Press Release
AfriKin Art Fair to Honor Actress & Art Collector CCH Pounder during Miami Art Week
12th Edition of Art Fair to Feature Opening of GRIOT: Urgent Storytelling for Our Times Exhibit
Austria, 20th Oct 2026 – AfriKin Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art institution based in Miami, will open the 12th edition of AfriKin Art Fair on November 29, 2026, with GRIOT: Urgent Storytelling for Our Times, an exhibition of an estimated 70 artists of African heritage from more than 35 countries and territories across Africa and the diaspora. Curated by Joseph L. Underwood, Ph.D., of Kent State University, the fair runs through December 6 at Maison AfriKin, 1600 NE 126th Street in Downtown North Miami, during Miami Art Week and alongside Art Basel Miami Beach.
Award-winning actress and art collector CCH Pounder, whose collection includes more than 500 works by Caribbean, African and diaspora artists, will receive the 2026 AfriKin Award of Excellence at the opening Vernissage on November 29.
Now in its twelfth consecutive year, AfriKin Art Fair has become one of the most sought-after destinations during Miami Art Week for collectors acquiring work by emerging and established artists of African heritage. The fair is built on AfriKin’s founding principle that culture creates commerce, commerce strengthens community, and community safeguards culture. In 2025, the fair welcomed 8,955 visitors, generated $188,000 in combined marketplace sales and paid $97,800 directly to participating artists.
“The griot kept the record of the community,” said Alfonso D. Brooks, Founder and Chairman of AfriKin Foundation. “For twelve years, AfriKin has given artists of African heritage a place inside Miami Art Week to keep the record of our time, put it in front of the world’s collectors, and be paid for it. CCH Pounder has spent decades carrying these artists into museums from Philadelphia to London, and we are proud to honor her as GRIOT opens.”
The Exhibition
GRIOT casts contemporary artists as vital members of their communities. The griots of West Africa have historically been responsible for carrying the stories of their communities, asking “Where have we been? What have we accomplished?” They could also carry a word of warning, often using their position of privilege to advocate for the community during the reign of difficult rulers, asking “What are we becoming? Haven’t we learned this lesson yet?”
Working in painting, sculpture, photography, textile and other media, the artists of GRIOT are storytellers who are each remembering, reflecting, critiquing, praising, celebrating, dreaming and encouraging.
The exhibition is divided into smaller sections, or dialogues, where the artworks pose similar questions. Visitors will have a chance to respond on site, engaging in a conversation with the display and re-enacting the call and response of a griot and their audience, like a minister with their congregation.
“Across the dialogues, visitors will encounter the art as a living force for dialogue, not a passive decoration on a wall, but a contemporary griot whose call demands our attention and our response,” said curator Joseph L. Underwood, Ph.D.
2026 Honoree: CCH Pounder, Griot of the Collection
AfriKin Foundation will present the 2026 AfriKin Award of Excellence to CCH Pounder in recognition of a lifetime spent collecting, preserving and presenting the work of Caribbean, African and diaspora artists. In the tradition of the griot, Pounder has built a collection that keeps the record: a living archive of more than 500 works that she has carried into museums across the United States, Europe and Africa.
The CCH Pounder-Koné Collection is concentrated in contemporary art and includes traditional African sculpture. Exhibitions drawn from it include Shared Vision at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Diaspora Stories at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center in Chicago, Queen at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, and, most recently, Brother, Brother at the African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta. Works from the collection have also been loaned to the National Portrait Gallery and Somerset House in London, the Art Institute of Chicago, Xavier University of Louisiana, Spelman College Museum of Art, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and the Kent State University Museum.
In 1992, Pounder and her late husband, Boubacar Koné, founded the Musée Boribana in Dakar, the first privately owned contemporary art museum in Senegal, and gifted it to the nation in 2014. In 2022 she was named a Commander of the National Order of the Lion, Senegal’s highest honor. GRIOT curator Dr. Joseph L. Underwood has himself contributed to exhibition projects at the Musée Boribana, a connection that links this year’s honoree and this year’s exhibition through the same institution.
“Artists are the griots of our time. They hold what we cannot afford to forget,” said CCH Pounder. “Every work I have collected carries someone’s story, and a collector’s responsibility is to keep that story moving into museums, into classrooms and into the hands of the next generation. AfriKin has built that kind of home in Miami, and I am honored to stand with these artists during Art Week.”
Originally from Georgetown, Guyana, Pounder is a four-time Emmy® nominee known for her roles as Claudette Wyms on FX’s The Shield and Dr. Loretta Wade on CBS’s NCIS: New Orleans, and for James Cameron’s Avatar films, including Avatar: Fire and Ash. She can currently be seen in The Terror: Devil in Silver on AMC+ and Cape Fear on Apple TV+. She serves on the board of the African Millennium Foundation, was a founding member of Artists for a New South Africa, and holds the Cacique’s Crown of Honour from Guyana and honorary doctorates from the University of Guyana and Ithaca College.
Collectors, patrons and supporters are invited to join the celebration at the Vernissage on November 29, where Pounder will be honored alongside the artists of GRIOT. VIP Preview tickets
Programming
Following the Vernissage, the GRIOT exhibition is open to the public daily from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, November 30 to December 6, closing at 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 6, with performances, collector preview access, and artist-led workshops open to collectors, students and the public. This year’s AfriKin Talks program is CHANGÁ: Griot Moves on December 3. Signature programs, in date order:
Sunday, November 29 | The Vernissage: An All-White Affair | 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
An evening showcase of multidisciplinary art and an All-White red-carpet gala, the Vernissage opens the 12th edition with a collectors’ preview, first access to the GRIOT exhibition, live performances, immersive installations and the presentation of the 2026 AfriKin Award of Excellence to CCH Pounder. Doors open at 5:30 PM. Dress code: All White with a Splash of AfriKin Chic. VIP Preview and VVIP tickets
Tuesday, December 1 | Rhythm and Soul: Mosaic Workshop | 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
A beginner-friendly mosaic workshop led by Orlando-based glass and metal artist JoKeeta of Stained Glass by JoKeeta. Using pre-cut tiles and provided materials, six to twelve participants each complete a finished piece to take home. RSVP
Thursday, December 3 | CHANGÁ: Griot Moves | 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
A breakfast, screening and conversation built around Changá, a 55-minute documentary that uses the Caribbean game of dominoes to examine how Dutch Caribbean communities create and thrive in the Netherlands. The screening is followed by a conversation between co-director Prof. Dr. Francio Guadeloupe, Endowed Chair in Public Anthropology of Kingdom Relations at the University of Amsterdam and former President of the University of St. Martin, and Prof. Patricia J. Saunders, Professor of English and Hemispheric Caribbean Studies at the University of Miami, President of the Caribbean Studies Association and author of the Bocas Prize-shortlisted Buyers Beware: Epistemologies of Consumption in Caribbean Popular Culture (Rutgers University Press, 2022). The morning closes with a live domino art activation. Register
Saturday, December 5 | African Fashion Week Miami Pop-Up | 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
A designer pop-up previewing the collections of REGENESIS: The African Winter.
Sunday, December 6 | African Fashion Week Miami: REGENESIS: The African Winter | 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
The closing runway presents designers from continental Africa and its diaspora. Following 2025’s Resistance on the Runway, REGENESIS stages a winter collection runway in tropical Miami, presenting sculptural coats, futuristic knits and couture tailoring that position African design as a source of global luxury. Tickets
All programs take place at Maison AfriKin, Scott Galvin Community Center, 1600 NE 126th Street, North Miami, FL 33181. Ticket prices increase November 1. Full details at afrikin.org.
AfriKin Art Fair 2026 is presented with Miami Art Week partners the City of North Miami, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and Art of Black Miami, Dutch Culture USA, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and CNW Network, with additional support from North Miami Parks.
Sponsorship Opportunities
AfriKin is inviting corporate, brand and institutional partners to join its 2026-27 cultural season, which opens with the Art Fair and continues with Black History Month programming in February 2027 and Art, Jazz & Champagne, AfriKin’s Women’s History Month centerpiece, on March 14, 2027.
Sponsors align with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art institution that has paid artists directly, drawn international collectors, diplomats and cultural leaders to North Miami. Partnership includes brand visibility across the season, press reach, and direct access to collectors and artists during Miami Art Week.
Presenting and Premier are single-partner anchor tiers. Diamond through Community tiers are open to multiple partners at each level. Contributions may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Sponsorship inquiries: Alfonso D. Brooks, Founder and Chairman, +1 (646) 296-3613, brooks@afrikin.org, afrikin.org/sponsor
About the Curator
Joseph L. Underwood, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Art History at Kent State University and returns as curator of AfriKin Art Fair after leading the 2025 edition. A historian of modern and contemporary art, he focuses on the postwar era, including post-colonialism, (trans)nationalism, globalization and biennialism. His research centers on how artists in Francophone West and North Africa have built transnational networks of influence since the mid-20th century. He has contributed to exhibition projects at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, the Dakar Biennale for Contemporary African Art and the Musée Boribana in Dakar. Curator profile
About AfriKin Foundation
AfriKin Foundation, Inc. (EIN 85-2592611) is a Miami-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit art institution dedicated to contemporary African and diaspora art and culture. Founded in 2015 by Alfonso D. Brooks, AfriKin has operated Maison AfriKin at the Scott Galvin Community Center in Downtown North Miami since 2022, guided by the principle that culture creates commerce, commerce strengthens community, and community safeguards culture. AfriKin’s work has been recognized by proclamations from the City of Miami, the City of Miami Beach, the City of North Miami and Miami-Dade County, as well as the 2025 Arts and Social Impact Award from the Arts and Business Council of Miami. The 2026-27 season continues with Black History Month programming in February 2027 and Art, Jazz & Champagne on March 14, 2027. In 2025, AfriKin Art Fair paid $97,800 directly to artists and welcomed 8,955 visitors. Learn more at afrikin.org and @afrikinnation.
Press kit and high-resolution images: afrikin.org/media-kit
Media Contact
Organization: AfriKin Foundation
Contact Person: Alfonso D. Brooks
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AfriKin Art Fair to Honor Actress & Art Collector CCH Pounder during Miami Art Week
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Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
New Book Where’s the GAP by David P. Matthews, Now Available on Amazon, Asks a Life Changing Question
A faith centered guide examines the mental, emotional, physical, financial, and spiritual gaps that can quietly separate people from purpose, wholeness, and meaningful growth.
Houston, Texas, United States, 20th Oct 2026 – Keach Publishing Agency announces the release of “Where’s the GAP?” by David P. Matthews, a reflective and practical new book, now available on Amazon, built around a deceptively simple question: What is standing between the life a person is living and the life he or she is meant to live?
Matthews approaches that question through what he calls the Five Sacred Trusts: mental alignment, emotional alignment, physical alignment, financial alignment, and spiritual alignment. His central argument is that these areas do not exist in isolation. A neglected gap in one can place pressure on the others, shaping decisions, relationships, health, finances, identity, and a person’s sense of purpose.
Rather than presenting personal growth as a matter of appearances or temporary behavior change, “Where’s the GAP?” asks readers to look beneath the visible symptoms of frustration, exhaustion, unresolved hurt, financial strain, or spiritual disconnection. Matthews writes from a distinctly Christian perspective, combining scripture, personal reflection, prayer, and direct questions intended to help readers identify root causes and move toward genuine alignment.
“A gap does not always announce itself loudly,” Matthews says. “Sometimes it hides behind success, busyness, relationships, money, ministry, or achievement. The real work begins when we are willing to identify what pressure is revealing and allow God to address the root, not simply the symptom.”
The book moves through each of the Five Sacred Trusts individually while showing how closely they influence one another. The mental section explores mindset, maturity, and the role of adversity. The emotional section examines forgiveness, unresolved pain, and self compassion. The physical section challenges readers to view care of the body as stewardship. The financial section considers money, responsibility, generosity, and purpose. The spiritual section brings the framework together by placing identity, obedience, and God given purpose at the center of a whole life.
That interconnected approach gives the book relevance beyond a single moment of motivation. A person dealing with financial pressure may also be carrying emotional wounds. Mental exhaustion can affect physical health. Spiritual disconnection can alter identity and direction. By helping readers recognize those relationships, Matthews offers a framework for asking better questions about why certain patterns persist and what meaningful change may require.
“This is not a book about pretending every part of life is perfect,” Matthews says. “It is about becoming honest enough to see where the gap exists, disciplined enough to address it, and faithful enough to believe that restoration and purpose are still possible.”
“Where’s the GAP?” is positioned for readers interested in Christian personal development, spiritual growth, whole person alignment, purpose, stewardship, and practical faith. Its message is especially timely for individuals who appear productive on the outside yet sense that something important remains unresolved within.
Keach Publishing Agency is supporting the title through a broader book marketing and publicity campaign designed to introduce Matthews and his Five Sacred Trusts framework to readers, faith communities, media outlets, podcast hosts, book reviewers, and organizations focused on personal and spiritual development.
“Where’s the GAP?” is available now and live on Amazon. Readers can buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HKYJ59YX
About David P. Matthews
David P. Matthews writes about faith, purpose, personal responsibility, and whole person growth. In “Where’s the GAP?” he draws on personal reflection, mentoring experience, and Christian teaching to help readers examine the areas of life that may be keeping them from greater alignment with God and their purpose. Author website: https://www.tcyblueprint.com/
About Keach Publishing Agency
Keach Publishing Agency supports authors through publishing, creative development, book marketing, publicity, and campaign strategy. The agency works to position books with clear messaging and professional presentation while helping authors build visibility around the ideas and stories behind their work.
Media Contact
Organization: Keach Publishing Agency
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New Book Where’s the GAP by David P. Matthews, Now Available on Amazon, Asks a Life Changing Question
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
BrightStag Films Announces Pre-Launch for The 18 Missing Years, a 35-Time Award-Winning Screenplay
BrightStag Films has announced the pre-launch phase for The 18 Missing Years, a 35-time award-winning episodic series inspired by The Aquarian Gospel. The project explores the untold story of Yeshua Ben Yosef (Jesus) from ages 12 to 30 as he travels across six countries along the Silk Road, including Mesopotamia. By merging deep narrative mystery with a Neill Blomkamp-style Human-AI Hybrid pipeline, the campaign aims to build audience traction ahead of an upcoming crowdfunding launch. 35-Time Award-Winning Screenplay Sparks Dialogue on Ancient Accounts While Pioneering a Human-Centric Generative Workflow Ahead of Crowdfunding Launch
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 20th Oct 2026 – BrightStag Films, an independent production company based in Philadelphia, today announced the official pre-launch phase for its episodic series project, The 18 Missing Years. Written and created by Jean Galliano, the award-winning script has already achieved widespread acclaim, securing over 35 prestigious film festival and screenplay accolades. This pre-launch effort builds momentum and subscriber support ahead of the project’s upcoming official crowdfunding launch.
Inspired by the text of The Aquarian Gospel, The 18 Missing Years explores the untold story of Yeshua Ben Yosef (Jesus) during his lost years from ages 12 to 30, detailing his journeys across the Silk Road—including India, Tibet, Persia, Mesopotamia, Greece, and Egypt. Rather than presenting the show as historical or theological fact, the production aims to ignite curiosity, foster open dialogue, and invite audiences to ask deeper questions about ancient history.
Visually and technologically, the series positions itself at the intersection of narrative intrigue and technological innovation. The project aspires to build on the performance-driven production model popularized by filmmaker Neill Blomkamp in his short film Nightborne, which captured the faces, voices, and micro-expressions of 32 real people under likeness agreements to anchor generative visual media in genuine human emotion. BrightStag Films intends to adopt a similar Human-AI Hybrid Production Pipeline alongside the right production partners, ensuring that real actor performances remain the core driver of the visual world.
“Our goal with The 18 Missing Years is twofold: to provoke thoughtful discussion around an unseen story, and to demonstrate how advanced generative tools can elevate—rather than replace—the essential human element in television,” said Fredric Schwartz, producer. “By combining deep narrative mystery with a performance-driven AI workflow, we are creating a unique experience for both audiences and industry partners.”
BrightStag Films has launched an official preview landing page featuring the concept trailer, project overview, creator commentary, and early-access sign-ups for future supporters ahead of the upcoming crowdfunding campaign.
For more information, to view the trailer, or to join the project mailing list ahead of the campaign launch, visit the18missingyears.com.
About BrightStag Films
BrightStag Films is an independent production company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dedicated to high-concept storytelling, compelling episodic narratives, and next-generation visual techniques, BrightStag Films bridges classical storytelling traditions with emerging cinematic technology.
Media Contact
Organization: BrightStag Films
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BrightStag Films Announces Pre-Launch for The 18 Missing Years, a 35-Time Award-Winning Screenplay
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
PetShopValue.com Highlights Pet Comfort and Travel Essentials Ahead of the Holiday Season
United States, 20th Oct 2026 — As the holiday season approaches, PetShopValue.com is highlighting practical pet comfort and travel essentials designed to help pet owners prepare for family visits, holiday trips, and cooler weather. From pet carriers and cozy bedding to sweaters, jackets, and thoughtful gift ideas, the company is emphasizing products that can help make seasonal routines more comfortable for pets and their owners.
Holiday travel often brings changes to familiar routines, including longer car journeys, overnight stays, crowded households, and exposure to colder temperatures. Preparing in advance can help pet owners address their animals’ everyday needs while making seasonal activities easier to manage. PetShopValue.com is drawing attention to useful supplies that support comfort, convenience, and preparation throughout the holiday period.
Preparing Pets for Holiday Travel
For households planning to travel with their pets, a suitable carrier can be an important part of the preparation process. Choosing a carrier that accommodates a pet’s size and allows appropriate ventilation can help provide a more secure and comfortable travel environment. Pet owners can also consider familiar blankets and other everyday essentials to help maintain a sense of routine when visiting unfamiliar places.
Planning ahead is particularly important for longer journeys and visits to family members. Pet owners should consider their animals’ individual needs, transportation requirements, and any restrictions that may apply at their destination. Keeping essential supplies accessible can also make travel arrangements more manageable.
PetShopValue.com highlights travel-related products as part of a broader approach to helping pet owners prepare for seasonal activities without overlooking their companions’ comfort and practical needs.
Creating a Cozy Environment as Temperatures Drop
Cooler weather can prompt pet owners to review their animals’ bedding and clothing needs. Cozy bedding can provide a familiar place to rest at home or during overnight visits, while suitable sweaters and jackets may offer additional warmth for pets that benefit from extra protection outdoors.
Selecting seasonal clothing requires attention to proper fit, comfort, and the individual animal. Pet owners should choose garments that allow natural movement and avoid items that restrict breathing or cause discomfort. Clothing should be monitored during use, and pets should not be left unattended while wearing items that could present a safety risk.
Bedding also deserves consideration as temperatures change. A comfortable resting area in a suitable location can help pets settle into their usual routines, whether they are staying at home or accompanying their families on seasonal trips.
Practical Gift Ideas for Pet Owners
The holiday season also provides an opportunity to choose useful gifts for friends and family members who share their homes with animals. Everyday pet accessories, comfortable bedding, travel supplies, and weather-appropriate clothing can offer practical alternatives to purely decorative gifts.
When selecting a gift for a pet, shoppers can consider the animal’s size, age, habits, and existing supplies. A well-chosen item that supports everyday care may be especially useful for households preparing for winter activities or welcoming visitors during the holidays.
By highlighting functional seasonal essentials, PetShopValue.com is drawing attention to products that align with the practical considerations pet owners face during one of the busiest times of the year.
Supporting Seasonal Pet Care
Through its online platform, PetShopValue.com provides pet owners with a destination to explore products for their animals’ everyday needs. Its holiday-season focus brings together travel preparation, comfort at home, cooler-weather considerations, and gift inspiration in one timely theme.
As families finalize their seasonal plans, preparing pets alongside other household arrangements can help make the holidays more organized. Reviewing travel supplies, checking bedding, and assessing whether additional protection from the cold is appropriate can help owners make informed decisions based on their pets’ individual requirements.
For more information, visit https://petshopvalue.com.
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PetShopValue.com Highlights Pet Comfort and Travel Essentials Ahead of the Holiday Season
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
BrightStag Films Announces Pre-Launch for The 18 Missing Years, a 35-Time Award-Winning Screenplay
New Book Where’s the GAP by David P. Matthews, Now Available on Amazon, Asks a Life Changing Question
AfriKin Art Fair to Honor Actress & Art Collector CCH Pounder during Miami Art Week
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