July 11- August 2, 2020

Opening hours on July 11th, 12-9pm, regular hours 12-5pm Saturdays & Sundays

In accordance with COVID-19 reopening of venues in New Orleans we ask all visitors to wear masks and observe social distancing. We will limit the number of visitors at one time in our small galleries per city protocol, and will continue to provide masks and hand sanitizer.

Room 1:

Craig-Anthony Ismael
A Place for the Soul to rest 

Craig-Anthony Ismael is a self-taught photographer from Brooklyn, NY, Born in 1989 to a Jamaican Mother and Bajan Father. His photography focuses on the way sexuality, tradition, and religion can co-exist within the human identity. After living in Brooklyn for 25 years, he has since called Hawaii, Santa Fe, NM and Los Angeles, CA home. Craig-Anthony has been a residence of New Orleans since January 2019 and a member of the front since January of 2020. Upcoming projects include Oh Mama, Times Have Changed. Faggots Don’t Hide in Closets and I’m Growing Weed in Front Yard and the ongoing For The Love of A Black Man.

http://www.craig-anthony.com
@Bukuamour

Room 2:

Whose Show? Our Show.

Vally O
Jourdan Barnes
RR
Daiquiri Rene Jones

Centering and listening to local New Orleans Black voices.

Live Performances July 18 & 19 by Daiquiri Rene Jones with limited seating, please reserve your spot.
Livestream these performances @thefrontnola. Performances limited to 12 people by reservation.

RR on July 25-26th, 7:30 pm live on @thefrontnola due to weather

Outdoor performances, please join us!

Past performances by Vally O on July 11-12
Daiquiri Rene Jones on July 18-19

Vally O

Louisiana native Vally O grew up in the city of Covington. At the age of 14, she discovered a love for writing inspirational messages and since then has dedicated her life to creative storytelling. Her professional debut in “The Truth Is”, a nationally recognized cross country traveling production, gave Vally O the platform to powerfully deliver a message of hope throughout the U.S.She is now actively performing, collaborating, creating, and producing Spoken Word productions.  Vally O continues to seek out more innovative and impacting ways to convey her creative art.

"Who, God? Where, God? What, God? Is a Spoken Word Poem that speaks on the mind boggling questions that secretly linger in all of us- who is this "God" character, and where can I find it? Vally O uses colorful imagery and a whimsical approach to the controversial conversation regarding God. As we follow her down this rabbit hole of sorts, we find ourselves lost in the explicit truth that this particular piece carries- We don't know, but perhaps we know. Journeying through the madness, funny and anger we find ourselves in "full circle" back where we started. Curious, full of wonder and at peace, because the truth is...

“ Own Who You Are “

My VISION, quite simply, is to be: “The World’s Premier Spoken Word Poet and Performer, Offering both Empowering and Uplifting Speeches To People Everywhere.”  I envision a world in which conscious performance is the new normal. Performances that invoke a global desire for change regarding humanity. Through voice activation, Vally O LLC will change the hearts and lives of people across the globe utilizing an awe inspiring message of self worth and confidence through the power of creativity and communication.

www.vallyo.com 
www.instagram.com/vally_o
https://www.facebook.com/VallyOH/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsvDkCx_sR6MUHc60hdQgVw?view_as=subscriber

Jourdan Barnes

Born and raised in New Orleans Louisiana, Jourdan Barnes has always been influenced by & surrounded in art and health. Completing his education in Art and Psychology at Xavier University, Barnes works closely with those affected by STIs and HIV through his work as an Community Engagement Coordinator for the STD/HIV/Hepatitis Program of Louisiana's Department of Public Health. While working with Louisiana's Department of Health STD/HIV Program Barnes has continued to create art that highlights Black people and creates work that amplifies their voice and truths. Barnes has exhibited works in well respected museums like The Ogden, Contemporary Art Center of New Orleans, and The Guggenheim New York. He has also been a part of arts initiatives like Prospect 3 and White Linen Night. Today Barnes is continuing a triptych series titled “Noire” where he is highlighting the experiences of Black women, men, and the intersectionality of Black queer men. He is also currently mentoring youth artists of YAYA Inc (YAYAInc.org), a program in which he is an Alumnus of. Barnes is aspiring to become a Pediatric Art Therapist where he would utilize his talents to serve his community and the children that are in need of artistic expression for therapeutic purposes.

I am an artistic conduit, using life as a muse for my work and the resources available to me to tell my story. Photography is my medium of choice, but I often incorporate other mediums into my work. My work reflects issues that are important to me, internalized racism and identity within the Black (African American) community and internalized homophobia within the Black queer community. My work is provocative and engaging, creating experiences that start the conversation of equity and voice. I am very strategic with order and presentation of my work to evoke emotion and provide proper context for my audience.   

Imen - Human 
Imen is a series created to show the beauty, delicacy and strength of black men. Imen (ee-mehn) is a Haitian Creole word that translates into Human. Titling this series "Imen" is important to me because, in response to the pandemic that is racism and the unjust, unwarranted killings of Black people, Black men in particular, we [Black people] have began this trend of declaring our worthiness to live by publicizing our successes and referencing ourselves as royalty. Though I agree with those sentiments and believe all successes of the Black community should be highlighted and amplified it should not be a declaration of worthiness to not be killed. Being human is just enough. This series is created to highlight the human in Black men because that is the ultimate reason why Black men shouldn't be murdered. 

@demiursphotography

RR

RR is a writer and thinker, who is actively trying to learn through new mediums, literature, and those who have done it already. His work hopes to engage while teach, be tender while exposing truths, and most of all be true to his experience as a Queer Black man. He is a prison abolitionist, scholar of restorative justice, and really just trying to figure it all out.

Daiquiri Rene Jones

Daiquiri Rene Jones is a writer and performer local to New Orleans. Daiquiri combines lucid storytelling techniques to dreamlike narratives. Soldering, video editing, and sound art are some of Daiquiri's quarantine hobbies.

Rooms 3 & 4:

Claire Rau,Graham, laser cut acrylic, nails, 18 1/3x5x.25”, 2020 (“Graham.” Radiolab from WNYC Studios, 6 June 2020, www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/graham.)
Androcentric, pantyhose, 2x4’s, steel, screws, 60x12x6”, 2019
Pre-existing, laser cut leather, magnets, nails, 12x3x1/4”, 2019
Barb, black stoneware, each around 18x5x6”, 2020

Claire Rau
Articulation

My work examines gender dynamics and sexuality in American life. The pervasive struggle for equity is dominated by opposing forces of discrimination. These objects embrace these constant conflicts in our work and domestic environments, often through the symbolism of the everyday.

A founding member of The Front, an artist collective and gallery space in New Orleans, Claire Rau was born in Sandusky, Ohio and raised in northeast Tennessee.  Working in both printmaking and sculpture, she completed her graduate work at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and presently teaches foundations at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.  Her work engages with objects, straddling politics, sexuality, and terrain. Recent shows include Living Arts in Tulsa, the Morris Graves Museum of Art, MASS Gallery, and Vox Populi. 

www.clairejanerau.com
@clairejanerau