Poet, rapper, actor, writer, and filmmaker Saul Williams will take the stage at MASS MoCA’ s Hunter Center on Saturday, May 24, to celebrate the opening of groundbreaking artist Vincent Valdez’ s exhibition, Just a Dream … Both Williams and Valdez use their respective art forms— music, poetry, film, and visual art— to examine contemporary sociopolitical landscapes and provoke dialogue around issues of identity, justice, systemic racism, and societal transformation.
B y B e n j a m i n L e r n e r
The Power of Truth
CELEBRATED MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST SAUL WILLIAMS SPEAKS ON HIS UPCOMING PERFORMANCE AT MASS MOCA
ANDREW GURA
Poet, rapper, actor, writer, and filmmaker Saul Williams will take the stage at MASS MoCA’ s Hunter Center on Saturday, May 24, to celebrate the opening of groundbreaking artist Vincent Valdez’ s exhibition, Just a Dream … Both Williams and Valdez use their respective art forms— music, poetry, film, and visual art— to examine contemporary sociopolitical landscapes and provoke dialogue around issues of identity, justice, systemic racism, and societal transformation.
Williams captured the world’ s attention as the Grand Slam Champion of Nuyorican Poets Cafe in 1996 and later starred in the 1998 independent film Slam and the 2013 jukebox musical Holler If Ya Hear Me. His artistic vision, marked by fierce honesty and uncompromising exploration, has resonated globally through powerful performances and musical collaborations with luminaries such as Trent Reznor, Rick Rubin, and Erykah Badu. Williams also channels his fierce artistry into films like the Afrofuturist project Neptune Frost. Released in 2021, the film portrays a revolutionary future set in a fictionalized version of Burundi, where hackers rise against oppressive systems. Through its visionary narrative of resistance and transformation, the film beautifully illustrates Williams’ unwavering dedication to provocative and revolutionary creative expression.
Through its exploration of American political and social realities, Valdez’ s exhibition at MASS MoCA features more than two decades of bold and evocative visual work, complementing Williams’ multidisciplinary approach. Chief Curator Denise Markonish highlights the synergy between the two artists:“ Both Vincent and Saul unflinchingly interrogate the politics of the United States and the world, confronting all the beauty and pain that entails.” Markonish, who also collaborated with Valdez on the 2019 MASS MoCA exhibition Suffering From Realness, emphasizes the alignment of their work with the museum’ s broader programming. She highlights Valdez’ s powerful trilogy, The Beginning is Near, which juxtaposes images of the Ku Klux Klan in The City with portrayals of resilience in The New Americans. Markonish underscores Valdez and Williams’ shared commitment to confronting difficult truths, quoting Valdez directly about the nature of his art:“ I am an observer. I bear witness. I am committed to putting it down on record to testify.” Together, their work provides an immersive, thought-provoking experience, proving the power of art as a transformative force. In anticipation of his upcoming performance, Williams sat down to discuss the intersection of his personal journey, artistry, and creative vision.
28 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Holiday May / June 2023 2025