Faheem Majeed

Faheem Majeed. Freedom's Stand: Sentries Beacon, 2024. "We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us. Too long has the public been deceived by misrepresentations, in things which concern us dearly.” , -John Brown Russwurm, Founder of Freedom's Journal , , Freedom's Stand: Sentries Beacon honors Black newspapers in the United States, inspired by Freedom's Journal, the first Black-owned newspaper founded in 1827. This AR (augmented reality) sculpture shows the importance of Black voices in media, combining ideas from Chicago's Wall of Respect and the Community Mural Movement through the architectural language of traditional West African Dogon buildings. , , Through source material pulled from both past and current examples of Black media, such as the South Shore Current, that details stories about Chicago's South Side, the minority communities., Showcasing the importance of diverse voices in media, the interactive design of the sculpture, inspired by both traditional newsstands and Dogon granaries, acts as a living archive. Each AR stand displays headlines, articles, and ads from over 200 Black newspapers to inspire future generations. , , Faheem Majeed (b.1976) is an artist, educator, curator, and community facilitator. He blends his unique experience as a non-profit administrator, curator, and artist to create works that focus on institutional critique and exhibitions that leverage collaboration to engage his immediate, and the broader community, in meaningful dialogue. He is the co-founder/co-director of the arts collective Floating Museum and professor of art at the University of Illinois at Chicago. ,