FENTSTER artists Adam W. Kinney & Daniel Banks were in Toronto for screenings, workshops and more from May 23 to 25 as part of a season of programming presented by FENTSTER together with Prosserman JCC. Learn more here: http://fentster.org/events/dnaworks Check out this recap video!!
A lively artistic showcase and conversation in celebration of Black History Month and the opening of HaMapah at FENTSTER. Learn more about this exhibition as Adam W. McKinney is joined by visual artist Anique Jordan (Toronto), theatre artist Kendell Pinkney (Brooklyn) and writer Chanel M. Sutherland (Montreal). Moderated by playwright Sarah Waisvisz (Ottawa). WATCH ANYTIME
Brick, Kolbuszowa District Synagogue, Poland
This brick is from the former Kolbuszowa District Synagogue in Poland. Some of Adam’s maternal grandmother’s family come from Siedlanka, Kolbuszowa, Poland. It is certain that Adam’s ancestors prayed and congregated in the Kolbuszowa District Synagogue.
Native American Prayer Tie with Tobacco, Fort Worth, TX
Prayer ties are used by Cherokee and Lakota people to offer prayers to the Creator. Inside this prayer tie is tobacco harvested from North Carolina, USA.
Photo of Adam’s parents
Pictured are Adam’s parents Gerald McKinney (1941-2021), Harriet Schachter McKinney (1942-) and Pancake (ca. 1965-ca. 1981)
Tallit / Prayer Shawl, Milwaukee, WI
This tallit (prayer shawl) is made of wool. Each of its four corners are strings tied in a particular pattern, called tzitzit. Tallit prayer shawls are worn by Jews when praying. This one belongs to Adam.
Book of Poetry, U.S.A.
The Spring Anthology of 1970: A Compilation of Representative Verse from the World’s Living Poets, Mitre Press, 1970, Indiana University. Poet: B. Trace, “The Tenth Plague”
Adam’s grandmother Cora Beatrice Dailey’s penname was B. Trace, and wrote “The Tenth Plague.” DNAWORKS makes the connection between the sense of loss for Black Americans and white Ashkenazi Jews.
The Tenth Plague
With death
Slushing the streets of cobblestones,
Sliding down dimly lighted back byways,
Moving within the portals-
The cries of infant males were stilled!
The lives of first-born sons were blotted out
Where dwellers were unworthy of the bloody brush!
B. TRACE | Wisconsin, U.S.A.