Reclaiming Space, Reclaiming Time
Black Quantum Futurism (BQF), a collaborative project by artists and activists Rasheedah Phillips and Camae Ayewa, has introduced a transformative new installation, The Memory Vortex Inn, at Performance Space New York. Set within the Open Room—a gallery and community space—the Inn is a year-long endeavor that challenges conventional experiences of time and space. With its focus on temporal autonomy, spatial reclamation, and collective visioning, the Memory Vortex Inn serves as a sanctuary for Black communities to explore new dimensions of liberation and empowerment.
The Vision of Black Quantum Futurism
Black Quantum Futurism combines Afrofuturism, physics, and Black liberation philosophies to explore time and space from a distinctly Black cultural perspective. Through their art, Phillips and Ayewa encourage viewers to rethink time not as a linear experience but as a resource for empowerment and change. The Memory Vortex Inn embodies this vision, creating a physical space where the Black community can reclaim time and reimagine the future.
Creating a Sanctuary for Collective Growth
The Memory Vortex Inn is more than just an art installation; it’s a sanctuary dedicated to uplifting community-based work and facilitating collective growth. BQF has curated a rich program of activities that allow visitors to engage with the space and each other, including film screenings, sound healing sessions, and interactive workshops. By offering a variety of experiences, BQF invites community members to experiment with new ways of connecting, healing, and imagining shared futures.
Programs for Liberation and Temporal Autonomy
Each event and activity within the Memory Vortex Inn is designed to support Black liberation by exploring temporal autonomy—a concept that allows individuals to reclaim time as a communal asset rather than a rigid, commodified structure. The curated events include:
Film Screenings: Films selected for their ability to inspire reflection on the Black experience, futurism, and temporal autonomy.
Readings and Performances: Presenting work from Black writers, poets, and performers who challenge dominant narratives and offer new perspectives on freedom and identity.
Sound Healing Sessions: Workshops that use sound to facilitate healing, grounding, and spiritual connection within the community.
Collective Visioning Workshops: Spaces for community members to articulate and share their visions for the future, encouraging collaborative dreaming and planning.
A Vision for Spatial Reclamation
By transforming Open Room into a place for Black temporal experimentation and liberation, the Memory Vortex Inn exemplifies spatial reclamation. Here, the gallery space becomes an incubator for new possibilities, free from the confines of traditional Western concepts of time and space. BQF’s approach empowers participants to envision and claim spaces that prioritize their needs, values, and visions for the future.
Join the Journey at The Memory Vortex Inn
The Memory Vortex Inn is open to all, offering a unique opportunity to explore Black Quantum Futurism’s powerful work firsthand. The installation will evolve throughout the year, adding new programming and opportunities for interaction. As BQF and Performance Space New York continue to shape this sanctuary for the Black community, each visit offers a fresh chance to connect, heal, and co-create a liberated future.
Through this space and its programming, Black Quantum Futurism invites visitors to reimagine what it means to own time and space in a world that often denies these resources to Black communities. The Memory Vortex Inn is not just an art installation—it’s a visionary step toward Black liberation and collective autonomy.