GALLERY | $5-10 SUGGESTED DONATION | ALL AGES | The 18 pieces by Marantz Moon in “1000 Afros Still Loitering 4 Beauty” represent a body of work at the intersection of function, the utilitarian and an aesthetic informed by the beauty of daily life in a broad spectrum of the black community. The iconic image of the afro, whether replicated throughout the exhibition as a silhouette, by its implied presence (as in the form of an afro pick), or in actual figurative form, serves as a pointer, directing the viewer to experience the afro uniquely in the context of each new setting, within each new work, as a symbol of both black beauty and black power.
The exhibition title is a reference to the increased incidence of racially-motivated policing in gentrifying neighborhoods over “loitering”. While laws governing “loitering” first appeared in Elizabethan England, their current deployment by American police is a means to control conflicted spaces. The artist asks us to question, Whose space is it? With “(this corner is a safe space?),” the artist creates both an exterior where afro cutouts replicate and manifest in unconscious racial stereotypes as an “unruly mob” in the eyes of gentrifiers, but also as interior space that represents a safe haven within which to celebrate black life and culture.
Written by Lenore French, President & Founding Member of Transformation Arts
Moon’s work centers on Afro silhouettes, emphasizing flow and movement. I use a variety of mediums, including acrylic, resin, clay, and found materials, layering color, texture, and abstraction to create depth. Inspired by my identity and culture, my art invites viewers to pause and reflect. Through my practice, I explore the transient nature of life, aiming to freeze moments in time and spark thoughtful engagement.
Marantz Moon is a practicing visual, performance and teaching artist. He is currently based in Los Angeles, CA, where he has lived for the past 5 years since relocated from his hometown of Chicago IL, in early 2020. In that time, Moon co-founded the DMST Atelier, an artist-run gallery space in Mid-City, with fellow artist Frannie Hemmelgarn in 2021. The DMST has since been an incubator for his practice in exploring social practice, community building and other art programing. Moon has a B.A in Art from Grambling State University & M.A in Studio Art from Governors State University. He currently works in fine art installation and as an adjunct art professor teaching art education and social justice courses at Cal State Fullerton.
Website: Marantzmoon.com
Instagram: Marantz Moon
Email: marantzmoon@gmail.com
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This event will be indoors.