The Act of Doing: Preserving, Revitalizing and Protecting Third Ward
Gentrification is reshaping the social and physical landscape of Third Ward, threatening the future of this historic African American community. In the face of uncertainty, an unprecedented coalition of churches, nonprofits, community development corporations, business owners, artists, and residents formed the Emancipation Economic Development Council (EEDC). Since its founding in 2015, the EEDC has developed a rigorous set of strategies for revitalizing and protecting this historic neighborhood while preserving its rich African American culture.
The Act of Doing amplifies the questions posed by the EEDC – questions of place, displacement, ownership, and creative community organizing – while documenting its formation and early impact on the community through a timeline installation and an interactive space capturing the stories ignored in the gentrification process. While these houses are dedicated to the EEDC’s journey, several installations will house a poetic exchange between local artists and the vision of the Council.
Throughout the duration of Round 47, artists, residents, and community organizers will collaborate to host a series of workshops, events, and direct actions. These events will support the EEDC in achieving its vision for Third Ward, as “a resilient, dynamic, and economically prosperous community where people live, work and thrive in a historically and culturally rich African-American neighborhood.”
In conjunction with the opening of the Round, Free Market Square will organize a family friendly market with vendors and performers from the Third Ward and communities across Houston.
Participating artists include Right to Stay, Right to Say (Zeinab Bakhiet, Olutomi Subulade, & Melanie Meleekah Villegas); Brian Ellison; Danielle Fanfair, Harrison Guy, Marlon Hall, & Anthony Suber; Nikita Hodge; Sofia Mekonnen; and Marc Newsome. Round 47 also features Collaboration Timeline House, designed by Adelle Main.
Round 47 is organized by Ryan N. Dennis, Curator and Programs Director, in collaboration with Dr. Assata Richards of Sankofa Research Institute.