Dark Study/Studio

Dark Study takes the idea that certain ideas emerge in secrecy, in the dark, and in hushed tones. While it might never be what Moten and Harney name The Undercommons, it is comprised of that same energy and animating principles. It is also a way to describe the physical space of the lab, one in which we might read, think, write, experiment, and theorize more wildly.

Bibliothèque

Bibliothèque is the lab’s library, comprised of books across the fields of critical race and ethnic studies; visual culture; social movements; contemporary art; Black studies; women of color feminisms; Asian diasporic cultural studies; queer of color critique; Arab diasporic cultural studies; carceral studies and abolitionist thought; surveillance studies; fashion and the body; Latin American cultural studies; trans studies; Third World studies; anti-colonial thought; etc.

Writing in the Dark

Writing in the Dark is a writing session for BIPOC faculty and students hosted every semester, on a weekly basis for a few hours. The session is drop-in, for writing, reading, and quietly catching up with acquaintances, peers, friends, and comrades. There is usually coffee, tea, and snacks available.

Blog/Are.na

Come check out what we are thinking about, what animates us, and what half-formed ideas we are willing to share. The blog is, on the one hand, a way of helping certain constellations of thought come together for larger projects; on the other hand, the blog is a space in which to share unrelated, but important connective tissue between and outside of our major research areas. To access our Are.na, click here!

Dark Studio takes the idea that certain forms of creativity emerge in secrecy, in the dark, and with unconventional materials. It is also a way to describe the physical space of the lab, one in which we make sure to have small-scale art and zine-making supplies on hand. 

Experimenting in the Dark

On occasion, we host internal and public workshops in which to create, experiment, and make shit together. These sessions are ways of engaging some of the more material and tangible ways to process and work together, via our political and ethical commitments.

Zine Process

The lab currently works with B&D Press, aka artists Jenny Lin and Eloisa Aquino, to produce its zines. From them, we hope to learn how to produce zines ourselves, by hosting workshops where they will share their experience and wisdom. For now, we share images from their process designing the first few zines.