photo of glass box sculpture with written engravings on the side panels. The box sits in the foreground. JANM building and NCPD in the background. It is nighttime

Partner Event

Kalief Browder: The Box

photo of glass box sculpture with written engravings on the side panels. The box sits in the foreground. JANM building and NCPD in the background. It is nighttime

Partner Event

Kalief Browder: The Box

About the Event

The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy at the Japanese American National Museum (NCPD@JANM) is proud to host Coby Kennedy’s Kalief Browder: The Box to commemorate Black History Month in Los Angeles. By replicating the dimensions of a solitary confinement cell, this steel and glass work critiques the abuses of civil liberties in American incarceration systems, introduces viewers to the impacts of mass incarceration, and invites them to envision a world without prisons.

The Box is one of four large scale sculptures by acclaimed African American artists Arthur Jafa, Christopher Myers, and Hank Willis Thomas. These sculptures are on view at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, Benny H. Potter Park, and Leimert Plaza Park. They are part of Monumental Tour, a traveling outdoor exhibit presented by Kindred Arts and the 10th Council District of the City of Los Angeles to examine aspects of the African American experience.

These sculptures invite viewers to examine themes of colonization, oppression, subjugation, privilege, Black middle-class labor, the decline of industry, as well as Black power, pride, and joy. NCPD@JANM supports the museum’s mission to examine the rights, freedoms, and fragility of American democracy through educational programming. Thus, as part of its 30th Anniversary JANM welcomes this piece to the plaza and is proud to join others in our community as we fight for social justice together.

FREE

Friday, Feb 11 - Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Japanese American National Museum

100 North Central Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90012

This exhibition is free and open to the public. To learn more about the works and related public programs, visit the exhibit virtually at monumentaltour.org/current-location.

Share

About the Event

The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy at the Japanese American National Museum (NCPD@JANM) is proud to host Coby Kennedy’s Kalief Browder: The Box to commemorate Black History Month in Los Angeles. By replicating the dimensions of a solitary confinement cell, this steel and glass work critiques the abuses of civil liberties in American incarceration systems, introduces viewers to the impacts of mass incarceration, and invites them to envision a world without prisons.

The Box is one of four large scale sculptures by acclaimed African American artists Arthur Jafa, Christopher Myers, and Hank Willis Thomas. These sculptures are on view at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, Benny H. Potter Park, and Leimert Plaza Park. They are part of Monumental Tour, a traveling outdoor exhibit presented by Kindred Arts and the 10th Council District of the City of Los Angeles to examine aspects of the African American experience.

These sculptures invite viewers to examine themes of colonization, oppression, subjugation, privilege, Black middle-class labor, the decline of industry, as well as Black power, pride, and joy. NCPD@JANM supports the museum’s mission to examine the rights, freedoms, and fragility of American democracy through educational programming. Thus, as part of its 30th Anniversary JANM welcomes this piece to the plaza and is proud to join others in our community as we fight for social justice together.

This exhibition is free and open to the public. To learn more about the works and related public programs, visit the exhibit virtually at monumentaltour.org/current-location.

    Support the understanding and appreciation of the Japanese American experience.

    Become a Member Make a Gift