Darnell Lamont Walker, Writer and Filmaker Creates Safe Space For Artists In South Africa

NEW YORK - Dec. 9, 2016 - PRLog -- Writer, filmmaker, and artist, Darnell Lamont Walker, producer and director of Seeking Asylum, a documentary about Black Americans escaping American tyranny for safe spaces in the world, has gone into what he calls "self-imposed exile" in South Africa, using his time and energy there to create safe spaces for those like him in the United States. "There are no geographical cures," says Walker. "When I left America, I knew I wasn't truly leaving. I knew I'd still be fighting for the same equality, the same love, and the same hope my parents and grandparents and those before them fought for. So here I am on the African continent, fighting, but feeling free at the same time."

In an article titled, "Darnell Lamont Walker documents journey to seek asylum from injustice" on Rolling Out, Darnell talks about the horrifying moment when Daytona Beach Police held a gun to him and his friend's head for absolutely no reason, and how that moment continues to deeply impact all work created after.

In March 2016, while in Johannesburg for the Rapid Lion Film Festival, Darnell fell in love with the people, the welcoming, and the vibe, and began looking for locations to not only house himself, but the many who may need to escape the madness of America, even if only for a little while. In September 2016, he found that place in the Maboneng Precinct.

Continuing his artistic expressions, Darnell is photographing life in South Africa, collecting stories, and building a strong network for himself and those who need it. In this safe space, Baldwin's Room was born.

Baldwin's Room is an artist initiative that pulls artists out of America and into South Africa where they are free to work on their art in safe spaces. The aim is to support these artists' expressions and their self-care.

From January 8, 2017 to March 1, 2017, Baldwin's Room organizes a short residency in Johannesburg, South Africa, inviting 4 to 8 artists to develop work in the home of Darnell Lamont Walker and local spaces available to them. Each participant will get to utilize the space for 1 week. While there is no theme, Baldwin's Room asks the artists to use South Africa as a point of departure.

With this residency, Baldwin's Room wants to encourage valuable exchanges among the artists and build lasting artistic camaraderie.

Baldwin's Room is excited to see what each artist will produce during their residency, but more excited to see how working in safe spaces outside of America can benefit in the artistic process. By means of this, the location can be seen as a restriction or a possibility.

"As an artist and an activist I understand how important a safe space is when planning a revolution. Artists have always been a major part of any revolution. The art created in this space will undoubtedly speak to the times," Walker says.

With times a-changin' but America still being very anti-Black, Walker says now is a great time to escape that damaging corner of the world.

Also, "Director Darnell Lamont Walker has just the documentary for everyone who says they'll flee the country if Trump gets elected," says Ebony Magazine (Suede).

Taking advantage of the great breezes, rains, and warmth of Johannesburg in December, Darnell Lamont Walker is working hard on his documentary, Outside the House (OutsideTheHouseDoc.Com), taking a look at Mental Health and Black folks, and working on another installment of Seeking Asylum that will take him and his colleague and friend, Dr. Kwame Edwin Otu, to Ghana.

Darnell Lamont Walker can be reached via email at Darnell.Walker@Me.com.

To watch Seeking Asylum or get more information, go to http://www.SeekingAsylumFilm.Com

Artists interested in applying to Baldwin's Room can apply at: http://www.passportrequired.com/baldwin