Dear Friends,
As we move forward in hope, Miami MoCAAD aspires to be on the front lines of crafting our new future. In this moment of international loss and strife, may our love of art of the African diaspora be a unifying force and reminder of the beauty that can persist despite the struggles of the human experience.
In continuation of our celebration of May as National Photography Month, we salute photographers who use color and light to convey emotion, elegance and power. We also continue our celebration of Haitian Heritage Month with an array of highlights in children’s literature. In other fun and educational “Moments”, we explore our Miami MoCAAD quiz, an art talk and exhibition at
the Ethelbert Cooper Gallery of African & African American Art,
and a virtual commencement celebration with Michelle Obama and Beyoncé.
Remember that by being safe and smart, we protect ourselves and each other.
Onward!
The Miami MoCAAD Team
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In celebration of May as National Photography Month, we showcase works of photographers who provide a global platform to local issues through the camera’s lens. Miami MoCAAD salutes Prince Gyasi, Duwane Coates, Ekua King, and
Girma Berta.
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Prince Gyasi,
Bondage
Prince Gyasi
, at the young age of 23, emerged on the photography scene with colorful and emotional photographs depicting life in Accra, Ghana—all taken with his iPhone. His choice of bold, bright backgrounds highlights the beauty of Black skin. “…[C]olor can serve as a therapy,” he explains, “it can treat depression and transform emotions.”
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Duwane Coates,
EL RITMO DE LA CIUDAD
Duwane Coates
is a film and video artist, photographer, painter and conservator from Havana, Cuba who currently resides in Miami, FL. Coates’ work encompasses issues of migration, neo Black identity, racism, and Afro-Cuban culture. Coates was previously featured in Miami MoCAAD's
Reconstructing Identity: An Exploration of Identity and Diaspora Through Artistic Practice
.
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Ekua King,
Untitled
Ekua King
is a Jamaican photographer based in London. King’s work blends portraiture and fashion, inspired by Jamaican culture. Frequently, her work emphasizes humanity and tenderness of Black men, showcasing a different side of Black masculinity.
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Girma Berta,
Moving Shadows II, VI
Girma Berta’s
series
Moving Shadows I+II
depicts people from his hometown, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Berta combines photography and graphic design to force the viewer to engage with the subject. The finished image is of a person mid-journey on a colorful, yet muted background. Using only his iPhone, Berta strives to capture “the beautiful, the ugly and all that is in between.”
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Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund
provides micro-grants of to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists AND administrators (consultants, facilitators, box office staff, and seasonal/temporary employees financially impacted due to COVID-19. Click
here
for information.
The Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant Fund
supports artists' living expenses and art supplies. All applications are considered immediately. For application information click
here
.
The Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation
offers one-time emergency grant assistance to visual artists, printmaker, and sculptors. Read more
here
.
Foundation for Contemporary Arts
offers a one-time grant assistance to artists who are at the receiving end of cancelled or postponed exhibitions or performances. To apply, click
here
.
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Which photographer became the first African American to write and direct a major Hollywood studio feature film?
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A) James Van Der Zee
B) Gordon Parks
C) Chester Higgins Jr.
D) Spike Lee
E) Melvin Van Peebles
Find the answer
on our Facebook and Instagram!
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Let us know the answer you selected. We'd love to hear from you. Contact Miami MoCAAD at
[email protected]
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MIAMI MoCAAD
Museum
MOMENTS
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Deborah Willis at Cooper Gallery.
Artist, curator and educator, Deborah Willis, gives a talk about African American photography in the midst of the exhibition
Carrie Mae Weems: I once knew a girl,
at the Ethelbert Cooper Gallery of African & African American Art, Cambridge, MA
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Zanele Muholi
, a South African photographer is virtual at Ethelbert Cooper Gallery of African & African American Art
!
This inaugural online exhibition,
Somnyama Ngonyama: Hail the Dark Lioness,
features 80 self-portraits that explore themes of identity and representation. Click
here
to visit Cooper Gallery virtually and see stunning work.
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Rainbow Shoe Repair: An Unexpected Theater of Flyness
presents photographs taken at the Rainbow Shoe Repair from the 1980s to the early 2000s, showcasing the life of working-class New Yorkers. Read about the exhibition
here
.
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MIAMI MoCAAD
Reading
MOMENTS
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The Ralph Hogges and Benjamin Cowins Writers Group of South Florida
shares liberating experiences by black authors.
The act of reading and writing offers escape to many, especially during this time.
The larger literary canon often overlooks black authorship. Attached is volume two of the online literary magazine. Click
here
.
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Miami MoCAAD continues to celebrate
Haitian Heritage Month
! Here are children's books featuring Haitian stories. Find the books
here
.
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MIAMI MoCAAD
Education
MOMENT
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Growlight 2020
is a four-week camp for high school students that introduces design principles while cultivating public speaking and entrepreneurial skills. It offers an opportunity to become certified in 3D modeling and design software! Students will engage with leaders in public art and engineering. Full scholarships are available for students on free reduced lunch.
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MIAMI MoCAAD
Graduation
MOMENT
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Join former First Lady Michelle Obama for a virtual commencement celebration bringing together global leaders, celebrities (like the magnificent Beyoncé!) and other voices to celebrate graduates, families and their communities. See YouTube’s
Dear Class of 2020
on
June 6, 2020, at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT.
Find out who’s going
here
.
Watch the stream on YouTube
here.
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MIAMI MoCAAD
Magic
MOMENTS
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Aja Monet's
poetry inspires. Click
here
to chill to two moving poems from Caribbean-American poet and educator, Aja Monet, who relocated from New York to Miami.
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Jamar Roberts
, a Miami native, dances with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He made his choreographic debut with
Members Don’t Get Weary
. Check behind the scenes
interviews
and clips of performances from
Members Don’t Get Weary
.
On
June 11,
join Alvin Ailey dancers for a
Virtual Spirit Gala
featuring live performances
and DJ D-Nice. Go to their YouTube
channel
for even more!
Click
here
for the schedule of virtual performances.
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MIAMI MoCAAD Quarantine House Round 2!
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Are you able to name each artist in the house?
1)
2)
3)
4)
Visit Miami MoCAAD on
Instagram
to play the rest of the game!
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The Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora, Miami MoCAAD,
will discover, commission, collect and preserve the work of the most advanced contemporary artists of the Global African Diaspora and exhibit this art at the highest level at home and abroad.
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You may write checks to Miami MoCAAD, and send to this address:
c/o Center for Social Change, 2103 Coral Way, Miami, FL 33145
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Share, Follow, and Engage with
Miami MoCAAD on Social Media!
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