Artist Talk with Elshafei Dafalla & Q&A Moderated by Archy LaSalle

Wednesday, Nov. 20

5:30–8:00 pm

The McMullen Museum of Art, in collaboration with the African & African Diaspora Studies and Art, Art History & Film Departments welcome States of Becoming artist Elshafei Dafalla for an artist talk on the background and processes underscoring his work, Delirium (2005), which is currently on display at the McMullen. Consisting of a series of printed black and white fingerprints, arranged in dynamic patterns, Delirium explores the bureaucracy and dehumanization of the U.S. Immigration process while also calling attention to race, identity, and shared humanity. This talk will include Dafalla’s experiences as a working artist in Boston, where he moved after relocating from Sudan in addition to his creative practices since.

Following his artist talk, Dafalla will sit down with local Boston photographer and Director and Founder of WHERE ARE ALL THE BLACK PEOPLE AT, Archy Lasalle, who will act as guest moderator. Visitors are welcome to ask questions. A small reception with light refreshments will follow.

Dafalla is a Sudanese American artist and human rights activist. He is a sculptor, photographer, painter, and installation artist with a special interest in sound. His work is noted for its political engagement with different world cultures and has been celebrated for its capacity to create solidarity among communities and peoples across political, cultural, and racial differences

Archy LaSalle is a fine art photographer who works with a panoramic camera and black and white film. He is a graduate of Mass College of Art and Design. Early in his career, he received national and international attention for his artistic documentation of the Orange Line Southwest Corridor Subway project in Boston. He has traveled internationally and worked extensively in England, France, South Africa, Italy, and Argentina. His photographs can be found in the collection of many art museums. Mr. LaSalle taught photography for over 25 years and after stepping out of the classroom, founded the initiative, WHERE ARE ALL THE BLACK PEOPLE AT, which is a grassroots organization whose mission is to bring attention to and help art institutions rectify past injustices of underrepresenting Black and Brown artists in their permanent collections. Working with a younger generation of BIPOC artists is an important aspect of this work. In 2021, Mr. LaSalle joined the Board of Advisors at the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University.

Event Schedule

5:30–6:00 pm: Artist Talk with Elshafei Dafalla

6:00–7:00 pm: Q&A Moderated by Archy LaSalle

7:00–8:00 pm: Light Reception

Free; open to the public; no registration required.