Through the Lens of the Blues Aesthetic

Blues for Smoke brings into focus a wide range of contemporary art, music, literature, and culture through the lens of the blues. Kevin Jerome Everson’s work in film and photography evokes this tradition, conjuring the spirit of improvisation, brutality, and beauty in everyday life. For this evening, Everson has selected a program of short films, ranging from the 20th century to the present, that are inspired by the blues aesthetic and engage with themes found in the exhibition. Filmmakers include Charles Burnett, Kahlil Joseph, Horace Ové, Matthew Rolston, Cauleen Smith, and Justin Randolph Thompson and Bradly Dever Treadaway.