In This Issue
For Academy Award nominee Jeffrey Wright's stunning digital cover, EBONY headed to a little sunny spot in Brooklyn, New York. SunSpot Studios, founded by broker/creator mTkalla Keaton, is a physical space that stands as a social platform for magnetic Black energy.
"We knew there was a need for Black spaces, founded, funded and for us," Keaton declares. It's a place "where we won’t just have our money taken while the space 'tolerates' our presence, particularly when we, as Black people, increase the value of any space we are in."
The space's vibe is vintage futurism. "It's an analog feel with a vision into the future, highlighted by the digital art I’ve produced using emerging technologies," Keaton shares. For the Wright shoot, Keaton tapped art director Susan Linss to take it to the next level. "She brought out the best of the space that already seemed to fit Jeffrey Wright’s swagger."
That swagger is featured in multiple rooms throughout the studio, including the Blue Room, which is the heartbeat of SunSpot. "There's this vintage, mid-century black leather couch where Jeffrey was laid out reading a magazine," Keaton says. "If I didn’t live here, I would have thought this was his house."
The SunSpot is a known space for all creatives. "When parties are happening, the basement is the place to be," Keaton reveals. "For live music, the attic, previously blessed by Lauryn Hill and Alice Smith, is the spot. In the spring and summer, the porch and backyard will have you forgetting time."
In these moments and gatherings, the Black community connects. "Social spaces have been created before for artists or business people. From the SunSpot perspective, all these folks need to be in the same room, drinking and listening to music. Just set the vibe and watch the magic happen."
Keaton has extended that vibe to the motherland. "We must connect to the continent, which is the main thrust behind the SunSpot Eastern Cape space in South Africa," he says. SunSpot also has a location in Baltimore, Maryland. "Keep an eye on us as we contract and expand during our evolution. We are here to engage with all Black creatives, listen to their visions and see how we can help the vision become a real thing."
Keaton, whose artwork is featured in all the photos above, pointed out that EBONY helped spark his love of Black archivism. "Having it in my hands as a little boy was my first experience of seeing myself in print," he exclaims. "Having EBONY at the SunSpot Foundation was a full circle moment that lifted our hearts."
