TEMPERATURE CHECK
An ISE-DA initiative taking the pulse of Black cultural stewardship.
ABOUT TEMPERATURE CHECK
Conceived in 2022, Temperature Check is an initiative that assesses and documents the growth of Black cultural stewardship across the diaspora. Comprised of an exhibition, events, and programming, it explores how Black cultural patronage can be expanded and sustained across the diaspora. The initiative focuses on a different diasporic city every two years, conducting in-depth research on the infrastructure necessary to support and grow Black patronage.
The goals of Temperature Check are:
Visibility – Showcase Black cultural contributions globally and discover potential and existing Black cultural stewards across the diaspora.
Community Building – Foster networks between Black artists, collectors, and institutions.
Legacy Creation – Document and preserve Black cultural production for future generations.
WHY IT MATTERS
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With a mission to showcase global Black cultural contributions, Temperature Check will help shed light on both the collection and production of global Black diasporic art. The exhibition will always be a cross-disciplinary curatorial effort. Additionally, because our program will geographically rotate and coincide with established art fairs and biennales, Temperature Check will be a sustainable addition to the arts calendar.
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Temperature Check's programming provides the host city an opportunity for international audiences to truly engage and become familiar with the local arts community, artists, and professionals outside of what the Temperature Check exhibition highlights.
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Our program specifically focuses on and highlights global Black art production and collectors. Temperature Check will highlight, document, publish, and track the development of this sector with each progressing edition.
OUR INAUGURAL EDITION: SÃO PAULO
Launching in São Paulo this September, Temperature Check’s first iteration will be anchored by a week of programming during the São Paulo Biennial and the Rotas Brasileiras art fairs. Temperature Check will engage Afro-Brazilian professionals, patrons, and cultural leaders at a moment of heightened artistic activity. Following this initial activation, the initiative will continue with on-the-ground programming, deepening its research and engagement over the next two years.
Our São Paulo immersion week is co-organized with 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, and Latitudes: Platform for Brazilian Galleries.
OUR LAUNCH EVENTS:
To launch Temperature Check, ISE-DA hosted a series of events in Fall 2024 and into 2025. The activations, panels, and dinners in various cities will cultivate a group of Black art professionals ready to visit and explore Black cultural production in our first international city.
TSCHABALALA SELF & BRANDON BLACKWOOD ON BLACK ART, COLLECTING & CULTURAL STEWARDSHIP:
For our New York launch event during Armory Week, ISE-DA invited artist Tschabalala Self and collector/designer Brandon Blackwood to have a conversation on art and collecting moderated by curator/writer Jenée Strand.
CANVAS NOIR
To prepare our guests — and Black professionals interested in collecting — for the Afro-Brazilian arts ecosystem, we hosted an evening at Tara Downs Gallery, featuring a private walkthrough of Tropical Noir, a solo exhibition by Afro-Brazilian artist Lu Ferreira. The audience included entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders from companies such as Meta and the NFL, as well as professionals across law, finance, and other industries.
