Meditations on the African, Andean & Asian Diasporas



Curated by artist William Cordova for Round 32 of Project Row Houses, eco, xiang, echo brings together a multigenerational group of artists from various backgrounds and geographic locations. Working in photography, performance, installation, drawing and sculpture, each artist presents work that addresses the often-overlooked connections between distinct cultures. These connections range from paralleling historical narratives to fantastical freedom dreamscapes. This project is a platform for a continued dialogue around the notions of collective consciousness in the Diasporas represented in this exhibition.

Participating Artists include Crystal Campbell, Albert Chong, Coco Fusco, Marina Gutierrez, Ayana V. Jackson, Minette Mangahas, Glexis Novoa, Mendi and Keith Obadike.


The exhibition is open and free to the public from March 27 through June 20, 2010:

Project Row Houses

2521 Holman Street

Houston, Texas


Artist/Community Talk

Thursday, March 25, 2010

7pm



Open Forum: Diaspora: Connections & Crossroads: a moderated conversation with local and national students, social activists, educators and artists.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

2pm



Also on view in conjunction with Fotofest, Project Row House presents new works by New York/ Philadelphia based artist Nsenga Knight






Commuter Vans and No Man’s Land:



Ayana V. Jackson explores global narratives through photographic essays. Often traveling to and with her subjects, Jackson explores the concept of diaspora with intimacy.

For her installation at Project Row Houses, Commuter Vans and No Man’s Land (2010) explores the role of migration (whether forced or voluntary). By challenging the significance of borders by encouraging alliances created along the lines of trade networks and cultural solidarity rather than geographic boundaries, Jackson’s photographs make connections. In addition, she has installed a selection from her series: African By Legacy, Mexican By Birth, inspired by the maroon Yanga of Mexico who valiantly fought for the liberation of his people and assured the continuing presence of Afro Mexicans as an integral part of the African legacy in the Americas.
 






Ayana V. Jackson received her BA from Spelman College and studied under Khaterina Sieverding at the University of Arts Berlin (Germany). She has exhibited her work in association with Gallery MOMO (RSA), Rush Arts Gallery, A Gathering of the Tribes, Galerie Peter Herrmann (Germany), San Francisco Mexican Museum, the Franklyn H. Williams CCC/African Diaspora Institute, and CulturesFrance (FR). She has received grants from the Inter America Foundation and Puma Creative, the latter supporting her participation in the 2009 Bamako African Photography Biennial. Her photography can be found in publications including “Souls: A Critical Journal of Black Politics, Culture, and Society” (Columbia University) and Camera Austria. She has lectured and conducted workshops at university and arts institutions in the US, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.


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BASE is a platform in discourse and design for locality and grounded collaboration between artists and cultural practitioners.