Johanne Rahaman’s photography exhibit And Is: The Black Florida Project is a key feature of the Art of Transformation event in Opa-locka, part of Miami Art Week. Her work captures the everyday lives of Black Floridians, highlighting the beauty in seemingly mundane moments.

Through Rahaman’s lens, viewers witness tender, unfiltered depictions of Black communities. An older woman with a rollator, a young couple enjoying Black Beach Week—these ordinary yet intimate scenes reflect the joy and humanity often overlooked. “I was impressed with her attention to Black communities that aren’t always featured when you have conversations about joy,” said Melissa Hunter Davis, founder of Sugarcane Magazine and curator of Rahaman’s exhibit. “Often people come to those communities for poverty porn or what they think is any type of urban blight.”

Rahaman’s work is among six exhibits showcased at Ten North Group’s Art of Transformation, an annual event inspired this year by Kevin Quashie’s book Black Aliveness, Or A Poetics of Being. The book imagines a world where Blackness is appreciated on its own terms, beyond the context of anti-Black violence.

Willie Logan, president and CEO of Ten North Group, explained the vision behind the event. “It’s really about looking at the Black experience in African diaspora culture and framing it positively,” he said. “It’s about reshaping knowledge and allowing people to see communities in a different way.”

The city of Opa-locka aims to make Black art accessible by hosting the Art of Transformation in the heart of the community. “Our show is really for and about the community. It’s free, and it is very focused on the diaspora, within a community where people already are,” Logan added.

Another standout exhibit, Jamaica on My Mind: Aliveness and Livity, explores Jamaican culture from both local and diaspora perspectives. Curated by Phillip Thomas, it features 18 artists, including Bryan McFarlane, Greg Bailey, and Kimani Beckford. “It takes into consideration different perspectives of Jamaican culture at different points of view,” Thomas said. He hopes the exhibit generates a vibrancy that inspires community connection and self-reflection.

Visitors can also explore Opa-locka’s rich Black history through the Tales of Opa-locka Heritage Journey. This tour features 13 stories highlighting the city’s Moorish architecture, military history, and notable figures like Ernest Ingram, its first Black employee, hired in 1927. Oral narratives from residents further immerse visitors in the city’s cultural heritage.

The Art of Transformation, running through Sunday, offers a space for art, history, and literature to celebrate the Black diaspora’s resilience, creativity, and joy. “You see a little bit of Black love, Black tenderness, and the ability to find peace in everyday life,” Davis said. “And that’s not often how we describe Black communities.”