Museums Honor Butler and Afrofuturism
The Smithsonian Institution plans to honor Octavia E. Butler as part of their upcoming Futures exhibit, scheduled to open November 2021 in the Arts and Industries building. An Olivetti typewriter originally donated to the museum by Butler “will represent Butler’s life,” and will be displayed alongside a portrait of Butler by Nettrice Gaskins, an artist who “uses algorithms meant to be employed in machine learning to produce artworks.” The exhibit will feature four halls, with Butler honored in the “Futures That Unite” hall. Afrofuturistic artworks will also be displayed, in the “Futures That Inspire” hall.
For more information, see the Smithsonian Magazine article.
The Oakland Museum of California will include Butler in their Mothership: Voyage Into Afrofuturism exhibit, opening August 7, 2021. The “Dawn” section will include “photographs, journals, books, and a film interview with Butler,” and will feature elements inspired by Butler’s works. For more information, see the OMCA website.
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