Getting to the Root

Event description

  • Arts and entertainment
  • Free
  • Open to the public

“Getting to the Root” is the curatorial endeavor of Amber C. Coleman, Ph.D., Jazmine Beatty, Tehan Ketema, and Olivia Richardson about Black hair culture in the United States and untangling the social construction of “good” hair in our society. As Black women, we, the curators, acknowledge how our subjectivity informs the curation of this show and our embodied understanding of having and caring for Black hair. Caring for our hair is a necessary element of our everyday lives which holds stories of how we live, who we are, how we dream, and how we remember. Roots are essential to survival. Although we cannot see them, they create a foundation beneath us. Our existence as Black people has deep ties that connect us through pain, but also joy, community, and life. “Getting to the Root” is dedicated to Black girls, women, and femmes who have ever felt less than. This exhibition is grounded in the intersectional struggles of race, identity, beauty, and self-worth in our racialized society to facilitate critical practices and a deeper cultural understanding. Reflecting a practice of care, we hope to contribute to changing the negative social and cultural perceptions associated with Black culture at large. By showcasing the work of Black artists, scholars, and creatives who analyze, embrace, and celebrate the beauty of Black hair, the exhibition hopes to spark necessary dialogue and facilitate engagement with the hair-stories in Black culture.

Opening Event: Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 6 p.m. 
Community Reception: Saturday, February 8, 2025, from noon to 4 p.m. (Harry Wood Gallery and Neeb Plaza)

Image: Ajanae Dawkins,“ Where Black Girls Go”, 2024, Video Still. 

 

Additional information

Event contact

Amber Coleman
accolem1@asu.edu
Date

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Exhibition dates: February 4–March 7, 2025, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (gallery closed from noon to 1 p.m.) at Harry Wood Gallery.
Time

9:00 am5:00 pm (MST)

Location

Harry Wood Gallery, Art Building

Cost

Free