Despite facing the possibility of closing, 5 Points Gallery + Studios continues to celebrate artists of color and the impact the space has had on the Milwaukee community over the past seven years.
In the upcoming exhibition “We Black in Every Timeline,” four Milwaukee-based artists come together to examine cultural erasure and whitewashing while also setting a precedent of visibility and futuristic visions of Black existence. The exhibition has its first viewing from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, with an artist talk at 7 p.m.
Since its opening in 2018, 5 Points has supported underrepresented artists by providing them with a platform to showcase their work, studios to create in, low-cost residencies, and even a commercial kitchen for culinary artists and resident use. But use of those amenities hasn’t been limited to artists over the past seven years. Members of Milwaukee’s North Side neighborhood have engaged with 5 Points as a cultural space to access the arts, food, housing and a sense of community.
That mission is reflected in the upcoming exhibition, which highlights the work of four local artists: Jared Davis (aka DJ Turtle Sooup), Kierston Ghaznavi, Many Vibez and Warren Harrington. This is Harrington’s debut with 5 Points, while the other artists are returning to the gallery for a show that highlights a variety of work across different media.
Through wood carvings, vividly colored paintings, conceptual installations, mixed-media power shrines and 3D-printed collectibles, the quartet of artists utilize surrealism and fantasy to bridge historic representations of exclusion with heightened visibility of Afro-futuristic identities. In addition to its powerful message, “We Black in Every Timeline” carries the extra weight of potentially being one of the final chances to engage with 5 Points, which is still fighting to continue its programming.
After the opening night Nov. 7, “We Black in Every Timelines” will remain on view through Sunday, Dec. 21. More information about the new exhibition can be found on the 5 Points Gallery + Studios website.
