As, Not For: Dethroning Our Absolutes
An incomplete historical survey of work created by African-American graphic designers over the last century
March 5 – April 23, 2020
W.E.B. DuBois, Migration of Negroes, 1900, 28" × 22", African American Photographs Assembled for 1900 Paris Exposition
Archie Boston, Boston & Boston Self‑Promotional Ad, 1964
Art Sims, Malcolm X, 1992, 47.25" × 27"
AS, NOT FOR is an incomplete historical survey of work created by African-American graphic designers over the last century. These practitioners are absent in too many classroom lectures, and their methods mostly invisible or uncredited in the field. This exhibition aims to promote the inclusion of neglected Black designers and their developed methodologies and challenge the ubiquity of White and anti-Black aesthetics in our designed world.
The Seattle presentation of As, Not For is co-organized by the Jacob Lawrence Gallery and Non-Breaking Space. Half of the exhibition will be shown at Jacob Lawrence Gallery, with a focus on Parties, Protests and Musicality, and half will be shown at Non-Breaking Space, which will place a focus on Black Data.
The Mountaineering Club, The Graduate Seattle, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, and Jerome Harris
Curator
Jerome Harris
Jerome Harris is a graphic designer, educator, writer, and curator from New Haven, CT, and currently based out of New York City. He holds an MFA in graphic design from Yale University and a BA in Communications from Temple University.
Harris’ research into the exclusion of African-American graphic designers has manifested as an exhibition which is showing at multiple universities and arts organizations throughout 2019. The exhibition, As, For Not: Dethroning Our Absolutes: an incomplete historical survey of work created by African-American graphic designers over the last century, was originally mounted at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and went on to show at RISD.
Events
As, Not For exhibition opening at Jacob Lawrence Gallery + After-Party
March 4, 2020 — 5–8pm
5–8pm Opening Reception at Jacob Lawrence Gallery
8–10PM After-Party at The Mountaineering Club
On view March 5 – 26, 2020 at Jacob Lawrence Gallery
More InformationAs, Not For exhibition opening at Non-Breaking Space
March 5, 2020 — 6–8pm
Join us for the First Thursday Art Walk opening of As, Not For at Non-Breaking Space.
Design Lecture Series with Jerome Harris
March 6, 2020 — 6:30–8:30pm
Join graphic designer and curator, Jerome Harris, for a free lecture at the Central Library as part of the four-part 2020 Design Lecture Series. The lecture is currently sold-out but stand-by tickets will be available the night of.
Get TicketsWhat is missing in the design profession as a result of so little input from the largest of all American minority groups?Cheryl D. Miller, “Black Designers: Missing in Action” (1987)