Bennett Road

November 22 - February 28,2025

From the organizers: "As part of the national 2025 Black History Month celebrations, Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy (HFTC) and Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) are proud to present Bennett Road at Freedmen’s Town Visitor Center, an exhibition that powerfully engages with the theme of Black Labor through the lens of two innovative designers and brothers: Michael Bennett, Creative Director of Studio Kër, and Martellus Bennett, Creative Director of TOMONOSHi! i+d LaB. Bennett Road is a significant exploration of identity, community, and the intersections of culture. The exhibition features a diverse array of objects, installations, and furniture from Michael Bennett’s practice that invites contemplation about the social constructs that shape our environments. Much of his work is made through his collaboration with the late artist Imhotep Blot under the banner Studio Kër. One such piece is Gumbo Chair (2022–23), a loosely anthropomorphized set inspired by the ubiquitous Monobloc white plastic chair, reflective of the genius of Black traditions in the Coastal South. Gumbo Chair not only serves a practical function but also symbolizes the oral traditions that sustain community and family ties. Michael Bennett’s philosophy is deeply interwoven into the fabric of the exhibition. He believes that imperfections hold a profound dialogue, stimulating contemplation that carries significant implications for our social fabric. By embracing these imperfections in his work, he seeks to uncover their inherent beauty and provoke meaningful conversations. In contrast, Martellus Bennett and his TOMONOSHi! i+d LaB introduces a dynamic and playful approach to design. Martellus Bennett champions an environment that activates the imagination through the senses, emphasizing the importance of play as a vital part of the human experience. At i+d LaB, individuals are encouraged to explore creativity through hands-on engagement, fostering a sense of joy and wonder regardless of age. By engaging visitors in the process of creation, Martellus Bennett empowers them to push the boundaries of conventional design, emphasizing that there is no limit to what can be made. By prioritizing play and exploration, Bennett Road serves as a platform for community engagement and encourages visitors of all ages to embrace their heritage and the legacy of Black labor. With this exhibition concluding with Black History Month, the show not only honors the past but also embraces the potential for future social change through artistic practice. This exhibition is not merely an aesthetic experience; it is a medium for introspection, promoting a deeper understanding of ourselves and our connections to the world and how we congregate. Through the exhibition, there will be workshops and collaborative sessions where young attendees will have the opportunity to connect with the themes of the exhibition, exploring their own cultural identities and creative potentials. Bennett Road is on view from November 22, 2024, to February 28, 2025, and co-organized by Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy (HFTC) and Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) as part of the Rebirth in Action project. The exhibition is curated by Mich Stevenson, Project Manager—Partnerships. About Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy (HTFC) The Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy, established in 2018, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the history of Freedmen’s Town for the benefit of future generations. As the steward of the Freedmen’s Town Heritage District, the Conservancy seeks to transform the understanding of Emancipation, telling the story of freedom through education and engagement with visitors from around the world. With ten UNESCO Routes of the Enslaved Peoples Project sites, Freedmen’s Town, the child of Juneteenth, unique’s history is largely untold and is a pivotal chapter in Houston’s and America’s past. Settled shortly after June 19, 1865, along Buffalo Bayou in Houston’s Fourth Ward, Freedmen’s Town stands as both Houston’s first African-American neighborhood and the first Heritage District. About Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) Contemporary Arts Museum Houston presents extraordinary, thought-provoking arts programming and exhibitions to educate and inspire audiences nationally and internationally. Established in 1948, CAMH is one of the country's oldest non-collecting contemporary art museums and is internationally known for presenting pivotal and landmark work by artists recognized as the most important of the 20th and 21st centuries. CAMH’s mandate is to be present, to connect artists and audiences through the urgent issues of our time, and to adventurously promote the catalytic possibilities of contemporary art. CAMH’s programming, both in and beyond the Museum is presented free to the public and advocates for artists’ essential role and impact in society."

Freedmen’s Town Visitor Center 1204 Victor Street
Houston, Texas 77019
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