Announcing, Sour Grass

When I decided to leave the NAGB due to the ultra toxic working environment, I indulged a fair amount in daydreaming to rescue myself from the build-up of bitterness, resentment, overwhelming sorrow and anger. A large part of that dreaming consisted of giving time to the things that bring joy, ignite curiosity and foster tenderness in my creative practice.

I tried to create a map that provisioned me with a clearer understanding of the values and allyship that I wanted to cultivate, while not hardening my heart from the compounded trauma. I have to say it took some time for me to feel like I could care about art again, but that was all the hurt talking, not the realities of my purpose or passion.

So, I am happy and beyond grateful to share that my long-standing SiStar in the trenches, Annalee Davis and I have been hatching plans for a birthing. Sour Grass, our curatorial agency just landed its first multi-year collaboration with Kunstinstituut Melly in Rotterdam, kicking off with a solo exhibition of Trinidad and Tobago-based, Jamaican artist, Jasmine Thomas Girvan in September.

This collaboration puts forward two programmes (i) “Gatherings” which proposes aspirational qualities of being, assembly, and exchange, and, (ii) “Passages” which will offer deeper reflections and exchanges within public fora and invitational sessions.

Sour Grass is a team of creative facilitators who seek to work with visual artists in the Caribbean and across its diasporas, to build relationships with museums, institutions, collectors, biennales, and private and public entities through the development of curatorial projects, seminars, publications, workshops, mentorship initiatives, alternative pedagogy, and various types of discursive programming.

Sour Grass will act as an advisory and bridge to Caribbean-based and international cultural institutions and we will be sharing more news about the platform soon.

Above all, I am grateful to be healing and seeing the path of purpose before me like never before.

See more on e-flux: https://www.e-flux.com/announcements/366529/2021-program/