THE COLLECTIVE

Basic internet searches on the origins of hip hop will undoubtedly lead to a top listing on DJ Kool Herc, a New York deejay, appropriately linked as one of the most influential figures in the early years of the art form. But before the 1970s other influences can be found. In 1964, when he was still known as Cassius Clay, Muhammed Ali delivered one of the most intriguing poems ever spoken before a broad audience by a Black athlete. Every Black household in America was riveted

On May 14, 2022, an eighteen-year-old self-described white supremacist opened fire on shoppers at Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo New York, killing ten people and injuring three. In Targeted , the latest work in the "Insidious Trilogy" from Spectrum Dance Theater Artistic Director + choreographer Donald Byrd, Byrd explores the now widely embraced view of "the great replacement theory" and what buoys white supremacists in their attacks on native-born black and brown people as

In theater, a fade-out/fade-down is known as a fade-to-black, a shift to complete darkness. In a symbolic and narrative sense, fade-to-black marks the end of the scene. It happens that a local theater company, Sankofa Theater, a Black-led organization committed to opening doors for Black and Brown artists to share their work, build community, and make a living, recently faced the threat of losing their space which would mark the end of a passionate and dedicated effort to ser

It's baseball season and regardless of your feelings about the Mariners, there's something to be said for enjoying a sunny day at the park in all of its ambiance, the crack of the bat, hot roasted peanuts, a hotdog with lots of mustard, and an ice cold beer. Still not sold on the baseball, but like the part about enjoying a cold beer? Then skip the game and head straight down to Steelheads Alley to enjoy a cold one from our friends at Métier Brewing . Not only are they in pa

Harry Belafonte, March 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023 When it comes to superstars, none compare to the superstar status held by Harry Belafonte. By profession, Belafonte was a singer and actor. By necessity, he was an activist and humanitarian. On January 19, 2013, the eve of Barack Obama’s second inauguration and just preceding the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday, an 86-year-old Harry Belafonte held a full audience at The Moore Theatre, engrossed in his story-telling for more tha

Join us as we put on our dancing shoes to celebrate the fourth year of Wa Na Wari! On Tuesday, April 4th, Wa Na Wari is hosting a birthday fundraiser at Washington Hall with the theme Cake Dance , presenting a 21st-century version of the Cakewalk - a Dance of Black Resistance and Celebration. Cakewalks were birthed out of the artistic ingenuity of formerly enslaved Africans during the mid-19th Century – it’s where the phrase “take the cake” came from because a cake was award

If you haven’t yet tapped into the PBS series Beyond the Canvas , this is a perfect time. Season 3 is absolutely stellar! These are the times when being a public broadcasting nerd really pays off. Remember Charlayne Hunter-Gault? Charlayne was a news anchor superhero for little Black girls growing up in the 70s with broadcasting dreams. From 1978 -1983 she sat proudly at the anchor desk for the MacNeil/Lehrer Report. Yes, they were two white guys and Charlayne! For a time aft

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