this group exhibition otherwise/revival, visualizes the impact of the historic black church— specifically the black pentecostal movement—on contemporary artists. it is curated by cara lewis and jasmine mcneal. among the 30 featured artists are: mcarthur binion, deana lawson, nathaniel mary quinn, trenton doyle hancock, kehinde wiley, willie cole, clementine hunter, and sister gertrude morgan.
my collaborative new work created for the exhibition with designer norman teague is called sweet jellyroll for terry, made in homage to terry adkins (1953-2014), an interdisciplinary artist and musician, whose work often blended both. the works in the exhibition respond to the “otherwise possibilities” embodied by the black church. sculptures, paintings, video, and performances celebrate the significance of music, praise, breath, and community. exhibited artists reflect on their traditions, heritages, passions, and talents to cultivate a space where art thrives and expresses a unifying language for all.
curators: jasmine mcneal and cara megan lewis of bridge projects
exhibition link →
catalogue link →
bridge projects, 04.09.21 – 07.31.21
my collaborative new work created for the exhibition with designer norman teague is called sweet jellyroll for terry, made in homage to terry adkins (1953-2014), an interdisciplinary artist and musician, whose work often blended both. the works in the exhibition respond to the “otherwise possibilities” embodied by the black church. sculptures, paintings, video, and performances celebrate the significance of music, praise, breath, and community. exhibited artists reflect on their traditions, heritages, passions, and talents to cultivate a space where art thrives and expresses a unifying language for all.
curators: jasmine mcneal and cara megan lewis of bridge projects
exhibition link →
catalogue link →
bridge projects, 04.09.21 – 07.31.21
Additional Engagements:
Jazz and the Gospel
Saturday, May 1, 2021 12:00 pm – 1:30 pmFrom jazz musicians such as Charles Mingus and John Coltrane, the music of the Black church has influenced many musicians in the genre. Specifically for jazz, gospel music and its origins in the church bring influences, such as improvisation, into the experience of jazz music and immersion of sound and culture. Artists Ashon T. Crawley, Dario Robleto, Norman Teague, and Folayemi [Fo] Wilson all incorporate aspects of jazz in their work and will discuss the influence it has in their practice in this panel discussion. Moderating the conversation will be historian Daniel E. Walker, an acclaimed historian, philanthropist, social entrepreneur, and entertainment industry leader.
watch ︎︎︎
screen capture from jazz and the gospel
A Conversation with Folayemi (Fo) Wilson
Today Otherwise/Revival co-curator Jasmine McNeal interviewed the artist Folayemi (Fo) Wilson on the stories behind the sculpture “sweet jellyroll for terry,” her deep affection for the artist Terry Adkins, her understanding of spirit as the “luxurious moment of the in-between,” unexpected gifts of the pandemic and much more.watch ︎︎︎
