black beyond presents "_assembly, alchemy, ascension" exhibition at parsons school of design

New York, February 7, 2022 - black beyond, in collaboration with Parsons School of Design, is proud to present _assembly, alchemy, ascension [a^3] at the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Gallery in the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center from February 14 – March 18, 2022. Curated by JAZSALYN, Shameekia Shantel Johnson, and Yvonne Mpwo, black beyond’s debut IRL group exhibition convenes the work of artists Harmony Holiday, Adama Delphine Fawundu, Lamb, Zainab Aliyu, Jamal Ademola, Anastasia Warren, Fields Harrington, JAZSALYN, Jazmine Hayes, Asia Stewart, ed-en, Xavier Scott Marshall and Willy Ndatira, under a shared interest in considering blackness outside of a white imaginary.

_assembly, alchemy, ascension [a^3] maps and dissolves the falsified structures of modernity, and imagines new realities for black and indigenous life through an exploration of (afro) pessimism, nowism, afro vs afrifuturism, black womanism. In [a^3], new media, sculpture, performance, and conceptual works alchemize a new being of blackness through the assembly of art as community practice and community activations. All thirteen artists radically seek and defiantly manifest a collective vision of Black futurity made possible only through disruption; an ascendant reality. In addition to featured artists, black beyond’s XR experience _origins serves as a prelude to [a^3], which is installed as a physical portal in the gallery space.

Alongside it’s presentation at the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Gallery, [a^3] will feature an extensive program of events open to the public. At Ridgewood’s NOWADAYS, black beyond will transition into the a^3 ascension portal, a series of performances, featuring artists Lamb, La Duni, SCRAAATCH, the sound and performance art duo of E. Jane (aka MHYSA) and chukwumaa, SaliYah, and cry$cross. Further programming will be announced into the run of the exhibition.

A selection of photos can be found here.

EXHIBITION CREDIT AND SUPPORT 

black beyond _assembly, alchemy, ascension [a^3] is curated by JAZSALYN, Shameekia Shantel Johnson and Yvonne Mpwo. Curatorial concept and statement by JAZSALYN and Neta Bomani and edited by Shameekia Shantel Johnson and Yvonne Mpwo. The exhibition is made possible by the New York Foundation for the Arts, Design + Technology Program at Parsons School of Design, and The New School USS. Public programming supported by The New School EISJ, Parsons Executive Dean’s Office, NEW INC at The New Museum, ONX Studio, and NOWADAYS.