US Consulate floats Artist Exchange Program to mark collaboration between 2 cities 9,394 km apart across the Atlantic
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A LagosAtlanta Artist Exchange has been launched by the United States Consulate General in Lagos in collaboration with Rele Arts Foundation to commemorate the 50-year Sister Cities partnership between Lagos in Nigeria and Atlanta in America.
The initiative also aims to deepen the artistic collaboration between the two cities, which are 9,394 kilometres apart across the Atlantic.
Atlanta is the capital city of the state of Georgia which has the second highest population of African Americans in the US at 3.37 million, after Texas with 3.55 million. Atlanta alone is home to 235,308 – among them the fifth largest Nigerian diaspora population in Yankee country.
Lagos, Nigeria’s former capital, has more than 20 million residents, drawn from all parts of the country, and from abroad, making it the most populous state in Africa’s fourth biggest economy.
Two African American artists based in Atlanta, Myra Greene and Artemus Jenkins, arrived in Lagos earlier this month for the LagosAtlanta Artist Exchange residency that involves conducting research, collaborating with local artists, and creating works that reflect the rich cultural ties between the two cities.
Greene, an accomplished photographer and textile artist, will showcase her work titled New Myths as part of the Afropolis Festival. Her exhibition opened on October 28 at the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History in Onikan, Lagos.
Jenkins, a filmmaker and photographer, whose work explores the intersection of West African and African-American cultures, will present a solo exhibition titled GITYUSUMPROTECTION at Angels and Muse Art Studio in Ikoyi, Lagos, which opens on October 31.
US Consul General Will Stevens expressed the commitment of Washington to supporting programs and initiatives that promote artistic expression, nurture cultural exchange, and strengthen the capacity of Nigerian artists and professionals in the creative industries.
“We are excited to support the LagosAtlanta Artist Exchange as it showcases the power of art to connect people and communities across the world,” he said. “This artist exchange deepens the cultural ties between our two cities, fostering creative innovation and collaboration.”
Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also expressed support for the initiative, saying, “The Lagos-Atlanta Sister Cities partnership exemplifies the enduring bond between our two cities, symbolizing a commitment to cultural enrichment and mutual growth.
“This 50-year collaboration has allowed us to share our stories, celebrate our artistic heritage, and foster creative synergies that transcend borders.
“As we mark this significant milestone, Lagos State reaffirms its dedication to strengthening these cultural ties, which enrich both our communities and create lasting pathways for artistic innovation and connection.”
In February, the Atlanta BeltLine – a pedestrian trail connecting Atlanta’s neighborhoods – commemorated the 50-year Sister Cities partnership with the U.S. edition of the LagosAtlanta Artist Residency.
The 10-week program took Lagos-based artists Taiye Idahor and Kainebi Osahenye to Atlanta, where they immersed themselves in the city’s culture and produced new works of art that have become a centerpiece of the ongoing 2024 Art on the Atlanta BeltLine exhibition season.
The LagosAtlanta Artist Exchange and Residencies are a collaboration between Lauren Tate Baeza, Curator of African Art at the High Museum of Art; the Rele Arts Foundation; and the U.S. Consulate General Lagos with support from Delta Airlines.
Through these collaborations, public exhibitions, and community engagements, the artistic connection between Lagos and Atlanta continues to thrive, enriching both cities for generations.
Besides the LagosAtlanta Artist Exchange, the U.S. Consulate General Lagos has helped highlight this historic Sister Cities connection through support for a two-way exchange between Lagos’ Africa Creative Market and Atlanta’s Creative Juneteenth as well as by facilitating a framework for partnership between Atlanta-based Spelman College, a leader in the education of women of African descent, and three Lagos-based universities – University of Lagos, Lagos State University, and Pan-Atlantic University.
These initiatives will help to further enhance cultural and academic exchanges between these Sister Cities.
“We are thrilled to support the LagosAtlanta Artist Exchange, fostering diversity, cultural exchange and artistic innovation between two vibrant cities,” said Mary Gbobaniyi, Delta Airlines Sales Manager for West Africa.
“This partnership underscores our commitment to connecting people and cultures worldwide. By serving our customers with a non-stop service from Lagos to Atlanta, we offer an efficient and convenient option of travel. This aligns with our mission of connecting people and communities to each other and to their own potential.”
The Lagos-Atlanta Sister Cities partnership, established in 1974, has evolved into a cornerstone of cross-cultural exchange.
The US Consulate said Atlanta is home to the fifth largest Nigerian diaspora population in the U.S., and this shared history has continued to deepen the bilateral people-to-people ties between both cities.
From education to the arts, the Sister City partnership continues to build bridges and open doors to deeper collaboration and mutual prosperity, it added.
About Greene
Myra Greene is a contemporary photographer and textile artist interrogating the performance of identity. Her most recent work examines African textiles to explore cultural narratives imbued in fiber materials and textile processes.
Greene, based in Atlanta, has exhibited domestically and abroad and has artworks in the permanent collections of institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago and The National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.
She is Chair of Art & Visual Culture and Photography Program Director at Spelman College.
Jenkins
Artemus Jenkins is a filmmaker and photographer exploring connections between West African and African American cultures through assemblage and lens-based media.
The multimedia ethnographer researches parallels found in the everyday lives of people throughout the African diaspora.
He directed the documentary films Heart of the City, Black Joy Manifesto, and Color Outside the Lines; and has lectured at academic institutions such as Morehouse College, the University of Illinois, Kent State University, and the Georgia Institute of Technology.
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