2022 — Work Collection — Jefferson Pinder

Transcendance

As the recipient of the Smithsonian Artist Residency Fellowship, Pinder had access to the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Great Migration Home Movie Archives. This collection beautifully encapsulates eighty years of family memories and images. Over the last year, Pinder and his team have scoured the collection to find intimate moments that resonate with the Black experience from decades past. Focusing on dance and movement, the video artwork captures a series of lyrical moments that transition intensely into something dark and spiritual.

VideoKathryn RauthJuly 29, 20222022

Zulu Sign Language

In 2015, Thamsanqa Jantjie drew attention for his delirious “signing” during Nelson Mandela’s memorial service, the most globally-viewed African event to date, unintentionally shedding light on corruption in South Africa and the disenfranchisement of the Deaf community. When confronted with his administration’s handling of Jantjie’s hiring, President Zuma took the insult a step farther and coined the fake signs as ‘Zulu-Sign Language’.

Performance, VideoJefferson PinderJuly 29, 20222022