Do you want to take part in an immersion event highlighting the legacy of the African Diaspora art in Washington, DC? If so, then visit the National Gallery of Art, which is promoting a long schedule of performances, films, lectures, concerts, and community programs centered on Black artists and performers from the Diaspora.

Called Afro-Atlantic Histories, the exhibition, which started on April 10th and will end on July 17, 2022, is also accompanied by educational resources, teacher workshops, and an audio guide. It will feature wall text in both English and Spanish, the National Gallery of Art said.

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Aiming to highlight the impact and legacy of the African Diaspora across four continents, the exhibit was firstly carried out three years ago by the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP) in Brazil. Visitors can see over 130 artworks and documents made in Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, and Europe from the 17th to the 21st century.

Afro-Atlantic Histories is co-organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Museu de Arte de São Paulo in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art.

“We are honored to invite audiences to experience the cultures of the African Diaspora through a range of programs and performances inspired by Afro-Atlantic Histories,” said Kaywin Feldman, director, National Gallery of Art in a press release. “This rich group of concerts, films, lectures, and resources will continue the conversations the exhibition begins and extend its impact beyond its galleries,” the director added.

In May, the National Gallery of Art announced that a satellite installation in the Sculpture Garden will present Kara Walker’s The Katastwóf Karavan (2018) with special performances of the work’s steam-powered calliope by Jason Moran, the Grammy-nominated pianist, composer, and Kennedy Center artistic director for jazz.
Afro-Atlantic Histories exhibition will also feature a film series, Among Black Atlantic Cinemas, which will portray historic and contemporary works by filmmakers from countries including Brazil, Cuba, Ethiopia, and Senegal.

As for music programs, attendees will be able to watch performances by the Ghanaian multi-instrumentalist, composer, and dancer Okaidja Afroso and the Haitian American flutist, vocalist, and composer Nathalie Joachim, who will present Fanm d’Ayiti, her Grammy-nominated work for flute, voice, string quartet, and electronics.

Afro-Atlantic Histories will travel to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from December 11, 2022, through April 30, 2023.

The National Gallery of Art is located between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC. The gallery opens daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For more information about visit the Afro-Atlantic Histories exhibition website.