|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Ten North Group proudly announces the 2024 edition of its annual Art of Transformation (AOT) exhibition titled Black Aliveness and the Aesthetics of Being, from December 4 to December 8, 2024, presented by R4 Capital. As part of the celebrated Miami Art Week and Art of Black, AOT explores how Black cultural expression and image-making inspire new understandings of identity, autonomy, and connection.
Black Aliveness and the Aesthetics of Being will be held at the Ten North Campus, with events and exhibitions running from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily from December 4–8. Admission is free, and visitors are encouraged to immerse themselves in the dynamic and diverse world of Black aesthetics.
Dr. Willie Logan, President and CEO of Ten North Group stated “since the arrival of Africans in the Americas, literature and visual expression have been vital ways to articulate Black humanity, tell stories, challenge ideas, and reshape knowledge. Black aliveness not only as a narrative of survival but as a celebration of our capacity to innovate, inspire, and shape our communities and our histories.”
The 2024 exhibition theme, inspired by scholar Kevin Quashie’s Black Aliveness, or a Poetics of Being, highlights the significance of Black texts and visual art in constructing a “Black aesthetics of being.” This year’s programming focuses on the interrelationships between Black literary works and visual arts to create spaces of transformation, resilience, and self-definition.
PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, December 4th
- 6:30 PM | Opening Reception @ The ARC
Thursday, December 5th
- 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | African Heritage Event Night @ The ARC
Friday, December 6th
- 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | Jamaican Heritage Event Night @ The Pavilion & The ARC
Saturday, December 7th
- 10:00 AM | Historic Trail Tour by Alex Van Mecl @ Historic Train Station
- 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Conversation with Professor Yacouba Konate & Artist Sriki Ky @ The ARC
- 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Conversation with Curator Phillip Thomas: Panel Discussion on “Aliveness and Livity” @ The Pavilion
- 6:30 PM | Museum Night Cocktail Experience @ Historic Train Station
Sunday, December 8th
- All exhibitions open. No special events.
The 2024 AOT will feature six main exhibitions, each focusing on a different aspect of Black aliveness:
Jamaica on My Mind: Aliveness and Livity (Pavilion), curated by Professor Phillip Thomas, presents Jamaican artists from home and abroad who explores the interconnections of Aliveness to Livity as a moment of accomplishment, an instant in which what has matured in the alchemical athanor metamorphoses into perfection or, rather, an epiphany or an event—an accomplishment.
Embodiments of Aliveness: The Sculpture of Siriki Ky (Art and Recreation Center), curated by Dr. El Hadji Malick Ndiaye, explores Black resilience and identity in Ky’s powerful bronze sculptures.
Under the Bridge, Beyond the Beach, Above the Muck (The Train Station),
Snapshots of the Ten North’s collections, this exhibition articulates the Group’s approach to collection, embodying and enacting black memory principles. It serves as a locus of memory, a landmark around which past events structure present memory.
As Is: The Black Florida Project (The Hurt Building), curated by Melissa Hunter Davis
As Is presents the photography of Johanne Rahman, focusing on the complex and evolving landscapes of Black communities across Florida.
Site Memory: The Sculpture Garden (VFW Garden), led by landscape architect James Brazil. The former Veterans of Foreign Wars site becomes a space through which past and present experiences fuse to commemorates Black history through sculptures and installations inspired by banned African American literature.
Tales of Opa-Locka: A Heritage Journey (Historic Train Station) curated by Alex Van Mecl, Founder, Opa-locka Preservation Association. This inaugural historical experience presents an in-depth exploration of the city’s near-century-long history and cultural heritage, offering visitors a carefully curated journey through Opa-locka’s unique architectural and social legacy. The exhibition also examines the City’s military history as a training site for the U.S. Naval and Marine Corps before and during WWII
Programs and Special Events
In addition to its exhibitions, Art of Transformation 2024 will feature a series of thought-provoking panels and special events, inviting visitors to engage deeply with themes of Black identity, aesthetics, and global influence.
The first panel, Jamaica on My Mind, chaired by Phillip Thomas, will explore the history of Jamaican contemporary art in political, social, and economic contexts. This conversation, involving artists, critics, and scholars, will reveal how Jamaican art has evolved over time, expressing both national preoccupations and aspirations. By examining the maturity of Jamaican artistic ideas and practices, this panel provides insight into the island’s unique cultural voice within the wider Diaspora.
The second panel, Contemporary Art, Contemporaneity, and the Black World – Rethinking the Aesthetic Cartography, features Dr. Malick Ndiaye in conversation with sculptor Siriki Ky. Together, they will discuss African and African Diaspora art, exploring how translation, knowledge production, and aesthetic representation that inform contemporary cultural policy. By rethinking how Black artistic creation engages with the global arts landscape, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on Black art’s transformative potential.
These panels are complemented by a range of evening events: live performing arts programs, fashion showcases from innovative Black designers, and film screenings that center Black narratives and aesthetics. Through this blend of visual art, discourse, and live events, Art of Transformation 2024 celebrates the complexity, diversity, and aliveness of Black cultural expression.
Creating Stronger Communities Through the Arts
With a legacy of transforming communities through social and cultural empowerment, Ten North Group has made a lasting impact on the Opa-locka area, promoting equitable access to housing, economic opportunity, and cultural engagement. The Art of Transformation initiative furthers Ten North Group’s commitment to fostering Black autonomy, creating spaces for cultural exchange, and uplifting local communities.
Join Us on the Ten North Group campus
The ARC – 675 Ali Baba Avenue, Opa-locka, FL 33054
Jamaica On My Mind Pavilion – 650 Ali Baba Avenue, Opa-locka, FL 33054
The Historic Opa-locka Train Station – 490 Ali Baba Avenue, Opa-locka, FL 33054
The Hurt Building – 490 Opa-locka Boulevard, Opa-locka, FL 33054
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com
#thatscommunitynews #communitynewspapers #miamidade #miamidadecounty #thatscommunity #miamicommunitynews #coralgables #palmettobay #southmiami #doral #aventura #pinecrest #kendall #broward #biscaynebay
