From Drapetomania: Grupo Antillano and the Art of Afro-Cuba
December 1, 2014 | Story Galleries and Performance
After six months of construction, the remodeled Museum of the African Diaspora is reopening in SoMa this week—and from the looks of things, it's definitety worth checking out.
According to the Chronicle, the $1.3 million renovation includes a refurbished entryway, which has been opened up in a multipurpose space with more natural light, as well as an L-shaped hallway that’s been reworked into an Emerging Artists Gallery. On the museum’s second floor, two previously permanent exhibitions have been retired to make room for two new galleries, a performance space, and a small theater.
The museum is now also an affiliate with the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., which gives it access to the larger museum’s exhibitions and works. MoAD will be reopening with two shows: “Lava Thomas: Beyond,” which focuses on a local artist, and “Drapetomania,” a survey of the Afro-Cuban Grupo Antillano.
Since opening in 2005, MoAD has struggled a bit, having seen six different directors and issues with attendance. Its new executive director, Linda Harrison, who’s been there for a year, has previously served on various nonprofit boards, including that of Frameline. See what she's done with the place on Wednesday, December 3, when the musuem officially reopens.
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