Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes is a multi-disciplinary artist – a filmmaker, writer, designer, and founding member of the Black Constellation. His work has been shown at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum National History in New York, and the Frye Art Museum in Seattle – including a series of exhibitions in collaboration with several members of the Constellation. He’s also directed music videos and short films for Shabazz Palaces, THEESatisfaction, and Porter Ray.

In this episode, Larry Mizell, Jr. hosts an extended conversation with Alley-Barnes. The two discuss not just Alley-Barnes’ work, but the pivotal art and community work of his parents, the engine of erasure that resounds throughout Seattle, and grander ideas around attribution, continuum, and authenticity. If every member of the Black Constellation is a star, Alley-Barnes is akin to gravity – an unseen force putting pieces into motion and holding disparate artistic worlds together.

Thank you to Beverly Glenn-Copeland, KMRU, Laraaji, Nailah Hunter, Niecy Blues, Noel Brass Jr., Shabazz Palaces, Space Afrika, and Yves Tumor for lending their music to this episode.

Listen to a playlist of music from the episode and read the transcript on KEXP.org.