Reflections on Opening Weekend

The Driehaus Museum's A Tale of Today: Emerging Artist Fellows reflect on the events of the opening weekend of A Tale of Today: Yinka Shonibare CBE, four months ago. The event marked the museum's inaugural contemporary art exhibition and the announcement of the Fellowship.

1. What part of opening weekend do you think you’ll reflect on most often?

Kekeli Sumah: Opening weekend was a whirlwind of events, anticipation, excitement and emotions. It felt like a coming together of sorts because it was the beginning of everything I had planned with the help of the artist fellows and the generous support of museum staff. What I reflect on the most was how the opening weekend signified something new and something special.

Brittney Leeanne Williams: When I was originally asked to be one of the fellows for the Emerging Artist program, Kekeli Sumah, had mentioned the beauty of the Driehaus Museum. I had never visited so hearing the treasures within the house museum definitely whet my appetite to see the space. I was absolutely reduced to a state of pure wonder when I arrived opening weekend. Moments of awe that arrest the eyes are rare now that I’m an adult. I think that wonder and awe will remain a long-standing memory when I reflect on opening weekend. 

Darrell McKinney: How open the Driehaus Museum staff has been and their willingness to introduce us to so many new people.  

Jeffly Gabriela Molina: The Fellowship has been a beautiful journey, and that weekend the perfect beginning. It was the first time I visited the museum and its impression on me hasn’t changed — I am in awe of that remarkable place. I enjoyed the warm welcome given to the fellows during the VIP reception and the lovely brunch with Naomi Beckwith and Lowery Stokes Sims. The conversation at the MCA brought to the fore ideas about Yinka Shonibare CBE’s work that were excellent and unexpected. It was a weekend-long conversation held in and around a place that holds so much meaning and beauty, and in the company of some of the most talented peers and individuals I know.

Luis Rodríguez Rosario: During opening weekend, I had a realization that I am considered an artist of color in this country. This was sobering to me because I never conflated my ethnicity with being a person of color. Mainly because of the fractured racial-self identification system in Puerto Rico that has left Afro-Puerto Rican artist in our country in the shadows. These thoughts continue to stay with me and have unpacked lingering questions surrounding how ethnicity and identity are approached by institutions in the United State.

2. What was your favorite part of the MCA panel discussion?

KS: I loved how the conversations during the MCA panel took unexpected turns. Examining the work of Yinka Shonibare at the Driehaus Museum opened up a broad range of topics such as: the role of the dandy figure in society, authenticity, and Yinka's own hybrid identity. What was unexpected was the further examining of disability during the Q&A portion of the panel. An often overlooked aspect of Yinka's work, I was glad to see it become more of a focal point for the audience members.

BLW: During the MCA panel discussion, there was one audience member that touched on the aspects of Yinka’s differently abled-ness. At one point, the audience member began to almost transcribe what they saw within the work as an individual that was differently abled themselves. I was really touched by how blind I was to what this audience member was seeing. 

DW: Just how they were able to speak about the humor in Yinka's work and the way he goes about creating "authentic African Art".

JGM: The conversation thoughtfully explored intersections between Shonibare’s life — his privileged background and disability — and his work. I appreciated the generosity and tact with which both Naomi Beckwith and Lowery Stoke Sims conversed on subjects that inspired the audience to reflect meaningfully on the human and political aspects of the artist’s work.

LRR: My favorite part of the panel discussion was the Q&A with the audience since I believed it touch more in-depth into a critical aspect of Yinka’s work in regards to his identity and the artist's intent when it comes to making work. 

3. Who did you meet during opening weekend that you were most excited about?

KS: I was really excited to meet Lowery Sims and Naomi Beckwith—they're incredibly smart and a lot of fun to talk to!

BLW: I was humbled and truly honored to meet Lowery Sims. Her openness and generosity left me intellectually stimulated and full. 

DM: Nate Young – I was recently introduced to his work at the time, so the timing of it was perfect.

JGM: Meeting both Lowery Stoke Sims and Naomi Beckwith was an honor. But with the exception of a couple of people, everyone was new to me! I was anxious and excited to meet Richard P Townsend, the museum staff, and some of the excellent guests that joined the VIP dinner.

LRR: It felt like things went so fast that connections came and went. Even though I was introduced to interesting people such as Nate Young, Jane Cohan and a bread maker with a sourdough starter older than him. 

4. What part of opening weekend was the most fun?

KS: The most fun part of opening weekend was spending quality time with everyone who came together to make it special. We were all excited and the energy was both genuine and palpable.

BLW: Informal moments with Naomi Beckwith, Lowery Sims, and the other fellows made a big impression on me. Getting to know each of them on a personal level was really rewarding. It was fun to see the personalities and humanness behind such prestigious resumes. 

DM: The morning where we met with Naomi Beckwith and Lowery Stokes Sims. It started as what I thought would be a typical sort of introductory meeting and became much more. I'm always impressed when people with illustrious careers are able to make light of their numerous achievements and speak on their journey.

JGM: I enjoyed that everything was a bit of a surprise, and being that aware brought a lot of fun into our time together. It was fun watching people around me being so generous and candid. It was beautiful.

LRR: What was the most fun… I believed it was fun being approached very kindly by strangers and staff, but at the same time couldn’t help feeling that I was out of my environment. 


5. What inspired you most about opening weekend?

KS: What inspired me most about opening weekend was how much energy there was in the air. It was a long day of events, yet everything went well and everyone was genuinely excited. It made me feel confident in the program and I felt really lucky to be a part of it.

BLW: I think during opening weekend and even presently, I continue to be visually captivated by the beauty and majesty of the Driehaus Museum. 

DM: This idea of firsts, this being the first contemporary art exhibition at the Driehaus Museum, the museum opening up to an entirely new audience, and their willingness to work with a young group of artists. There is something invigorating in that.

JGM: Yinka Shonibare CBE’s work in the context of the Driehaus Museum is mesmerizing. The pieces that inspire me most are his headless sculptures—all of them. Their gestures and personalities are so rich and enigmatic, it made me contemplate ideas of home, magical realism, and poetry.

LRR: I was inspired to be more self-aware of my status ("as a person of color") and how to interpret these upcoming Identitarian, or identity-based, movements/projects in institutions. By thinking of these projects as a platform; as a new way of showcasing artist of minority communities in the United States.  

Images top to bottom:
Left to Right: Kekeli Sumah, Darrell McKinney, Tracie D. Hall (The Joyce Foundation), Richard H. Driehaus, Brittney Leeanne Williams, Anna Musci, Luis Rodriguez Rosario, Jeffly Gabriela Molina and Richard P. Townsend at the opening reception for A Tale of Today: Yinka Shonibare CBE on March 1, 2019.

The stage at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago before the opening day panel discussion featuring Lowrey Stokes Sims, Naomi Beckwith, and Richard P. Townsend.

Left to Right: Amy Endres, Lowrey Stokes Sims, Jeffly Gabriela Molina, Kekeli Sumah, Richard P. Townsend, Brittney Leeanne Williams, Naomi Beckwith, Darrell McKinney and Luis Rodriguez Rosario at an information brunch discussion during opening weekend

Yinka Shonibare CBE (British/Nigerian, b. 1962) Party Time: Re-imagine America (detail), 2009. Fiberglass mannequins, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, leather boots, table, eight chairs, and other mixed-media. Collection of the Newark Museum, Purchase 2010 Helen McMahon Brady Cutting Fund. 2010.5.1-66. Photograph by Michael Tropea at the Driehaus Museum, 2019.