What We Carry | Presented by 'Atlas of Blackness'

ArT @ 967 Payne is deeply honored to host 'Atlas of Blackness' for their profoundly personal and intimate youth artist showcase, 'WHAT WE CARRY.' More than simply an exhibition, this gathering and showcase is at once a vision—a future in which Black youth are free to create, reflect, and speak their truths—and a testimony to their resilience that makes that future possible.

Over the span of ten months, these young storytellers - four 2024 Black Scholar Fellows and one Journalism Fellow from Documenting MN -  have journeyed through the emotional space and experience of Black life in Minnesota. Their photographs, films, paintings and texts are more than visual or verbal statements—they are containers, vessels for the weighty and the wondrous, the whispered and the bold, the pain and the promise that they, and their community, hold within their bodies, families, cities, and silences.

'WHAT WE CARRY' was conceived as a response to the urgent need for spaces where Black youth can shape their own narratives—where the complexity of Black existence is neither edited nor simplified, but honored in all its fullness. The Atlas of Blackness, with its cadre of fellows, asked: What does it mean to heal in public? What does it mean to name what has so often been carried alone? The answers, expressed through the artworks, invite viewers into a sacred act of witnessing, joining in the collective work of healing and transformation. Every artwork, every story, every moment of pause in the gallery is a step toward understanding the rich tapestry of Black life, grief, survival, and joy.

About 'Atlas of Blackness':

Atlas of Blackness is a grassroots, multimedia, artistic, and research-based organization dedicated to empowering Black youth under the age of thirty in the Twin Cities. Established in 2021, their mission is to mentor and provide resources for Black youth impacted by the juvenile justice and foster care systems, enabling them to document the untold stories of Black communities.

Atlas of Blackness was founded by a formerly incarcerated foster child whose life experiences inspired her to make a significant impact on the lives of Black youth facing similar challenges. With a background in clinical social work, combined with expertise in research and filmmaking, their founder Lucina Kayee envisioned an organization that would equip Black youth with the skills and opportunities to conduct research and tell the stories of the communities they have been displaced from.

Since its inception, Atlas of Blackness has been committed to reclaiming narratives, amplifying marginalized voices, and preserving the history of Black communities. Their programs offer practical support and development opportunities for Black youth, equipping them with the tools they need to become the next generation of creators and leaders.

Gallery Hours:  By Appointment (651) 895 6203; stephanfkistler@gmail.com)

ArT @ 967 Payne is a collaborative studio, co-working and gallery space for a diverse and inclusive community of artists and entrepreneurs working, exhibiting, selling, teaching, and making a positive impact on the East Side of St. Paul.  Our storefront gallery exhibitions change every four to six weeks, featuring a combination of local resident artists, invited guest artists and community art and cultural events.