and experiences gained in Europe, Africa, and the US. Elvira served as Director and Chief Curator of The Showroom in London, as well as Lecturer in Visual Cultures at Goldsmiths, University of London, and a member of

Black women are now leading the boards of two major US museums. In Minneapolis, Seena Hodges became the first African American and the first person of color to lead the board of the Walker Art Museum . Hodges, who runs the DEI consulting firm Woke Coach , has served on the Walker board in various capacities prior to this appointment. She will guide the organization as it embraces its new 5-year strategic plan and noted in a statement recently, “I have always been fascinated

Noah Davis has been a well-known name in art circles around the world. What is lesser known is that Davis was from Seattle, Washington. In 2016, the Frye Art Museum presented the first large-scale museum show that explored Davis’ work, alongside the work of his brother and fellow artist Khalil Joseph. The Frye exhibit was held just one year after Davis’ untimely passing from cancer at the age of thirty-two (b.1983- d.2015). Noah's wife, Karon Davis , the daughter of the perfo

The award-winning, egalitarian architect, known for his community-driven projects and visionary sensibilities, including The National Museum of African American History and Culture, recently signed on to build 101 hospitals in Ghana and broke ground on the project this August. The District Hospitals are part of a nationwide healthcare infrastructure initiative, first announced in April 2020. The initiative involves the construction of 111 new healthcare facilities including 1

Profile of Harlem Arts Salon founders Margaret Porter Troupe and Quincy Troup

Ismail Einashe is an award-winning journalist and writer. BBC News recently published one of Einashe’s letters on his exploration of the art that flourishes in East Africa, specifically Nairobi, Kenya. Noting that Nairobi has become “an anchor for those fleeing conflict across the region…and in the process have created one of the continent’s most exciting art scenes,” Einashe speaks to the imagination, boldness, and creative flair that is present in the Eastern region and d

Before HGTV was a thing, Black folks were blazing the trail for reality design shows. In the late 1990’s Chicago filmmaker Barbara Allen produced Urban Suite . She teamed up with TC Carson, yep Kyle 'Baaarker' from Living Single , to give design-challenged urban dwellers tips for making their houses more of a home. There were no reality show opportunities for Black fashion designers back then, but perhaps the tide is turning with the ascendance of two Black women who are taki

“Founder,” “Curator,” “Ph.D. in medical biotechnology,” and “Professor,” are just a few of the impressive titles Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung holds, and now he will add a new Director position to his list. Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, Germany’s cosmopolitan venue for contemporary arts, has tapped Ndikung to begin his post as their Director in January 2023. In a statement, Ndikung said, “Berlin is home to citizens from 190 nations, and these people must be fundament

“When you learn the history of the African American story for the first time, you see America with 2020 vision.” – Bernard Kinsey In 1963, Shirley Pooler found herself in a Tallahassee jail, just one of many college students having been arrested for protests as part of the massive civil rights movement happening on campuses and nationwide at the time. Bernard Kinsey was a fellow freshman at Florida A&M University, involved with a local group championing the movement and suppo

“Where’s Seattle’s Black community?” Oh, the refrain heard over and over, especially during the drought years when the residency of Black people living in the city, specifically the Central District, saw dramatic declines from nearly 75% in the 1970s to just around 15% in 2020 ( Seattle Times , Percentage of Black residents in Seattle is at its lowest point in 15 years , June 16, 2020). Partnered with the decline in Black residency is the decline in Black businesses, either

When a prestigious university founded in the 1700’s makes moves, people pay attention. There are eight, (or twelve, depending on which list you view) Ivy League colleges in the US, also known as The Ancient Eight. According to Wikipedia, these colleges are considered elite due to academic excellence, selectivity in admissions and social elitism. Well, Yale University just got more excellent! On June 1st, Yale University announced the appointment of “renowned scholar and educa

Qudus Onikeku pays tribute to the art of exile and the prison writings of Nigerian playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist Wole Soyinka.

Nigerian-born Okwui Enwezor originally received his bachelor’s degree in political science, first studying in Nigeria before moving to the United States in 1982, and completing his degree at what is now New Jersey City University. After graduation, he wanted to be closer to the social scene, relocating from the Bronx to Manhattan, where he performed poetry at cafes, attended gallery openings, and danced at many of the hottest clubs. However, he recalled not feeling particula

In April, shortly after having marked one full year of life and lockdown in a global pandemic that caused a heartbreaking quagmire of loss in BIPOC communities, The New York Times posted a photographic essay entitled, "Four Studies in Black Healing." Shot by photographers Gioncarlo Valentine and Elliott Jerome Brown Jr . , the two men traveled to various states across the South to document the routines Black Americans adopted in order to weather their emotions over the cours

A Nigerian sculpture that was looted by British troops in the late 19th century, one of thousands taken from the kingdom of Benin, will be returned to its country of origin by the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. According to Artnews , similar works stolen from Benin (what is now Edo State, Nigeria) have ended up in European institutions, but as of press time, no additional organization has fully committed to repatriating the Benin Bronzes except for the University of Abe

This past March, Eric Motley was appointed to the executive ranks of the National Gallery of Art (NGA) and is slated to begin his role as Deputy Director on August 30, 2021. According to NGA, as Deputy Director, Motley will " lead the museum's externally facing, mission-based work, in service of the nation, by welcoming all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity." His duties include overseeing congressional relations, communications, devel

Conversations around reparations are usually stilted by the minutia of details around dollar amounts and to whom payments would be made – direct descendants of slaves, up to what generation, how would they be paid, and on and on, all seemingly effective distractions intended to confuse and diffuse. Emerging to combat the maze of confusion, a group of Black architects, designers, artists, and scholars formed the nonprofit organization, Black Reconstruction Collective (BRC), to