Riding the Tiger

Where it all began...

So I am about to embark on a trip to the United States to visit https://rebuild-foundation.org/ and other art and cultural spaces in Chicago. I’ve received help from members of the foundation to locate people to meet whilst there and I am really excited at the opportunity to see how the organisation is run and meet with members of the public who use the various spaces. Watch this space for further updates when I arrive in Chicago.

What came to mind whilst writing my first post for ages is a little feeling of nostalgia as to where it all began for me. The two pictures above are of the Kuumba Community Centre, St Pauls, Bristol and the windows of where Black Pyramid Film and Video Project was based. 

Like the various spaces of the Rebuild Foundation, Chicago, Kuumba and Black Pyramid were key spaces for Bristol’s Black community, where many came to engage in arts and culture and where I gained my skills, knowledge and enthusiasm for film, visual arts and wider arts activity in general. 

Kuumba was central to overseeing the annual St Pauls carnival, whilst Black Pyramid became synonymous with the production of film, providing training for enthusiastic participants and establishing the first annual black film festival in Bristol, in partnership with Watershed. 

I must give a roll call to some of those that contributed to realising the projects and events back in the day including Femi Kolade (founder member of Black Pyramid), Mindell Bowen, Rob Mitchell, Shawn Napthali, Chris Burton and Sam Berrisford. For Kuumba they include Alfredo Vasquez (director of Kuumba), Eleanor Grant, Kwesi Ngozi and Sandra Green. 

Still of Donald Rodney from Black Audio Film Collectives, Three Songs on Pain Light and Time. Eddie Chambers provides a review of the film and artist, Donald Rodney in an Art Monthly edition. 

AUTOICON was a dynamic internet work that simulated both the physical presence and elements of the creative personality of the artist Donald Rodney, one of the most significant and essential artists of his generation. After initiating the project, Rodney died from sickle-cell anaemia in March 1998.

Re-Imaging – AUTOICON is a research project exploring the digital embodiment of the artist Donald Rodney, and the challenges of re-authoring a digital legacy.

In conversation with original members of Donald Rodney Plc (a group of artists and close friends who acted as an advisory and editorial board in the artist’s absence) and colleagues from the Blk Arts Group, this salon convened by Ian Sergeant, explores Rodney’s practice and how his legacy informs ideas considering digital creativity, ethics and memorial.

The salon includes a screening of John Akomfrah’s The Genome Chronicles(2009, 33m), the filmmaker’s response to the death of his mother and close friend Donald Rodney in the form of a ‘song cycle’ in ten parts. The film combines Akomfrah’s own footage of repeated trips to the Scottish islands of Skye and Mull with Rodney’s own Super 8 footage.

Commissioned by Vivid Projects and convened by Ian Sergeant, Associate Curator. Participants include Professor Mike Philips (i-dat), Keith Piper, Marlene Smith and members of Wolverhampton Sickle Cell Centre.

“I am not concerned with facile philosophies of individualistic futilities and am greatly aware of the power and the influence of the artist and visual communicator on his or her audience. This taken to mind, my work challenges the concept of art for art’s sake and without any regret or any apologetic gesture to appease the liberal amongst you” 

AUTOICON

27 JUNE, 2-5PM

Participants: Professor Mike Philips (i-DAT), Keith Piper, Marlene Smith, and members of Wolverhampton Sickle Cell Care and Social Activity Centre.

Re-Imaging – AUTOICON is a research project exploring the digital embodiment of the artist Donald Rodney, and the challenges of re-authoring a digital legacy. In conversation with original members of Donald Rodney Plc and colleagues from the Blk Art Group, this salon explores Rodney’s practice and how his legacy informs ideas considering digital creativity, ethics and memorial. The salon includes a screening of John Akomfrah’s The Genome Chronicles (2009, 33m), the filmmaker’s response to the death of his mother and close friend Donald Rodney in the form of a ‘song cycle’ in ten parts. Advance tickets £5/3 conc. Book to reserve your place.