When We Gather...ft. M. Florine Démosthène and Atsu Numadzi

For 20 years, CulturalDC has been making space for art. That includes physical places like galleries, theaters and affordable housing for artists. But it also includes making space in the conversation for art. This summer, CulturalDC is proud to present, When We Gather…, a collaborative exploration between Haïtian-American (Flo·reen Day·most·ten) and Ghanaian (Aaah·chu Nuu·maah·jee). “When We Gather…” is a visual arts installation highlighting the cultural significance of flag making in military campaigns, clan identity, spirituality, and storytelling. Using the history of Haiti’s Battle for Independence and the symbology of the Anlo Ewe people , Day·most·ten and Nuu·maah·jee explore the use of symbols and body as forms of culture and art. In this discussion, Day·most·ten and Nuu·maah·jee discuss the meanings behind fabrics of Africa, the state of arts in Africa and the intersections of art and cultural responsibility. This conversation is hosted by Simone Booker- Isham of CulturalDC. (Flo·reen Day·most·ten) was born in the United States and raised between Port-au-Prince, Haiti and New York where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Parsons School for Design and her Master of Fine Arts from Hunter College-City University. She has exhibited extensively through group and solo exhibitions in the United States, Caribbean, UK, Europe, and Africa, with recent solo shows including, Between Possibility and Actuality at Mariane Ibrahim Gallery in Chicago. (Aaah·chu Nuu·maah·jee) is a Ghanaian artist whose work explores contemporary ideologies of blackness and West African culture. He was born in the Volta Region and studied at Ghanatta College of Art and Design. His most recent work, “Africa In Us”, is a community investigation project where Nuu·maah·jee creates a mixed media portrait that is based on a series of interviews with Southeast residents of Washington D.C. The core of his artwork has involved working with West African immigrants who are employed in the service industry, particularly hair stylists and barbers. He has exhibited in Ghana, Tanzania, and the United States and is based in Washington, DC and Maryland. When We Gather…, presented by CulturalDC is on view from Jul. 9 through September 5th , in CulturalDC’s Mobile Art Gallery Thursdays through Sundays at Sandlot Southeast. Admission is free. Learn more at culturaldc.org.