Make America What America Must Become

The Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans will once again re-open its doors and galleries to the public with landmark exhibition Make America What America Must Become. The theme is inspired by a letter written by Philosopher and Commentator James Baldwin to his nephew on the hundred-year-anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation: "Great men have done great things here, and will again, and we can make America what America must become." The CAC expanded its open call this year to include artists from across the Gulf South including Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, the Indigenous area of Bulbancha, Louisiana, and Texas. Artists were asked to consider and express the manifestation of power in America in our culture, politics, ecology, and economics. The unveiling of a new work by Brandan "BMike" Odums, which was commissioned by the CAC and ACLU of Louisiana, will accompany the exhibition. 

Make America What America Must Become will premiere with a free opening weekend Sept. 18-20 and CAC members only preview on the first day. An on-site free Grand Opening Celebration will take place on Saturday, Sept. 19 with participation by featured artists (timed-ticketing and reservations required). This exhibition also marks the CAC's first-ever Virtual Opening Celebration from 7-8:30 pm, featuring artist panels, a curatorial walk-through of the exhibition, and more streamed via Facebook Live. Sunday, Sept. 20 marks the return of The Helis Foundation's Art for All Program, offering LA residents free admission (though this particular Sunday, all are welcome regardless of residency). Audiences outside of the Warehouse District will be able to appreciate the exhibition virtually, along with online programming to better contextualize the works and allow viewers to connect with the artists. Those who view the exhibition in-person should be aware the CAC will adhere to a limited capacity of fifteen visitors every hour and a half, and tickets are available as timed-ticketed reservations between the CAC's hours of 11 am and 5 pm Wednesday through Monday. The CAC also requires all visitors and staff to wear masks and adhere to social distancing. cacno.org.