Inaugurate the Resistance is an exhibition on Memphians’ experiences of the Women’s Marches that happened on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC, and Memphis.
On view: May 4-5, 3-9 p.m.; May 6-8, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Opening reception: May 5, 6-9 p.m.
Through photographs, audio recordings, video footage, and mixed media, the exhibit creates a immersive and participatory experience for audiences.
Collaborating artists include photographer and photojournalist Yalonda M. James, Joann Self Selvidge (True Story Pictures), and Sara Kaye Larson (Maps & Weather Productions), with support from co-curators Leah Keys (Spillit), and Jamie Harmon (Amurica).
The immersive, artist-driven elements of the exhibit include a visual tunnel of march footage that audiences can walk through as if they were march participants, a portrait wall of photographs, and audio buttons that play excerpts of participants’ personal stories.
Community voices and perspectives are reflected in the exhibit via the “storytelling wall,” which engages audiences through their photos and stories to include their experiences in the show.
Prior to the show, the artists are inviting Memphians who attended a women’s march to submit photos of themselves via www.InaugurateTheResistance.com for a “community photo grid” that is integrated into the storytelling portion of the exhibition. Then, on opening and closing nights, the artists will offer interactive opportunities for audiences to bring their protest signs and to record their stories onsite at the Spillit Storybooth.
After the exhibit, these audio recordings will be shared online via the Storycorps.Me archive and donated to the Crossroads to Freedom Digital Archive at Rhodes College and the Library of Congress. For more information, visit www.InaugurateTheResistance.com.
