FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, Nov 2005-African By Legacy, Mexican By Birth, a new exhibition documenting the under-explored African presence in Mexico, opens at the Franklin H. Williams Caribbean Cultural Center, African Diaspora Institute (408 W. 58th Street) on January 9th.
In African By Legacy, Mexican By Birth, the extraordinary photographic work of Ayana V. Jackson and the powerful narrative of Marco Villalobos brings inspired insight in addressing the role of racial and cultural citizenship as it impacts the lives of African descendents in Mexico and throughout the Americas. The exhibition actively speaks to the spirit of the maroon Yanga of Mexico who valiantly fought for the liberation of his people and assured the continuing presence of Afro Mexicans as an integral part of our African legacy in the Americas.
The individuals reflected in this exhibition represent ancestors whose physical and intellectual property became the foundation of the economic and cultural development of Western Europe and the Americas. The power behind their gazes reflects the size of their inheritance— our inheritance. Selections from African By Legacy, Mexican by Birth were presented throughout Latin America in venues such as Altos de Chavon, La Romana, Dominican Republic; La Fe Theater, Ciudad Juarez, Mexico; Universidad Autonomia de Nicaragua and the Colsubsidio, Bogota, Colombia.
Ayana V. Jackson has exhibited her work in galleries and non-traditional spaces worldwide including shows curated by the National Council de La Raza, Washington DC, Peter Hermann Gallery, Berlin, and Tribes Gallery NYC. Selections from the African by Legacy, Mexican by Birth series have been included in Columbia University’s Souls Magazine, while the World Bank has acquired a selection from her Hip Hop series, Full Circle, for its permanent collection.
Marco Villalobos’ writing has appeared in publications such as Step into a World: a Global Anthology of the New Black Literature (John Wiley and Sons, 2000, Geography of Rage: the Los Angeles Riots of 1992 (Really Great Books, 2002). Villalobos has presented his work on stage and radio for over a decade. He is author of limited edition chapbook, Barrio Gold (Unilan Publishing, 2002), a 2003-2004 Unesco-Aschberg Laureate, and a 1998 Hispanic Scholarship Recipient.
Gallery hours are Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Suggested donation is $5. For more information, call 212.307.7420 ext 3006 or contact mwilliams@caribecenter.org.
Founded by Dr. Marta Moreno Vega in 1976, the Franklin H. Williams Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute continues to document, celebrate and share the rich cultural traditions and expressions of people of color worldwide through multidisciplinary programs featuring international scholars, artists, educators and traditional leaders; audiences young and old throughout New York. African by Legacy, Mexican by Birth will be part of the Center’s 30th Anniversary year-2006 which includes a year of extraordinary programs that reflect and improve on its past successes. For complete information on the Center, its year-long 30th Anniversary or African by Legacy, Mexican by Birth call 212.307.7420 ext 3006 or go online to www.cccadi.org.
Our programs are made possible with the generous donations and support of:
Douglas X. Patiño, New York State Council on the Arts, New York City Dept. of Cultural Affairs, New York City Dept. of Youth and Community Development, New York State Black and Puerto Rican/Hispanic Caucus, The Hearst Foundation, The Emma Shaefer Charitable Trust, C.S. Mott Foundation, Marguerite Casey Foundation, PepsiCo, Community Wellness Foundation and Bloomberg.
