In September 2024, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH), in partnership with Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy (HFTC) and Artist Theaster Gates, hosted Houston’s edition of the renowned Black Artists Retreat (B.A.R), focused on the radical concept of” Black Land Ownership and Space: Black Stabilization and Determination.” Houston’s edition of the Black Artist Retreat focuses on bringing together, elevating, and inspiring the brain trust in local Black and BIPOC artists, creatives, and intellectuals. This three-day convening included curators, community organizers, historic preservation officers, and real estate developers as we explored using art for regenerative economic development in Black communities.

CAMH invited over 100 guests to enjoy three days of lectures, performances, readings, and fellowship while underscoring community building with love and care for Houston-based artists and beyond. This gathering was also able to highlight venues like the CAMH, Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy, the historic Bethel Church in Freedmen’s Town, the community of Freedmen’s Town, and Sanman Studios.

The weekend included a variety of creative and restorative activities. The first day included Tai Chi with Henderson Smith in the morning and was followed by a presentation by Sara Zewde titled Ecologies of Memory at CAMH. Then attendees went to Freedmen’s Town for a tour led by residents Charonda Johnson and Priscilla T Graham followed by a look at the exhibition THIS WAY: A Houston Group Show at Houston Freedmen’s Town Visitor Center. Dr. Honey Crawford led the group in a dialogue and movement session at Bethel Church before Fourth Ward resident Avalon Hogans gave a poetry performance. Finally, the group went to Sanman Studios to watch the film Mountains (2023) followed by a talkback between director Monica Sorelle and film programmer Autumn Johnson. 

The second day began at Sanman Studios with a movement and yoga class before transitioning to a presentation by Rochelle Nembhard, a reading by Brea Baker from her book ROOTED, and a dialogue between Brea Baker, and artists Ayanna Mccloud and Rochelle Nembhard to unpack our individual and collective relationships to land as well as Black-Indigenous solidarity. After a lunch break, attendees convened for a dialogue between Shani Peters and Joseph Cuillier (Co-Founders and Co-Directors of The Black School)  with reflections by Kristi Rangel. DJ Flash Gordon Parks and Will Johnson led everyone in the Sounds of Freedmen’s Town, bridging music history with contemporary sound, followed by a reading and reflection with Jessica Lynne. The evening closed out with a performance by Black Decelerant featuring Jawaad, dinner, and live DJs at Bald Kitty.

The last day concluded with a morning performance by Li Harris, a performer who uses voice, theremin, electronics, movement, improvisation, meditation, and new media to explore healing in performance and living.  CAMH would like to express our deep gratitude for all presenters, attendees, and sponsors for their presence at the Black Artists Retreat in Houston. This Retreat exceeded our expectations, and we hope that everyone felt the love and care that went into organizing it. CAMH and HFTC look forward to more points of connection with all as we move into Phase Two of Rebirth in Action and deep into the future. We will be watching the seeds sown at this Retreat grow throughout Freedmen’s Town and Houston in the coming years.