Curated by Rollins students under the direction of Julian Chambliss, Ph.D., AfroFantastic analyzes the complex sociopolitical forces linked to the black imagination in the American experience from the nineteenth century to present day. Researching significant historical works of minority imagination and the critique inherent to their creation, student curators examine how concerns about the African-American experience has shaped imagined and real circumstances. "I think this show is an opportunity to explore the idea of the black imaginary at a time when question of race and identity are being redefined in the public sphere. The idea of examining how African-American thought offers a challenge that inspires new ways of thinking is important," states Chambliss. From early efforts such as Martin Delany's Blake; or Huts of America (1859) and Sutton E. Griggs' Imperium in Imperio (1899) to Sun Ra's fantastic musical revolution in the 1970s, future-oriented narratives have provided powerful markers of societal transformation. Beyond fantastic escapism, black engagement with future visions challenges societal expectations and creates a space to reshape the meaning of the American experience.

Dr. Chambliss is Chair and Professor of History with the Department of History at Rollins College in Winter Park, FL. His teaching and research focus on urban history and culture in the United States. Chambliss also serves as Coordinator of the Africa and African-American Studies Program at Rollins, and Program Co-Chair, 2017 Society for American City and Regional Planning History (SACRPH) National Meeting. AfroFantastic relates directly to Chambliss's scholarship. "I study the real and imagined city. In this framework, I'm concerned with how perceptions shaped by culture provoke action and reaction. The idea of the imaginary landscape as a space of contestation, negotiation, and reconciliation is a defining concern. Weaving together these pieces of the black imaginary offers a chance for my students and the public to consider how the African-American struggle to achieve equity has continually intersected with a broader narrative of societal evolution."

Related Programming

Monday, January 23, 4:30 pm | Members' Private Toast with Curators

Monday, January 23, 5:30-7:30 pm | Public Celebration of new exhibitions

Tuesday, January 24, 12:30 pm | Artist's Talk, Branding the AfroFuture, with artist Stacey Robinson, whose work is represented in the exhibition

Friday, January 27, 11 am |Exhibition tour and talk, AfroFantastic: Imagination and Agency in the American Experience, with Julian Chambliss, Ph.D.

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