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Programs: Amistad Gallery: The New Danger: The New Love |
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  The New Danger::::::::::::::: blossoming young activists, intellectual humanists, creative change, openness, diversity and unity, the human community, understanding, growth, joy, peace :::::::::::::::The New Love The concept for the newest exhibit being showcased in the Amistad Gallery speaks volumes. Organized by our own Alexis McFarlane, a freshman in the College, the photography exhibit documents the December 2004 protest against the issues of police brutality and racial discrimination at the University of Pennsylvania. Though these concerns have long persisted throughout campus, it was the news of the police altercation involving BSL President and former house resident, Warithdeen Madyun, that inspired the protest. The photos, by Driya Amandita and Mark Makela, are a “unique visual exploration of an event that captured the contrasting realities of injustice and unity” on campus.   On Wednesday, March 16, Du Bois College House, Makuu, and Tangible Change co-sponsored an opening for The New Love:::::The New Danger. A discussion on the concept for the exhibit was followed by spoken word selections from members of the Excelano Project and Alexis McFarlane. Refreshments were then served while guests viewed a tape of the day of the protest filmed by McFarlane and viewed the photos in the Gallery. Ms. McFarlane spoke with Village News about the vision behind the new exhibit. She says that, upon being awakened by another of the protest's participants, she decided to bring along her video camera. She had been working to complete a documentary on police brutality in Toronto for one of her classes. The events and issues concerning the silent protest were exactly what she was looking to supplement the material she already had. In the process of recording the day's events, Alexis was asked to be the media correspondent for the protest. This would eventually lead to her organizing an art gallery exhibit from scratch, learning how to find sponsors, organize the work of multiple artists, and showcase the photographs.   And the result of her dedication shines through with The New Love:::::The New Danger. During the opening, some of the guests were able to give their thoughts on the exhibits. Speaking on his involvement in the protest and the significance of the subsequent exhibit, College sophomore Martyn Griffen said, “It feels good to have participated in something like this. I felt an obligation to be a part of the protest because it represented a necessary cause. Seeing the photographs in the Gallery is great; you can see the energy and passion that was generated by this stand.” Paul Mello, Du Bois Fit Program Director and 1st Floor GA, noted McFarlane's proactive steps. “I'm especially pleased to see a freshman taking on this sort of initiative. The University has constantly put up a wall of indifference towards these concerns. The minority voice tends to go largely unrecognized. The [protest] keeps these issues relevant and keeps discourse current. Hopefully we can see it affect some change. And a great way to do that is with this exhibit.” The New Love:::::The New Danger is housed in the Amistad Gallery for the remainder of the semester. Stills from the film McFarlane recorded will soon be displayed as well. Please take the opportunity to view the fruits of your fellow resident's dedication. --Written by Ashley Torres ('07)
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