Samek Art Museum

  • About
    • Mission
    • Our Spaces
    • Contact and Staff
  • Visit
    • Plan A Visit
  • Exhibitions
    • Upcoming Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibition Catalogs
  • Collection
    • About the Collection
    • Selected Works
    • Search The Collection
    • Rights and Reproduction Requests
    • Artful BU Zoom Backgrounds
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • Samek Distinguished Art Lecture Series
  • Engage
    • Samek At Home
    • Samek Voices
    • Community Art Wall
    • Join Our Team
    • Subscribe
    • Give us your feedback
    • Support the Galleries

    Afrotechtopia

    Jan 21 – Mar 23

    Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic that uses the visual language and narrative strategies of sci-fi and fantasy as lenses for gaining fresh insights into black experiences. Afrofuturist creations may be political, fictional, or abstract and take many forms, from books and comics to blogs, music, performance, graphics, and visual art. Afrofuturism is also a forum in which these insights and creations are brought to bear on our collective envisioning of the future.

    Afrotechtopia starts with Afrofuturism and probes into the adjoining dimensions of Afrosurrealism and the Ethno-gothic. Afrotechtopia includes artists who use the languages of technology and mythology to rewind the past and set the future spinning.

    Artists

    AfrotechtopiaBlack Kirby (John Jennings and Stacey Robinson)

    demiddelCristina de Middel

    Vanessa German new workVanessa German

    obadikeMendi + Keith Obadike

    williams

    Lorna Williams

    Screening Room

    Last-Angel-of-History

    Filmography

    Reading Room

    Reading Room

    Bibliography

    Listening Room

    Listening Room

    Discography

    Related Events

    Afrofuturism and Beyond: Panel Discussion

    February 5, 6:00pm Samek Gallery

    This panel considers Afrofuturism, a vibrant genre of science fiction represented in art, literature, film, and music in conjunction with our special exhibition, “Afrotechtopia.” Panelists include Dawn Lundy Martin of the University of Pittsburgh, Delinda Collier of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, artist and curator Ingrid LaFleur, and Nikki Young of Bucknell as moderator. A reception follows the talk.

    Afrotechtopia Book Club: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

    March 4, 6:30pm, Samek Gallery

    Join us in our Samek Gallery reading room for a discussion of Junot Díaz’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which chronicles the life of self-described “Ghetto Nerd” Oscar as he deals with the effects of an intergenerational family curse. Refreshments will be provided.

    An AfroFuturist Affair Gala

    March 20, 8-11pm, Samek Gallery

    This unique celebration of black Sci-fi with live music from composer King Britt, as well as a host of other luminaries from the worlds of performance, music, fashion, and art is not to be missed! Join us for dancing and fun in the galleries.

    Futuresound Fridays

    Join us Fridays at noon spring semester in the gallery Listening Room for informal listening sessions. More information here.

    Online Resources

    Williamsport SunGazette coverage of Afrotechtopia

    “Black to the Future” by Mark Dery

    The Mundane Afrofuturist Manifesto

    Lorna Williams at DODGE Gallery

    Article on John Jennings of Black Kirby

    The Afronauts website

    Mendi + Keith Obadike website

    Vanessa German website

    AfroFuturist Affair blog

    “The Shadows Took Shape” exhibition at the Studio Museum Harlem

    King Britt website

    AFROTOPIA website

    Useful Links

    Bucknell University 

    Contact Samek

    Donate

    Hours and Directions 

     

    Gallery Locations

    Campus Gallery
    Top Floor, Elaine Langone Center
    Bucknell University
    Hours

    Downtown Gallery
    416 Market Street
    Lewisburg, PA 17837
    Hours 

    Connect

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    © 2021 * Genesis Framework * by StudioPress * WordPress * Log in