Symbols of Unrest

As the months separate us from the intensity of the April-May riots, the “No Justice, No Peace? Resolutions . . . “ exhibit at the California Afro-American Museum brings back the chills. But the multimedia show also tries to explain the causes of the unrest and offers suggestions for avoiding more violence.

The exhibition features expressions of anger in O. Funmilayo Makarah’s placement of a bottle of orange juice to symbolize the price of Latasha Harlins’ life; spirituality in Matthew Thomas’ vibrant sand-painting exhibit; and reverence in Carrie Mae Weems’ collection of plates that honor historic events and people.

“During the rebellion . . . everyone had a horrifying sense of a world out of control,” said Aurelia R. Brooks, museum foundation chief executive officer. “We tried to figure out what to do and look at our resources. We understood that the artists have been telegraphing problems in our society for years.”

The exhibit was collected in a relatively short time, Brooks said, because “this was something that was so spontaneously felt by everyone.” The museum gathered funds from the city’s Cultural Affairs Department and Rebuild L.A. and opened the exhibit Oct. 3.

Most of the 19 African-American artists are in mid-career, Brooks said, although some are just starting out. “I think a lot of these artists wanted the opportunity to talk about society and how to look at certain icons.”