The Building Fund was proud to present Shaunda Holloway: Abstract Rebel  in partnership with The New Haven Free Public Library, Mitchell Branch. 

In her layered collages, paintings, photographs, and prints, Holloway creates depth—both literally and figuratively—that honors the expansiveness of the African diaspora. Her works contain a narrative quality, with stories that unfold the longer and harder a viewer engages the work, lending their own unique interpretation. Working somewhat spontaneously and intuitively, Holloway harnesses the unbridled freedom of jazz music in her distinct application of color, texture, and scale.

Shaunda Holloway: Abstract Rebel was on view at Mitchell Library January 27 - March 31, 2025

Curated by nico w. okoro

Douglass Day is an annual program that marks the birth of Frederick Douglass. Each year, thousands of people help create new & freely available resources for learning about Black history. The focus is frequently on important Black women’s archives, such as Anna Julia Cooper (2020), Mary Church Terrell (2021), and this year Mary Ann Shadd Cary.

Mary Ann Shadd Cary was a teacher, newspaper editor, Civil War recruiter, lawyer, and so much more. Transcribe Shadd Cary was a brand new crowdsourcing project presented by the Douglass Day Team, supporters and sponsors. It featured the papers left by Shadd Cary and her networks from Archives of Ontario, Library and Archives Canada, and other newly digitized archives from her life in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC.

NHFPL Stetson Branch and The Building Fund partnered to bring this collective action for Black history to New Haven. Douglass Day 2023 was held at the NHFPL Stetson Branch on February 14, 2023 from 12-3PM. The New Haven program had music, light refreshments, and a livestream of the Douglass Day featuring speakers and activities honoring Black history and the contributions of Mary Ann Shadd Cary.

Led by artist Allison Minto, Black New Haven Archive: A Collective Memory Project supports New Haven families of the Black diaspora in archiving their photographs. Participants learn how to preserve their family’s images and unique history, and are invited to contribute to a collaborative photo book that celebrates Black New Haven life, past to present.

Allison Minto is a Connecticut based visual artist working in photography. She holds a BA in Journalism from Buffalo State College and an MFA in Photography from the Yale School of Art, where she was awarded the John Ferguson Weir Award.

Artspace was a non-profit organization that championed emerging artists and built new audiences for contemporary art. Their exhibition and commissioning programs encouraged experimentation, discovery, and lively civic discourse, while fostering appreciation for the vital role that artists play in improving our community.

Stetson Library is the go-to cultural arts space for programs and events resonating with the predominantly African-American community of Stetson’s service area. Stetson Library is a cornerstone of the Q House revival. Throughout the year, Stetson partners with local organizations to bring social services to residents.