Exhibition

UPWARD THROUGH THE NIGHT: Memory of Jamaican Hue

Part tribute to Hugh McDonald, her beloved father, and part meditation on family photography, Abena Malika's exhibit explores the moment an ordinary snapshot graduates to historical document. What is that process and when does it happen? What does it mean for us as our personal memories evolve into more: heirloom, record, and archive?

Through photographs, family keepsakes, and interactive installations, UPWARD THROUGH THE NIGHT invites viewers to consider the extraordinary nature of ordinary life, and to look again at the memories that shape their own histories.

Join us in Brooklyn August 21–23 for a beautiful weekend of photos, music, treasures, and conversation. Photo exhibit will be mounted at My Gallery NYC, located at 587 Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. There will be an opening reception at the gallery from 6:00PM-9:00PM on Friday, August 21, 2026, and a talk featuring the curator at 7:00PM that evening.

We hope you will leave with a renewed appreciation for the images and stories that connect us.