Events

SAMASAMAxSCL July Art Series: Diaspora People's Month

Register for our event on Eventbrite Here.

We will have events every Wednesday at 7pm during July.

July has always been associated with independence and freedom in America, but since America fails to live up to its stated ideals and continues to oppress people of color, we have decided to reclaim July and celebrate diversity and the fight for freedom against white supremacy.

SAMASAMAxThe Sustainable Culture Lab will provide artists with the platform to share their work, speak their truth, and redefine America during this revolutionary time. Each week, we will showcase multiple artists and have discussions on various topics such as politics and diaspora culture. Attendees will be able to ask the artists questions, learn more about their practice, and of course, buy their art. 100% of the art purchases will go to the artist and a percentage of any donations you make to SAMASAMAxThe Sustainable Culture Lab will go to the DC Chapter of Movement for Black Lives.

Register for our event on Eventbrite Here.

Freecano Reunion

We'll be continuing the community conversations that went long at the last event and learn more about the creatives and their work!

The theme of this exhibition derives from three words: Ethnocide, Eǔtopia, and Freecano; and how they can inspire artists and create positive change.

The cultural bond that has united African diaspora people since the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade has been a collective yearning for freedom, and Freecano speaks to this cultural bond. Depending on where in the Americas Freecano people lived, these manifestations of freedom took on different shapes. In Washington, D.C., one of our many liberating celebrations is Emancipation Day, so at SCL we believe that this is a perfect time to celebrate the liberating philosophy, language, and art of Freecano with local DC artists who will present and speak about their work incorporating Ethnocide, Eǔtopia, and/or Freecano!

RSVP HERE

Freecano — A Philosophy and Art Virtual Exhibition

Register for the event here.

Due to COVID-19 , this event will solely be a virtual exhibition.

Details:

• Opening Remarks - the SCL team will introduce our philosophy, explain why art is vital to our work, and how the SCL platform strives to feature artists that impact our community

• Artist Remarks - artists will briefly speak about why they are part of this event and what they will be expressing in greater detail during the exhibition period.

• Artist Exhibition - each artist and their work will be present in separate video rooms where they can engage with their attendees. They will go into the “why” of their work(s) and how it connects to their unique understanding and experience of the philosophies of Ethnocide, Eǔtopia, and Freecano.

• Community Remarks - SCL, artists, and attendees will share their experience at the event with each other

• Closing Remarks - SCL will summarize how impactful the combination of philosophy and art can be and how together they create a foundation for action and liberating change.

Event Guidebook:

SCL and various artists will create a digital zine that establishes a greater “why” for the event. This zine will incorporate the creative work of SCL and artists’ background, their relationship to SCL and its philosophy, and the work they will be presenting at the event. This guidebook will serve as a gift for participating attendees. 

Raffle:

SCL will be hosting a raffle for attendees with the prize(s) being the artwork that is displayed! Attendees will receive a digital raffle ticket/number from the SCL team for participation and engagement in the event. The raffle will be pulled at the end of the event.

Gift-based Admission:

Attendees are invited to choose to give whatever amount they desire before, during, or after attending the event via Venmo - @barrettpitner.

Artwork Purchases:

Attendees may connect with the artists or SCL to discuss purchasing certain works.

Register for the event here.

The Necessity and Complexity of the Black Revolutionary

A conversation with Barrett Holmes Pitner of the Sustainable Culture Lab

About this Event

In honor of Black History Month, we must examine how much America needs the Black Revolutionary to cultivate hope and progress, yet America’s dependence on racial oppression and ethnocide also inclines American society to silence the Black Revolutionary in order to sustain our ethnocidal status quo. America does not want Black-led revolutions, yet this is what America desperately needs.

The complexity derives both from the juxtaposition of America’s silencing and dependence upon Black culture, and the importance of Black people cultivating peaceful actions to liberate America from our ethnocidal culture. This event will delve into how language and philosophy can launch a revolution, and the importance of Black-led ideas to provoke revolutionary change.

The Sustainable Culture Lab, a Washington, D.C.- based, Black-led cultural think tank, believes that language and philosophy must be the foundation of the revolutions that Black Americans must create. Barrett Holmes Pitner is the Founder and Philosopher-in-Chief of the Sustainable Culture Lab.

Doors open at 6pm

Refreshments served from 6:00pm - 6:45pm

Program begins at 6:45pm

RSVP for the event here.

HOW TO CREATE A CULTURAL RENAISSANCE

About this Event

At the Sustainable Culture Lab, we start with phase one: philosophy and thought, and then we grow into art and action.

Transformational cultural shifts start with philosophy. An articulated philosophy defines the problems of the present, the need for change, and the vision for the future; but philosophy alone does not build a renaissance.

Philosophers must engage with the public -- artists, creatives, business leaders, politicians, etc. -- to help their philosophy manifest in the public realm. Complex philosophy then takes shape as a novel, a play, a work of art, and even public policy, and now the public can engage with the philosophy in a more accessible way. Yet this also does not create a renaissance.

To create a re-birth, people must act upon and live their philosophical beliefs. Thought, inspiration, and action creates sustainable cultural change, and can launch a cultural renaissance.

Far too often the importance of philosophy is overlooked as people seek to create change. Frequently, people rely on art and activism to create change, but the most transformational art and activism are all underpinned by a philosophy or manifesto.

Art and activism need philosophy. Neglecting philosophy weakens aspiring cultural movements because captivating one’s heart can be the catalyst for change, but engaging their minds will sustain the change.

For this event SCL is partnering with Claudia Watts, a DC-based arts professional, and Marshall Pollard of The Creative School, to discuss how these pillars can work together to make positive change. The event will be a panel discussion about how philosophy, art, and action can together create a cultural renaissance.

RSVP HERE