“Baba Shop: Dallas”: An Immersive Art Exhibit Experience Celebrating the Diverse African Diaspora at Blade 21 Barbershop
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A one-day only exhibit produced by Baba Shop and sponsored by The City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture that will transport guests to a West African barbershop
(August 1st, 2024 – Dallas, TX) The City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture proudly sponsors the highly anticipated art exhibition, “Baba Shop,” launching on September 2nd, 2024, at Blade 21 Barbershop in Dallas. This innovative event, curated by a distinguished collective of artists with African roots called Baba Shop, promises an extraordinary fusion of art, culture, and community engagement.
Event Details:
Date: Monday, September 2, 2024 (one day only)
Time: 3-8 PM
Location: Blade 21 Barbershop,12101 Greenville Ave Suite 108, Dallas, TX 75243
“Baba Shop: Dallas” is an immersive digital art exhibition inspired by the vibrant aesthetics of West African barbershops. The exhibition will transform Blade 21 Barbershop into an authentic vintage African barbershop experience, featuring curated works from emerging local and international Black artists. Attendees can look forward to a rich array of art & tech installations, live demonstrations, and panel discussions that delve into the art and culture of the African diaspora.
The term “baba” has roots in multiple languages as a reference to “father” or “respected fatherly figure”. Baba Shop founder Pap Musa created this fictional space after real life experiences in a family with a respected grandfather and entrepreneurial family members who owned shops that were the center of community. The play on words so phonetically similar to “barbershop” speaks to the synchronicity of the entire creative idea.
The City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture is proud to support this celebration of Black culture and artistry. “Baba Shop: Dallas” offers a unique platform to engage with and appreciate the diverse expressions of African diasporic art. Recognizing and amplifying global Black culture, the show spotlights shared experiences in African/Black salons and barbershops worldwide.
Highlights of the one-day only exhibition
Digital Art Showcase: Featuring works from talented artists including Samurai Farai, Zee Feels, Mad in Pixel, and many others, displayed across multiple TVs and as printed copies.
Live Performances: Enjoy a captivating African braiding performance and a free haircut from one of Blade 21’s premier barbers.
Cultural Experience: Dance to a playlist of the latest African music and engage in vibrant community conversations all while enjoying complimentary drinks from GO3 Vodka.
Exploration & Partnerships: The event encourages attendees to explore nearby African-owned businesses, fostering connections within the community and promoting both emerging Black artists and Black entrepreneurs.
The featured Black Artists exhibiting digital and traditional art are Samurai Farai, Zee Feels, Mad in Pixel, Janice Mascarenhas, Nuhamin Dawit, Arclight, Pap Musa, Abieyuwa Eigbobo, Weyni Kashay, Dada Boipelo, Kosi Okafor, Inyang Essien, LaShonda Cooks, Abraham Itua, Georgette Asiedu, Layepro and Jesuis Jemimaa.
This event is free to the public and art will be available for sale. To RSVP, visit the Eventbrite link here and to follow along for information on future Baba Shop exhibitions please visit https://babashop.world/ and instagram.com/babashopworld.
ABOUT BABA SHOP VENTURES
“Baba Shop” is curated by a dynamic team of African-descended artists including co-founder Pap Musa (Senegalese artist and designer based in Dakar), co-founder Abieyuwa Eigbobo (Nigerian American multidisciplinary artist & curator based in Texas), and Weyni Kashay (Eritrean-American interdisciplinary artist based in Texas). This collective brings a wealth of experience from previous exhibitions including Digital Art Fair – Hong Kong 2021, “Paradise” Women’s History Month Exhibition – Chicago 2022, Refraction Festival – Miami 2022, NFT NOW “The Gateway” – Miami 2022 and “In The Clouds” & “Down To Earth” Women’s Month Exhibition – Johannesburg 2023.
Media Contact:
Tanisha Colon-Bibb
Publicist, Rebelle Agency
tanisha@therebelleagency.com
+1 646 236 4891
