ArtWorks and Cincinnati Art Museum Team Up to Celebrate the Opening of Active Imagination

*Photo of Active Imagination Artists-in-Residence by Asa Featherstone, IV.*

Inspired by painter David Driskell, the Kamoinge Workshop photographers, and the book Black Futures by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham, Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM) has partnered with several community organizations including ArtWorks to create the Black Futures Series. This multifaceted series of happenings and conversations engages local, established and aspiring Black visual and performing artists in building mentor networks, creating and occupying creative platforms within and beyond arts institutions, sharing histories, and nurturing artistic growth and excellence.

*Lead Artists-in-Residence (L-R) Frank Young, Allen Woods, Briana Davis, and Louis Rideout. Photo by Asa Featherstone, IV.*

CAM tapped in ArtWorks V² Gallery to be a part of the series. Through the gallery’s Youth Artist Exhibition program, ArtWorks brought in four Black photographers, Briana Davis, Louis Rideout, Frank Duane Young, and Allen Woods, to lead a group exhibit titled, Active Imagination, inspired by Kamoinge. Over seven weeks, the four artists mentored eight Black emerging artists, Satchid Macahria, Idrissa Macharia, Zay Armstrong, Sydnie Barrett, Aaliayah Ruff, Marin Emanuel, Edwin Segbefia, and Tiara Goodloe in the process and practice of photography.

*Photo of Active Imagination residents by Asa Featherstone, IV.*

On Thursday, April 28, meet the artists and celebrate their work installed alongside CAM’s 10×10 Teen Art Expo from 5:30–7:30 p.m. Then, join us on Friday, April 29 at 4:00 p.m. for the opening of Active Imagination at ArtWorks V² Gallery. RSVP to the reception here.

Active Imagination will run in tandem with the CAM’s upcoming exhibition, Working Together: The Photographers of the Kamoinge Workshop.
RSVP to Active Imagination

About ArtWorks

ArtWorks is an award-winning Greater Cincinnati nonprofit that transforms people and places through investments in creativity. The organization collaborates with community organizations and residents, businesses, governments, foundations and nonprofits to build creative works of art that bolster the region’s global reputation as an arts destination. ArtWorks employs professional artists who inspire and mentor diverse teams of youth, ages 14-21, helping them build 21st century career-readiness skills. These teams have completed more than 14,000 public and private art projects in its 26 years, including more than 200 permanent outdoor murals.