After a chance conversation, Nick Cave, a renowned contemporary artist came to Jackson to open his exhibit at the Mississippi Museum of Art. They became the catalyst and the creators/curators of their “Beyond the Cave” show. This call and response to Nick Cave’s stunning works attracted a new audience to the museum and opened the doors to more. Through February 16, “Nick Cave: Feast” will be on display at the Mississippi Museum of Art. “Beyond The Cave” was a recent evening that featured song, spoken words, and dance. It brought in many local artists to share their perspectives and perform within the museum galleries. Cave’s colorful, exuberant art — which exploded across a variety media and materials
— addresses themes such as social justice, memory and transformation, the African American experience, and other topics. He invited the young black artists that he had met to join him at the opening. They came to see his work and were motivated by curiosity. “After we experienced the exhibition, we were just so overwhelmed with his work,” says Jasmine Williams (aka Kim Shadey and creator of Sipp Talk media company), who’d come with Charity and Miranda Hicks (rapper Vitamin Cea and poet Neo Soul, respectively) and Meredith Williams (videographer/designer MDub). “This was something completely new for us all.” The Jackson crew shared their
at the opening.
Cave and admiration are the two things that should spark the fire: A call and response event at the museum. Although they weren’t sure what the call meant, the women responded with “OK”. Williams says that they knew there was an opportunity to bring more people to the museum. As a gallery attendant, Williams has seen the need for younger people to be included in the museum experience. Adrienne Chadwick, the museum’s Center for Art and Public Exchange provided funding and coordinated the work of Williams and her colleagues as curators. It was a flurry activity that brought it together in just two months. The exhibit saw a large crowd shortly before its closing. Monique Davis, CAPE managing director, says that it was a true experiment. It evolved from a spontaneous conversation to a fully-fledged, community-driven event. It was real. It was organic. It was organic. We didn’t initiate it. It was not something we initiated.
Over two shows, more than 300 people were drawn along by designers, musicians, emcees, and performers to “Nick Cave” for a journey through the cave. They enjoyed intimate, barrier-breaking contact with artists and each other, and got up close and personal with art and effect. The event was digitally viewed by over 1,000 people. Williams stated in her introduction that meeting Cave and seeing his artwork “changed my world.” Before that, I didn’t realize how important it was to see myself in art and to share it to people who look like my community. Models in black T-shirts with the message “Please don’t touch the art” posed on the runway wearing Cave’s Soundsuits. Their costumes and makeup were inspired by Cave’s bold, expressive works. Williams stated, “I want it to be a reminder for everyone that our culture is valued.” “Just as these Soundsuits are on a pedestal, they’re being venerated as high art, so are you, also original pieces that cannot be replicated.” The exhibition explored themes of anxiety, dignity, ancestry, pride, inequality, injustice, spirituality, and inner wholeness. The museum Skyped Cave in from Chicago, where he had planned to attend. Cave demonstrated the transformative power of art on the lives and experiences of those who have it.
museum director Betsy Bradley said. “Nick was touched by the creativity of the young artists involved in ‘Beyond the Cave’, and he coached them how to prepare responses that would ripple out to touch so much more lives.” This reinforced CAPE’s priority to bring together artists, community, and art-making to address equity and race issues that affect all. Davis reports that the response was overwhelming positive. Davis says, “We were thrilled to see the museum so filled with energy,” which was followed by “Beyond the Cave” and Jackson’s Indie Music Week silent disco. The experience was praised by visitors. It showed us that we can do more than what is possible. Dolla Black stated, “I loved it!” Councilman Melvin Priester Jr. stated that it was appropriate for MLK Weekend in Mississippi to have such cross-pollination. “Beyond The Cave”… was something our community needed that we didn’t even
Williams said that Williams was astonished by the response. It was a pleasure to hear the feedback and see people feel connected and involved in it. I believe it was exactly what it was meant to be. “We wanted to create a safe place and let people know that they are welcome here, and to connect the museum with people from different backgrounds.” This bridge is something they will continue to build. We are currently working on ideas to create
Davis says that programming will be provided for both the ongoing “New Symphony in Time” exhibition and the upcoming exhibition “Van Gogh, Monet, Degas & Their Times”, which opens in April. Davis says that programming for the museum’s ongoing “New Symphony in Time” exhibition and the upcoming “Van Gogh, Monet, Degas & Their Times” exhibition will be available.