This summer, Concord Art had planned to mount an exhibition called (un)seen curated by artist Keith Morris Washington. Because of the pandemic, we rescheduled the show for next year.

At the time of planning, we knew this exhibition about racism was important. But its importance has become more urgent during the events of the past weeks, as our nation has grieved and taken to the streets to demand change.

In light of this social unrest, we have decided to begin the conversation now by sharing a part of Keith’s show this summer to be continued in the summer of 2021.

This series of large-scale drawings is called Black Lives . . .

Black Lives

In Keith’s words from 2017

“Inspired by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) and Say Her Name movements, these slightly larger than life portraits of anonymous folks extol the humanity of people who live in areas where Say Her Name and BLM have been active.

It is imperative to remember the victims of state-sponsored and state-sanctioned violence against Black people. It is equally vital to recognize and honor countless ordinary people who daily survive the psychological and physical violence of white supremacy. Resistance to and dismantling of white supremacy, the violence against Black bodies, through individual acts of heroism and the collective act of simply enduring, is a testament to the resilience of melanin-rich people.”

Black Lives . . . is an ongoing series of drawings, a simple direct act(ion), to acknowledge and honor the collective of unidentified individuals who survive and indeed persist, in the United States of America.”

KMW Final version from Concord Art on Vimeo.