Flowers for Black Elders

February 25, 2023

Onry and Joni Whitworth (founder of Future Prairie) present Flowers for Black Elders, a multimedia project blending portraits by photogrpaher Brett Brown with oral history interview recordings by Whitworth. Inspired by opera singer Onry’s desire to honor his mentors, the exhibition spotlights musicians Mel Brown, Alonzo Chadwick, Libretto Jackson, Derrick McDuffy, and Saeeda Wright. 

Flowers for Black Elders featured “Listening Lounge”, an immersive experience tjhat allows audience members to relax in an open, iviting space to tune into oral history interviews with BIPOC Portland artists at One Grand Gallery. 

The archival efforts of the exhibit preserve and celebrtae the cultural heritage of marginalized Portland artists while also resisting the erasure of queer and BIPOC voices and experiences in a city with a long history of racism and exclusion.


Artists in the show include:

Onry @onrymusic
onrymusic.com

Brett Brown @the.brettbrown

Future Prairie @future.prairie
futureprairie.com

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