Film Screening Hosted by Danny Simmons – The United States of Hoodoo by Oliver Hardt

Join us for a special screening of The United States of Hoodoo, hosted by Danny Simmons, in conjunction with the exhibition Dolls, Idols, and Ideals.

The United States of Hoodoo tracks the spiritual roots that have shaped the American Black experience, offering perspective on the interconnectedness of culture and identity. Written and directed by Oliver Hardt, the documentary traces the influence of African religious traditions on American art, music, and popular culture. The film engages viewers with insightful interviews featuring a diverse array of artists, musicians, and practitioners of African-based religions.

Danny Simmons, an artist and one of the main interviewees featured in the film, will host the screening at the InLiquid Gallery. Simmons will introduce the film and lead a discussion with the audience. Doors will open at 5.45 and the screening will begin at 6.10.

Dolls, Idols, and Ideals features Kimberly Camp and Emilio Maldonado, two Black artists investigating their identity, label, lineage, and how they create their own power while stranded in a “new world.” Camp and Maldonado use symbols – made or found – that reference their ancestry and spirituality. Rather than working from a notion of unchanging traditions, they engage with aesthetics and amalgamated cultural practices that have been adapted in order to survive. Each artist finds strength, magic, and power in these resilient elements, in full embrace of their individual and shared heritages.