Being creative during tumultuous times is incredibly difficult. Our minds and bodies are not built to absorb constant streams of traumatic events like those we have all experienced within the last decade. This exhibition features artist book works created during and about these times we are living in. The work here does not and cannot provide solutions to problems, but offers a moment of acknowledgment to the reader that says, “You are not alone.” Curated by Ellen Knudson.

Rice and beans is a dish with many names – peas and rice, moro y cristianos, congrí, arroz con gandules, gallo pinto, arroz con habichuelas, arroz y frijoles. This duo is not just hearty and nutritious, but full of stories that allow for making emotional connections. A small taste of this “comfort staple” allows us to connect with our upbringings and cultural identities, to find a sense of home and belonging no matter where we may be. Curated by Daniela Torres and Melissa Jerome.

This exhibit presents just a small sample of the thousands upon thousands of books that incarcerated people in Florida are barred from reading. Many of these titles critique the U.S. prison and criminal justice system and the violence it enacts on millions of lives, primarily Black people and other marginalized groups. Other titles provide sources of empowerment and liberation. Curated by Stephanie Birch and Katiana Bagué.

Afrofuturism has grown in popularity in recent years and is present in every sector of popular culture. The literary and artistic style reimagines the past or creates an enhanced present and future through an Afrocentric lens. Pioneered by Black authors, artists, and musicians, Afrofuturism manifests fantastical worlds that Black people have historically been excluded from. Often directed toward a Black audience, the genre establishes a sense of solidarity and inspiration. Curated by Antonette Jones.

Existence outside the gender binary is a theme weaved throughout feminist, Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), and queer science fiction. These themes help audiences navigate through questions such as: What exactly is gender? What do technological futures look like when gender constructs, roles, and representations are thrown out? How does science fiction reconstruct and reframe how we understand identity? Curated by CJ Gott, Michelle Nolan, Barret Uhler, and Kestrel Ward.