Acknowledgments
Grace Aneiza Ali , Curator
The organization of this exhibition would not be possible without a beautiful spirit of collaboration and partnership among many . I am first indebted to the thirteen artists for their brilliance , belief in the endeavor , and incredible generosity in entrusting their work in service to the exhibition ’ s thesis . From the beginning , Victor L . Davson , Founding Director of Aljira and the visionary who commissioned this project , remained invaluable in seeing it transition from idea to reality . He kept the ship steadied and on course . Carl Hazlewood , co-founder of Aljira , never wavered in his investment of time , guidance , and exquisite art historical knowledge of Guyanese artists . I am equally grateful to the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts whose gift of a Curatorial Fellowship meant that the research phase of this project was a fruitful and dynamic one . And I am indebted to Dexter Wimberly , Executive Director of Aljira and the entire staff whose labor and love for this project shine through the moment one enters its glorious space .
I extend a special note of thanks to the scholars in the field of photography , art history , and cultural studies whose scholarship , support and enthusiasm elevated this project : Deborah Willis , Gaiutra Bahadur , Erin Haney , David Dabydeen , and Krista A . Thompson . For their commitment to excellence in how this exhibition was represented in language , design , and aesthetics , I am eternally grateful to editor Celeste Hamilton Dennis , catalog designer Karran Sahadeo , and exhibition designer Joey Rizzolo .
I also wish to convey my deepest appreciation to friends and colleagues for their acts of generosity in seeing this project soar : Spencer Richards , Arlington Weithers , Brenda Locke , Michelle Joan Wilkinson , Zita Nunes , Indra Khanna , Christopher Cozier , Nalini Mohabir , Terrence Jennings , Alessandra Benedicty-Kokken , Maria del Pilar Kaladeen , Mason Richards , Nikki Kahn , Terrance McKnight , and Pato Hebert . Several institutions proved invaluable in their support of this project : Department of Art & Public Policy ; Tisch School of the Arts , New York University ; Independent Curator ’ s International ; En Foco ; Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture ; Institute for Research in African-American Studies and the Avery Art History Library at Columbia University ; National Archives of Guyana ; The National Archives United Kingdom ; Hales Gallery and The Canada Council for the Arts , Art Bank .
It has been humbling to see this exhibition — the first of its kind — come to light and to be buoyed throughout its evolution by those in my life who beautifully model what it means to be in service to something larger : my mother Ingrid Ali , Theaster Gates , Kathy Engel , E . Ethelbert Miller , and the entire Ali family . And finally , to my homeland Guyana — a place that continues to nurture and demand from me so much more and better and higher .
Karran Sahadeo Untitled ( blue 2 ) ( detail ), 2014 24 x 34 in . Archival pigment print on canvas Courtesy of the artist
13