Watch our Conversation with Artists Addressing "The Freedom Principle" at ICA Philadelphia
1960s Chicago was a hotbed of culture and freedom of expression with the formation of black artistic collectives such as Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) and AfriCOBRA. Their work was so innovative and new that it continues to inspire artists to this day. The exhibition The Freedom Principle: Experiments in Art and Music, 1965 to Now, currently on display at ICA Philadelphia, documents that ongoing movement.
From left to right: Greg Tate, Steve Coleman, Muhal Richard Abrams, Cauleen Smith and Henry Threadgill.
“You had to push your imagination as far as you could see it… There was no formula, no style. Nothing but your imagination.”
– Muhal Richard Abrams
“When I heard Ornette Coleman, then I understood the concept of freedom. Before then, freedom wasn’t in my mind!”
– Henry Threadgill
“There’s a lot of pressure not to be yourself in society… Everything is geared to hurl you in a certain direction.”
– Steve Coleman
“Chicago is this place that just produces black genius in abundance… so, I was curious.”
– Cauleen Smith
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Watch our free online workshops series, Coping with COVID, designed to help artists mitigate the effects of the pandemic and economic situation.