Shoga Films’ “Queer Harlem Renaissance: A Prospectus” Documentary

Drawing attention to several influential queer figures of the Harlem Renaissance—including Bessie Smith, James Baldwin, Countee Cullen and Ma Rainey—non-profit production company Shoga Films’ short documentary, Queer Harlem Renaissance: A Prospectus, highlights the importance of the Black LGBTQ+ community at the time. The explosive artistic, cultural and intellectual movement led to the emergence of numerous Black voices that would define the early 20th century. While …

Leon Bridges feat. Terrace Martin: Sweeter

Neo-soul singer-songwriter Leon Bridges teamed up with jazz and hip-hop artist Terrace Martin for “Sweeter,” a meditation on racism and hope. Over a drum machine, Bridges sings “Somebody should hand you a felony / ‘Cause you stole from me my chance to be… I wish I had another day / But it’s just another day,” as Martin’s saxophone adorns the gentle tune. The song was …

Artist John Zabawa’s “TELEGRAMS” Project Rekindles a Cherished Form of Connection

A request for letters from strangers, fans and friends—the promise of a response

Los Angeles-based artist John Zabawa (who has worked with Aesop, Ace Hotel and others, and was shown in a solo exhibition in Chicago in 2018 titled So Many People) announced his newest project, TELEGRAMS, with a letter crafted on a typewriter, marked with redactions and imperfections. He took to Instagram, posted a photo of the letter and left it with a simple caption: “PSA” followed by …