99% NO.1 2013

Curator: Sedrick Huckaby's diminutive work, "99% NO.1," captures a poignant moment in monochrome—almost like a charcoal whisper. What strikes you first about it? Editor: The immediate intensity in the man’s gaze. I read the hand-written text, and I think about the politics of Black masculinity, and the artist’s need to re-write the narrative through the Boy Scouts. Curator: Absolutely, it's the kind of piece that makes you lean in. I feel like he's sharing something deeply personal. Editor: Yes, and I see Huckaby resisting dominant stereotypes, using something as seemingly innocuous as a portrait to make a powerful statement about identity. Curator: It reminds me that survival can be beautiful, and these quiet moments are worth celebrating. Editor: Precisely, and acknowledging the life skills he mentions, gives a sense of lived experience and quiet resilience.