Gathering at a Distance : Ritual and Memory

Goal: Ritual and Memory was a two city exhibition between The Jazz and Heritage Gallery in New Orleans, LA and  Idora Park Project Space Oakland, CA.  The exhibition featured the work of Artists Cherice Harrison-Nelson (New Orleans), Fahamu Pecou (Atlanta) and the art collective, House/Full of Black Women (Oakland). Collaborative performance by New Orleans-based “Roots of Music”  https://therootsofmusic.org/

Concept: Based on the idea of creating dialogue through contemporary art, "Gathering at a Distance" offered a series of public art installations and programming to transform and transfer visual art to audiences during the pandemic to bring focus to contemporary issues through accessible public art. Participating artists: Cherice Harrison Nelson presented the authentic African American Carnival masking tradition as the third generation in her family to participate in the ceremonial masquerading ritual handed down from her late father, Big Chief Donald Harrison, Sr. Her dress style is in homage to traditions of West Africa.

Fahamu Pecou’s “Good Grief: A Healing Ritual” honors the rich and deeply-rooted culture and resilient spirit of this unique community. A “love letter to New Orleans”, and inspired by the Mardi Gras Masking Indian tradition, artist Fahamu Pecou’s Egun suit reminds  us  of the persistence and power of art and ritual, and offers an opportunity for reflection and collective healing .

House/Full of Black Women is an Oakland-based site specific ritual performance project that addresses issues of displacement, well-being, and  instability.  Set in various public sites throughout Oakland over a five-year period, this community-engaged project is performed as a series of “Episodes” .

Outcome: Site-specific installation and performance spanning two cities; New Orleans and Oakland, CA.