as they lay Presents The Frequency of Us
It has been some time since I last connected with you all here! My thoughts have been so jumbled. It often feels impossible to formulate complete thoughts and sentences that make sense (outside of my brain) but I do feel my thoughts and energy moving toward a more unified energetic understanding. there is so much I want to and will share with you all. In the meantime, I wanted to share information regarding this exhibition that I am so excited to be a part of. Hope to see you there!
as they lay Presents
The Frequency of Us
Curated by Karryl Eugene
BALTIMORE, MD (September 17th,19th 2020) as they lay presents The Frequency Of Us, a video exhibition screening curated by Karryl Eugene (via Zoom). Inspired by the work of Arthur Jafa, and Tina campt The Frequency Of Us will exhibit artworks that beacon the visual frequency of black lives. The Frequency Of Us will be exhibiting selected video works from Darian Murray, Taina Cruz, Cy X, Tourmaline, and Sondra Perry whose works speaks on the importance of black archival curation and its ability to reshape aspects of culture for the growth of the black gaze. The screenings will happen on two separate days, September 17th and September 19th.
After the screening of artworks we will discuss topics surrounding black archival work such as the act of collaging, haptic images, cultural incongraphies, and black visual intonation. On September 17th we will have co facilitators Abdu Ali, Rhea Dillion, Nontsikelelo Mutiti and September 19th Zoë Charlton, Cy X help guide the discussion. To encourage deeper engagement with the artwork through collective reflection, we are challenging the traditional art exhibition experience which is often elitist, exclusionary, and voyeuristic. The video work that will be shown is from artists who use archival video, photos, and sound pulled from various sections of black culture to bend and create new compositions that showcase the range and intersectionality of the lived black experience. Through reupholstering and manipulating archival content these artists create moments of juxtaposition and orchestrations that reclaim the complexities and fullness of blackness.
Prioritizing a black audience and by beaconing the accessibility to collage archives The Frequency of Us aspires to leave guests feeling empowered to interrogate the monolithic ideologies planted in traditional media and culture that often centers a white patriarchal gaze.
About as they lay
As a nomadic curatorial platform as they lay is a programming and art making initiative seeking to curate projects and community events that foster collaboration, creative action and reflection. Advocating for those who have been pushed into the margins with an emphasis on black liberation, the goal of as they lay is to curate a myriad of cultural programming and art that will aid in the transformation for a more sustainable, inclusive, nourishing, and interconnected creative climate for artists living in Baltimore. Abdu Ali founded as they lay in 2019.
Subscribe to the exhibition here.