An Art for August x ULS Program

 

To view a recording of this program, click here.

 

Join Amanda Awanjo, Pitt doctorial candidate, for a virtual discussion on reclaiming the Black archive through art, featuring Art for August artists, Brandon Jennings, Charlotte Ka, and Dominick McDuffie.

To write/paint/create oneself into a world that seeks to limit and erase you is a radical and future-making act. The Black archive is where the truth of the past and the promise of the future can meet in the present. Through their works these artists have honored August Wilson's legacy and its promises for the future, affirming once again that Black art is a radical methodology for survival.

 

The discussion will feature…

 

Amanda Awanjo, moderator, is a doctoral candidate, pursuing a degree focused on English Literature and Critical Cultural Studies.  Inspired by W.E.B Du Bois’ 1927 question, “What will people in a hundred years say of Black Americans?” her research explores the evolution of Afrofuturism throughout the 20th century and the continuing role of Black women and girls within this schema. Her work focuses on the intersections between the archival and the future facing work of Black women creators within the 20th century. Through fellowships with Carnegie Museum of Art and the University of Pittsburgh's University Art Gallery, her research has expanded to explorations of the visual culture surrounding Black girlhood within the twentieth century.

Brandon Jennings, panelist & Art for August artist, has illustrated and designed countless book covers, greeting cards, comic books, editorial cartoons, and wall murals.  Brandon taught Graphic Design at Pittsburgh Technical College (PTC) for over 20 years where he taught classes such as Color Theory, Typography, Design Fundamentals, Portfolio Development, and more. He has exhibited his paintings in several art shows including but not limited to Carnegie Mellon University, The August Wilson Center for African American Culture, the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, and Father Ryan’s Art Center. Brandon is a graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and Point Park University. Brandon is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. where he currently serves as the local chapter’s Graphic Design and Marketing Director.

Charlotte Ka's, panelist & Art for August artist, artistic influences became defined when she traveled to New York to study at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Arts and Sciences. “I was in New York during the Black Revolution of the ‘60s and was inspired by that period of African and African American cultural identity.” Ka’s education includes the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, and Carnegie Mellon University. She possesses a strong and extensive list of exhibits and has exhibited locally, nationally, and internationally. She is the co-owner, along with Errol Mobutu Reynolds, of the MOKA Art Gallery in the historic Hill District of Pittsburgh.

Dominick McDuffie, panelist & Art for August artist, is a Pittsburgh-based artist working primarily in film photography. A self-taught artist, his process is rooted in community, cultural preservation, and authentically documenting Black spaces, as well as the people in and around them. He photographs subjects in a way that is often candid and unstaged, with a goal to evoke feeling, understanding, and beauty within the ordinary.

 

Hosted by the University of Pittsburgh Library System. Sponsored by August Wilson House and University Art Gallery.

 

Art for August is new initiative by August Wilson House to support local artists by commissioning original work that celebrates the legacy of the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. Ten selected Pittsburgh-area artists created new art that pays homage to the influence of the work and life of Wilson. The installation can be found on the 3rd Floor of Hillman Library until November 1st.

 

Event Details

Please let us know if you require an accommodation in order to participate in this event. Accommodations may include live captioning, ASL interpreters, and/or captioned media and accessible documents from recorded events. At least 5 days in advance is recommended.

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