A Suite For Malcolm
poster & print exhibition celebrating 100 years of impact
MUSIC, PERFORMANCES, TALKS, PUBLICATIONS, MEMORABILIA & MORE
Friday, May 16, 6-10 pm
Saturday, May 17, 2-8 pm
TALKING DOLLS
7145 E. Davison, Detroit, MI 48212
El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz aka Malcolm X was born on May 19,1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. For most of his childhood he lived in rural Michigan with his family until he moved to Boston in his mid-teens. Many times in his life he has returned to Michigan to start mosques, found institutions, deliver speeches, and establish strong networks of black consciousness and resistance in places like Flint, Inkster, and Detroit.
A Suite for Malcolm celebrates the life and 100 year impact of Malcolm X through posters, prints, books, fashion, and music at Talking Dolls in Detroit. It is an expression of what I could not express through the Piston’s “Detroit Red” project and an excuse to celebrate his life with friends and artists I admire who are also impacted by him. It will include original works in the form of poster prints and a performance installation by artists from around the county on May 16, and May 17 2025.
The show asks artists impacted by him to revisit and reflect on the moment they were introduced to him. The show explores the ways in which prints, publications, and performance exhibit new possibilities and interpretations of his legacy that can be projected into the future. The show asks the artists what are the learnings from his life’s work we can take forward? As well as the ways we can reintroduce him to the youth and future generations?
This show focuses on Malcolm’s ability to synthesize and redistribute knowledge. This was evidenced in his many speeches, debates, interviews, publications, etc. Artists are asked to make a work that is replicable for editions and lends itself to distribution.
Curation by Michael Jevon Demps and Wesley Taylor
FEATURING THE WORK OF