"Artist As First Responder" - Ashara Ekundayo Launches New Platform

Photo: Demondre Ward
for Umber Publishing

Greetings Subscriber First Name,

This is a note of gratitude and an announcement!

First off, thank you for being a subscriber to the Ashara Ekundayo Gallery newsletter in the past.

As you know, we set a precedent as the first commercial art gallery in the US exclusively dedicated to exhibiting work by Black women, we modeled innovative art & advocacy work through creative partnerships with civic and philanthropic collaborators, and we supported Black women artists through residencies, mini-grants and workshops in our social practice.

I continue to be proud of those accomplishments and appreciate all of the support you provided during our poignant tenure in Uptown Oakland, AND I want to share what I’ve been up to since we last saw each other and what’s next!

We’re excited to share Ashara’s newest endeavor Artist As First Responder with our creative community.

Founded by curator Ashara Ekundayo, this six point artist platform and organization affirms that Black, Indigenous, and other Artists of Color are the healers of our communities who cultivate spaces for self determination in times of crisis and celebration. AAFR engages and supports those artists whose creative practices heal communities and save lives.

Go to the Website to learn more
Join Our Patreon Here

June Events to Check Out!

Oakland Art Murmur presents BAY AREA ART & EQUITY PREMIER: On Afrofuturism!

Thursday, June 10, 6pm PST

Oakland Art Murmur is proud to present a video premiere of the first conversation in their Bay Area Art & Equity panel series featuring Ashara Ekundayo, Ajuan Mance, Shogun Shido and Michelle Antoniette Nelson.

In this series of three conversations, they invite BIPOC Art leaders to narrate the Bay Area art scene, interrogate the traditional fine arts narratives, dive into BIPOC cultural movements and honor essential contributions by BIPOC Bay Area artists.

Set a reminder and watch on YouTube here.

REGISTER HERE

BLATANT | A Forum on Art, Joy and Rage with host Ashara Ekundayo and guest
Patrisse Cullors

June 15, 4–5 PM PST

Online Conversation with artist, New York Times Bestselling author, and Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation co–founder Patrisse Cullors and Ashara Ekundayo co-presented by the Museum of African Diaspora

RSVP HERE

Monumental Tour presented by Kindred Arts

February–July 2021

Monumental Tour on view in Oakland CA through July 2021 featuring 3 powerful sculptures by renowned African American artists Hank Willis Thomas, Kehinde Wiley, and Arthur Jafa, inspiring social change.

Photos: Mauton Akran and Cinque Mubarak

LEARN MORE

Black Joy StoryWindows

February - August 2021

Black Joy StoryWindows highlights the photography and artwork of more than 25 Black Bay Area artists on display in the windows of more than 20 arts and cultural organizations and small-businesses in Downtown Oakland. Curated by Ashara Ekundayo.

Artwork: Emory Douglas
Photo: Ashara Ekundayo

LEARN MORE

You’re automatically subscribed to the AAFR newsletter!

Please unsubscribe below if this information does not bring joy to your inbox.

With Gratitude,

Ashara Ekundayo and the AAFR team

Join Our Patreon HERE