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Jamal Cyrus, Eric Gyamfi, Zina Saro-Wiwa, and
Aida Silvestri 

On view: November 14, 2020–February 14, 2021
At various locations in Arts District Houston

Organized as an extension of the FotoFest Biennial exhibition, African Cosmologies, Public Life: Distance and Diaspora brings together artists who document and record geospecific traditions, cultures, communities, and sociopolitical issues to reveal the ways in which “the local” is linked to “the global.” Despite the broad range of topics and issues explored by the artists, when presented together, themes of social activism, visibility, and solidarity emerge, highlighting the interconnected nature of global African diaspora.

The Public Life exhibition series features works that examine relationships between publicness, time, and community; concepts that have been challenged and redefined in 2020 by COVID-19, political unrest, and civil rights movements around the globe. Amidst turbulent times, FotoFest presents artists who document stories of strength and perseverance in the face of challenging cultural events, oppressive ideology, and histories of the politicization of the personal.

The artists included recognize the importance of documenting their personal lives, communities, and histories in order to navigate uncertain futures. Through their photographic presentations, the artists illuminate the ways in which public life is constructed for disparate groups, while providing examples of communities and individuals that fought for space in the public sphere despite social, cultural, and political barriers.

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Jamal Cyrus, Nuwaubic Connections (detail), 2020. Installation view at FotoFest, Houston, TX. Commissioned by FotoFest, 2020. Courtesy of the artist and Inman Gallery, Houston, TX

LOCATIONS

Distance and Diaspora is presented on the facades of buildings located in Arts District Houston. Jamal Cyrus's work is on view at the FotoFest headquarters building located at 2000 Edwards Street. Eric Gyamfi's work is on view at the corner of Edwards Street and Silver Street. Aida Silvestri's work can be seen by visiting 1818 Washington Avenue. Zina Saro-Wiwa’s work is presented on Sawyer Road, and mappable by routing your trip to 2431 Summer Street. 

Public Life: Distance and diaspora is accompanied by a self-guided tour that can be followed on foot or by car via FotoFest’s new mobile app. To download, search “FotoFest” on the mobile app store on your phone.

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MEDIA 

2020-2021 EXHIBITION SPONSORS

PUBLIC LIFE

Major funding for the Public Life project is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Exhibition support is also provided by The Brown Foundation, Inc.; Houston Endowment; National Endowment for the Arts; City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance; The Wortham Foundation; Silver Street Studios; Sawyer Yards; Pappas Restaurants; Lovett Commercial; and generous donors to the FotoFest Annual Fund.

MAJOR INSTITUTIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT 

The Brown Foundation, Inc.; Houston Endowment; National Endowment for the Arts; Texas Commission on the Arts; City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance; Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation; The Powell Foundation; The Wortham Foundation; WWW Foundation; Robert Rauschenberg Foundation; Katy and Michael A. Casey; David and Martha Moore; Nina and Michael Zilkha; The FotoFest Board of Directors; Generous donors to the FotoFest Annual Fund; The Foundation for a Civil Society; Institut d'Estudis Baleàrics; WYNG Foundation; The Cultural services of the French Embassy in the United States; Silver Street Studios; iLand Cloud Services; The Whitehall Houston Hotel; and many other kind donors.

FOTOFEST MOBILE APP

Support for the FotoFest App provided by Ken Anderson, Frederick Baldwin and Wendy Watriss, Kath Blanco, Thomas Damsgaard, Masud Haq, Carola Herrin, Bill Joor, Abigail Owen-Pontez, Greg Spier, and Phuong Tranvan