In a tribute to the groundbreaking work of Amiri Baraka, Express Newark, a socially engaged art and design center at Rutgers-Newark, is hosting a multimedia exhibition celebrating Baraka’s seminal book, “Blues People: Negro Music in White America.” Running until July 19, the exhibition features the creations of five distinguished artists—Derrick Adams, Adama Delphine Fawundu, Accra Shepp, Adebunmi Gbadebo, and Cesar Melgar—who reimagine their pivotal works in conversation with Baraka’s text.
“Blues People,” originally published in 1963 by Newark author Leroi Jones, later known as Amiri Baraka, explored the evolution of Black music in the U.S. as a means to trace the creation of African-American cultural identity. The Express Newark exhibition, a part of a year-long series of events commemorating Baraka’s work, pays homage to this cultural legacy.
To further engage with the themes of “Blues People,” a public conversation titled “Aliveness & the Black Poem” is scheduled for March 7. The discussion will feature prominent figures such as James Russell Lowell, Kevin Quashie, Nikky Finney, and Tracy K. Smith, moderated by Rutgers-Newark Professor and the 2023 National Book Award for Poetry Winner, John Keene.
Each of the five artists participating in the exhibition brings a unique perspective to the dialogue on art, race, resistance, class, and place—themes central to Baraka’s exploration in “Blues People.” Derrick Adams, a multidisciplinary artist, reactivates his 2017 work “The Holdout,” a pyramid-like sculpture and pirate radio station, incorporating live DJ sets and discussions about gentrification.
Adama Delphine Fawundu’s short film, “Who We Be,” connects African and African-American music and culture, emphasizing ancestral energy and resilience. Accra Shepp’s photography captures the spirit of protest during Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter movements, highlighting the struggle against invisibility.
Adebunmi Gbadebo, through large-scale circular textiles created from Black hair, cotton, and indigo dye, explores the profound connection to ancestral history. Newark street photographer Cesar Melgar presents his series “Newark Master Plan,” documenting city properties facing proposed development, reflecting the threat to Newark’s vitality.
Alliyah Allen, the curator of the exhibition, sees these artists as contemporary Blues People, invoking change and action. Express Newark aims to provide a transformative space, bringing together diverse perspectives inspired by Baraka’s spirit of protest, ancestry, and community.
“This exhibition is a dream come true,” says Allen, emphasizing the exhibition’s potential to catalyze action and reimagine a future inspired by the themes explored in “Blues People.” The multimedia pieces presented by these artists serve as a testament to the ongoing relevance and impact of Amiri Baraka’s visionary work on identity, history, and class.
