Current Projects
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Juneteenth 2023 Contest Winner: Imani Howell
Imani Howell is the winner of the 2023 Open Call for Art: Afrofuturism.
Scroll down to learn more about Imani.
Juneteenth 2023 Art Contest Finalists
Cleo Cartwright
Michael V. Stidham
Michael V. Stidham
Afrofuturism, in fashion, refers to a conceptual framework that combines elements of Afrofuturism, an artistic and cultural movement centered on imagining Black futures, with the lens of gay and queer identity (as in this photo).
Michael V. Stidham
Michael V. Stidham
Michael V. Stidham
I imagine this piece as Africans being returning to Earth after millennia of evolution outside of our space/time. It's called "What if".
Imani Howell
Anjel Illustrati
Anjel Illustrati
This piece is simply a black woman whose features and style are so “eye” catching that any other person may find it strange or unusual. but [they are] really something so beautiful that many black people have had for generations. This piece also includes the third eye which means it takes us to a place of higher consciousness and enlightenment. It is also associated with intuition, insight, and mysticism. I wanted to include all that in this piece because it is definitely something that has had a big impact on the future for many years.
Anjel Illustrati
Anjel Illustrati
Anjel Illustrati
One of the key components of Afrofuturism is Black people being able to reclaim space. The importance of reclaiming space is essential to our imagination in creating a reality that was never meant for us. Black people have been taught to fear the unknown due to the color of our skin. This has greatly limited our imagination and [kept us from] exploring the vastness of space within and around. This piece encourages us to explore the unknown, travel far and wide, and to pioneer missions.
Westside Stories
Our monthly series, Westside Stories, is a public open mic for Westside residents and artists to gather in a communal storytelling forum that celebrates the Black oral tradition and the intergenerational nature of the front porch. These narratives will eventually be housed in an online archive.
Westside Mural Project
In response to the aftermath related to the protests of George Floyd's murder, Front Porch Arts Center launched the Westside Mural Project. Within the movement to beautify boarded-up businesses post-protest, we saw few painted storefronts in Westside neighborhoods and recognized the importance of creating permanent public art in exaltation of voices and artists from Out West. We plan to both celebrate Westsiders’ historical and cultural narratives through art while adding to community beautification.
Our walls include:
- The former site of Wallace’s Catfish Corner located on Madison and California.
- The Kedzie and Harrison wall adjacent to the 11th Police District.
- The Western and Warren wall honoring activist Nancy B. Jefferson.
Click here to donate to our Westside Mural Project.
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