LA Rebellion Film Movement Short Films

In conjunction with the special exhibition Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers, the Modern presents "Don’t Lose Poetry," a two-part film program shaped by Johnson’s multidisciplinary practice and the thematic currents running through both the exhibition and his 2019 feature‑length adaptation of Richard Wright’s Native Son. The two-part series includes Rashid Johnson's Native Son and LA Rebellion Film Movement short films Passing Through (directed by Larry Clark, 1977) and Brick by Brick (directed by Shirikiana Aina, 1982).

Explore how two landmark LA Rebellion films—Passing Through and Brick by Brick—echo the themes central to Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers, including identity, race, cultural memory, and the emotional weight carried across generations. Johnson describes his art as “a space for contemplation and to investigate freedom and will,” a lens that deepens the films’ explorations of Black life and resistance. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Devon "Vonnie" Smith.

This event is free and open to the public.

The Modern’s Exhibition Films series showcases the concept of “art in motion” through artist-created films, documentaries about artists, and films that explore themes related to our permanent collection and special exhibitions. At select screenings, attendees can engage in discussions and participate in Q&A sessions; all films are shown in the Museum’s auditorium. Native Son and LA Rebellion Film Movement are also a part of the "Don't Lose Poetry" Film Series. “Don’t Lose Poetry”, is a short film program inspired by the work of multidisciplinary artist Rashid Johnson, his exhibition, and his 2019 feature-length adaptation of Richard Wright’s Native Son. The program is hosted and moderated by filmmaker and video artist Devon “Vonnie” Smith, Professor of Practice in Production at Southern Methodist University.

Stage Events - Throughout the run of the special exhibition Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers, a site-specific stage located in front of the Modern’s auditorium will host both programmed performances and spontaneous activations. An artwork in its own right, Stage, 2026, features a powder-coated steel surface bearing Johnson’s signature marks, scratched and branded into the metal, aging and burnishing over time. This platform, where others can express themselves, emphasizes the reciprocal relationship between artist and audience, a central motif in the artist’s practice.

Inspired by Johnson’s early memories of dancing and performing with friends atop Carl Andre’s Post-Minimalist floor works at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Stage is a testament to Johnson’s commitment to creating space for others. More than an invitation to engage and interact, the work fosters artistic endeavors and creativity as a collective experience.