Assembly (Rashaad Newsome, Johnny Symons, 2025) - Assembly follows
internationally acclaimed artist Rashaad Newsome as he embarks on his
most ambitious project yet a multimedia exhibition and performance at
New Yorks historic Park Avenue Armory. Once a bastion of white
military power, the Armory is transformed into a vibrant celebration
of Black and queer culture through video projections, holograms,
sculptures, collages, music, dance, and African fractal patterns. This
reimagining challenges colonial power structures while honoring the
complexity and resilience of Black experience. Through innovative
hybrid storytelling, breathtaking visual effects, and the ongoing
presence of ancestors, Assembly transcends traditional documentary as
it weaves together Rashaads creative process, dynamic performances,
and the lives of his collaborators. Powerful moments, such as a
memorial for murdered Black trans women that evolves into a protest
march, highlight arts capacity to reclaim agency and inspire change,
offering a vision of intergenerational resilience, transformation, and
hope. 98 min. Post-screening discussion with filmmakers Rashaad
Newsome \& Johnny Symons.
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09/07/2025 Last update