Artist Victor Davson; Decolonizing Art Spaces in Newark, NJ Even after 35 years of knowing him, I continue to be inspired by Victor’s public and personal art practice in Newark, NJ. Victor is the co-founder of Aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art in Newark. He and Carl E. Hazelwood founded Aljira together in 1983 as a non-profit center for contemporary visual art to promote the work of emerging and under-represented artists. Tune in to find out more about this dynamic Art Leader and Cultural Disrupter on our podcast, WhatsNewarkGotToDoWithIt.com. Aljira was a vital hub for creative excellence in Newark’s downtown arts district for over three decades. Victor served as its director for 33 years. His professional and charismatic leadership has, and continues to have, a profound impact on the artistic landscape of Newark and the Tri-State region. Artists of the African Diaspora, women and other underrepresented artists are exhibited, engaged and given global platforms that had never been realized, before he landed in the city of Newark. Victor’s visual art practice is heavily influenced by the anti-colonial politics of the Caribbean, and by the intellectual powerhouses of that period. 1. Victor Davson, Dub Factor: Heroes (Marvin), 2016. Acrylic and sequins on treated vinyl LP record album cover. 2. Victor Davson in front of his “Dub Factor Redux” series. 3. Artist and Aljira Center for Contemporary Art co-founder, Carl E. Hazlewood. 4. HERESIES magazine cover, 1985 and Black artist Emma Amos. 5. Film still from Esther Podemski and Chuck Schultz's 5 DAYS IN JULY commissioned by Victor Davson. 6. Amiri Baraka, 2013, iconic native Newarker, NJ Poet Laureate, reading at Aljira. 7. May 22, 2015, Okwui Enwezor and Dawoud Bey receive Aljira Timehri Leadership in the Arts Award. 8.Victor Davson, Misogyny Papers/Apology (impossible), 2020. 9. The Book of Hours/Ours book project, 2021, featuring work of Cicely Cottingham and Victor Davson. #blacklivesmatter #africandiaspora #guyana #victordavson @carl.hazlewood #aljiraart #newarkmuseumofart #edwardsspriggs #cicelycottingham #newarkexpress #newark #covid19 #whatsnewarkgottodowithit #whatsupwithart #decolonizethisplace https://www.instagram.com/p/COdkREaF4gH/?igshid=jh4uc19rcv4d