Existence Beyond Code
Featuring the work of Kevin Johnson, Jr. Curated by Devlon Waddell. Presented in community with The Chicory Project.
The exhibition Existence Beyond Code is a visual exploration of identity, visibility, and existence in the digital age, focusing on the experiences of Black communities. We challenge viewers to confront the paradoxes of the digital world, where technology can be used to create and manipulate identities while simultaneously denying the humanity of marginalized communities. A series of digital portraits of Black individuals were created using AI generative tools like FLUX, Gemini, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion. These portraits challenge our understanding of existence by blurring the lines between the real and the virtual and highlight how algorithmic settings can influence representation.
Printed and video media, such as high-resolution prints of the portraits, and comparative displays show the impact of different stylization levels on representation, through time lapses of images generated in Midjourney. A companion piece to the exhibition is the Echoes of Code and Essence zine workbook, which provides a structured yet explorative space to engage more deeply with the project's themes. The zine invites readers to journey through the conceptual landscapes of creation, perception, and the nuanced realities of existing in an increasingly digital world.
Existence Beyond Code is a foundational exhibition within a larger thematic project titled Futures [Not] Imagined, They [Will Not] See Us, Faces [Without] Features, We [Do Not] Exist: An Exploration of Identity, Visibility, and Existence in the Digital Age by Kevin Johnson Jr. This project delves into the nuanced dimensions of visibility, existence, and recognition within the digital age, particularly focusing on the experiences of Black communities.
This presentation serves as an introduction to the core concepts of the Futures... project by inviting viewers to confront the paradoxes of our digital world: the ability to create and manipulate identities through algorithms while simultaneously witnessing the persistent denial of humanity for marginalized communities. As technology becomes increasingly accessible, its relationship with human identity grows more complex, especially for those whose voices and stories have historically been suppressed. Existence Beyond Code uses digital portraiture to highlight how algorithmic settings and biases in AI tools can influence representation and challenge our understanding of identity and existence.
For more work by Kevin Johnson Jr.:
Cultivating, Community, Culture, and Conversation
The Chicory Project rededicates the Passion and Purpose Community Gallery as the Roots & Vision Gallery where the Chicory team celebrates the legacy of Chicory magazine and the ongoing journey of the Chicory Project. This gallery space is a tribute to Baltimore’s rich cultural heritage and a platform for the voices that shape its future.
Chicory: April 2024 Issue
This celebratory issue marks a significant moment - the revival of a historic publication that has been a cornerstone for community voices in Baltimore since 1966.
This special edition showcases the new direction of the magazine under the Chicory Project, a dynamic initiative that offers a platform for diverse voices through artistic workshops, public art installations, and educational programs.
In November 1966, the Enoch Pratt Free Library published the first issue of Chicory, a groundbreaking magazine of poetry and art by Baltimore residents. Edited by local poet Sam Cornish, Chicory was initially funded through the federal Office of Economic Opportunity’s Community Action Program, under the local leadership of Evelyn Levy, supervisor of Library Services for the Community Action Program, and Thelma Bell, one of the first African American children’s librarians at Pratt. Over the next three decades, until its final issue in 1983, the Library published up to ten issues of Chicory per year, creating a powerful platform for the voices of Baltimore’s communities.
Chicory was more than a traditional literary magazine; it was a unique outlet for the voices of Baltimore’s poor and working-class residents, particularly from the predominantly African American neighborhood in East Baltimore. Initially focused on writings by residents of this community action target area, Chicory eventually grew to encompass the entire city through neighborhood-based community centers.
Inspired by the Black Arts Movement, Chicory played a vital role in developing an African American literary and artistic aesthetic, grounded in the community action program’s vision of “maximum feasible participation of the poor.” Though it was briefly anthologized in the 1969 book Chicory: Young Voices from the Black Ghetto, the magazine remained largely known only within Baltimore, despite publishing scores of writers, including some who went on to notable careers, such as Rafael Alvarez.
Throughout its history, Chicory was edited by several influential figures. Following Sam Cornish, who later became Boston’s Poet Laureate, the magazine was led by Lucian Dixon, Augustus Brathwaite, and finally, Melvin Edward Brown, who served as the longest-tenured editor. Brown expanded the magazine’s readership through workshops and readings that attracted both published poets and amateur writers. E. Adam Jackson oversaw the magazine until its final issue in Winter 1983.
In recent years, the legacy of Chicory has been preserved and revitalized through the Chicory Revitalization Project, spearheaded by Mary Rizzo of Rutgers University-Newark, with the guidance of Sam Cornish and Melvin Edward Brown. Funded by Rutgers University, this project began in 2018 and has used Chicory as a catalyst for discussions about place, race, and social justice in Baltimore. Through partnerships with youth writing organizations, the project has offered workshops and events that connect a new generation with the magazine’s powerful legacy. [Overview from Digital Maryland digital preservation program of the Enoch Pratt Free Library/Maryland State Library Resource Center]
Building on this rich history, the Chicory Project marks the rebirth of Chicory magazine and the expansion of its mission. Led by a passionate team of Baltimore creatives — Devlon Waddell, Victor Rodgers (also known as Slangston Hughes), and Kevin Johnson Jr. — the Chicory Project breathes new life into the magazine, honoring its legacy while fostering creative expression and community engagement in the modern era.
This new initiative offers a platform for diverse voices through artistic workshops, public art installations, and educational programs that continue to celebrate and amplify the rich cultural narratives of Baltimore. The Chicory Project not only preserves the spirit of Chicory but also expands its reach, ensuring that the voices of Baltimore’s communities are heard, celebrated, and remembered for generations to come. Learn more at thechicoryproject.org
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Since 1844, we have collected, preserved, and interpreted Maryland's diverse history, art, and culture. Visit and see it at the Maryland Center for History and Culture.
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