Opening Reception: Blood Memories and Love in Excess

The VAC celebrates the opening of two exhibitions: "Zalika Azim: Blood Memories (or a going to ground)" and the group exhibition "Love in Excess." Blood Memories explores themes of belonging, focusing on the interstitial spaces between departure and arrival with an emphasis on local histories of Austin’s freedmen towns and their ties to contemporary conditions of Black life in Central Texas and across the U.S. Inspired by Ophelia Marie’s ballad “Love in Excess,” the exhibition reflects on the complexities of love, desire, and longing from perspectives of Black queerness and Black femininity.