{"id":226646,"date":"2025-09-04T09:37:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T13:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=226646"},"modified":"2025-09-11T16:19:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T20:19:07","slug":"montclair-state-university-galleries-presents-novel-the-age-of-black-metal-by-afrotectopia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2025\/09\/04\/montclair-state-university-galleries-presents-novel-the-age-of-black-metal-by-afrotectopia\/","title":{"rendered":"ÌÇÐÄvlog Galleries Presents Novel \u201cThe Age of Black Metal\u201d by Afrotectopia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This fall, enter\u00a0 \u201cThe Age of Black Metal,\u201d a groundbreaking exhibition at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/galleries\/\">ÌÇÐÄvlog Galleries<\/a> that imagines centuries into the future to explore the cultural, spiritual and societal possibilities of \u201cBlack Metal.\u201d Curated by Afrotectopia founder Ari Melenciano, the exhibition will be on view from from September 23 through December 14, 2025, across the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/galleries\/visit\/\">George Segal Gallery and Alexander Kasser Theater<\/a> display cases.<\/p>\n<p>Rooted in the visionary art book \u201cBlack Metal\u201d\u2014co-authored by Ari Melenciano, Jordan Caldwell, Jeremy Kamal and Kordae Jatafa Henry\u2014this exhibition expands the text\u2019s radical ideas into immersive, participatory installations. The book, developed in collaboration with MIT Media Lab\u2019s Space Exploration Initiative, NYU\u2019s Interactive Telecommunications Program, and supported by the Ford Foundation, introduced \u201cBlack Metal\u201d as both speculative future and spiritual pedagogy.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>About the Exhibition<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u201cThe Age of Black Metal\u201d transports audiences into a far-future world where the principles of \u201cBlack Metal\u201d have reshaped society. Visitors will encounter interactive installations, speculative artifacts and artistic works that reinterpret the book\u2019s four chapters:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cCelestial Florilegia\u201d by Ari Melenciano introduces a cosmic ritual practice, revealing botanical consciousness and quantum intuition.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cCompanion 180, Vol. 1\u201d by Jeremy Kamal offers a shamanic guide linking voyager, spacesuit, body and spirit.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cDark Voyage\u201d by Kordae Jatafa Henry presents cinematic portraits of interstellar life through graphic storytelling.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cTraining Grounds\u201d by Jordan Caldwell provides metaphysical exercises for shedding, integrating\u00a0 and grounding the self.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition to immersive installations, the exhibition features The Orbit\u2014a dynamic installation of contemporary works and speculative artifacts by artists influenced by \u201cBlack Metal.\u201d Visitors will be invited to craft personal koans, engage in metaphysical exercises and reflect on the expansive futures Black culture can imagine when free of limits.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Programs and Events<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>All exhibitions and programs are free and open to the public.<\/p>\n<p>Opening Reception: Tuesday, September 23, 5\u20137 p.m., <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/galleries\/visit\/\">George Segal Gallery and Alexander Kasser Theater Lobby<\/a>. Remarks at 6 p.m. by Dean Gurskis and Ari Melenciano.<\/p>\n<p>Art Forum: Monday, September 22, 5:20 p.m., George Segal Gallery. Ari Melenciano will discuss the vision behind \u201cThe Age of Black Metal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Panel Discussion: Wednesday, October 15, 12 p.m., Segal Gallery. This interdisciplinary panel explores ideas of collective liberation through the context of \u201cBlack Metal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBlack Metal\u201d Film Screening and Discussion: Wednesday, November 5, 12 p.m., George Segal Gallery. A special screening of the film adaptation of \u201cBlack Metal,\u201d followed by a conversation with Ari Melenciano.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Visitor Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>George Segal Gallery Hours: Tuesday \u2013 Friday, 12 \u2013 4 p.m.<\/p>\n<p>Kasser Theater Lobby Hours: Monday \u2013 Friday, 12 \u2013 6 p.m.<\/p>\n<p>Additional Saturday hours and appointments available.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/guides.bloombergconnects.org\/en-US\/guide\/montclairStateUniversityGalleries\">The Galleries\u2019 free Bloomberg Connects<\/a> digital guide offers behind-the-scenes insights from artists and curators, available on site or remotely.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>ÌÇÐÄvlog State University Galleries<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/galleries\/\">ÌÇÐÄvlog Galleries <\/a>fosters dialogue, curiosity, and shared understanding through art. Presenting diverse and inclusive exhibitions, the Galleries connect the University with local and global communities. Learn more at montclair.edu\/galleries.<\/p>\n<p>Follow @montclairstategalleries and use #MontclairStateGalleries to join the conversation.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Exhibition Support and Contact<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>This exhibition is made possible, in part, by the McMullen Family Foundation, the Dolph Gallery and Museum Studies Fund, Montclair\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/\">College of the Arts<\/a> and generous private contributions.<\/p>\n<p>Media Contact: galleries@montclair.edu, 973-655-3382<\/p>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/\/ Output tags as a list for Google Analytics custom dimension\nwindow.MSU_TagList = [];\n<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fall 2025: A visionary exhibition exploring Black futurism, speculative technology and the future of space travel through Black culture<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":396,"featured_media":226648,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,7,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-226646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts","category-press-releases","category-university"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226646","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/396"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=226646"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226646\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":226671,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226646\/revisions\/226671"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/226648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=226646"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=226646"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=226646"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}