IN FOCUS

Barbara Earl Thomas is a renowned artist and cultural leader whose work has profoundly shaped Seattle’s creative landscape.

In SAM’s Poke in the Eye: Art of the West Coast Counterculture , Xenobia Bailey’s Work Shines By Jas Keimig A dirty toilet made of muddy-colored ceramic. A hot pot that licks back. A sculpture that reimagines James Ensor’s 19th-century painting of Christ moving through a crowd as a procession of plaster clowns.  These are some of the ways West Coast artists in the 1960s and ‘70s rebelled against the cool, abstract, Pop Art, and minimalist principles that prevailed in the East

It’s Saturday at the Seattle Art Museum. Not my usual day out. A perk of self-employment is the option to engage the public off hours, and I like to have the museum to myself. But on Saturdays, the lobby bustles with families and couples, locals and tourists, and solo visitors like myself who want to fill their eyes with new delights, escape the summer heat, or a bit of both. There is a sign near the ticket counter. I do not stop to read it because I already know what it says

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Essay by Dr. Ethelene Whitmire Exhibit Curator University of Wisconsin-Madison, Professor, Department of African American Studies The Nordic Utopia? African Americans in the 20th Century  exhibition is an expansion of my research about African Americans in Denmark. In 2010, I went to Copenhagen on a whim. I was watching a lot of Danish films and decided to spend two months abroad during my first year-long sabbatical from my job as a professor at the University of Wisconsin –

By Guest Writers Nia-Amina Minor and Akoiya Harris  Nia-Amina Minor and Akoiya Harris are performers in Leviticus or Love and to walk amongst HUMANS. Along with their own reflections, they interviewed choreographer dani tirrell and performer/choreographic assistant Majinn O’Neal to provide a look into the new piece premiering April 20th.  Guest Writers, Nia-Amina Minor, image credit Devin Muñoz, and Akoiya Harris, image credit Victoria Kovios. Our first rehearsal for Leviticu

When Brian Carter first interviewed at 4Culture for the position of Heritage Lead, he was frank in his response to the question posed about where he saw himself in the next 5 years. He saw himself in his current position as Executive Director of Martin Luther King, Jr. County’s arts and cultural funding agency. It was not about being overly confident or boastful, rather, his personal values lie deep in the belief that making audible professional desires is key to cultivating

by Guest Writer Georgia McDade The African-American Writers’ Alliance (AAWA) is a unique group of writers who for myriad reasons had not had our stories told nor always had the opportunity to tell our stories. Californian Randee Eddins remedied this situation for writers in the Seattle area when she founded AAWA. A short article in The Seattle Times invited writers of African descent to come to Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Institute. Randee had many ideas: we would meet mon

Rick DuPree is a native of Seattle, yet, his familiarity with the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party was almost non-existent. By the early 1980's the Panther Party had ceased operation nationally, and it would be another three decades before the local history would take center stage as the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party celebrated 50 years since it's forming. Over time, there have been several iterations of local Panther history documentation including co

“Everything I do will always be about unflattening the reductive idea of Blackness.” Berette S Macaulay is a living, breathing example of a diasporic human. She is international and not just because air travel has allowed her to see the world. On the contrary, Berette is from Sierre Leone, has lived in several countries and holds passports from three, speaks multiple languages, and is an interdisciplinary artist and writer whose curatorial practice is well known and highly r

What do you say about a voice that sounds so pure it makes you believe in the real possibility that there are spirits on earth who have descended from an angelic choir? How do you describe a sound you’ve never heard before, yet when you hear it, there is an immediate and soothing familiarity? I can only describe these experiences by calling the name, Tiffany Wilson ! The very first time I heard Tiffany sing, I felt as though my feet had been permanently cast into the floor, a

Described as jubilant gospel music, dramatic dance, Black vernacular, and Biblical narrative, this staged holiday tradition has been a staple in Black communities all over the country, sixty-two years strong. In Seattle, audiences enjoyed Black Nativity from 1998-2012. The classic is coming back! Co-founder of The Hansberry Project, University of Washington School of Drama Head of Directing, and celebrated theater director, Valerie Curtis-Newton has been tapped by Intiman The

Takiyah Ward is a formidable force in the community. Call her by any of these monikers—activist, artist, television show host , arts catalyst, Seattle native, and owner of the soon-to-open Re-Sole , Seattle’s first sneaker cleaning service—and she will answer. Takiyah has been on her artistic journey since a youngster. In a recent Black Arts Legacies profile written by Jasmine Mahmoud, Takiyah shares the story of how her practice of sneaker customization got started. “I was

The art world can be an intimidating place. From high-end, white-walled, and primarily white-owned gallery spaces, to the barriers of entry for artists considered outside of the mainstream including LGBTQ and artists of color, and lest we not forget the often exorbitant prices of artwork, it's no wonder many folks believe this space isn't a place for them. But just like the mixed media installations, sweatshirts, and tote bags she creates with her signature phrase, award-winn

There are many, many layers that lurk beneath Seattle’s hip-hop scene and when you peel deep enough you will find traces that lead to a local native whose roots run deep. Jace ECAj is one half of Black Stax , formed to honor the legacy of Black arts and culture by ‘stacking’ all forms of Black music and art with fellow artist Felicia V. Loud. They are hip-hop performers with a long and storied history of Black pride and Black-centered education, which is evident in every par

Most of us are so busy moving that the concept of sitting is one that often eludes us. But in order to create, one must take the necessary time to simply sit, contemplate, envision, dream, and let the universe speak to you. It is said that Lorraine Hansberry wrote her most noted play, A Raisin in the Sun, between her 26th & 27th birthdays. A young woman from the South Side of Chicago, Hansberry must have taken the time to sit and imagine how to give voice to working-class p

May 4th marks the 6th anniversary of the passing of one of our community’s most beloved members, Kabby Mitchell, III. Kabby’s passing at the age of 60 signaled the end of an era. His signature laughter would be silenced in reality, while living on in our ears throughout eternity. Kabby was truly, one-of-a-kind! And while his physical presence has been missing for over half a decade, what has continued live on and thrive is his vision. In the months preceding his passing, Kabb

As we celebrate women this month, we are reminded of the dedication and passion women have displayed to preserving legacies, expanding how we understand the art of those gone before us, and for the vision of emerging young women artists. We are inspired to shine a light on three women in our community this month, each of them carriers of light for art's sake. Reverend LaVerne C. Hall stewards a significant art legacy as president of the Board of Directors for the Dr. James a

Over 75,000 years ago, Africans are noted to have been the first to construct jewelry worn by humans. Archaeological discoveries of snail shells used as beads in South Africa, 40,000-year-old beads made of ostrich eggs in East Africa, symbolic adornment of ancient Egyptian culture, and bead jewelry in Libya, represented various levels of stature and provided visual indicators of connection. These origins carry fluent links in the artistry of today’s makers. Janis Murray , chi

In February of last year, we had the distinct pleasure of spotlighting theatre powerhouse Valerie Curtis-Newton. ( You can read it here .) And, since that time, Valerie has made even more strides in theatre, worthy of noting, and spotlighting, once again! As a master director and highly sought collaborator, Valerie has taken up the task of bringing a new body of work into the American theatre canon, this time with long-time colleague and seasoned theater artist Reginald And