Last week I made it out to the California African American Museum (CAAM) here in L.A. for Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, a celebration of their fall exhibitions. Nearly 2,000 people came out to see the shows. It wouldn’t be a party without the deejays and food trucks. It was a really good time. I think the electric slide happened at least 3 times. It’s always a wonderful experience when the community comes together. CAAM does an amazing job of engaging audiences with relevant, thought provoking works from artists of Color. To quote EJ Hills’ work A Declaration, “We deserve to see ourselves elevated.”
Here are pics of the some of works on view…
Nina Chanel Abney Royal Flush
Incite (COM), 2015 Nina Chanel Abney
Mad 51st Street, 2012 Nina Chanel Abney
Untitled (XXXXXX), 2015 Nina Chanel Abney
Robert Pruitt: Devotion
A Brother I Have Had on Earth, 2017 Robert Pruitt
Eve After the Fall, 2018 Robert Pruitt
California Bound: Slavery on the New Frontier 1848-1865
This show was curated by my friend Tyree Boyd-Pates and discusses the little known history of California’s participation in the enslavement of Africans.
It’s a lot to take in but so worth it
The history of Bridget “Biddy” Mason is a fascinating one. Inspiring too
If you’re in the L.A. area check out these shows. Also on view are Los Angeles Freedom Rally, 1963 and The Notion of Family. There’s a lot to see in L.A. I’m looking forward to getting out to more shows.