A series of virtual discussions that bridge prominent and influential Pittsburgh-based artists and scholars with nationally-recognized Black makers and creators moderated by artist Jessica Gaynelle Moss. Content will be accessible during select weekdays at 5pm EDT via Zoom between November 2021 to January 2022.
Jessica Gaynelle Moss is an artist, custodian of Black art, and creator of platforms and spaces that invest in the historically excluded. Melding her dedication to making art, supporting artists and developing more equitable and just policies, Jessica’s creative practice and projects transcend any one medium, discipline or field, coalescing fine art with real estate development, institution-building and philanthropy. Beyond that she runs her own arts consultancy, curates exhibitions and performances, regularly leads art talks and studio critiques, serves on the leadership boards of various cultural entities, and is a frequent speaker on panels on the subjects of artist support, advocacy and stewardship. Jessica received a bachelors in Fine Art from Carnegie Mellon University; a masters in Arts Administration, Policy and Management from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; and a masters in Studies of the Law from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Danny Dunson is an art historian, advisor, curator, writer and is currently the Director of Curatorial Services for The DuSable Museum of African-American history. Dunson graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a degree in Art History and received both a Fulbright Grant and Gilman Scholarship. He founded the Legacy Brothers and The Lab, an artist development consultancy designed to prepare emerging artists of disadvantaged communities to enter the art world by providing grants for studio spaces, supplies, and living expenses.
Emma Osore (she/her/hers) is a Brooklyn-based participatory designer, social entrepreneur, and commissioned mixed media artist. With an interest in people-centered systems change, she uses co-design to help anti-disciplinary creatives transform culture. She was the Director of Community at the New Museum of Contemporary Art’s creative business incubator, NEW INC – resulting in its first majority-BIPOC membership, launched and led Americans for the Arts’ half million dollar investment in BIPOC arts advocates. She also co-founded BlackSpace where she is now its first Co-Managing Director – building love into its operational leadership and centering the Black experience in neighborhood projects and national urbanist communities.
Celeste C. Smith is Senior Program Officer, Arts and Culture for The Pittsburgh Foundation and co-founder of 1Hood Media where she works to advance racial justice. She has garnered numerous accolades and always brings to her work deep experience as a celebrated community leader, arts administrator, artist, and activist.