The Museum worked with these four organizations to create educational opportunities for artists throughout the city. Artist-led workshops offered learning opportunities inspired by the exhibition Dawoud Bey & Carrie Mae Weems: In Dialogue, on view at the Getty Center through July 9, 2023. Classes focused on a variety of topics: black and white photography, portraiture, and capturing place. They investigated themes of identity, race, power, and important but often overlooked American histories. Together, the participating artists collaborated with their peers and explored their communities.
“We have undertaken this collaboration to further the influence of Dawoud Bey and Carrie Mae Weems by introducing their work to a new generation of artists, creating an access point for them to learn about photography, through their experience of Getty’s exhibition,” says Timothy Potts, Maria Hummer-Tuttle and Robert Tuttle director of the Getty Museum. “In addition to engaging a multi-generational audience, we hope that the project will foster dialogue between the artists and their communities, as both Bey and Weems have done throughout their careers.”
The resulting satellite exhibition, LA: In Dialogue, features the unique stories of over 60 teen, young-adult, and adult photographers. Band of Vices art gallery is located at 5351 West Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90016 and is open Wednesday through Saturday 12pm to 5pm.
LA: In Dialogue was conceived by the Getty Museum, produced by The Culture List Inc., and curated by Terrell Tilford at Band of Vices. This project was championed by the many teaching artists and administrators at Black Image Center, LA Commons, Venice Arts, and Inner-City Arts. This project was made possible with major support from Jordan Schnitzer and The Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, generous support from Megan and Peter Chernin, and additional support from Jan and Trish de Bont.
Dawoud Bey & Carrie Mae Weems: In Dialogue is organized by the Grand Rapids Art Museum.
Also on view is work by the 2023 cohort of teen photographers from the Getty Unshuttered program. This group of talented photographers from across L.A. were inspired by their teaching photographers, through exploring the Getty collection and exhibitions, and by each other. Learn more about the Getty Unshuttered program and review photo galleries and resources online.
Unshuttered is generously funded by the Genesis Inspiration Foundation.
About the LA: In Dialogue Community Partners
Black Image Center (Culver City)
Black Image Center is a community art space that was founded in the summer of 2020 by six young, Black photographers who came together during a time when the world was seeing huge amounts of Black pain captured by non-Black photographers. Today, we provide Black photographers with the resources and support they need to develop their skills, connect with clients, and build sustainable careers. We offer programming for L.A.’s Black community to archive their family photos, get portraits taken by Black photographers, and engage in Black photography in an accessible way.
LA Commons (Leimert Park and Florence-Graham)
LA Commons engages communities in artistic and cultural expression that tells their unique stories and serves as a basis for dialogue, interaction, and a shared understanding of Los Angeles. At the foundation of our work is a desire to further opportunity for everyone, recognizing that communities require support to make their places more just, healthy and livable. Through collaboration with local partners with whom we have built deep wells of trust, we leverage art and cultural approaches to create positive change.
Venice Arts (Venice Beach)
Venice Arts’ core Art Mentoring & Education Program provides a free sequenced, Media Arts Education curriculum in photography, filmmaking, and comic art, college success programs, and creative career development, to low-income young people from throughout Los Angeles. Our Center for Creative Workforce Equity serves young people ages 16–24, offering a sequenced program—from exposure, education, and training through internship placement—that helps build a more equitable and inclusive creative sector. Priority is given to uplifting those whose lives have been most challenged, including homeless, foster, justice involved, and LGBTQ youth. We also engage a broad community at our gallery through exhibitions, screenings, and public programs; and consult and train others interested in our model around the world.
Inner-City Arts (Downtown L.A.)
Now in its 35th year providing access to the arts and the endless possibilities they offer, Inner-City Arts is an investment in the youth of Los Angeles. Creating a bridge between the studio and the classroom, Inner-City Arts’ unique approach to arts education for kindergarten through grade 12 and beyond measurably improves academic and personal outcomes for youth, including students with limited English proficiency who are at risk of academic failure. High school photography students in the nonprofit's visual, media, and performing arts institutes participated in this project.