In these videos artists Claude Desir Jr, Iyaba Ibo Mandingo, Gerlad Moore and Suzanne Kachmar, Executive Director of City Ligh Gallery discuss art and the use of black face caricature in art.  Special thanks to videographers, Del Mundo and Marcus Tang Rusell and photographs contributed by Dariusz Kanarek.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH. Claude Deisr Jr has much to say. The young artist talks about his first solo exhibit with CL executive director, Suzanne Kachmar and artist/collaborator Iyaba Ibo Mandingo. Provocative art can be the sword and salve, to help purge and heal the festering wound of racial polarization and inequity. Claude reclaims and reappropriates black face caricature that for centuries has portrayed derogatory stereotypes of people of African descent. Curatorial decisions were delegated to Claude. A supporting exhibit designed to contextualize Claude’s art includes samples of Black Americana and the art of Gerald Moore and Iyaba Ibo Mandingo.

The mission of this exhibit is to present the art of Claude Desir Jr and offer a platform for a young Black man’s perspective, who reclaims derogatory Jim Crow imagery and stereotypes. His is a mixture of kindness and strength, wisdom and resilience, youthful creativity and playfulness, frustration and rage.

Claude Desir Jr talks about his art and choice of imagery. Click here.




Artists Claude Desir Jr. and Gerlad Moore talk about their art. Both use black face imagery. Click here.




Artist/Poet Iyaba Ibo Mandingo discusses the art of Claude Desir Jr. Click here.



Artist/Poet Iyaba Ibo Mandingo and Suzanne Kachmar, director of City Lights discuss the relevance of the content of this exhibit. Click here.




Watch artist Claude Desir Jr. prepare his exhibit at City Lights Gallery. Click here.  




Suzanne Kachmar, director of City Lights Gallery discusses content, artists and the exhibit of Claude Desir Jr. Click here.


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