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Before we step into spring next week—the natural new year—we want to pause and reflect on our gratitude and the legacies we carry forward. This Women’s History Month, we honor the visionaries, storytellers, and freedom fighters — past and present — who have shaped our collective history. At a time when women’s rights are being stripped away at an alarming rate, we look to the artists, activists, and culture bearers who continue to resist, as they always have — creating, organizing, and reimagining a more just world through their work. We also take a moment to acknowledge the profound loss of musical giants Roberta Flack, Roy Ayers, and Oakland’s own Dwyane Wiggins, whose artistry and spirit have left an undeniable mark on our culture. May we continue to uplift their contributions and carry their creative fire forward. This month has given us much to celebrate, including the closing of Frontline Prophet: James Baldwin, Works by Sabrina Nelson, an 18-month traveling exhibition that made stops in cities like Paris, Detroit, and New York. The journey culminated in a powerful closing reception at the Schomburg Center’s program, JIMMY! God’s Black Revolutionary Mouth. We are deeply grateful to the brilliant artist Sabrina Nelson, co-curators Ashara Ekundayo and Omo Misha, and, of course, to Jimmy himself for allowing us to carry his legacy across the world in honor of his 100th birthday. And to each of you who have engaged with this work—whether by visiting an exhibition, sharing a moment, or carrying Baldwin’s words forward—we thank you. We invite you to continue sharing your photos, memories, and reflections with us.
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Norwest Gallery of Art proudly announces the opening of "This Heavenly Body," a multimedia exhibition by Chicago-based artist Seed Lynn, opening April 5, 2025, and on view through May 25, 2025. Organized by independent curator, cultural strategist, archivist, and AAFR’s Ashara Ekundayo, the exhibition meditates on space, movement, and the choreography of Black joy through roller skating and rink culture—an enduring and essential element of Black American life. Save The Date!
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What we’ve been up to lately…
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Artist As First Responder was honored to co-host and sponsor “On Memory and Place",” an afternoon of food and wine with a series of talks presented by the STILL Artist Residency during the Investec Cape Town Art Fair in South Africa. The program featured South African and Southern African visual artists Thania Peterson, Yasser Booley, Haroon Gunn-Saliie, Zana Masombuka, Mikhailia Peterson and Helena Uambembe in conversation with curator Lauren Tate Baeza (High Museum) and artist/curator Siwa Mgoboza (STILL Artist Residency), followed by a wrap-talk on intentionality featuring artist Ayana V. Jackson and curator Ashara Ekundayo.
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AAFR Digital Media Lead and filmmaker Zandashé Brown attended the William Greaves Filmmaker Seminar hosted by Blackstar Film Festival and IDA at Stanford University. The weekend featured a series of workshops, screenings, and presentations on laboratory filmmaking practices. Presenters included Darol Olu Kae, Suneil Sanzgiri, Maria Judice, and more.
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Hosted by co-founders Karega Bailey and Christian Walker, the Men’s Wellness Fellowship forum filled rooms in both Oakland and Sacramento in late February. These monthly gatherings center men of color in discussion and workshop around mental wellness and healing in community, design & creativity, professional development and more. Every Last Tuesday. Pull up for the next one! Follow Men’s Wellness Fellowship on IG.
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AAFR attends Alice Coltrane, Monument Enternal Opening Night at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. The exhibition, inspired by the life and legacy of the Detroit-born musician and spiritual leader, presents works by contemporary American artists paired with ephemera from Coltrane’s personal archive. Featured artists include Star Feliz, Ephraim Asili, Adee Roberson, Cauleen Smith, and Martyn Sims. The opening was closed out by sounds from producer Steven Ellison aka Flying Lotus, Coltrane’s grand-nephew. Ashara Ekundayo and AAFR Curator-In-Residence/filmmaker Adrian Burrell at opening night. Also pictured: textile artist Shinique Smith, Curator, Erin Christovale, filmmaker Cauleen Smith, scholar Dr. LeRonn P. Brooks (Getty Research Institute).
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AAFR founder Ashara Ekundayo at the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles. She’s pictured here with Dr. Kara Olidge, Associate Director for Collections and Discovery, perusing the “Black Women in Print” archives.
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We hosted a BHM panel moderated by Demetri Broxton (Root Division) and open studio with Black {Space} Residency Artist-in-Residence Andrew Wilson at our San Francisco studio featuring Taraneh Hemami (Makaan Residency) and AAFR Climate Justice Artist in Residence Ietef Vita in conversation around the importance of independent residencies that center and support Queer, Black, Brown, and Asian artists and culture bearers. Pictured: Andrew Wilson, Ietef Vita, Ron Saunders, Demetri Broxton, Taraneh Hemami
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AAFR Abundance Coordinator NiQueen Jones and Climate Justice Artist in Residence Ietef Vita participated in on a California Arts & Climate Think Tank at Stanford University. They’re pictured below alongside Visual Artist Favianna Rodriguez and VP for the Arts at Stanford, Deborah Cullinan.
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