Antenna Gallery Collective, Curated by Denise Frazier and Renee Royale

Antenna Gallery Collective

Sugar

Curated by Denise Frazier and Renee Royale

Photo courtesy of Antenna Gallery Collective.

For many of us, the word sugar brings up images of birthday cakes and beignets covered in powdered sugar for most people. And for others, thoughts of their grandmother's endearing whisper, "come here, sugar" or "give me some sugar," are invoked. Beneath the icing, the production, migration, commodification, and consumption of sugar are tied to the violence of racial slavery. The complex and layered role of sugar in shaping the history of New Orleans and the region—from sugar plantations to petrochemical and oil refineries lining the Mississippi River to famed candies and confections to cultural traditions tied to the intimacies of sugar, sex, and the blues are easily overlooked. Yet, an examination into the complexities of this word, commodity, and symbol reveals histories of power, exploitation, sweetness, slavery, empire, addiction, and contemporary life.

Since 2005, Antenna has served as a multidisciplinary arts platform, creating and supporting an expansive array of artist and writer-driven programs through experimentation, creative risk-taking, and socially engaged art practices to advance more just and equitable futures. Through a robust slate of public programs, exhibitions, residencies, publications, grants, gatherings, and collaborations, Antenna serves as an engagement hub of diverse communities and publics, cultivating opportunities, creating learning exchanges, and helping creative visions become realities. The Antenna Collective keeps its eye on the details, oversees the development of gallery exhibitions and curating shows and accompanying programs.