34th Annual Black Doll Exhibit | December 13, 2014 – February 14, 2015
A League Supreme- Jazz Superheroes

MEDIA ARTIST CALL- Submission Guidelines
We are seeking new media, video art and animation works inspired by Marvel’s fantastical world of Wakanda, home to superhuman royalty Black Panther and Storm [OR] musical jazz legends as superheroes who use music to transcend injustice such as Dr. William Grant Still, Sun Ra, Nina Simone, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Billie Holiday, Miriam Makeba, Gil Scott Heron, Fela Kuti, John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, Abby Lincoln, Max Roach. Selected media art works will be projected together on a reel in our media gallery.

The Deadline for Submission is November 28th, 2014. Notification of our selections will be sent on December 5, 2014. The exhibition opens December 13, 2014. Artist are welcome to submit more than one art work. For further info contact 323-734-1165

Submission must be 5 minutes or less in length.

We prefer to view work samples online (personal website, YouTube, Vimeo,etc)
EMAIL: Keisa. [email protected]

You may also mail or hand deliver a flash drive or DVD to:
William Grant Still Arts Center
ATTN: Keisa Davis
2520 West View Street
LA, CA 90016

History-
The Black Doll Show was inspired by a doll test conducted by Mamie and Kenneth Clark. The tests concluded that due to social stigmas, many black children preferred white dolls over black dolls. This test went on to become evidence in civil rights law suits. The Clarks became expert witnesses in Brown vs. Board of education and helped the landmark decision to desegregate schools. This doll test was conducted again in 2006 by 17 year old filmmaker Kiri Davis, sadly with the same results. Inspired by the doll test, artist/curator Cecil Fergerson started the Black Doll show in the 80s. Wanting to change the negative self-image, Fergerson brought together hand made dolls by artists around the country into one exhibit. Through its transformations, the Black Doll Show has been a celebration of black dolls from slavery, Jim Crow, freedom marches, the African Diaspora and more.

Our Theme-
This year’s theme for the BLACK Doll Show “A League Supreme- Jazz Superheroes” was chosen by curator, Keisa Davis. Our curator will be turning the gallery into Wakanda, the never colonized African kingdom and home of Marvel comics superheroes, warrior King T’Challa (Black Panther) and Queen Ororo (Storm). Wakanda is a futuristic fantasyscape rich with advanced African technologies, ancient traditions and magical herbs. Black Panther and Storm fight The Zombots, international developer robots, plotting to gentrify Wakandan communities and rid the country of its community centers that offer free music and cultural education programs. This year, Wakanda’s super-human royalty have teamed up with The William Grant Still Arts Center. Together they summoned A League Supreme, musician Superheroes who serve mankind using the powers of sound and word. They have vowed to protect Wakanda’s cultural legacy from The Zombies greedy agenda.

The William Grant Still Arts Center
2520 West View Street
Los Angeles, California 90016

The William Grant Still Arts Center is a facility of the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs