Learn Somethin'

During the show’s premiere, Harris invited over 800 black people to fill up Golden Theatre to experience “Slave Play” (office even managed to hit the afterparty). Harris continues to be a catalyst for change as the youngest black male playwright to ever have a Broadway debut.

Shedding a light on the extensive significance of black people in the artistic landscape, he compiled a comprehensive archive of musicals, plays and other performances that have been presented in Broadway houses and were written or created by black artists. “I got four friends together, and we looked up every play since 1896 that’s ever been on Broadway that was created by a black person. It’s still being built, but I wanted to honor all of the people who’ve gotten me and us here today,” said Harris. Modeled after the Internet Broadway Database, each entry contains information like opening and closing dates, artist credits, and even a short synopsis of each play.

Thank you for keeping it real Jeremy; we celebrate YOU! Learn somethin’ by visiting the site here.

Culture

Vans Skate and Anthony Van Engelen: AVE 2.0 Release & Gallery Tour in LA

Marking a special moment in their twenty-year-long relationship, the AVE 2.0 is Van Engelen’s latest signature shoe. Commemorating the release, Vans presented the inaugural installment of its “Commitment to Progression” gallery tour with an archival AVE exhibition and talk with Catherine Acosta (Vans Chief Archivist and Historian) and Neal Shoemakers (Director of Design, Vans Skate), followed by a Vans Skate team demo, and an open-call, cash-for-tricks session at the brand's DTLA flagship.

AVE, Catherine Acosta (Vans Chief Archivist and Historian), and Neal Shoemakers (Director of Design, Vans Skate

The "Commitment to Progression" tour will land in Shanghai and Seoul later this year.

Check out scenes from the cash-for-tricks session that closed out the night below.

Culture

Moss Grows In Midtown

At the club’s inaugural salon in their interim Midtown space (a 59th floor penthouse, no less) supporters and friends of the club gathered for a panel discussion with designer and researcher Mindy Seu, in conversation with culinary artist and producer Angel Dimayuga. The conversation floated between topics grounded in love and relationships, Seu’s latest work, “Cyberfeminism Index”, and humorous explanations of the menu that guests received throughout the panel.

Sipping on “Reverse Aging” cocktails (algae and coconut fat-based), attendees sampled earthy mochis bathed in broth, a grassy custard mixture seductively dolloped into a curved glass (meant for licking off), and strewn-high piles of radishes and leafy greens on a grazing table.

Moss’s permanent location will open at 520 Fifth Avenue in 2025, a five-story clubhouse that promises a cocktail of intrigue and unexpected flavor.

Culture

Empowering Artisty at Free Arts NYC's 2024 Benefit Gala

For the gala, the guest list and committees (including a particularly slick afterparty board) spanned the realms of culture, art, and fashion in New York. The organization counted Larry Gagosian, Kim Gordon, and SUPREME’s James Jebbia among its event roster, as well as stylists Danielle Goldberg and Beverly Nguyen, the Salon21 and Visionary Projects teams, and art advisor and editor K.O. Nnamdie.

Artists across a range of disciplines and backgrounds contributed work to the auction, supported by Artsy. This year’s range included pieces by Shaniqwa Jarvis, Bill Saylor, Jamie Nares (warmly accompanied by her daughter at the gala), and Tariku Shiferaw.

“We’ve established a relationship where I’m able to mentor a team of interns, and I was invited to donate a piece for the auction. Their programs are about gifting the next generation with the skills and knowledge to succeed,” Shiferaw shared.

Between a festive dinner by Tillie’s and a cheeky speech from Wool’s close friend Richard Maxwell, a guest took the stage to share her story: Yaqueline Hernandez, an FIT graduate now on the design team at Derek Fordjour Studios.

Emigrating with her family from Mexico at age two, Hernandez shared during a moving speech, she never imagined a future that included college or a career in the arts. With a hunger to achieve and the warm patronage of the organization, she made a new future possible. Raucous cheers and raised glasses accompanied her closing statements, before guests moved on to the afterparty to finish off the evening.

“It’s not just a non-profit organization, but a dynamic community of students, artists, and supporters. Everyone's enthusiasm and participation is key – we grow together,” the group’s Development Manager Rachel Park shared.

The evening coincided with the opening of Wool’s latest exhibition, See Stop Run, a survey of the artist’s works over the past decade. Throughout the show’s run over the next four months, he will invite Free Arts NYC school groups, community centers, and emerging young artists from around the city to visit and participate in specialized workshops.