Hello from Abhi & Michaela:

History is Happening Now!

Will you help us capture it for future generations while we still have time?

Documentarian Abhi Indrekar filming in New Mexico, 2022

About Us & Our Documentary + Community Archive Projects:

We are a husband (Abhi) and wife (Michaela) documentary team based in Boston. We have been documenting a group of elders from Boston's Black artist community over the past 2.5 years. This project emerged organically from working with activists and artists on the ground during the summer and fall of 2020. This work is rooted in Abhi's street theater and political filmmaking background from his indigenous community in India, as well as a shared ethos to document first and let the project emerge via collaboration and relationships with participants.

While pursuing our project about the broader community, we came to more deeply understand the centrality of Professor Emeritus Dr. Dana Chandler to the art world and the community overall. It became clear that the magnitude of Dr. Chandler's impact and the importance of his work warrants more thorough documentation and ideally, a film of its own.

We are asking for your help to return to New Mexico to begin this process by further documenting Dr. Chandler and his life's work as soon as possible. While we hope to have many years to come, Dr. Chandler's age and health require us to act quickly.

Dr. Chandler in 1977 with Kenneth Ryder, then-president of Northeastern University.

“Without Ken Ryder, there would have been no AAMARP,” according to Dr. Chandler.

About Dr. Dana Chandler:

Dr. Chandler has had many accomplishments over his long life as an artist, activist, and community leader in Boston. Among these include a professorship at Simmons University, driving external pressure for Boston's MFA to hold its first historic shows of African American art (1971 onward), and founding and running the vanguard African American Master Artist in Residence Program (AAMARP) at Northeastern University. Over his lifetime, Dr. Chandler has been an extremely prolific artist and influential leader in Boston. He relocated to New Mexico some time ago.

Dr. Dana Chandler in 1981 with visiting Chinese government officials and representatives of Northeastern University. Behind Dr. Chandler is his seminal work, "Return of the ReconstruKKKtion Series: SaKKKrificial Dance,” 8x12 ft, acrylic on Masonite.

The Reach of Chandler's Influence:

Through our documentary project about the community, we came to more deeply understand the centrality and power of Dr. Chandler's work and persona. Almost every artist we have spoken to, from their 40s to their 80s, has praised his influence on their life and/or work. Many artists name Chandler's mentorship as the reason for their careers. Even people who had some friction with his larger-than-life persona, also were inspired by his public art, motivated by his example of community leadership, and spurred on by his critique.

Why This Trip is Urgent:

We self-funded our first trip to New Mexico in August 2022. We spent a week with Dr. Chandler in his home, capturing stories and his work. Now in his 80s and suffering several health problems, we feel it is imperative to return as soon as possible to complete the documentation of his stories, as well as his extensive work in storage. We have been invited by Dr. Chandler and his daughter, personal representative and artist agent, Dahna Chandler, to return. The only barrier has been securing funds to pay for the trip.

These funds will cover:

Abhi Indrekar & Michaela Henry with Dr. Dana Chandler in his New Mexico home, 2022.

Historical Impact:

We are asking for your help to support our efforts to document a once-in-a-generation leader of Boston's art community and Boston's Black community, especially Roxbury.

Outcomes:

For More Information:

You can learn more about Dr. Chandler and his work here: https://celebratedactivistartist.com/

You can learn more about Abhi's filmmaking here: www.abhiindrekar.com

Please reach out to us anytime with questions at www.ghumantuart.com/