Mark Bradford: Making a Path

The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) is launching a series of free creative conversations and social events that brings together nationally recognized artists, writers, and thought-leaders to consider key ideas at the intersection of art, race, and social justice—and imagining the futures we want. "The Necessity of Tomorrow(s)" speaker series will kick off with a conversation between acclaimed artist Mark Bradford and BMA Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director Christopher Bedford, who most recently collaborated on the BMA’s presentation of the U.S. Pavilion at the 2017 Venice Biennale. Drawing on themes explored in Bradford’s installation, Tomorrow Is Another Day, their conversation will focus on the topic of making a path to power where none has existed before, a theme often explored in Bradford’s work.

The event—which includes live music, light refreshments, art-making activities, and community conversation—will be held at the historic Union Baptist Church at 1219 Druid Hill Avenue from 12 to 3:30pm. Admission is free and the doors open at 11:30am. There are no tickets available for the church location, but the event will be live-streamed at Morgan State University’s Murphy Fine Arts Center Turpin-Lamb Theater. For more information, visit bmatomorrows.org.

"The Necessity of Tomorrow(s)" borrows its title from an essay by science fiction author Samuel Delany that argues for the role of creative speculation in making a more just future. Artist Mark Bradford’s conversation with Christopher Bedford will explore how he changed the course of his life when he was 30 years old to become one of the most accomplished artists of his generation. Bradford will discuss his exhibition for the United States Pavilion at the Venice Biennale and Art + Practice, the nonprofit he co-founded in South Los Angeles to support the needs of local foster youth. The event will also include performances by Baltimore-based musician Clarence Ward III, poet Kondwani Fidel, and DJ Pierre Bennu.

The next event will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2018. Speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

"The Necessity of Tomorrow(s)" is generously sponsored by Suzanne F. Cohen and the Cohen Opportunity Fund.