Curated for BAM by Larry Ossei-Mensah, BAM’s Guest Curator-at-Large
Art by Dawoud Bey, Allison Janae Hamilton, Robert Pruitt, Chinaedu Nwadibia, Stacey Robinson + Kamau Grantham, Leslie Hewitt
The exhibition is inspired by the work of playwright and activist Lorraine Hansberry—whose extraordinary work The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window begins at BAM on February 4—and the Freedom newspaper, to which Hansberry contributed. Founded in 1951 by Paul Roberson and Louis Burnham, the newspaper served as a platform to challenge racism, colonialism, and political repression in an effort to advocate for civil and labor rights.
Freedom! also pays homage to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and invites the contributing artists to engage with these questions: What is freedom to you? How can we think about the notion of freedom from a more expansive perspective? These questions have a charged resonance as we celebrate Dr. King and begin a new year.
Freedom! was originally presented from January 12 to 20, 2023 as part of the 37th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
BAM sign screen at the corner of Lafayette and Flatbush Avenues
FREE
Performance dates are highlighted in white.
Leadership support for BAM Access Programs
provided by the Jerome L. Greene Foundation
Major Sponsor of The 37th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Oscar Isaac and Rachel Brosnahan star in Lorraine Hansberry’s sweeping drama of identity, idealism, and love, directed by Anne Kauffman. Presented by BAM in its first-ever major New York revival!
Join us in person or via livestream for this beloved Brooklyn tradition, which honors Dr. King’s radical spirit with music, dance, and an invigorating call to action, led by keynote speaker Sherrilyn Ifill.
