Five/5ths: The Tunnel Vision Collective Reimagines Black Art In The Okay Space

Last week was the grand unveiling of Tunnel Vision's Five/5ths: A Tunnel Vision Collective Presentation at our very own Okay Space. On July 21, the exhibit opened to the public, with the work of Tunnel Vision's several artists on display throughout the space.

Attendees looked at the art and consumed complimentary drinks, while DJ Triptych played everything from Kaytranada and Omarion to Gucci Mane and Kendrick Lamar, setting the mood for an evening of black celebration. As an agency and collective of talented black people, Tunnel Vision offered lovers of creativity something that's rarely seen in the contemporary art world — black art.

From founder James "JD" Malone's photography to Sophia Dawson's paintings, Tunnel Vision captured and explored blackness through art in more ways than one. "Five/5ths is both an introduction to Tunnel Vision and a statement on solidarity," Malone explained. "Division is necessary to a degree but the importance of solidarity is understanding that you’re a part of something whole."

You can sense that as you walk through the exhibit: each piece of art telling a different story of blackness, but all of them brought together through that shared blackness. Dawson's "Love/Hate," a simultaneous homage to Do The Right Thing and commentary on people's attention span; Dexter R. Jones' "Envy Of The World," which highlights and honors the beauty of black women; and Malone's "Reject," a commentary on the black man in America.

"Tunnel Vision started in the first place to fill the gap that was missing [within the industry]. We’ve come up before, there has been a rising. I went to the Louvre and I realized there’s this big gap between Ancient Egypt and European history and now," Tunnel Vision artist Stephen Small-Warnertold Vibe. "None of our images are there. This is what this is about. I want people to come in here and feel and see how beautiful they are and the reflections of themselves."

Tonight, July 27, the artists will be speaking about their pieces and black contemporary art as a whole at the Okay Space. The discussion will go from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and will be moderated by Akintola Hanif from Hycide Magazine. Check out images from the exhibit above, which also includes prices for the pieces if you're interested in purchasing one.