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As guests walk through the third floor of the Minneapolis Institute of Art or MIA, they see ancient sculptures, vast canvases, and even a couple of swords. But what’s waiting at the end of one hallway is something new to the museum. Rituals of Resilience is a new audiovisual exhibit co-created by Chaka Mkali – rapper, visual artist, and community organizer.

“I have several hats. One of those hats is co-curator of Rituals of Resilience, and the other hat is of a musician, I Self Devine, the hip hop who developed the soundtrack that accompanies,” says Mkali.

Chaka Mkali has been a hip-hop artist in Minneapolis for over four decades. After he moved here from California, he helped revitalize the Twin Cities’ early graffiti scene. He’s put out a host of rap albums as I Self Devine, and has been described by one weekly arts publication as “one of the most influential voices in Minnesota Hip-Hop.”

Rituals of Resilience is the first time he’s worked with a major museum to co-curate an art exhibit. He says the sense of trust he felt was necessary to begin the work wasn’t easy to come by. Mkali says he’s been distrustful of museums in the past. As an African American artist, he says his distrust stems from what he sees as the exploitation of artists of color across the globe. But in getting to know the curators at MIA, he says he saw an opening to create something different.

“When I met with the co-curator I asked him a question: are you here to do your job and if you are then I’m not the person. Now if you’re interested in challenging and doing some things then I’m interested and up for that.”

KFAI’s Tony Williams shares this short audio story for MinneCulture.

MinneCulture on KFAI is Supported by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund