Join us for the opening night of Sadie Barnette: The New Eagle Creek Saloon, marking the transformation of a gallery at the Walker into a shimmering reimagining of the first Black-owned queer bar in San Francisco, operated by the artist’s father. The exhibition celebrates the unwritten histories of Black queer spaces.
The space opens at 5 pm, with craft cocktails served by local collective Mama San. Pull up a stool and enjoy one complimentary drink. At 6 pm, Sadie Barnette and her father, Rodney Barnette, will take a seat at the bar, sharing stories that detail the labor of love that went into both manifestations of the New Eagle Creek Saloon.
Following the conversation, the party ramps up with DJ Jam E.Z. on vinyl, and cocktails served directly from the installation. This is a unique opportunity to relive the energy of the original saloon with the founding family.
Everyone is welcome. Must be 21+ for alcohol. The program is free, but space is limited. Entry is not guaranteed.
Bios
Sadie Barnette (b. 1984, Oakland, CA) has a BFA from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and an MFA from the University of California, San Diego. She has had solo exhibitions at The Kitchen, New York; Pomona College and Pitzer College Art Galleries, Los Angeles; ICA Los Angeles; The Lab, San Francisco; the Museum of the African Diaspora, San Francisco; Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego; Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery, Haverford College, PA; and the Manetti Shrem Museum, University of California, Davis.
Mama San is a queer BIPOC bartending collective founded in Minneapolis. Each of the eight members learned the techniques and care of cocktailing alongside one another and has worked hard to create an accessible environment that welcomes those routinely left out of the cocktail scene. It was clear to the collective members that if they wanted to break into an industry dominated by white/cis/male barkeepers, they needed to create a space for themselves and their community. Together, Mama San hosts parties, artist markets, and pop-ups, offering genuine hospitality to anyone who stops in to try the signature cocktails and elevated drinks.
Jamez L. Smith (DJ Jam E.Z.) is a San Francisco performer based in Minneapolis. He is a poet who has been spinning vinyl records for decades. Smith’s selections can be heard on KRSM 98.9 FM in South Minneapolis, where he hosts two weekly record shows (7–9 pm): The 80s inspired “Same As It Ever Was” on Mondays, and “Groovement,” a soulfully eclectic journey, on Wednesdays.
Accessibility, Content, and Sensory Notes
This event will have ASL interpretation.
This program will include discussions of sexuality and gender.
The evening may contain flickering effects and sudden changes in pitch, tone, and volume.
For information about accessibility, or to request additional accommodations for this program, call 612-375-7564, or email access@walkerart.org.
For more information about accessibility at the Walker, visit our Access page.
Before Your Visit
Paid underground parking is available on-site. Enter the ramp on Vineland Place at Bryant Avenue. Biking or taking Metro Transit? Learn more.
Visiting the galleries? Enhance your experience by joining a public tour or with self-guided resources accessible for free on Bloomberg Connects.
Personal photography is permitted throughout the Walker and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, but please turn off the flash when visiting the galleries.
To help us promote future events and programs, this event may be photographed or recorded. By attending, you consent to appear in this documentation and its future use by the museum. Please let staff know upon arrival if you prefer not to be photographed.
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