THE COLLECTIVE

Throngs of theater-goers have enjoyed the hit musical, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations . The Broadway production is filled with sing-along moments covering the incredible career of one of Motown’s most successful recording groups, told from the perspective of the remaining original Temp member Otis Williams. Known as a singular artist, the role of Smokey Robinson as an early songwriter for the Temptations is a moment in the musical that breaks the hard

One of them tells tales of sticky contradictions and dualities inherent to vices rooted in Americana-distorted memories through whimsical art installations; the other writes award-winning books inspired by his mission to make reading more exciting, engaging, and accessible. Both of them are gracing Seattle in March and both of them are the antitheses of boring. In fact, they are magical. First up, #1 New York Times bestselling author of poetry, young adult fiction, graphic

We can educate ourselves on history all we want through mediums like books and film, but one of our personal favorite ways to connect and learn is through experience. So put down that Black History book for an evening and join us at One Vibe Africa's Kijiji Night , an event that has united thousands of attendees across and beyond the African diaspora in celebration of Black History and African Culture for six years now. Kijiji is Swahili for "village," and we want to see the

The greatest icon of style and fashion, André Leon Talley died a year ago on January 22, 2022. Given that Talley had no heirs, many have wondered what would become of his vast collection of artifacts representing luxury and unique style spanning across the 20th and 21st centuries. That question has finally been answered when it was reported that his wishes were to sell everything and split the proceeds between the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem and the Mt. Sinai Missiona

When a bright light fades we are often left to wonder how did the darkness arrive? What was the cause? When the spark is so seemingly full of life, it can be difficult to accept that perhaps that spark was just for us, the onlookers, and not the reality for the one who illuminated so much joy. The world lost an incredibly brilliant light when Stephen “tWitch” Boss apparently came to the conclusion that the darkness was too much to bear. According to the LA Coroner, Boss’ de

Our friends from Capitol Hill EcoDistrict and Seattle Arts and Culture for Anti-racism have put together some fantastic holiday shopping guides, that either generously mention ARTE NOIR, OR a few of the products we currently have in-house. If you're a last-minute shopper like myself this year, then let these be some handy nudges of inspiration for the upcoming holidays, including Christmas, Kwanzaa, and beyond! From Capitol Hill EcoDistrict's guide , we are currently carryi

Dawoud Bey & Carrie Mae Weems: In Dialogue traces the careers and 45-year friendship of two of the most significant photo-based artists working today. We can't mention Inye Wakoma's work on the curatorial team for American Art, The Stories We Carry , and not also give an emphatic Shout-Out to the groundbreaking photography exhibit featuring Dawoud Bey and Carrie Mae Weems now on view at Seattle Art Museum. Running from November 17th through January 22nd, the showing features

The poetic phrase, "All Power to the People" was a rallying cry of the Black Panther Party, and no one waxed more poetically than Brother Garry Owens. Garry has been described as “a warrior for justice,” which is absolutely accurate, yet does not do justice to the kind and compassionate nature that exuded from his every interaction. He was a comrade, a protector of his community, a soldier for social justice, and a divine embodiment of what it means to truly care about people

Enjoy a very special star-studded evening of music, letter-shares by family + friends, and additional entertainment honoring Seattle's First Lady of Jazz + Blues - Ernestine Anderson. "Dear Ernestine - A Music & Story Letter Tribute to Ernestine Anderson" will feature the incredible vocal artistry of Dee Daniels, Eugenie Jones, Gail Pettis, and Elnah Jordan! Darrius Willrich on piano, Kirk Kuykendall/bass, and Jamael Nance on drums As a Music for a Cause event benefiting Th

2022 marks the 40th Anniversary of Spectrum Dance Theatre, and the 20th Anniversary of Donald Byrd’s Artistic leadership! It's a big year for the organization as they celebrate two major anniversaries. The party kicks off with the launch of their 40/20 season, beginning with the performance, OCCURRENCE 11 . The program will run from October 13-16 + 20-23, 2022, and features excerpts from Occurrence #1- #10. The first Occurrence was presented at La Usina Del Arte in Buenos

The arrival of September brought with it the bright colors of fall leaves marking the transition to a new season. It also marks a time of transition for a number of creative beings. Some we have known for decades, others we thought we would have decades more to enjoy and stand in their light. Our gratitude for the gifts they shared with us for as long as they were appointed to do so. We mark the date of these transitions in memory of their time with us. Peaceful rest. 🤍 Come

The biggest Black arts festival in the Northwest will grace the streets of the Central District this fall – Wa Na Wari’s Walk the Block is back, and we're thrilled that this year they're partnering with us for ARTE NOIR's opening day! Join us on September 17th for Wa Na Wari’s annual fundraiser, which can best be described as an arts expedition through the neighborhood, transforming Central District homes, businesses, parks, porches, and other common spaces into art installa

The world of Octavia Butler has been the subject of many conversations over the course of the past five or six years, mostly due to the incredibly prescient nature of her 1993 release, Parable of the Sower, depicting global warming, privatized public schools, common fires, and a zealot elected to "Make America Great Again." If only the world would listen to Black women...we could have gotten ahead of this mess back then! But that’s another story. Many are surprised to learn

Our shout-out this month goes to One Vibe's Madaraka Festival , celebrating its eighth year in production with two days of music, food, and art at Pier 62 at Waterfront Park! Always a lively, all-ages event, Madaraka Festival brings Africa’s finest musicians and creatives together with world-renowned artists and innovators for a celebration of music and civic purpose. Beyond the music, come ready to enjoy arts, culture, and food vendors throughout each day. Since 2014, Mada

A big shout out to Let the Strings Speak, returning live after two years of virtual performance due to the pandemic. The live musical event takes place on Saturday, August 6th, at 2 PM at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute . This year, the focus is Let the Strings Speak Africa – Life After Covid. Let the Strings Speak is the brainchild of Dr. Maxine Mimms , affectionately known globally as Mother Mimms. She is the founder of the Evergreen State College Tacoma ca

Black women entertainers have and continue to be leaders in movements that forward civil rights for all people. Nina Simone, Josephine Baker, Ruby Dee, Dorothy Dandridge, Lorraine Hansberry, Ntozake Shange, and others, were creative women who never let an opportunity pass to use their craft to forward the issues of human and civil rights. Though they were icons of the film, music, literary and theatre worlds, they were also visible women leaders to be counted on when the wor

Slated for June 2022, Crosscut is launching Black Arts Legacies , which aims to become an evolving multimedia archive of Black arts. Through written profiles, original photography, video documentaries, and podcasts, Black journalists from throughout the region will showcase the Black arts ecosystem, across time and genres, and within the larger context of cultural movements in the region. Black Arts Legacies will serve to educate and engage with the public, increasing aware

"Shut your mouth!" "You look cleaner than the board of health!" "You are so fly!" "Okay, I see you!" These are all compliments to style our mothers, fathers, uncles, aunties, cousins, and friends often articulate to send a signal of approval for a polished, perfected, and deliciously swag-a-licious look. Some of us grew up in a time when leaving home without the proper attire was completely unacceptable. That swagger carries on and the Ralph Lauren Polo brand recently took

SBFF Returns! The 19th annual Seattle Black Film Festival brings another year of melanated films to the halls of the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, starting April 29th and running through May 1st, 2022. Film screenings are offered both in-person and via video-on-demand, and the festival weekend includes panels and community events, an international selection of over forty feature films, music videos, documentaries, and short films showcasing the range and depth o

Take a stroll through the Englewood neighborhood in the South Side of Chicago and you'll encounter abandoned homes in various states of disrepair. Artist Tonika Lewis Johnson found herself wondering exactly how these lots came to be and her research brought her to Land Sale Contracts, made popular in the 1950s and 60s when Black homeowners were shut out of the traditional homebuying market. Offered what were essentially "rent-to-own" contracts for getting into their first ho