Afro Soul, an Exhibition of Contemporary African Diaspora Art for Culture and Social Change

For over a decade, Ludlow E. Bailey’s CADA International has brought industry players and stakeholders in the global art scene together each year to showcase the work of contemporary African Diaspora Artists. This year will be no different as the global audience gears up for two major Art events in December 2020.

The first is the AfroSoul exhibition which will start from the 1^st of December 2020 until 28^th February 2021. The next major event is the Annual CADA Panel Discussion on Contemporary African Diaspora Art which returns with its 11^th edition on Sunday, 6^th December 2020.

Ludlow E. Bailey, a Cultural Curator of international repute who has a deep understanding of the global Arts scene will be hosting both events, which also forms part of his curatorial commitment and expression of celebrating African Diaspora Art and Culture.

 AfroSoul

This year’s AfroSoul Exhibition is set to be a two-month virtual show of African Diaspora Art that will feature the work of over twenty contemporary black Artists whose works are re-writing the narratives of the black experience and examining African spirituality, black identity, resilience, and the global African Empowerment movement.

Mr. Bailey said “the AfroSoul Exhibition is steeped in my reverence for Pan Africanism and a profound respect for African spirituality, resilience, and the cultural achievements of African people globally despite the enormous challenges created by global racism.

A Press Release by CADA International states that this year’s edition hopes to bring a “message of hope to inspire and encourage people of colour globally to focus on joy, resilience, renaissance, and black empowerment during these challenging times of COVID-19, Black Lives Matter, and political chaos.”

According to Ludlow, “2020 has been an extraordinary year for people of colour. Although there have been systemic attempts to mitigate both our presence and power; through Art and Culture we continue to show our determination to rise above the ignorance of racism. Consequently, the elevation and celebration of black culture is an act of resilience and rebellion against racial discrimination. The murder of George Floyd and the documented perpetual police brutality against African American males, ignited an unprecedented response to racial injustice and systematic racism globally. This resilience movement is an energy that cannot be dismissed, penetrated, denied or ignored.”

AfroSoul will preview on the 1^st of December 2020. The main gallery will open on 13^th of December 2020 and run through February 28^th, 2021. Artists exhibiting at the show are: Hank Willis (US), Willie Cole (US), Basil Watson (Jamaica), Manuel Mendive (Cuba), Armando Marino (Cuba), Rene Pena (Cuba), Ya La’ford (Jamaica), Stan Squirewell (US), Joyce Scott (US), Oliver Enwonwu (Nigeria), and Mikael Owunna (Nigeria). Also exhibiting are Zeek Mathias (Haiti), Jelili Atiku (Nigeria), Jallim Eudovic (St. Lucia), Roberto Diago (Cuba), Kandy Lopez (Dominican Republic), Renee Cox (Jamaica), Mark Fleuridor (Haiti), Eli Kince (US), Johnnie Bess (US), Whitfield Lovell (US) and Saudia Jones (USVI).

Speaking on why he chose to exhibit at Afro Soul and also be a panelist on the discussion, ace contemporary African Diaspora Artist Oliver Enwonwu says: “I chose to be part of the show for two major reasons. Firstly, I am African and so identify strongly with the AfroSoul theme. In seeking solutions to pertinent issues affecting the African continent, I believe it is important for us to tell our story through our rich art and culture. This is the primary role of an artist. Secondly, I have a lot of confidence in the work of Ludlow E. Bailey as a longstanding and experienced curator of global repute.”

Contemporary Fine Artist Ya La’ford also speaks about exhibiting at the show: “Being an African American woman as well as a person who is trying to create social change, art is my way of exploring and inspiring change. And so, I believe that artworks can offer healing, and unite people under this banner of social agency. And so, I try to really focus on cultivating this expression into the fabric of all neighborhoods to bring these experiences to a larger audience. I have been part of many exhibitions especially with Ludlow and I love that my artwork can play a part in considering his stock on the African art narrative that can be told through a set of overlays of abstracts, geometric patterns, forms and trajectories. Through these, we begin to embody the trials, tribulations and victories by highlighting, strengthening and honoring the rich heritage of our people.“

Exclusive Artworks of Fine Artist Ya La’ford

The 11^th Annual CADA Panel Discussion on Contemporary African Diaspora Art

This year’s Panel Discussion will be streamed live on Sunday, December 6, 2020, from 2pm – 4 pm (EST) via Facebook and YouTube. Panelists will include Marie Vickles, a Director of Education, Perez Art Miami Museum, Valerie Cassel Oliver, the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Art Advisor Roger Tucker, Nigerian Artist and Gallerist Oliver Enwonwu, and African American Artists, Willie Cole and Stan Squirewell. The focus of the Panel Discussion will be on three topics:

• Contemporary African Diaspora Art in the age of COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter.
• The role of Afrocentricity in the production of Black Art globally.
• The influence of museums in the changing demand and evaluation of contemporary African Diaspora Art.

AfroSoul will bring on that energy that emanates from melanated beings. As Ludlow puts it, “the exhibition will showcase ‘Tumbao’ and celebrate the African resilience as manifested in the visual creative genius of people of colour globally. Black Artists are now dominating the global Art scene, unlike before. This project is not commercially driven, it is my public service that will also archive some of the important Artwork from Artists of African descent.”

For more information about Ludlow E. Bailey, The Exhibition and CADA (Contemporary African Diaspora Arts) International, kindly visit: www.CADA.us

For more information on the AfroSoul Exhibition, kindly visit: www.afrosoulexhibit.com

The AfroSoul Exhibition and CADA Panel Discussion on Contemporary African Diaspora Art are supported by the USVI Department of Tourism.

By: Theresa R. Fianko

With Contributions from: Ludlow E. Bailey, Oliver Enwonwu and Ya La’ford

Images used with the full permission of: Ludlow E. Bailey, Oliver Enwonwu and Ya La’ford

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