CON CON NEWS
JOHN JENNINGS and YATASHA WOMACK DISCUSS THEIR AFROFUTURISM ORIGIN STORIES
Check out this lively and rich discussion of two of the leading practitioners of Afrofuturism today here.
BLACK KIRBY ART EXHIBIT FEATURED AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS
The Black Kirby Art exhibit reimagines iconic Jack Kirby characters and art through the lens of Afrtofuturism. Kirby is best known for co-creating and creating a pantheon of characters for Marvel, DC, and independent comics including(this is a very minor list for more google Jack Kirby): the Avengers, the Eternals, Captain America, the Hulk, Thor and the Marvel Norse Mythology, Mister Miracle, the New Gods and their arch nemesis Darkseid, Captain Victory, Fantastic Four, the Silver Surfer, Galactus, and of course Black Panther. Black Kirby founders and artists John Jennings and Stacey Robinson have remixed the imagery of these iconic figures and forms in an Afrofuturistic blender. The images are amazing and affirming for a reimagining of the future through an adjustment of the past.
The exhibit is to be featured at the Carnegie Library, Nostalgia Ink, the Jackson College Library, and one additional location yet to be determined. To see the whole exhibit you'll have to trek to all the locations!
Here's a list of featured pieces with some context:
I Am a Man- featuring the classic design of the 1960s civil rights sign with the New Gods's Black Racer
Spooky World - A take on Kirby's Spirit World reinterpreted through an Afrofuturistic lens
CT1- A recognition of the original definition of Afrofuturism- adding and remixing the human body by adding cybernetics and prosthetics
Jill Scott Free - An update of the classic Mister Miracle character
Mother Beat Box - A hip hop remix of Mother Box
Kirby Tech New - All the Kirby crackle you can take
Afroblue - A jazz study of a reimagined Beautiful dreamer from Kirby's Forever People
Crown of Badassery - Cosmic Kirby crackle with a Samuel L. Jackson vibe!
Seer- a voodoo take/ African wisdom take on a witch character
Black Thing- It's a black Thing - You'll understand!
Black Panther Movie poster - That's right the Black Panthe movie 1970s style!
Hollerangel - 'Nuf said.
Double Consciousness - Black Panther Afropicks lay out the philosophy of Black Kirby
Medusa 2 - Fantastic Four's Medusa reimagined
Planet Deep South Sun Ra - A portrait of music's alien observer
Ultimate Nullifier - Named for the weapon that could kill Galactus but more powerful and with all the crackle
MAD VILLAINZ - These villains are more MF DOOM than just DOOM
OBLAC - A tongue in cheek take on Kirby's One Man Army Core mixed in with Marcus Garvey
Shango 3 - Papa Shango saves the day!
Defy - The title says it all as the dreadlocked heroine defies gravity!
ODIN BAMBAATA - A remix of the Allfather and the hip hop god father AFRIKA BAMBAATA
WILL YOU SEE THEM ALL? CON CON HOPES SO AND MAYBE YOU WILL HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE!
The exhibit is to be featured at the Carnegie Library, Nostalgia Ink, the Jackson College Library, and one additional location yet to be determined. To see the whole exhibit you'll have to trek to all the locations!
Here's a list of featured pieces with some context:
I Am a Man- featuring the classic design of the 1960s civil rights sign with the New Gods's Black Racer
Spooky World - A take on Kirby's Spirit World reinterpreted through an Afrofuturistic lens
CT1- A recognition of the original definition of Afrofuturism- adding and remixing the human body by adding cybernetics and prosthetics
Jill Scott Free - An update of the classic Mister Miracle character
Mother Beat Box - A hip hop remix of Mother Box
Kirby Tech New - All the Kirby crackle you can take
Afroblue - A jazz study of a reimagined Beautiful dreamer from Kirby's Forever People
Crown of Badassery - Cosmic Kirby crackle with a Samuel L. Jackson vibe!
Seer- a voodoo take/ African wisdom take on a witch character
Black Thing- It's a black Thing - You'll understand!
Black Panther Movie poster - That's right the Black Panthe movie 1970s style!
Hollerangel - 'Nuf said.
Double Consciousness - Black Panther Afropicks lay out the philosophy of Black Kirby
Medusa 2 - Fantastic Four's Medusa reimagined
Planet Deep South Sun Ra - A portrait of music's alien observer
Ultimate Nullifier - Named for the weapon that could kill Galactus but more powerful and with all the crackle
MAD VILLAINZ - These villains are more MF DOOM than just DOOM
OBLAC - A tongue in cheek take on Kirby's One Man Army Core mixed in with Marcus Garvey
Shango 3 - Papa Shango saves the day!
Defy - The title says it all as the dreadlocked heroine defies gravity!
ODIN BAMBAATA - A remix of the Allfather and the hip hop god father AFRIKA BAMBAATA
WILL YOU SEE THEM ALL? CON CON HOPES SO AND MAYBE YOU WILL HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE!
Beyond Black Panther Exhibit at Jackson College Library
Most people are familiar with Marvel's Black Panther, and some are aware of its connections to Afrofuturism, a framework to understand how the black imagination manifests visions of freedom. This virtual exhibition will explore how themes such as aesthetics, Black feminism, and community, common to Afrofuturism, shape contemporary Black comics. Beyond the Black Panther gives us a view of stories inspired by African folklore such as Is’nana the Were-Spider, science fiction adventures centered on a black female hero such as Matty’s Rocket, or vital social commentary about police violence such as I am Alfonso Jones.
The exhibit is a five panel display in the library laying out the main themes of Afrofuturism.
For further explorations of Beyond Black Panther virtually visit: Beyond the Black Panther: Visions of Afrofuturism in American Comics – MSU Museum
The exhibit is a five panel display in the library laying out the main themes of Afrofuturism.
For further explorations of Beyond Black Panther virtually visit: Beyond the Black Panther: Visions of Afrofuturism in American Comics – MSU Museum