The Gordon Parks Basis has named three recipients of its 2024 Fellowship Program: Larry W. Cook dinner, conceptual artist and Howard College professor; photographer and social justice artist Tonica Lewis Johnson; and author and editor D. Watkins.
Every recipient obtained a $25,000 award to assist their tasks that align with the Basis’s mission of selling social change by means of the humanities and humanities. Cook dinner and Johnson can have solo exhibitions on the Gordon Parks Basis in Pleasantville, New York, later this yr.
“Our Class of 2024 Fellows have introduced consideration to systemic racism and neighborhood activism by means of their artwork and writing,” stated Peter W. Kunhardt, Jr., govt director of the Gordon Parks Basis. “We’re proud to assist Larry, Tonika and D. as they proceed to impact change by means of their artwork, simply as Gordon Parks did all through his life.”
Cook dinner’s interdisciplinary method in images, video and combined media explores themes of panorama, freedom and belonging. Commenting on the information, Cook dinner stated: “I plan to make use of this scholarship for a venture that can spark considering, change perceptions and spark conversations in regards to the legal justice system and the necessity for assist and alternatives for returning residents.”
A lifelong resident of Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, Johnson is anxious with city segregation and the preservation of black cultural reminiscence in Chicago. Her tasks similar to “The Folding Map” and “Unblocked Englewood” handle actual property and land use inequities. Talking about her future plans, Johnson stated, “With this scholarship, I can proceed a journey that echoes Parks’ legacy – illuminating systemic points whereas additionally demonstrating the facility of artwork to advertise therapeutic and alter. The facility of change.”
D. Watkins, Author and Contributing Editor salon, explores the emotional turmoil of city youth and challenges the notion of violence as forex.Watkins has authored a number of books, together with beast face and cooking.
Since 2017, the muse has awarded 14 arts scholarships. Earlier scholarship recipients embody main modern artists Jammie Holmes, José Parlá, Bisa Butler and Andre D. Wagner.
This yr’s artists will likely be honored on the Gordon Parks Basis Awards Dinner on Might 21. The dinner will honor Alicia Keys and Kasseem Dean (Swizz Beatz) in addition to Mickalene Thomas and soccer participant Colin Kaepernick ) and civil rights activist Myrlie Evers-Williams.
