ONIJA

WHAT IT WAS

A WORD FOR A FIGHTER

Onija is a Yoruba word meaning fighter, a person possessing great strength. BTGM chose it as the title of its February takeover of the Orlando Museum of Art's 1st Thursdays series, and asked artists for portraiture, self-portraiture and poetry that carry the fighting spirit of a West African inheritance.

The museum had called for visual art only. BTGM added poetry so that each piece on the wall had words beside it, and built a virtual show so the poems could be seen and heard.

WHO IT SERVED

CENTRAL FLORIDA ARTISTS OF THE DIASPORA

The call went to Central Florida artists who are descendants of the African diaspora or American descendants of slavery, of every age. Program organizer DaZaria Harris tied the theme to the marches of 2020 and the strength she saw in Black people across the country.

Artists could sell their work to gallery visitors, and financial assistance was available to artists who needed help taking part.

HOW IT RAN

FEBRUARY 2021

• January 17, 2021. Deadline for portraiture and poetry submissions.
• February 2, 2021, 6 pm. A free 30-minute virtual pre-show featuring one artwork and one poem.
• February 2 to 4, 2021. Selected artwork on view at the Orlando Museum of Art.
• February 4, 2021, 6 to 9 pm. Main event at the museum, with a one-hour virtual show streamed by OMA and BTGM.
• February 3, 2022. ONIJA returned to 1st Thursdays for a second year.
• Sponsors. Sam Flax and Publix Super Markets Charities.

WHAT WE OFFER NOW

PARTNERSHIPS, NOT A REPEAT

ONIJA will not be recreated. It stands here as an example of what BTGM builds with a partner institution: a program shaped with your curators and staff that resonates with a multicultural audience and brings new artists and visitors through your doors.