Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — Artist Party This Sunday with Janna Ireland

Janna Ireland’s photographic practice is primarily concerned with the themes of family, home, and the expression of Black identity in American culture. In 2016, she began photographing structures designed by legendary Black architect Paul R. Williams. A collection of 250 of these photographs was published in the major 2020 monograph, Regarding Paul R. Williams: A Photographer’s View.  These multiple aspects of Ireland’s work will be featured and interwoven across both venues.

Join us this Sunday, February 25th, starting at 11:00 am at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) for a conversation with the artist, and the exhibition curators Charlie Wylie and Frederick Janka. This event is free but please register here as this is sure to be standing room only. 

Starting at 12:00 pm join us at Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB) for the Artist Party to celebrate together!

We’re thrilled at today’s cover story in the Santa Barbara Independent! Grateful to Joe Woodard, Ingrid Bostrom, and the whole SB Indie Team! <3 <3 

I don’t make work about myself or my family because I want to teach anyone anything about our lives. In the past, some Black photographers were making images of Black people designed to counteract negative stereotypes. That is more weight than I am willing to place on pictures of my children. I want them to be their beautiful selves, not symbols. I am not trying to humanize us for anyone who doesn’t see our humanity; I am trying to reflect our humanity back to people who already understand it, so they can feel seen, too. – Janna Ireland