Ms. Zukie
Alison Matute, aka Mrs. Zukie, is a contemporary artist & muralist from NYC and the creator and designer of the gender fluid Zukie character that appear on both murals throughout New York City and merchandise all over the world. Zukies generate emotions through visual thoughts to create an emotional bond with others and organically generate rainbows. Mrs. Zukie has participated in art shows and charity events worldwide to share her work and meet fans. Mrs. Zukie started drawing at the age of 5 and since then never put down her pencil.
March 28th | Black Gotham Experience | 6pm-9pm
Join us Thursday March 28th for Channeling Nzinga: a celebration of the Divine Feminine. Queen Nzinga of Angola is a prominent figure in our Other Side of Wall Street Walk, that honors this woman who is considered the greatest recorded warrior queen. We are channeling her strong Divine Feminine Energy and her Warrior Spirit in honor of Women’s History month. That energy will be channeled with a conversation of women artists and creatives who manifest that same spirit through their work and for their people.
Janelle Naomi hosts a conversation with:
- Janae Sumter | Artist | @janaesumter
- Kadiatou Coulibaly | Cosplayer + Creative | @kadiii_batamochii
- Kstarhair | Hair Care Guru | @salonhairapymalden
- M’shari | Artist | @uniquelywiredm
- Nay Marie | Publisher + Writer | @tajimagazine
- Sabrina (Bri) Labossierre | Creative Strategist Organizer | @bri_bossy
Celebrate Black History Month with a performance by our very own Berry for her second performance of Sugar.Water.Fire. Berry will be joined by musician Asante Amin (Tut) of Soul Science Labs followed by a talk back with Kamau Ware. Sugar.Water.Fire. is inspired by the history that Berry shares as a guide of Black Gotham Experience. This piece is the first commissioned work by Black Gotham Experience and premiered at the 2017 River To River Festival.
This performance is presented by Battery Park City Authority. Space is limited. RSVP today.
Feb. 2nd | Brooklyn Museum | 7:30pm-9:30pm
Magnetic Resonance draws inspiration from the Soul of a Nation exhibition for a participatory artistic endeavor through a series of simultaneous happenings. Participants become art and artifact in a social gathering that brings a lens on the moment to create images that exhibit the Soul of our Nation today. Music, imagery, and style braid to create a soulscape, a portal, a continuum of Blackness as an aesthetic and source of power. Photography Portrait Studio with Kamau Ware; Styling by Charles Johnson; Music by GoodWill, P.U.D.G.E., and DJ Rimarkable; Video collage by Kearaha Bryant; and a few special guests.
FRONT and CENTER/ED a Black Artstory | continues….
FRONT and CENTER/ED a Black Artstory | Myrtle Avenue | February – May 2019
Brooklyn style and fashion bring the history of Black Brooklyn front and center, providing the artistic and historic material to speak on the past, present, and future. Brooklyn style is privileged as art, artifact, and a method to connect with the past today.
FRONT and CENTER/ED | a group exhibition that takes an historic and whimsical gaze on Black Brooklyn Style.
- Feb. 15th – March 30th (Putnam’s Lower Level)
- May 2nd – June 28th (Black Gotham Experience)
Ajamu Kojo
Brock Mills
Felicita “Felli” Maynard
Justin Johnson
Kamau Ware
Kay Hickman
Keith Williams
Kristen Williams
Kwesi Abbensetts
Momar Clemons
Nathan Williams
Ryan Spence
Sophia Dawson
Tiffany Smith
William Ellis
- Friday 1st | Black Artstory: Kick Off Event | 7-10pm | BLDG 92 63 Flushing Avenue BK, NY 11205
- Friday 8th | Black Artstory : Drink & Draw | 7-10pm | The Emerson 561 Myrtle Avenue BK, NY 11205
- Friday 15th | Black Artstory : FRONT and CENTER/ED Exhibition | 7-10pm | Putnam’s 419 Myrtle Avenue BK, NY 11205
- Friday 22nd | Black Artstory : Fashion Presentation | 7-10pm | 47 Hall Street BK, NY 11205
February 1st // Panel + Kickoff / BLDG 92 Navy Yard (63 Flushing) / 7-10pm
Kamau Ware opens up with a brief presentation on Black Brooklyn history, then moderates two distinguished panels – one on Brooklyn and the other on Style, unpacking the intersections between history with style. Each panel will include a Q & A. Light Refreshments by Wray’s Caribbean Seafood will be available before the panel begins.
Brooklyn Panel – Prithi Kanakamedala, public historian + Rob Fields, President & Executive Director of Weeksville Heritage Center
Style Panel – Constance C.R. White, author, journalist & brand consultant + Barron Claiborne, photographer
February 8th // Drink & Draw / The Emerson (561 Myrtle Avenue BK, NY) / 7-10pm
Models for you to sketch will be styled by Charles Johnson and Naana Badu. Select drawings will be curated live and installed in The Emerson for an exhibition. Music by Frei. Hosted by Kamau Ware, William Ellis, and Kei Williams.
Charles Johnson @jecoriel
Naana Badu @badubasics
February 15th // FRONT and CENTER/ED exhibition / Putnam’s Lower Level (419 Myrtle Avenue BK, NY) / 7-10pm
Join us for an exhibition that takes an historic and whimsical gaze on Black Brooklyn Style.
Ajamu Kojo
Brock Mills
Felicita “Felli” Maynard
Justin Johnson
Kamau Ware
Kay Hickman
Keith Williams
Kristen Williams
Kwesi Abbensetts
Momar Clemons
Nathan Williams
Ryan Spence
Sophia Dawson
Tiffany Smith
William Ellis
February 22nd // Fashion Presentation / 47 Hall (47 Hall Street BK, NY – corner of Flushing and Hall) / 7-10pm
Enjoy the fashion of Taliah Andrea at this special Black Artstory closing event. Music by Christina Star.
Taliah Andrea @taliah_andrea