The arts have always been part of Gaidi Finnie’s life, and from the time he was 16, he knew he would pursue a way to share his love and appreciation for the arts with others.
He’s spent most of his career this way, from serving as a member of the board of directors or in management positions with North Coast Repertory Theatre, the Museum of Photographic Arts, Balboa Park Conservancy, the Port of San Diego’s public arts committee, and presently as the executive director of the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Arts, among others. And his work with the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Arts allows him to highlight the work of creatives from his community.
“It goes without saying that the contributions made by blacks in this country, as well as globally, are unprecedented. As a museum, we believe that the cultural contributions of Africans and African Americans must be acknowledged, celebrated, and exhibited. All of us benefit from the knowledge of one another,” he says.
Part of that can be seen in the museum’s latest collaboration, with the San Diego Museum of Art, “Black Life: Images of Resistance and Resilience in Southern California,” on display through Dec. 1 and featuring the work of three noted, black photographers, spanning 50 years. As part of this exhibition, Finnie is leading a discussion with fellow curator Keith Rice at 2 p.m. today at the San Diego Museum of Art on “Black Life: A Conversation.”
Finnie, 64, lives in Imperial Beach and has two adult daughters, Paris and Milan, and he also works as chief operations officer of Bayview Baptist Church. He took some time to talk about the importance of the museum, why the discussion this afternoon is important to him, and spending his free time as a foodie.
Q: Tell us about the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Arts.
A: The museum was originally started by the late Shirley Day Williams in the late 1980s, and I was a member of the original board of directors. Unfortunately, she ed away in 1996, and after her ing, the organization was dormant.
In 2012, I began to think about the feasibility of reviving the museum and later shared my thoughts with a few individuals who understood the need to revive the organization. In 2014, we were able to host our first exhibit as a reinstated museum. Since its inception, the museum has been a museum without walls. While some may see it as a disadvantage, we have always seen it has an opportunity to forge some important collaborations. We have collaborated with the SDSU Downtown Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the Mingei International Museum, the Veterans Museum at Balboa Park, the San Diego History Center, and currently the San Diego Museum of Art.
The purpose of the museum is to exhibit work by and about African Americans and the African diaspora. These collaborations have enabled us to expose new audiences to the art of and about black people in a very deliberate way.
Q: You have an extensive background in nonprofit work, particularly in the arts. What drew you to pursue a professional career in these areas?
A: From the age of 16, I knew my appreciation for the arts was a direction I wanted to pursue. The road has included the pursuit of theater, poetry, and currently even culinary arts. In college, I adopted the sixth principle of Kwanzaa, “kuumba,” as my guiding principle. “Kuumba” means using creativity to perform acts that leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we found it. Implementation of that principle is sometimes easier said than done. My volunteer work confirmed that I can blend practical operations/management with the arts. Nonprofit work isn’t for everyone, and although I need money, I am not driven by money. I am mission-driven and the mission is kuumba.
Q: Tell us about the “Black Life: Images of Resistance and Resilience in Southern California” exhibition that the SDAAMFA organized with the San Diego Museum of Art and California State University, Northridge.
A: The idea for this exhibit was a couple of years in the making. The San Diego Museum of Art approached us to collaborate, and specifically wanted a photography exhibition. After working through a few proposals, I ed California State University, Northridge about a collection of African American photography they had been gifted. When I called them, I was connected with the collection archivist, Keith Rice. The photos were a combination of content, art and history. The subject matter includes a number of celebrities, primarily because the photographers had unfettered access to these celebrities. Even with celebrities as the primary subjects, these individuals demonstrate friendship, family, and the brilliance of performing that are, in my opinion, the cornerstone of who we are.
What I love about Imperial Beach …
It is California’s best “small town” coastal city. There’s a comfortable feeling when you live in a community where, like the TV bar “Cheers,” “everybody knows your name.”
Q: What are a few of your favorite images from this exhibit?
A: The image of Muhammad Ali and Stokely Carmichael. They are two of my heroes, both wanting what is best for black people, and both willing to sacrifice for the cause. Seeing them have a laugh warms my heart and brings to mind the Civil Rights Movement in a happy way. The image of the Black Panther office being raided feels like something we were not supposed to see. , these photos were taken more than four decades ago, way before cell phone cameras. If you look closely, there is a sign above the door that references the free food program that provided free breakfast for local kids. That part of the photo humanized the Black Panthers in a way that most photographers wouldn’t have focused on or even noticed.
Q: Did you grow up in Southern California? Do you recall witnessing any images of resistance and resilience at the time? What images stood out to you from that time in your life?
A: I grew up in New Jersey and was a young kid during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. I took my cues from the adults around me. I have an image of my mother I can still see in my head of her always singing Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come.” She sang with such intensity that the memory stayed with me long after she ed. She is a very real example of resilience. She was a maid for wealthy whites, as was her mother. The break in that cycle, that change came with my siblings and me. We were able to get an education or pursue the entrepreneurial opportunities that were not available to her. She definitely laid the foundation.
Q: You’re also leading a discussion at 2 p.m. today at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park, on “Black Life: A Conversation.” What can people expect to hear/learn at this event, if they attend?
A: The most important thing I hope folks come away with is how much all of us have in common as Americans. We learn from each other. There is no right or wrong answer. I hope when people walk away, they will be curious and want to read more, explore more, engage someone who is different than they are.
Q: Why is having this discussion important to you?
A: I believe in teachable moments; having discussions around subjects that, to some, may be painful, and to others, necessary, is what is important.
Q: Your website says that this discussion will be “relevant to all, regardless of race or ethnicity.” How so?
A: Today, the struggles of many are the struggles of most. The lack of affordable housing, the lack of employment that actually pays the bills, quality education, etc. What separates us is the road we must travel to overcome those obstacles. That journey is exasperating because the historical context of race has not been dealt with sufficiently.
Q: What do you hope people come away with understanding about black lives, as a result of the exhibit and the discussion?
A: It is impossible to think one exhibit or one discussion is going to change anyone overnight. I hope folks appreciate the quality of the photography and through the discussion, acknowledge the complexity that comes with being African American in America.
Q: What’s been challenging about your work with the SDAAMFA?
A: The top of my list is the same for many small art organizations: funding.
Q: What’s been rewarding about this work?
A: The opportunity, through collaborations like our current exhibit with the San Diego Museum of Art, to expose the outstanding art by and about African Americans, to all of San Diego and beyond.
Q: What did that work teach you about yourself?
A: That through sacrifice, you realize your commitment.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: If you cannot stop a hurricane, be one.
Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?
A: I was a poet who had an opportunity to work with Maya Angelou very early in her career.
Q: Describe your ideal San Diego weekend.
A: I am a huge foodie. I look forward to the Union-Tribune and other publications that review new restaurants; I usually make an effort to try them. The more exotic, the better. Luckily, the diversity in San Diego lends itself well to my food pursuits. And on Sundays, I like to cook. It’s my artistic expression for family and friends.
