Def: the state or fact of existing, occurring, or being present in a place or thing.
Or
a person or thing that exists or is present in a place but is not seen.

Even in absence their presence can be felt. The love is different. Often realized years later after lessons have been put to use, a good fathers love and support shines. Fatherhood is complex. Often a combination of love, laughter, protection, and determining when to let your guard down and just be… Dad. It’s sometimes built on the uneasy foundations of unresolved traumas spanning from slavery to now, years of suppressed emotions from being forced to choose family safety over violence, and the hope that the next generation will do it just a little better than the former.

This exhibition will explore the often overlooked lives and emotions of the black men who assume the role of father biological or not who commit to protecting, loving, and honoring our community.