Wa Na Wari’s Walk the Block Festival Opens This Weekend
Elisheba Johnson, co-founder of Wa Na Wari, a pioneering Black arts and cultural center nestled in Seattle's historically rich Central District, unveiled the organization's unique and vital role in the community on The Day With Trae earlier this month.
Wa Na Wari was created out of an emergency housing situation. She explains that one of the organization’s co-founders was managing family properties through financial struggle. To address this, she and her co-founders banded together to create an "experimental art project" where they would rent the property at hand, which financially secured the family.
This innovative model, she explained, ingeniously leverages art as a powerful and multifaceted tool to combat displacement and gentrification. It achieves this by not only financially securing family properties but also by giving them "back to the community as a Black arts and cultural center,” transforming them into cultural hubs. Johnson proudly affirmed the success of this visionary approach, reflecting on six years of successful operation.
Johnson further highlighted Wa Na Wari's expansive and forward-thinking initiatives, including the Central Area Ecosystem for the 21st Century (CACE 21). This crucial Black homeowner alliance policy initiative actively collaborates with Black homeowners to "reimagine how they use their property...for family and community," ensuring that these homes remain anchors for the community's future. CACE 21’s progressive approach even extends to normalizing and facilitating sensitive discussions around addressing legacy planning in a culturally appropriate and empowering manner.
The conversation also provided a glimpse into the Black artistry currently on display at Wa Na Wari, featuring acclaimed artists such as ceramicist Kristen Stain, photographer Sanjo Lawal from Nigeria, and New York-based photographer Jasmine Clarke. Johnson articulated the discerning eye behind their curation, noting that the art they seek "tells a story or hits us emotionally in a particular way," often beginning with an intuitive feeling.
A major and enthusiastically discussed focus of the interview was the highly anticipated Walk the Block Festival, scheduled for September 27. Johnson described it as an unparalleled opportunity for artists to "go big" with their installations throughout the Central District, promising a "spectacle and grandiose experiences for everybody in our community."
Walk the Block serves a dual and equally vital purpose: to educate new residents about the area's rich and often untold history while simultaneously elevating Black art and artists to a broader audience. Highlights of this year's event include a captivating performance by the acclaimed artist Saul Williams, who Johnson described as "the person for our moment" in times of frustration and fear, as he will "remind us of our power." Additionally, there will be dance curation by the incredible Nia Amina-Minor, a comedy showcase, and a performance by Autumn Breon honoring "the organizing power of Black beauty spaces."
With this collaborative spirit in mind, Wa Na Wari is "creating a model for how we can utilize our legacy homes in artistic ways, but also making sure that artists are getting seen, heard, and valued."
Johnson strongly encouraged attendees to utilize the event's booklet to plan their day and purchase tickets through wanawari.org. Follow Wa Na Wari @wanawariseattle on Instagram for more updates.
