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Celebrating Black Music Month: “ECHOES OF TOMORROW” Exhibition at The Oculus
June is Black Music Month, and to mark this occasion, The Knockturnal attended “ECHOES OF TOMORROW: WE ARE THE FUTURE ANCESTORS,” a compelling exhibition presented by Art Genesis and NYC Culture Club. Curated by Mashonda Tifrere, this visual documentation is on display inside The Oculus at the World Trade Center from June 12th to June 27th, 2024.
This captivating photographic experience celebrates Black Music Month and Juneteenth, offering a unique documentation of New York life and culture through five decades of music, politics, and everyday happenings. It feels like a portal in time, accessible only during these dates.
The exhibition features an impressive lineup of seven artists who have collectively woven a visual narrative capturing the essence of Black culture and shaping legacies for future generations. Each photograph serves as a love letter to New York, encapsulating the spirit of the city’s diverse communities. Notable works include Jamel Shabazz’s “A Time of Innocence, Red Hook, 1980” and Florence “Flo” Ngala’s “Meg(an)d the Mirror, 2020,” both with prices on request.
A portion of the proceeds from the exhibition will support “Summer on the Hill” at Horace Mann, an initiative dedicated to enriching the education of low-income students from The Bronx, Harlem, and Washington Heights. This commitment reflects the exhibition’s ethos of always moving forward while giving back and paying it forward.
Mashonda Tifrere, the visionary curator, is a tireless advocate for increasing accessibility for BIPOC and women artists. Her dedication has been instrumental in creating platforms that empower underrepresented artists, ensuring their work reaches a wider audience. With over 150,000 Instagram followers, Tifrere often leverages her significant social media presence to spotlight and uplift these artists.
Meet the Artists:
– Jamel Shabazz: Known for his extensive documentation of youth culture and social conditions in New York City.
– Florence “Flo” Ngala: Celebrated for her street, celebrity, and portrait photography.
– Steven John Irby: Renowned for his street photography with a timeless aesthetic.
– Shakka: A self-taught iPhone street photographer capturing untold stories across the city.
– Laylah Amatullah Barrayn: An award-winning documentary and portrait photographer and frequent contributor to The New York Times.
– Johnny Nuñez: A legendary music industry photographer known for his compelling imagery.
– Shareif Ziyadat: An editorial photographer known for his unique perspective as a definer of hip and modern culture.
Tifrere beamed as she expressed what “ECHOES OF TOMORROW” meant to her, emphasizing the power of photography to tell our stories. “WE ARE THE FUTURE ANCESTORS” signifies that through one photo, a thousand words can be interpreted by the eye that perceives it, and what we encapsulate today will inevitably become the future.
The exhibition offered a profound experience for all attendees, immersing us in a celebration of culture, history, and artistic expression. It felt light yet had depth, reflecting the vibrant tapestry of New York City’s past, present, and future. We often underestimate the power of a single photograph. They say a picture speaks volumes, and browsing through the prints in the gallery featuring some of my favorite artists and celebrities like Nas, DMX, Beyoncé, and Jay Z caught in candid moments from their past, it truly hits home. Images have this incredible ability to narrate stories that transcend time. This exhibit is bound to spark inspiration among influencers and artists, reminding us of the profound storytelling potential behind every snapshot.
