Colleagues & Friends: Dr. Fari Nzinga, Jennifer M. Williams, & Ifátùmínínú Aresa
Tuesday, June 15, 7:00PM EST
Dr. Fari Nzinga, educator, curator, and writer, is joined by Jennifer M. Williams, Communications Manager of Alternate ROOTS and Ifátùmínínú Arẹ̀sà, multidisciplinary artist, activist and educator. These colleagues and friends will discuss their past, present and future collaborations, including the upcoming exhibition The New Now, a multi-sited exhibition and art intervention opening in New Orleans this fall, featuring Louisiana-based artists of color.
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fari nzinga is an educator, curator and writer based in the MidWest USA. born and raised in Boston, MA (USA), fari graduated with a BA from Oberlin College in 2005; and went on to earn both her M.A. and Ph.D in Cultural Anthropology from Duke University. fari has conducted ethnographic research in Havana and New Orleans; published articles in peer reviewed journals; created and taught syllabi for both High School and College level courses; curated museum art exhibitions, produced exhibition podcasts and documentaries; designed and managed public programs for youth and adults.
Jennifer M. Williams is the Communications Manager at the arts service organization Alternate ROOTS. She is passionate about collaborating with artists and recently served as the Public Programs Manager at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Before taking on her role at NOMA, Williams served as the Deputy Director for the Public Experience for Prospect.4. For six years, Williams was the Director and Curator of the George and Leah McKenna Museum of African American Art. As a visual art curator organizing exhibitions & performances, Jennifer is committed to contributing to the cultural and artistic landscape in the city and across the region. As a part of a vibrant art community, she supports and serves on a variety of committees and boards including Junebug Productions and the New Orleans Photo Alliance. She has participated and led in a variety of experiences around the world, including the Lagos Biennial Curatorial Intensive and the Urban Bush Women Leadership Institute in Brooklyn, NY. She received her B.A. in History with a concentration in Art History from Georgia State University.
Ifátùmínínú Bamgbàlà Arẹs̀à is a multidisciplinary artist, activist and educator. Born and raised in New Orleans, Ifátùmínínú suppressed her creative side for a decade before moving to Tanzania where she was reborn. She continues to actively work across the diaspora by building and maintaining relationships in the motherland. Ifátùmínínú recently began a monthly meet up for melanated folks entitled “a BLACK creative’s guide” in which BLACK people convene in art institutions, take up space and have relaxed discourse about art from THEIR perspective. Ifátùmínínú is an ordained and trained Traditional West Afrikan Ifá Priest who considers her artwork an extension of her spiritual work. As such, she expresses herself and her identity through her Ancestors which manifests in all her endeavors. You can find out more about her at www.ifatumininu.com.