Fellow performer Norm Lewis, who gave an emotionally stirring performance of “I’d Rather Be Sailing” from the musical A New Brain, hopes that the future of LCT remains committed to diversity. The company has produced numerous productions spotlighting the Black experience such as Sarafina!, Mule Bone, and most recently, The Blood Quilt. “They are really good about diversity,” he said. “They’ve been really good for the past twenty-odd years…and I hope to see more of that and new works.”
American Federation of Arts continues its mission
AFA reaffirmed its commitment to celebrating diversity at its annual spring luncheon. In opening remarks, AFA president and CEO Pauline Forlenza stated, “With major funding cuts that we are seeing to the NEA and to museums across the country…the work of the AFA has never been more important. By bringing these shows to communities nationwide from small towns to major cities we ensure that everyone has access to art that reflects both your own experiences and the rich diversity of the country…We aren’t just traveling exhibitions, we are sharing ideas, identity, and understanding…”
AFA is demonstrating that commitment by touring two major new exhibitions: Willie Birch: Stories to Tell, which highlights the Black American experience and Abstract Expressionists: The Women, which spotlights the underrecognized contributions of women to abstract expressionism.
The luncheon, held at 583 Park Avenue in New York City, also included a conversation with renowned artist Jeffrey Gibson and Jane Panetta, curator of modern and contemporary art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met). The rich discussion provided an opportunity for Gibson, an Indigenous artist, to share deeper insights into his practice and how Black culture has influenced his work. The latter is exemplified in his use of text which often quotes song lyrics by Black recording artists and songwriters. “My identity has been shaped by Black American culture no matter where I’ve lived,” he said. “So that’s also where I’ve learned so much of how I think about the reuse of image and text and art.”
Gibson, who is currently working on his 2025 Genesis Facade Commission for The Met and has a solo exhibition on view at The Broad in Los Angeles, also shared his thoughts on how he uses text within his art to respond to our current political moment. “We’ve been in a really difficult time period in this country for a very long time,” he said. “And I think I’m drawn to texts that are about trying to maintain a sense of hope, a sense of integrity, [and] a sense of autonomy while acknowledging the exhaustion…emotional wear and tear…And those things happen on smaller personal levels, but also…I always want them to be applicable to the kind of more macro situation of the world we share.”
It is a world we share full of enriching theater and art that organizations such as LCT and AFA remain dedicated to advancing, despite the current challenging political climate.
The column, On the “A” w/Souleo, covers the arts, culture, entertainment, party, and philanthropy scene in Harlem and beyond and is written by Souleo.
