FREQUENCIES: THE HENRY ART GALLERY'S INNOVATIVE AURAL COMPANION

by Kamari Bright

Image 1: The Henry, courtesy of the organization. Image 2: Rodney McMillian: Neighbors [Installation View, Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle. 2025]. Courtesy of the Artist, Petzel, New York, and Vielmetter, Los Angeles. Photo: Jonathan Vanderweit.

As an artist and advocate, I often notice how creative practice and equity work intersect, particularly within art institutions. With the increase in social advocacy for equity and inclusion, we are seeing these institutions examine who has historically been welcomed in these spaces and who has been discouraged from them. Alongside this reflection, we are also seeing new efforts at accessibility and inclusion. A great example of this is the Frequencies project at The Henry Art Gallery. Frequencies is “a creative audio project that invites artists, writers, and community members to contribute sonic responses to The Henry’s exhibitions.” Although this project is not the first of its kind, there are a few reasons why it stands out to me:

1. It addresses the overall accessibility of art. For those of us without formal art education or early exposure to art spaces, the works themselves can feel like an unfamiliar language. Frequencies invites people with diverse identities and life paths to demonstrate that art is largely subjective. There is no single right answer. Interpretation is shaped by individual knowledge and lived experience.

   
   

2. It intentionally includes a non-traditional art form. There is a long-standing hierarchy of what is considered fine art, with painting and sculpture often positioned at the top. Frequencies deviates from this by using audio works, which are less commonly centered in gallery or museum settings, as the companions to its exhibitions. This approach expands how audiences can engage with and understand the work.

   
   

3. It creates an additional entry point for the local community. By commissioning local artists and community members to create works in response to current exhibitions, the Frequencies project leverages the draw of national artists to benefit the city’s creative ecosystem, and vice versa. Local artists gain meaningful visibility within established institutions, international artists are introduced to a broader audience, and residents feel more connected to the institutions in their city.

Beyond its structure, what is most compelling about Frequencies is how it reflects the impact of sustained advocacy. Community members who spoke up about their experiences in these spaces and staff who have pushed for greater representation made a tangible impact in how these institutions operate. Projects like Frequencies signal a move toward more democratized and inclusive models of engagement. As creative institutions continue to evolve, this kind of approach offers a clear example of how they can continue to meet the needs of the communities they serve.

The current contributors to the Frequencies project are FS Bássibét, Kamari Bright, Jai Kobi, Nia-Amina Minor, Zola Mumford, Sadaf Sadri, and ralph salazaar, These contributors are responding to Kameelah Janan Rasheed: we leak, we exceed, and Rodney McMillian: Neighbors. You can listen to the aural companion series now via Bloomberg Connects.

(Composite left to right) Kamari Bright. Photo: Rubin Quarcoopome. Jai Lasker. Photo: Mark Harazim. ralph salazar. Photo: Brian Henkel. Sadaf Sadri. Photo: Chari Smith.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kamari Bright is a St. Louis-born videopoet and multimedia artist heavily inspired by human psychology and the desire to remove the vagueness of the growth and healing process. Leaning into the mechanisms of communication through the interplay of imagery and language, her works have been received at the International Poetry Film Festival of Thuringia, the Academy Award-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival, Seattle Art Museum, TriQuarterly, Moss, International Video Poetry Festival of Athens, and more. The 2024 Artist Trust Innovator Award recipient is currently exploring the influence of Christian folklore on present-day misogyny, as well as the impact of the environment on collective well-being. She is a community-taught creator and advocate who lives, loves, and eats on the land of the Duwamish.