The Blank Canvas: May 3rd, 2017 with Trevor Schoonmaker

Regular host Amanda Coulson returns with international guest and visitor, Trevor Schoonmaker, the Chief Curator at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

Trevor speaks to his early engagement with contemporary African art, having moved, studied and lived on the continent for several years, long before there was interest from a wider global audience.

Host Amanda Coulson with Trevor Schoonmaker

His own interest and explorations in the ‘90s made him one of the US resident experts in the field, which later translated into important curatorial work supporting diaspora and African-American positions, working alongside artists such as the recently-deceased Barkley L. Hendricks, for the “Birth of the Cool” exhibition (2008) and Wangechi Mutu, for “A Fantastic Journey” (2013–14).

Aside from his work at the museum, Trevor was also appointed as this year’s Artistic Director of the important Art Triennale “Prospect New Orleans,” which will open in November 2017. As America’s “northernmost Caribbean city,” there is specific interest in our region, and we’ve been blessed to have Trevor down here, at the invitation of the NAGB, to undertake studio visits and get to know our art scene.

Tune in this evening at 6:30 p.m to Guardian Talk Radio to listen to the conversation!