Eli Greene engages the ephemeral traces of ghostlike memories, politically latent histories, and meditations on impermanence.

“Haunting, here, is not just the spectral remnant of the once-living; it is the residue of perpetual active and aware living of such density that it casts a shadow, recoloring the ways Black people think, move, and feel in the present tense by always tethering us to what was. Some may call this Sankofa, others ‘wisdom.’ As Toni Morrison wrote in Beloved, a few may consider the experience ‘re-memory.'”

–– PHILLIP B. WILLIAMS

Eli Greene’s body of work spans drawing, film, and performance, blurring the lines between the tangible and intangible while challenging the interplay of light and shadow, past and present, and black and white. Through techniques such as photocopies and tracing, the Adler & Adler collection delves into Greene’s family archive and legacy in Detroit.

Tracing, a formal and poetic gesture within Greene’s work, serves as a bridge between history and lived experience. It functions as a conduit for understanding and the exploration of loss and remembrance, offering a means to comprehend existence. This notion of tracing extends beyond the typical portrayal of ghosts in mainstream culture, acknowledging the specter’s dual nature of being both absent and present. Greene’s exploration delves into how mark-making, memory, and other invisible events influence the present, haunting and shaping our realities.

Adler & Adler Photography Studio circa 1910-1960 was one of the few Black-owned photography studios in what was formerly the Black Bottom neighborhood within Detroit. Charles and Manna Adler were the sole owners. They had no relatives to inherit the studio after the death of Charles in 1973, so the shop and remaining photographs were left to time. The photos were found and donated to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Many of the businesses pictured have been lost to history. This exhibition presents early photographs of the Adler & Adler Studio in 1940s Black Bottom Detroit. Everyday life is shown in graduations, weddings, and intimate family moments, immortalized by the archive.

About The Artist

Eli Greene holds a BA from Cornell University and an MFA from The University of Chicago. Through drawing, film, and performance, her practice traces the act of one thing becoming another. Greene’s recent work has been exhibited in Chicago at The Smart Museum of Art, Hyde Park Art Center, Gallery 400, Regards, Goldfinch and Produce Model. She lives and works in Chicago.

About The Curator

Amber Nax (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist and independent curator native to Detroit, MI. She graduated from Wayne State University, earning an Art History B.F.A with a personal concentration in Black American and African history, contemporary art, culture, and folklore. With a background in arts administration, programming, urban farming, and museum studies.

Amber deals in the archives of art. She is inspired by how an archive reveals the past, validates the present, and informs the future.

About The Partnerships

Dr. Burroughs/Gayden Curatorial Fellowship for African American Curators:

The Dr. Burroughs/Gayden Curatorial Fellowship for African American Curators, a unique initiative between the South Side Community Art Center and Independent Curators International, is a beacon of opportunity for emerging curators. This fellowship, honoring the late Dr. Margaret T. Burroughs, provides a valuable career development opportunity and reflects SSCAC’s commitment to nurturing emerging Black talent through artistic initiatives. It supports curators’ research, the actualization of an exhibition, and the development of their professional networks, offering a curatorial stipend of $1,000 and an exhibition budget of $5,000.

SSCAC:

Founded in 1940, the South Side Community Art Center (SSCAC) stands as a testament to the resilience and creativity of the Black American art community. As the oldest Black American art center in the United States and a Chicago Historic Landmark, SSCAC is a beacon of cultural heritage and innovation. We take pride in our rich past and continue to build on our legacy, serving as an artist- and community-centered resource with diverse programs and exhibitions. The mission of the South Side Community Art Center is to conserve, preserve, and promote the legacy and future of Black American art and artists while educating the community on the value of art and culture.

About ICI:

Independent Curators International (ICI) is a 501(c)(3), non-profit arts organization that focuses on the role of the curator in contemporary art. We support curators to help create stronger art communities through experimentation, collaboration, and international engagement.

Curators are arts community leaders and organizers who champion artistic practice; build essential infrastructures and institutions; and generate public engagement with art. We work with art spaces in the US and around the world to present exhibitions and public programs for broad audiences; and professional development initiatives for curators.

Our collaborative programs connect curators, artists, and audiences from across social, political, and cultural borders. They form an international framework for sharing knowledge and resources — promoting cultural exchange, access to art, and public awareness for the curator’s role.

The Wright:

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History opens minds and changes lives through the exploration and celebration of African American history and culture. Our vision is of a world in which the adversity and achievement of African American history inspire everyone toward greater understanding, acceptance, and unity.

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Tags: Adler & Adler, Amber Nax, bronzeville, Charles Adler, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Chicago, Dr. Margaret T. Burroughs, Eli Greene, Eli Greene: Adler and Adler, Independent Curators International (ICI), Manna Adler, Phillip B. Williams, South Side Community Art Center