The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County is exploring the connection between the past and the future in its upcoming Black History Month exhibition, “Kindred Visions.” The exhibition celebrates visual interpretations of Afrofuturism, featuring works selected through a national call from artists across the United States.
Curated by Antoinne Duane Jones, “Kindred Visions” brings a deeply personal vision to the Arts Council.
“I spent nearly 20 years of my adult life in Fayetteville,” Jones says. “My primary adult growth happened here—from attending Fayetteville State University to becoming a father and a photographer. Many of my adult firsts happened in the ‘Ville.”
Jones curates “Kindred Visions” to reflect Afrofuturism, a genre that uses science fiction, technology, and fantasy to examine Black history while imagining empowered and optimistic futures. “Afrofuturism to me is the look and feel of Afro people upgraded to our wildest dreams of what we see the future world to be,” Jones explains. “My aim is to share the overall talent and expression of an Afro-focused vision.”
The exhibition takes inspiration from Octavia Butler’s novel Kindred, widely regarded as a foundational work of Afrofuturism. Butler challenged the science fiction genre to embrace more inclusive narratives while offering sharp commentary on contemporary culture. Kindred follows a woman in the 1970s who is mysteriously transported back and forth through time, encountering her ancestors—both freed and enslaved.
Visitors can deepen their engagement by participating in a community-wide book club centered on Kindred, made possible through a partnership between the Arts Council and the Cumberland County Public Library.
“Cumberland County Public Library is thrilled to partner with the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County on their Kindred Visions exhibit,” says Danielle Ellis, Special Project Liaison. “To encourage community-wide reading, we’ve added extra copies of Kindred to our collection so the book is readily available at each of our eight library branches. We look forward to inspiring and meaningful conversations through this collaboration.”
Ultimately, "Kindred Visions" invites viewers to reflect on how history, imagination, and intention shape the future. As Octavia E. Butler writes in A Few Rules for Predicting the Future, “Most of all, our tomorrow is the child of our today. Through thought and deed, we exert a great deal of influence over this child, even though we can’t control it absolutely. Best to think about it, though. Best to try to shape it into something good. Best to do that for any child.”
"Kindred Visions" is on display at the Arts Council at 301 Hay St. from Jan. 23 to March 1.

(Photo: Antoinne Duane Jones will curate "Kindred Visions, An Exploration of Afrofuturism" at the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. Photo courtesy of Antoinne Duane Jones Facebook)