Artists featured: Kara Walker, Faith Ringgold, Isaka Shamsud-Din, Ernie Barnes, Julian Gaines

In anticipation of the upcoming election night coupled with the subsequent Inauguration Day, The BLACK Gallery powered by DSPDX presents a new exhibit, Room for Conversation, opening November 5th through January 20, 2025.  

This interactive exhibit kicks off with an election night watch party that includes an oral history recording booth that will allow visitors to document their feelings and reactions during this complicated yet monumental event. Room for Conversation welcomes groups and individuals to schedule time to simply be present within the art space while supporting the need for intersectional discussions and critical dialogue. 

FREE REGISTRATION: Election Night Watch Party at The BLACK Gallery

The BLACK Gallery curators are known for developing bystander intervention and anti racist programming for use in critical response work, advocacy and public education, and it’s these values that center and inform the spaces. 

This exhibit features rare, one of a kind pieces from Don’t Shoot Portland/The BLACK Gallery collection including works by Kara Walker, Isaka Shamsud-Din, Julian Gaines, Faith Ringgold and Ernie Barnes.

Room for Conversation is inspired by discussion rooms and lounges in social clubs where creatives would come together to discuss world views, politics and art. On November 4th while our nation awaits the results of a historic election that centers on race, gender and class in America, ‘Room for Conversation’ intentionally provides Portlanders, and visitors to our city, a place to land.