Collective memory should be written in future tense.

Film by Alexa Caravia

On May 20, 2026, as part of a season anchored by artists and world-building, Commissioner presented Searching for Collective Memory—a screening, performance, and panel conversation with Pioneer Winter Collective and Maven Leadership Collective, at The Bass Museum of Art in Miami Beach. Together, we explored the many ways that communities have the power to shape collective memory by asking what is at stake and who gets a say in determining what we value most. 

“You better help others collect... You are the person who is responsible for saving your culture. Not the Met, not the Whitney, not the MoMA, but you. ”
— David Driskell

Participants include:

  • Nina Osoria Ahmadi, Grass Stains artist-in-residence

  • Lauren Baccus, practitioner, MOCA director of education and community engagement

  • Cecilia Benitez, Grass Stains artist-in-residence

  • Darryl Brown, Grass Stains artist-in-residence

  • Dejha Carrington, Commissioner cofounder and executive director

  • Vanessa Charlot, panel speaker, educator and photographer

  • Gabri Christa, Grass Stains mentor

  • Corey Davis, Maven Leadership Collective founder and creative director

  • Jason Fitzroy Jeffers, panel speaker, writer and filmmaker

  • Lisa Kusanagi, Grass Stains artist-in-residence

  • Lauryn Lawrence, photographer, curator

  • Arsimmer McCoy, Grass Stains artist-in-residence

  • Nicole Pedraza, Grass Stains artist-in-residence

  • Veronica Pesantes, Art Hang

  • Lise Ragbir, panel speaker, writer and founder of Verge

  • Hattie Mae Wiliiams, Grass Stains artist-in-residence

  • Pioneer Winter, Pioneer Winter Collective founder


Searching for Collective Memory was curated by Commissioner, and made possible with generous support from Maven Leadership Collective and Art Bridges Foundation Access for All Program.

Pioneer Winter Collective’s 2026 Grass Stains cycle is supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.

Relive the event in photography by Chantal Lawrie.

Dejha Carrington