The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) will host JUST US, its third annual celebration and reflection on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Monday, January 17, from 12-4 p.m. Inspired by the recently completed mural on the CAC’s Camp Street building by New York City-based conceptual artist Sanford Biggers, JUST US will feature music by DJ Raj Smoove, an interactive altar by Ifátùmínínú Bamgbàlà Arẹ̀sà and sound artist Ifádáhùnsi Bamgbàlà Arẹ̀sà, and free gallery admission to the CAC’s current exhibition Prospect.5: Yesterday we said tomorrow.
The event will also feature an artist panel discussion led by Kesha McKey of KM Dance Project, who will discuss the company’s dance work Raw Fruit and the legacy of matriarchy, family and community in activism. McKey will be joined by guest panelists Catherine Caldwell, associate director of KM Dance Project, and free feral, an interdisciplinary artist.
Biggers’ mural consists of a cloud-filled sky with large bold fonts that spell out JUST US. A previous version of the work was displayed at Rockefeller Center in New York as a 125-foot mural in the Center’s concourse. ARTDAILY NEWS described the Rockefeller Center installation: “Just Us displays a clouded sky punctuated with the words Just Us in transparent font, filled with another cloud view. Just Us both evokes ‘justice’ and highlights an unnamed group ‘us,’ suggesting the multifaceted and nuanced nature of the idea of ‘justice.’ Here the conflation of text and image questions notions of stability and consistency of meaning within language.” The mural is the latest installment of Unframed presented by The Helis Foundation, a project of the Arts Council of New Orleans that brings the vibrancy of New Orleans Arts District from the gallery walls into the streets.
EVENT SCHEDULE
Monday, January 17
12–4 p.m.
• Interactive Altar by Ifátùmínínú Bamgbàlà Arẹ̀sà and sound artist Ifádáhùnsi Bamgbàlà Arẹ̀sà
• Music by DJ Raj Smoove
• Free gallery admission to Prospect.5 Yesterday we said tomorrow
1 –2 p.m.
• Panel discussion featuring Kesha McKey, free feral, and Catherine Caldwell
The CAC’s presentation of Raw Fruit scheduled for January 14–16 has been postponed due to health and safety concerns. The performance will be rescheduled for the fall of 2022.
The CAC is located at 900 Camp Street. For more information, visit here.
