The Imagination Factri is partnering with Katie Numi Usher to host and display an exhibition of her performance art pieces. We got a look at this exciting new approach to making observations on Black womanhood in post-colonialism. Jomarie Lanza reports.
Katie Numi Usher is a Belizean performance artist, whose latest project is to create 6 performance pieces by taking a new approach at exploring the different perspectives of Black womanhood in post-colonialism.
Her pieces are filmed near bodies of water, following the route of the Belize river, which is tied to an important aspect of Belizean history during the enslaved period.
We spoke with Usher today about the open exhibition she will be hosting tonight, titled THIRTY 7, in partnership with the Imagination Factri.
Katie Numi Usher, Artist
"So for the past two years I've been doing a series of video performances that are either directly on or near bodies of water and they really focus on my observations as a black woman in a post colonial space. It was a very influential a text that I read from the UAF emancipation day by Joseph Indio Feio that he did free your mind in 2020 where he stated that the Belize river was one of escape routes of enslaved Afircans before we got emancipation in 1838."
"So I do a lot of research and there is a huge absence of recording of Black peoples history in Belizean capital H history so I do a lot of research. I do installations I sometimes paint not that often. I do a lot of performance work, so what I will be exhibiting tonight is six performances, so performances its very important the time, the space and duration."
So what is the take away from these intricate pieces? Usher says the interpretation is really up to the individual, how it makes them feel, the impact, the emotions. She hopes that her art will be a gateway for other young black women who are curious about reflecting and exploring their space.
Jo-
"So from this exhibition what exactly do you hope to convey to the public?"
Katie Numi Usher, Artist
"Well I hope they take it as just someone observing her space and where she is, the exhibition is also connected to when i have a birthday so usually on birthdays you reflect on where you are your identity and where you've been and so if anything I would like if they could just yeah kind of check out the observations and come to their own conclusions you know thats what im saying about black womanhood in postcolonialism and maybe they will have other thoughts."
The six pieces featured in the exhibition all carry provocative titles, they are: La Negrita Cucurumbé Refix, Colonialism = Misogynoir, A Woman, Not a Lady, A (No) Body, Wat Secsi Evn Mean, and I'm Too Tired To Tell You.
The exhibition is taking place at #91 on North Front Street, at 7:00. It is free of cost and light refreshments will be provided.
