Let’s Make an Anthology with BlackMass Publishing

The Schomburg Center’s centennial exhibition, To Uncover and Reveal to the World: Arturo Schomburg’s Library, displays the preliminary book collection of its namesake. This collection, colloquially referred to as Arturo Schomburg’s “seed collection,” includes 4600 books, pamphlets, art, and manuscripts that reflect Black life across the diasporas. Purchased by the New York Public Library in 1926, the collection grew into the millions of items now presently held by the Center.

Facilitated by BlackMass Publishing, a Black independent press and archive, this workshop invites participants to craft a collective zine and produce their own knowledge. Collaging tools will be provided, but workshop participants should bring copies of magazine clippings, photographs, and other assorted ephemera that they would like to incorporate within their zines. This workshop will culminate in a limited edition collective anthology which will be printed and available for pickup at the Schomburg Center following the program.

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Yusuf Hassan is an artist, publisher, and founder of BlackMass Publishing, an independent press dedicated to artist books, zines, and research-driven publications. His practice examines publishing as a means of documenting, preserving, and circulating knowledge through printed matter. Working across artist books, archival projects, and publications, Hassan investigates the relationships between collections, visual culture, memory, and the book as a site of research.

Through BlackMass Publishing, he has produced publications spanning art, photography, architecture, music, literature, and cultural history, with an emphasis on expanding access to underrepresented histories and ideas through independent publishing. His publications are held in museum and university library collections internationally, and his work has been presented through exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and public programs that explore the role of publishing in research, special collections, and the preservation of cultural knowledge.

Space is limited.

Accessibility requests can be made by e-mail [email protected].

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FIRST COME, FIRST SEATED Events are free and open to all, but due to space constraints registration is requested. Registered guests are given priority check-in 15 minutes before start time. After the event starts all registrations are released, so we recommend that you arrive early. We generally overbook to ensure a full workshop.

GUESTS Please note that holding seats in the Langston Hughes Auditorium is strictly prohibited and there is no food or drinks allowed anywhere in the Schomburg Center.

ACCESSIBLILITY Accessibility requests can be made by e-mail [email protected].

E-TRANSPORTATION NYPL policy prohibits electric transportation devices (e.g., motorbikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards) from being brought into or stored at library sites for any length of time, as this is the best way to keep our spaces & people safe.

AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING Programs are photographed and recorded by the Schomburg Center. Attending this event indicates your consent to being filmed/photographed and your consent to the use of your recorded image for any all purposes of the New York Public Library.

PRESS Please send all press inquiries (photo, video, interviews, audio-recording, etc) at least 24-hours before the day of the program to Leah Drayton at [email protected].

Please note that personal and professional video recordings are prohibited without expressed consent.

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Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, United States

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