Immanuel Oni

Dyeing means to change colors. People every now and then have asked me what the African-themed pattern means in acknowledging the former Chrystie St. African Burial Ground adjacent to the M’finda Kalunga @mkgarden_ in the Lower East Side. The fence pattern is a wayfinding visual language referencing African and Indigenous textile patterns to provide a sense of identity to the site and it’s unknown history. The mesh material lined with lighting softens the steel framing and illuminates the site. This combination also makes the pattern feel apart of the existing spatial fabric, as if this memorial was always there opposed to a stand alone object. The dots accent the pattern but are also tombstones of the roughly 400 names only found and registered from the original burial ground. I particularly referenced the “adire” cloth or fabric for it’s “tie dye” nature and universal connection to other countries. Adiré is a type of indigo-dyed cloth practiced in the Yoruba region of Nigeria, as well as other Western African countries. However, multiple cultures globally have practiced similar dyeing methods for cloth and attire including “shibori” in Japan, “zha ran” in China, “Batik” in Indonesia, etc. Considering that the garden is connected to an Asian senior community center that hosts programming in the garden and is situated within a Chinatown context, I thought about a universal but recognizable language that characterizes the overlap of Black and Indigenous Lower East Side history with present day residents. The visual language ties both these diverse narratives with the garden as the colored, dynamic fabric background itself. In order to shift the perception of burial grounds from death to shared cultural practice, my aim was to outline and highlight this transformation of place and it’s inhabitance but also unearth the constant fabric that remains. Dyeing means to change colors.. -Oni, space doula Thankful to the support of @_fabnyc @beamcenter @buro_happold @laundromat_proj

Mr. Frizzle Still a work in progress, but grateful 🙏🏾🙏🏾 South Jersey, thank you so far for allowing us to aim for the stars. Flagship Sailbus: Setting sail soon… @njmml @viapublicart @artsgarageac @talkingeyesmedia @howtallareyou @chungfanchang_studio

Join Van Cortlandt Park Alliance for a live, virtual conversation with designers Immanuel Oni and Jeremiah Olayinka Ojo exploring the project, Reimagining the Enslaved African Burial Ground in Van Cortlandt Park, and the importance of working thoughtfully with memorial spaces on Monday, February 23 at 6:30pm. Visit our Linktree in our Bio to RSVP. Black History Month events are part of Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s REIMAGINING initiative. In partnership with the Design Trust for Public Space and Immanuel Oni, Liminal Sp, VCPA invites the community to reimagine the park’s Enslaved African Burial Ground site as a memorial space that fosters long-term healing and restoration. This project is supported by a generous grant from the Mellon Foundation. #vancortlandtpark #blackhistorymonth #reimagining

10 years to remove a NYCHA fence… it was worth the wait👌🏾 Still buzzing from the Opening the Edge fence mesh ribbon cutting this month! I recall all the community outreach, stakeholder design sessions, and the collective decision-making with community design team to re-imagine an under-utilized fenced-in green area in 2016. Originally proposed by @jgreengold it is now an open, welcoming space with a platform to highlight the culture and talent of Lillian Wald Houses in the Lower East Side. Very fortunate to be apart of the amazing team of fellows, creatives, designers, project managers, and collaborators: @jgreengold 🙏🏾 @destiny.mata @katesweaterrrrrrr @mollie_serena @crazyrhythms @daviestoews @jahthecreature @flwrwrk @dhafaraledani #rebeccahill rip🙏🏾 My apologies if I missed anyone, there were so many hands in this initiative! Much much appreciation to the @designtrustnyc for believing in this @nychagram resident led vision and literally willing it into fruition over the years. Excited for the residents of Wald Houses! 📷: Tameek Williams @teemonee , @destiny.mata

Join us for the REIMAGINING Design Ideas Competition Informational Webinar on 12/1 at noon! 🌺Led by @vcpalliance , ‘Reimagining the Enslaved African Burial Ground at Van Cortlandt Park’ has opened a Design Ideas Competition with @designtrustnyc and @immanueloni , inviting firms and individuals to submit their qualifications for creating a memorial proposal. Taking guidance from the project’s engagement with the local Bronx community, its Legacy Council, and descendants, the REIMAGINING Design Ideas Competition will create a new vision for grounds, connect neighbors and visitors to the history of the place, and invite new opportunities for gathering, educating, and healing. Submit a RFQ form by 12/17. Register for the webinar, learn more about the selection process, and apply at the link in our bio: https://bit.ly/REIMAGININGRFQ

Calling architects, artists, and designers! 💐 Led by @vcpalliance , ‘Reimagining the Enslaved African Burial Ground at Van Cortlandt Park’ has opened a Design Ideas Competition in partnership with @designtrustnyc & @immanueloni , inviting firms and individuals to submit their qualifications for creating a memorial proposal. Taking guidance from the project’s engagement with the local Bronx community, its Legacy Council, and descendants, the REIMAGINING Design Ideas Competition will create a new vision for grounds, connect neighbors and visitors to the history of the place, and invite new opportunities for gathering, educating, and healing. Submit a RFQ form by 12/17. Learn more about the selection process and apply at the link in our bio: https://bit.ly/REIMAGININGRFQ

post Japan depression #afro-mingei circa October 2025

🏁 F L A G S H I P ⛴️ On Dia de los Muertos, we set sail for the 1st public event at @bayshorecenteratbivalve to co-create the South Jersey region @njmmlofficial mobile monument. Given the holi-day, the @njmmlofficial crew members including @artsgarageac @emilyblumenfeld #seabrookeducationalcenter , deacon @howtallareyou and I delivered a sermon to the community members of Port Norris, Atlantic, Millville, Seabrook focusing on mapping legacy and creating one’s own flag-ship for future ancestors. Following service, we launched the first inaugural flagship boat regatta. Both past and new Community stakeholders set sail there newly made flagships to honor their past and future legacies. The “F L A G S H I P“ theme: 1. refers to the locale @Bayshore history of oysters and sail boats. 2. I also thought of (im)migration of people as a flagship, and loose meaning of “the first to come” 3. and how a flag, though contentious can be representive of a place(s) of origin and identity, 4. and flagship as a store, and thought how can this monument store stories and values for future ancestries. Much appreciation to the South Jersey region community members in being open to “balance serious memory work with community-building joy” - Andy @njmmlofficial partner. Still processing… #boatrace #regatta #flagship #legacy #identity #sport #southjersey #neo-tradition

A monument in motion, powered by your stories. 🗣️ Be part of Flagship: Monument on the Move with @njmmlofficial + @immanueloni . Link in bio for details ⬆️ #NJMML #CommunityVoices #ImmigrantLabor #MigrantStories #NJHistory

The Legacy Council was conceived in collaboration with the @vcpalliance and @designtrustnyc to create a stakeholder group to provide design and program guidelines for reimagining the Van Cortlandt Enslaved African Burial Ground in the Bronx. Over the course of multiple workshops, field trips, and events, we concluded our council meeting with a design session to illustrate values and ideas generated. We also celebrated @mevlanas_daughter birthday. Much appreciation to collaborators @howtallareyou @crazyrhythms @paticakesss 🙏🏾 Join us tomorrow, Saturday Oct 18 for our Fall Getogether at the burial ground at 1p!

My architecture thesis was on alternatives to incarceration, starting with the dwelling unit. I couldn’t have imagined that years later I’d be working as a @nyculture DCLA Public Artist-in-Residence at @nycacs Crossroads co-creating with youth in exploring unit healing spaces. Though this is only a thought exercise, there is continued interest to address the youth’s concerns. There is so much I have learned in doing these workshops alongside the staff. They all have a passion to work with young people in these unfortunate situations, and aim to create and expose them to creative opportunities they normally don’t have access to. I’m humbled to now be apart of this work and hopefully help surface the youth narratives and the talent behind these walls. model support 🙏🏾 @justjuancho_06 asst: @emily.delima

Honored to be co-creating a @njmmlofficial monument towards the legacy of the South Jersey Region. I had the pleasure of touring the sites across the region meeting community artists and long-time residents. From oyster shore towns like @bayshorecenteratbivalve , agricultural centers #secc Seabrook Cultural Center, @wheatonarts generational glass making, @artsgarageac telling the histories of Atlantic City, the list goes on. New Jersey, I am forever changed from encountering such culturally/environmentally rich landscapes, stories of pride and resilience of im/migrants to the region, the descendent community, and their impact on economy and everyday life. To be weighted with the joining this collective task of recognizing the unseen contributions of Black and Caribbean, Asian, even European peoples to the area is both overwhelming and inspiring. I’m still processing.. Special thanks to @njmmlofficial , @viapublicart , and community partners/stakeholders in coordinating this effort with such a warm welcome.