Co-founder @Future Relations
Future Relations: A Resource for Radical Teaching is the first exhibition of SOMArts 2019-20 Curatorial Residency season. With a combined 30 years of teaching experience, curators Fred Alvarado, Thomas Jones, and David Petrelli reimagine SOMArts’ Main Gallery into a site for collective liberation and hope for educators, community organizers, and youth alike. Featuring installations, lesson plans, and more, Future Relations emphasizes the transformative power of education not just within the classroom, but beyond. Youth are navigating a turbulent political landscape fraught with an increase in hate crimes, national conversations on gun control and school shootings, and the growing visibility of concentration camps.
They’ve mobilized against injustice, reminding us that young people have always been at the forefront of social movements and policy change. Critically engaged teachers work collaboratively with young people in confronting and subverting systemic oppression. Through an Ethnic Studies, social justice oriented lens, Future Relations offers alternatives to traditional models of education by presenting works that underscore the importance of experiential knowledge and community cultural wealth.
Future Relations is more than just an educational resource; it's an immersive experience. It originated as a fanzine, culminated in its third year with a captivating gallery exhibition at Somarts. This collaborative endeavor brought together some of the most insightful artists from both the Bay Area and around the world, fostering thought-provoking dialogues and creative exchange.
