July 24 celebrated the opening of Radical Presence: Black Performance in Contemporary Art in the Target and Friedman Galleries. As the show itself spans three generations of artists, similarly there were guests of all ages and backgrounds in attendance. Performances of the night were held inside and outside of the galleries and interacted with the artwork. Large crowds gathered around to view Terry Adkins’ The Last Trumpet, Senga Nengudi’s Untitled (RSVP) performed by Maren Hassinger, Pope.L’s Costume Made of Nothing, and Jacolby Satterwhite’s Orifice.
It was amazing to watch the artists perform and bring another experience to the pieces in the show. The space remained packed throughout the evening as everyone navigated their way through the galleries. The whole evening had immense energy and a shared sense of enthusiasm. In addition to the performances, it was fun to witness the different styles of expression through guests’ clothing. I was able to document just a few of the interesting styles seen that night and inquire about their fashion choices.
Name: Destiny Anderson
What are you wearing? A red and black head scarf (store unknown), a white cropped tee from H&M, a calf-length African printed skirt, light brown heels from Goodwill
Describe your style in three words. Old school, colorful, and outlandish
Do you expect your style to speak for you? I feel my style describes me perfectly and can speak for my personality.
Have people from other generations inspired your style? My family. I always see pictures of my parents and aunts and uncles when they were younger. They always looked so cool to me, and their style now doesn’t stop me from going through their closet.
Social Media: @notorious_destiny on Instagram
Name: Jaafar Alnabi
Occuption: Art Student at MCAD
What are you wearing? Everything is H&M, and shoes are from Aldo
Describe your style in three words. Dark, Americana, and Curtain
Do you expect your style to speak for you? I think someone’s style speaks about them all the time. It’s a way of saying who you are without saying anything. I think my style speaks about me in a way, except you caught me on a lazy day!
Social Media: @jaafaralnabi on Instagram
Names: Junauda Petrus & Sarah White
Occupation: Petrus—writer, dancer, derformance artist, co-founder of Free Black Dirt; White—singer, photographer, creative
What are you wearing? Petrus—I’m wearing a mustard-colored silk shirt from B. Resale, jeans from Buffalo Exchange in San Francisco, the knitted red necklace I bought from a sister in Brooklyn, sandals from DSW, gold earrings from Savers, and blue dangly earrings from a sister in front of Palmer’s.
White—Hat from H&M, earrings and top from Cliché, bracelet from Belle Weather, septum ring from BVLA, ring made by Sol Rebel, skirt from some shop off the beach in Orange County, vintage clutch, XOXO shoes.
Describe your style in three words. Petrus—Cosmic, warrior, goddess. White—Gangsta, hippie, and eclectic.
Do you expect your style to speak for you? White—I try to speak though my style, but stay away from the expectations. In general, my style often reflects what I am feeling like at a certain stage of my life, but I think if I had more time to dig and more funds to splurge, I’d definitely turn it up a notch and be even more expressive.
Have people from other generations inspired your style? Petrus—Yes, I am channeling Whoopi Goldberg from the Jumpin’ Jack Flash days, Afrobeat queen, 1970’s Abby Lincoln, and Sally Bowles from Cabaret.
Social Media: @sarahwhiteblack on Twitter, @shirodame on Instagram
Name: ADDAM
What are you wearing? Hair styled by Loc Starz, pants from William Rast, top from Club Monaco, shoes from H&M, glasses from RETROSUPERFUTURE
Describe your style in three words. I like it.
Do you expect your style to speak for you? I expect my style to be an honest representation of myself, even when I fail to meet those expectations, which makes it all the more honest.
Have people from other generations inspired your style? Yes. My mother has been a big inspiration lately. I’ve raided her closet a few more times than I’d like to admit.
Social Media: @AddamUp on Twitter
Name: Elliot Reed
Occupation: Artist, musician, part-time magician/full-time Walker employee
What are you wearing? Mesh hat, vintage jacket and shirt, skeleton pendant from somewhere in the American Southwest, modified silver chain originally from Kokorokoko Vintage, TRIPP NYC shorts (major shout out to Hot Topic circa 2005), 8-inch black leather steel toe boots.
Describe your style in 3 words. Big Black ” ____.”
Do you expect your style to speak for you? To be frank, no. I believe in the power of costume and think of my clothes as power objects in their own way. I am usually drawn to over-sized and loose pieces because they emphasize my movements and exaggerate different parts of my body.
Name: Donte Collins
Occupation: Spoken word poet
What are you wearing? Red, black, and white newsboy hat from Wilson’s Leather, silver suit coat from H&M, red, black, and white checkered button up shirt from H&M, black belt from Wilson’s Leather, dark blue men’s jeans from Forever 21, shoes from H&M
Describe your style in three words. Music, remixed, and mine
Have people from other generations inspired your style? Yes. New York, 1920’s/1930’s. Suspenders, overalls, newsboys.
Social Media: @Donte_ThePoet on Twitter, @justdontecollins on Instagram
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