CORY REYNOLDS | DATE 4/6/2022

AfriCOBRA on our minds

Gerald Williams' 1969 acrylic, "Say It Loud" is reproduced from AfriCOBRA: Messages to the People, edited by Dr. Jeffreen Hayes and published by Gregory R. Miller & Co. and the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami. A featured title at our EXPO CHICAGO bookstore April 8–10, 2022, this is an essential publication on the radical collective whose name stands for "African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists"—founded by Williams, Jae Jarrell, Wadsworth Jarrell, Barbara Jones-Hogu and Jeff Donaldson in Chicago, 1968, and still active today. "It’s NATION TIME and we are searching," Donaldson is quoted. "Our guidelines are our people—the whole family of African people, the African family tree. … Our people are our standard for excellence. We strive for images inspired by African people. … Art for the people and not for critics whose peopleness is questionable." Click here for information about EXPO CHICAGO AfriCOBRA programming!