Two New Exhibits Celebrate Black History & Future
The African American Art & Culture Complex presents two new exhibitions allowing visitors to explore little-known histories and experience future worlds. Both are on display through June in AAACC galleries at 762 Fulton Street in San Francisco.
“Entrapment to Entertainment: A Celebration of Black People in the American Circus,” curated by Uncle Junior Project founder Veronica Blair and with support from the Circus Center, is a powerful exposé and celebration of the history of Black people in the American Circus. The exhibition features original costumes, archival film, powerful still images and contemporary art by acclaimed Bay Area contemporary artists.
People of African descent have a rich history in the ring, with a legacy spanning P.T. Barnum’s claim to fame Joice Heth; conjoined twins Millie Christine McKoy, who were born into slavery; the Ringling Brothers’ debut of the first Black aerial act, Satin; and continuing today with Universoul Circus, the nation’s only African American-owned circus. “Entrapment to Entertainment” offers an opportunity to discover and honor the achievements of the many extraordinary individuals and groups in the African American circus community.
“Kemba Village” is an immersive visual storytelling exhibit celebrating the resiliency of an Afrofuturistic community surviving socio-, economic- and environmental crisis on earth.
This special exhibition, curated by Kiss My Black Arts founder Derrick “Rtystk” Shavers, invites viewers to engage with the artist’s original works while envisioning themselves as part of a real-world social change ecosystem. The Kemba Village will be an opportunity to build community around culture, dialogue and the fulfillment that occurs by combining art, food, and music.
On display are seven new large-scale paintings (42’ x 70’) featuring African people with artifacts and three African-inspired installations honoring the African culture, architecture, marketplace, dancing and scenery. “Kemba Village” includes African-inspired patterns and cultural markings from various countries to embrace the basic materiality of our solidarity.
The exhibitions are made possible with support from the San Francisco Arts Commission, Grants for the Arts, and the Dream Keeper Initiative.
