What is MAMI?
MAMI is a visual art exhibition and program series curated by Dyani Douze and Ali Rosa-Salas, to be presented at New York City’s Knockdown Center from August 6 to September 5, 2016.
MAMI is an offering to Mami Wata, a pantheon of water deities that originates from West and Central African matriarchal spiritual systems. Commonly portrayed as a singular part-woman/part-aquatic creature, Mami Wata is called upon by those pursuing wealth, wisdom, emotional guidance, sexual liberation, and more. At once beautiful, jealous, generous, and unpredictable, Mami Wata is the embodiment of contradiction and hybridity. Informed by Mami Wata’s mystifying multiplicity, installations by Salome Asega, Nona Faustine, Doreen Garner, Aya Rodriguez-Izumi, MALAXA, and Rodan Tekle reflect on the process of discovering the Others within ourselves.
MAMI Programming
In addition to a series of installations that will transform Knockdown Center's arresting raw architecture, we have also programmed an exciting line-up of events that will keep you coming back to Knockdown Center:
Opening Party | August 6, 2016: Celebrate the opening of MAMI with exhibiting artists and curators, hosted by KUNQ, featuring DJ set by SHYB0I.
MAMI Market | August 13, 2016: Spend the day at Knockdown Center supporting local designer and artist vendors, along with DJs, performances, workshops and more, co-curated by BALTI GURLS, Browntourage, Smart Girl Club, Top Rank Magazine, POWRPLNT, and more!
Performance Lecture | August 20, 2016: Multimedia artists Salome Asega and Dyani Douze join forces with world champion Floyd Little Double Dutch Team for a performance that incorporates light, sound, and of course, double dutch.
Closing Party | September 3, 2016: Spend Labor Day Weekend at Knockdown Center for MAMI's closing party, a day-to-night Caribbean-themed fete hosted by FAKE ACCENT. Featuring sets by an incredible line-up of womxn-identified DJs like Mursi Layne and TYGAPAW, and a live performance by Princess Nokia!
The Philosophy of
For
Us
By
Us
and YOU
MAMI is an actualization of what we call the Philosophy of FUBU: For Us, By Us.
We have already received the invaluable support from Knockdown Center by way of access to their incredible space and funding for the execution of the visual art installations.
MAMI needs your support in order to be fully realized on the programming end. Together, we intend to support the cost of:
Installation materials
Performing artist honorariums
Equipment rental costs
High-resolution documentation of MAMI installations and programming
With your support, you are demonstrating your commitment to the work of dynamic early-career womxn-identified artists of African Descent who are shifting paradigms in the contemporary art world and beyond.
As a big hug to you for your support, we have a series of offerings that we are delighted to share with you, made with love by artists we admire. Some highlights include:
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Image: Sam Clarke
An exclusive HAT_LINE "MAMI" Hat, just in time for summer.
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A very special compilation of mixes by some of the most influential womxn/femme-indentified DJs and producers today, created especially for MAMI, brought to you by NON WORLDWIDE.
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An 11'' x 17" poster featuring a still from new media artist Tabita Rezaire's latest video work, SUGARWALLS TEARDOM (2016).
MAMI's Impact
What MAMI Is Here For: MAMI is an intentional platform to present and support the work of early-career womxn artists of African descent. MAMI is an insistence that womxn of color are not a monolith, and that we can peacefully exist among our many subjectivities.
What MAMI Isn't Here For: MAMI isn't yet another space to project respectability politics on womxn of color's identities, creative practices, and ways of being.
Risks & Challenges
The artists are committed. The one-of-a kind venue is secured. The dates are confirmed.
Our community is rich with people like YOU, who like us, are deep believers in the Philosophy of FUBU. Together, we will manifest MAMI and make it an experience we will all cherish for years to come.
There is no risk in believing in our collective power!
Other Ways to Show MAMI Love
Every dollar and cent in the MAMI bank is a blessing.
If you are unable contribute with a pledge, you can still be of the MAMI family.
1. Get excited about the exhibition! Please share MAMI with your friends and family and help us spread the word. Follow us on Instagram @MAMI_KDC.
2. Collaborate with us! Are you a production manager? Interested in being an exhibition docent? Are you a photographer, videographer, or writer? If you have ideas on how you can join the team, please say hello at DNAHERE[at]gmail[DOT]com. We'd love to hear from you!
We can’t wait to see you in August!
Love,
Ali + Dyani
