As part of Rhythm Machine’s Non-Fiction series for David Dale Gallery, the exhibition/club night centered around ancestry, notions of ‘mothers’, passing down, and ritual with various elements such as: a shrine for Zora Neale Hurston, moving image projection, a screening of Daughters of the Dust, and music curated by myself and Francis Dosoo of Rhythm Machine. I specifically wanted to do this night on my mother’s birthday to drive home the notion of ‘mothers’ as well the music for the night was based on songs she had passed down to me growing up.
There was a shrine built for Zora Neale Hurston to honor her incomparable contribution to the black narrative experience. I asked attendants to bring with them something to leave for Zora as an offering of goodwill for the night. There was projection of Audre Lorde and another projection that featured videos of femmes that I considered to be my forebearers. There was a battered chair that sat a picture of Aunt Jemima with a statement about my simultaneous shame and protection of her. There was also food served that I grew up on, fish and grits, accompanying an audiobook reading by Alice Walker of her poetry.