Join MAD for an afternoon conversation on how the term Afrofuturism is defined in the world of contemporary jewelry.
Design curator and historian Sebastian Grant will begin with a presentation on strategies in Black jewelry making, exploring how Afrofuturist art can be defined through design. Is it only seen in the futuristic technology of the Black Panther films? Or is it connected to spirituality and heritage? In Africa, sankofa symbolism represents the act of looking to the past to better understand the future. The panel will explore how Afrofuturism engages with sankofa and embraces both past and future to express notions of Black identity, agency, and freedom.
Following his presentation, Grant will speak with contemporary makers Johnny Nelson and Heather Carter (speaking on the work of her mother, Panchita Carter) to discuss how each incorporates Afrofuturism into their own practice.
About the panelists
Heather Carter, daughter of the reputable fine artist Robert Carter and metalsmith Panchita Carter, is the founder of Carter Fine Art Services (CFAS) specializing in art by artists of color. Growing up she was surrounded by extraordinary art and artists. Given this exposure at an early age, she developed a passion for art and hence CFAS was born, focusing on art consultation, curation and creating community and special experiences around art. She serves on the American Folk Art Museum‘s development committee, the Heckscher Museum’s acquisitions committee, and the Montclair Art Museum’s African American Cultural Committee’s (AACC) founders fellowship committee. She is also a member of MoMA’s Black Arts Council.
Sebastian Grant is a curator and art historian, specializing in art jewelry, and professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City. He is a graduate of the Parsons History of Design and Curatorial Studies Masters Program, and the first participant in the program’s Curatorial Capstone Project. He is a Cooper Hewitt Fellow and was formerly the Collections Manager for the Susan Grant Lewin Art Jewelry Collection. He has presented at New York City Jewelry Week and at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts as the 2022 speaker for the Daphne Farago Lecture Series. He has written for Metalsmith and Art Jewelry Forum, exploring stories of Black jewelry artists in America. In 2022, Grant was the recipient of the Lois Moran Award for Craft Writing from the American Craft Council. Grant most recently curatedThe Story Makers, an exhibition featuring the work of artists such as Cheryl R. Riley, Tanya Crane, and Joyce Scott.
Johnny Nelson founded Johnny Nelson Jewelry in 2017. Each piece is proudly crafted in NYC using various fine metals and stones. Johnny Nelson Jewelry was brought to fruition long before its initial inception. Nelson’s transition into jewelry design began in 2014, when he was on tour and decided it was time to look as good as he felt while performing. His solution? Jewelry. The first piece was an attention-grabbing 3-finger ring, made with stone and wire, that he asked his mom to bring to life. It was then Nelson found he had not just a genuine passion for jewelry, but the raw talent and creative vision to match. In his designs, Nelson draws inspiration from his diverse artistic and cultural experiences that merge punk, hip-hop, and spirituality. The line heavily focuses on statement pieces that spark conversation amongst consumers.
