Then: An Historical Survey of The Collective

December 14th, 2019 - January 25th, 2020

Steeped in rich Los Angeles history, members of The Collective have been intertwined within the Los Angeles arts community, organizations and arts activism – specifically speaking to the history of black artists and arts professionals working in the City and County of Los Angeles, and black-owned galleries and community spaces of that time. The Collective was founded to address needs in the local community for more exhibition spaces and to initiate & implement more arts engagement with the public via artist talks, panels and educational workshops/activities. The group as a whole existed as a focal point of artistic & cultural expression committed to the growth and development of people of African descent. As a group, members sought to naturally express themselves as black artists in all of its various forms by providing holistic support and encouragement to one another not only as creative individuals but also as fellow human beings. Notable Advisory members who were integral to the organization included well-known creatives: the late Cecil Fergerson, one of the first African American curators at L.A. County Museum of Art, historian and arts advocate; John Outterbridge, assemblage artist, community activist and a former director of the Watts Towers Art Center; Roderick Sykes, co-founder and director of St. Elmo’s Village and the late Vida Brown, public art consultant and curator at the California African American Museum. In addition, to the artwork, archival footage, documents and other ephemera will be exhibited.

Then: An Historical Survey of The Collective will highlight the chronology of the organization, its members, their art forms, activities and impact. The Collective is comprised of over 20 visual artists including: Sharon Barnes, Angela Briggs, David Glenn Brown, Kenneth Carnes, June Edmonds, Edward Ewell, Mira Gandy, Gary Green, Paul Houzell, Ronda Kelley, Amarpal Khanna, Salongo Lee, Michael Massenburg, Richard May, Deborah McDuff, Roland McFarland, Willie R. Middlebrook, Glynnis Reed, Darryl Smith, Robin Strayhorn, MonaLisa Whitaker and Bryan Wilhite. This exhibition will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their founding in Inglewood.