Panels & Workshops
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center–in partnership with the Kofi Collections and The Future is Black–is proud to announce a three-part series of panel discussions featuring artists from our Being/Seen exhibition. Each of the three panel discussions, all happening on a Wednesday from 6pm – 8pm at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, will highlight a certain theme present in Being/Seen and, in doing so, also highlight themes present in the parent exhibition Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden.
The discussions will involve a moderator facilitating a dynamic conversation between the artists, with a general Q&A to follow each panel. In addition to the panels, the series will also include a set of workshops that allow participants to further explore the themes through hands-on and interactive experiences.
Upcoming Panels
The Power of Being Seen
Date: Wednesday, July 30th 2025, 6pm – 8pm
Moderator: Caleb A. Smith, 2025 AWAACC Curatorial Fellow
Description:
Artists will expound upon how visibility, acknowledgement, and “being/seen” (by oneself and by others) impact the way they walk through life and how it impacts the way they approach their own creative practice.
Featured Artists:
● SpeciàlK
● Tyler Belizaire
● Dara Etienne
● Mahogany Martin
● Ashante Josey
Form, Abstraction, and Spirituality in Black Art
Date: Wednesday, August 13th 2025, 6pm – 8pm
Moderator: Tacumba Turner, Founder and Artistic Director of The Future is Black
Description:
This fishbowl style conversation will explore the dynamic roles of form, abstraction, and spirituality in Black artistic practices. The discussion will focus on: the use of abstraction to convey spiritual and cultural narratives, intersections between traditional forms and contemporary artistic expressions, as well as the legacy of artists like John Rhoden and its role in shaping contemporary Black art.
Featured Artists:
● Tyler Watts
● Pamela Cooper
● Jordan Mikhail
● Ifeoma Igwe
● Dr. Amber M. Epps
● Akudzwe Elsie Chiwa
Global Black Identity and Artistic Expression
Date: Wednesday, October 15th 2025, 6pm – 8pm
Moderator: Quincy Swatson, Founder and Owner of the Kofi Collection
Description:
This conversation invites artists to reflect on the complexities of Black identity; locally rooted yet globally connected. What defines the collective experience of Blackness across borders, and how does it differ from place-based understandings? Panelists will explore how Black identity shapes their creative practice, influences how their work is received, and acts as a form of advocacy for the global Black community, all while honoring cultural distinctions and lesser-known traditions within it.
This dialogue also pays homage to the legacy of John Rhoden who traveled the world as a Black sculptor during a time when such a path was rare. Rhoden’s work embodied both cultural specificity and universal resonance, offering a blueprint for how art can bridge continents while remaining deeply personal. His life reminds us that Black identity is not singular but vast, evolving, and layered and that art has the power to hold all of it.
Featured Artists:
● Malayah Reynolds
● Charles Lyons
● Tamara Howard
● Amani Davis
Upcoming Workshops
Union Projects Pottery Workshop “Make & Take”
Date: Saturday, July 12 | 12-3PM
As part of our S.T.E.A.M.-themed AWCommunity Day, join Union Project for a hands-on “Make & Take”pottery workshop inspired by the powerful forms of sculptor Thaddeus Mosley. Participants of all ages are invited to create their own clay object influenced by Rhoden’s work and take their piece home as a lasting reminder of the day. No experience needed — just come ready to get creative!
Kalimbrrd Sonic Workshop
Date: Saturday, September 6 | 1-3PM
Join Petra Floyd as she sculpts a sound space in response to John Rhoden’s sculptures and travels.Kalimbrrd Sonic Tour is a one-hour gallery experience marking each decade of John Rhoden’s 60-year career. Kalimbrrd is an ongoing, multisite, and participatory sound sculpture, in which visitors are invited to play amplified toys and makeshift instruments to sonically reshape art galleries. Petra will lead us on an unforgettable tour of Determined To Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden. We will travel through time immersed in Rhoden’s.
