EXHIBITION
A STUDY IN COLOURISM
A study in Colourism was an ambitious project conceived by Don John. It sought to break free from the usual constraints placed on a traditional art exhibition. It was funded by Arts Council England. It was supported and promoted by the prestigious John Hansard Gallery, but the exhibitions themselves took place across multiple venues in the Southampton area, including three libraries, a theatre, bookshops, the main city hospital and the lobby area in Solent University. This required careful co-ordination and promotion.The theme of the exhibition was bold, and the logistics of putting it on were ambitious. This was the task as described by Don John, the Founder and Director of Black History Month South:“Colourism is all about the value we place on somebody if they’re light-skinned or dark-skinned, and over the years this has been the way in which some communities have judged people of different complexions. We used the local photographer Nosa Malcolm to capture images of local people with varying degrees of darkness in their complexions with a view to putting on multiple, eye-catching exhibitions.In order to achieve maximum exposure we set up various formats of the exhibition at places like local libraries, bookshops, the MAST Mayflower Theatre, Southampton Central Hospital and also in the main hobby area in Solent University, thereby spreading the demographic and age of the audience.All of these places had great footfall. And people walking in to those location may not have been expecting an exhibition, but obviously once they saw it, they were attracted to it.The objective was to produce art of our own experience and take it out to different locations to produce the feeling of art to the communities, for the communities, by the communities.” - Don John, Founder & Director of Black History Month SouthSpecial thanks to:Nosa Malcolm - PhotographerAnthony Smith & Martin Jeyes - Creative DirectorsHeidi Taylor - Marketing Consultant
https://www.colourism.co.uk/
https://www.colourism.co.uk/
Graphic Novel: BLACK: The autobiography of Tobias Taitt
Tobias Taitt grew up in the Southampton area in the 1980s and this book tell the story of his life at a time when some areas of the Social Services and the criminal Justice System are retrospectively seen today as being corrupt and racist and it was not a good time to be Black and connected to these systems. I have known Tobias from his time in Southampton and it was a pleasure to provide the introduction to this extraordinary story.
Tobias’s story recognises the condition of many of those who were the children of the “Windrush Generation”. This was a time when the first pioneers from the Caribbean raised children, who some argued, were caught between two cultures. Some of these children refused to accept the racism that their parents endured, and this very often led to conflict with the authorities.
The story is told with humour, candour, pathos and brutal honesty A story which is still commonplace today in a world where some can choose not to be “Black”; and still be comfortable with that decision.
This book has now been converted into a graphic novel and will be launched during Black History Month as well as being promoted with the support of the Cartoon Museum in central London
Tobias’s story recognises the condition of many of those who were the children of the “Windrush Generation”. This was a time when the first pioneers from the Caribbean raised children, who some argued, were caught between two cultures. Some of these children refused to accept the racism that their parents endured, and this very often led to conflict with the authorities.
The story is told with humour, candour, pathos and brutal honesty A story which is still commonplace today in a world where some can choose not to be “Black”; and still be comfortable with that decision.
This book has now been converted into a graphic novel and will be launched during Black History Month as well as being promoted with the support of the Cartoon Museum in central London
Afro-futurism/
black to the future
Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic that combines science-fiction, technology, history and fantasy to explore the African experience and aims to connect those from the black diaspora with their forgotten African ancestry and to recognise its impact on the here and now.
As part of Black History Month, the Showcase Gallery is proud to present an exhibition of exciting UK artists who are exploring art through a black cultural lens. Dismantling stereotypes, fusing cultures, and imagining futures are ways in which artists such as – Ade Adesina and Harold Offeh are providing a starting point in the gallery for a range of open and discursive events between October - December about Afrofuturism and how it connects to the city. The gallery will be host to a series of cross disciplinary activities, collaborations, screenings and events that will invite communities to discuss how an Afrofuturism exhibition project, planned for 2020/21, might take shape and have a voice in how the project might evolve.
As part of Black History Month, the Showcase Gallery is proud to present an exhibition of exciting UK artists who are exploring art through a black cultural lens. Dismantling stereotypes, fusing cultures, and imagining futures are ways in which artists such as – Ade Adesina and Harold Offeh are providing a starting point in the gallery for a range of open and discursive events between October - December about Afrofuturism and how it connects to the city. The gallery will be host to a series of cross disciplinary activities, collaborations, screenings and events that will invite communities to discuss how an Afrofuturism exhibition project, planned for 2020/21, might take shape and have a voice in how the project might evolve.
Rebel music: sound system culture and the story of blues parties in southampton exhibition
Derby Road Southampton once had an international reputation as a red-light district, but what is sometimes ignored is that it was the home of "West Indian" Sound Systems and illegal house parties known as “ Shebeens” or “ Blues" that provided a taste of Jamaican culture with great music, great food AND an opportunity for all to partake of a slice of grassroots Caribbean culture. It also gave an opportunity to express the condition of Black communities at that time in a relatively safe environment.
Rebel Music: Sound System Culture and the Story of Blues Parties in Southampton, an exhibition devised by Don John, will be showing at The Showcase Gallery, Solent University, Sir James Mathews Building from 19th October to 20th December 2019.
This new exhibition that explores the extraordinary story of the ‘Shebeens’ or ‘Blues’ clubs that were a key part of Southampton’s music scene in the 70s and 80s. Bringing together new artwork, old images and found footage, the exhibition will creatively explore why these sound systems emerged in the city and the impact of Jamaican music on British culture.
The Launch took place on Friday 18th October 2019 from 6pm and also featured a screening of Mykaell Riley's ‘Bass Culture’ film that explores music from the 60s to the present day and the profound ways in which Jamaican music remade popular music in Britain. The evening closed with a "Blues Party” in the basement of "The Belgian & Blues” bar opposite the Showcase Gallery
Rebel Music: Sound System Culture and the Story of Blues Parties in Southampton, an exhibition devised by Don John, will be showing at The Showcase Gallery, Solent University, Sir James Mathews Building from 19th October to 20th December 2019.
This new exhibition that explores the extraordinary story of the ‘Shebeens’ or ‘Blues’ clubs that were a key part of Southampton’s music scene in the 70s and 80s. Bringing together new artwork, old images and found footage, the exhibition will creatively explore why these sound systems emerged in the city and the impact of Jamaican music on British culture.
The Launch took place on Friday 18th October 2019 from 6pm and also featured a screening of Mykaell Riley's ‘Bass Culture’ film that explores music from the 60s to the present day and the profound ways in which Jamaican music remade popular music in Britain. The evening closed with a "Blues Party” in the basement of "The Belgian & Blues” bar opposite the Showcase Gallery
