The Shadows Took Shape : Afrofuturism at The Studio Museum at Harlem

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1. MLK, David Huffman 2008 (Acrylic, oil and glitter on canvas)

2.The Score, Cauleen Smith  2012 (Porcelain, underglaze, acrylic paint and music stand)

3.Slave Ship Zong Series, Edgar Arceneaux, 2013 (Graphite, acrylic paint and paper on drywall)

‘The Shadows Took Shape,’ at the Studio Museum  addresses a concern that I, and many of my confidantes have been discussing heatedly, secretly even, amongst ourselves. I say secretly, because many of us have discovered to discuss such things have become, well, tabu.  The conversations usually take place in walks in parks in Brooklyn, where little black children used to play, only to be now displaced by designer dogs trampling upon the grass with their colonizing owners; or when Award shows are  stumbled upon and there are little or no presence of US despite the prevalence of our creations (aka Elvis, you know the deal). It is a bit of a conundrum, to be fair - here in the U.S. of A we are experiencing something that many deemed impossible: A Black presidency. So why is it that for many of us, the concern is VERY deep about OUR future: the Future of Blacks? 

We talk about these things secretly, because when expressed out loud, we are admonished by others (mostly white folks or Blacks subscribing and benefiting from the status quo) that we're being too negative. But it's a hard thing to ignore if you're of color as the jails swell with our brothers, fathers, uncles, sons, mothers, daughters, aunts -- Yes sure, you may have heard the term "The Prison Industrial Complex" but if you're in a certain socio-economic background, well umh, it just sounds like some kind of psychological complex that well, prisoners are suffering from, not some systematic slavery under a different name. 

Many of us admit that Black people are an endangered species. I've had many whites, unknowing how I identify, gloat: I love mix-raced kids! It makes Black people well, so much more beautiful! (I kid you not!) In a society such as Denmark, who deems spawning bi-racial kids as progressive (never mind educating oneself about the history, yawn! just cut that child's hair, who needs to know how to comb that?) the situation is indeed, concerning. At least to me. 

I was elated when Marie passed me a free ticket to check out Man from Tomorrow  as part of the The Shadows Took Shape at the Studio Museum Harlem. I thought well yes, of course, we need to start seeing ourselves into the future (ourselves) as, well, who else is going to do it? 

Man from Tomorrow is a collaborative effort between French filmmaker Jacqueling Caux and Detroit Techno icon Jeff Mills.  I found the film a wonderful experiment in time and place and space : all elements that root us in this matrix and from which we can cast our dreams and aspirations.  I found the film captured what I know I feel as a Black expat, even here back on home turf: that feeling of alienation that is truly beneath every human's skin - but some of us can access it a bit more readily than others. This is for those who don't kid themselves about concepts of 'belonging' - knowing that as soon as we start claiming that concept we also embrace the notion that there are some who don't belong. And that is a dialectic I prefer not to engage in. 

Jeff Mills hit upon a jewel of a thought during his time on stage, after the viewing. He shared with the audience his concept of time - that it is not linear but circular, much like a spinning record. I appreciated his insight into the fact that despite the fact that he djs about 100 events, internationally, a year - he still feels alone, alienated and well, rootless.  It is certainly something that this girl on mars can relate to. 

If you're in New York City, I encourage you to visit the exhibit The Shadows Took Shape: Afrofuturism at the Studion Museum.  It's important to see ourselves into the future, cause like I said, if we don't do it, who will?
I would end on a thought that it wouldn't surprise me if we are soon encased and put on display as items on display, but well,  I guess that has already been done.
Reporting from Mars (New York)
Adieu,
the lab