Rockville, MD- Through a series of programs and events, Cultural Platforms for Resistance highlights the radical creativity of a new generation blurring the boundaries between art, advocacy, and activism. Uniting together artist, collectives, cultural producers, educators, and emerging voices, Cultural Platforms for Resistance becomes an auxiliary for a rising generation. Featuring a cohort of seven artists from the DMV area, along with a flex space for community building, Cultural Platforms for Resistance seeks to provide a space for new and existing voices to be heard. http://www.culturalplatforms.com/
About the artists:
Amarie Baker is a social media strategist and visual artist currently living and working in New York City. She graduated from Sam Houston State University with Bachelors of Art in Communications and is currently pursuing art full time. Using her social media background, artistic vision, and her iphone, Amarie, sets out to create a platform that showcase a new narrative on millennial perspectives. Amarie is currently producing a series called Asé. Asé pronounced “ah-sheh” is an African philosophical concept of the Yoruba through which you are able to conceive the power to make things happen and produce change. In a video series, Asé takes control of the narrative, combating the Trump administration by sharing personal experiences of this generation’s perspectives.
https://www .youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=FB-Ie-4QmZs
http://www.amariebaker.com/
Anahita (Ani) Bradberry is an artist and art historian from D.C. who currently lives and works in New York. She earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in modern and contemporary non-Western art with a focus on Japan from American University’s Feminist Art History program. Interested in challenging predetermined roles in the global contemporary art world, Anahita walks the line between artist and critical art writer to obtain a deeper understanding of the cultural power of radical creativity. https://www.anibradberry.com/
Kristen Brown is a visual artist from Peoria, Illinois. She works in a variety of media, including photography, videography, sewing, mixed media, temporary installation, and spectacle art. Brown completed her BA in Community Art with an Urban Studies Certificate from Wheaton College and her MFA in Community Arts, with a Certificate in College Teaching, from Maryland Institute College of Art in 2017. Using art to bridge individuals together, Brown’s work is about response and creating opportunities for individuals to let their guard down through participatory actions, events and moments.
https://www.kristenleebrown.com
Edgar Reyes is a multimedia artist based in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. His work is a reflection of his personal experience as an undocumented youth in the United States. Reyes earned his MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art and has taught at non-profits and private institutions. Through his creative programming, interests and abilities, he nurtures the development of youth-driven arts-based leadership initiatives that advocate how art and design can assist in self-expression and easing of cultural tensions. http://reyesedgar.com/ Instagram: @reyesedgar
strvnge encounters, se, was organically created in July 2016 by Aayesha Aijaz and Salsabeel Abdelhamid. Two individuals who were seeking a home in a world that constantly tried to label people. SE aims to include and open their spaces to every person from every walk of life, wherever they may be in their journey. Since July 2016 SE has hosted over 30 workshops ranging from hands on creative spaces, healing circles for survivors of sexual assault and interactive informative sessions. SE has also hosted two music shows / fundraisers that each raised over 3k for Keith Davis Jr. a victim of police brutality. strvnge encounters strives to be community oriented and innovative in every aspect of their platform, and are always welcoming new strvngers into their family! http://www.strvnge-encounters.com
Teens for Teens is a D.C. based collective created by teens for teens in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, with a focus on intersectionality, self-love, and activism. Coming together for Cultural Platforms for Resistance for the 1st time, Teens for Teens will create Speak Your He(ART), a group exhibition focusing on intersectionality, activism, and self-love. Teens for Teens was founded by Washington Metropolitan natives Jacqueline Grimson and Sam Falb. https://teensforteens.tumblr.com/ Instagram: @teensforteensart
Yellow Jackets Collective, YJC, is a queer/intersectional Yellow American collective collaborating towards radical futures that centralize marginalized bodies. With the mission to collaborate on projects that centralize POC/Queer/Femme/marginalized communities, YJC actively envisions and produces opportunities that protect movements that centralize the Asian diaspora and decentralize white heteronormative/capitalist supremacy http://yellowjacketscollective.com
Instagram: @yellowjacketscollective
About the curator:
Ashley D. DeHoyos is an emerging curator from Houston, Texas, who currently lives and works in Baltimore, Maryland. She received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Photography from Sam Houston State University and her Masters in Fine Arts in Curatorial Practice from Maryland Institute College of Art. She has worked as an intern at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in partnership with ArtTable, and was an Urban Arts Leadership Fellow under the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance at Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts. Most recently, Ashley has been working as a Community Art and Service Program Assistant at Maryland Institute College of Art and college mentor with Bloomberg Art Internship Baltimore.
About the VisArts Emerging Curator Program:
The VisArts Emerging Curator Program pairs an emerging curator with an experienced mentoring curator to produce new exhibitions and related programming. The program is generously funded by the Windgate Charitable Foundation.
Schedule of Events:
Exhibition: September 6 – October 8, 2017, Kaplan Gallery, VisArts (2nd Floor)
Events:
- Opening Reception and Artist Talk: Friday, September 8, 7 – 9 PM.
- Healing Workshop with Aayesha Aijaz- strvnge encounters: September 9, 2017, Kaplan Gallery, 12:30 PM – 2:30PM
- Yellow Jacket Collective: September 16 & 17, TBD
- Intersection of Muslim Identities- strvnge encounters: September 22, 2017, Kaplan Gallery, 12:00PM – 2:00PM
- E.A.S.T. at VisArts, Future Framers: September 24, 2017, Rooftop, 11:30 to 4:00 PM. https://www.visartscenter.org/feast/
- Open Mic Night: Spoken Word/Performances: September 29, Kaplan Gallery, 6:00PM – 8:00PM
- Edgar Reyes Screen Printing Workshop: September 30, 2017, Kaplan Gallery, 12:00PM – 1:00PM
- Cultural Platforms for Resistance Zine and Creators Fest: October 7, 12:00PM – 4:00PM
- *Community Lab & Teens for Teens Schedule to be announced September 1, 2017
Exhibitions and events are free and open to the public. $5 donation is suggested.
Cultural Platforms for Resistance and the Emerging Curator Program are generously sponsored by
The Windgate Foundation.
About VisArts: Located in the heart of Rockville, Maryland, VisArts is a hub for the visual arts that engages nearly 30,000 visitors annually through gallery exhibitions, education programs, a studio artist program, and events. Founded in 1987, VisArts is committed to our mission of transforming individuals and communities through the visual arts.
VisArts is located three blocks from the Rockville Metro station at 155 Gibbs Street, Rockville, Maryland. For information, please visit www.visartscenter.org or call 301-315-8200.
VisArts Gallery Hours:
Wednesday & Thursday: 12 – 4 PM
Friday: 12 – 8 PM
Saturday & Sunday: 12 – 4 PM
Exhibitions are always free and open to the public.
For information, images or to arrange an interview or preview of the exhibition, please contact Laura Rodini at (202) 669-3065 or lrodini@visartscenter.org.
