In a world where hate seems to be on the rise, it becomes increasingly vital to address and combat it head-on. Recently, the Black Heritage Society of Washington State, the Wing Luke Museum, and the Washington State Jewish Historical Society joined forces for an event at the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) called "Confronting Hate Together."

The event aimed to foster conversations surrounding the roots of hatred and how communities can collaborate across generations to create a more inclusive and compassionate world. It was heartening to witness droves of individuals coming together to engage in these crucial discussions and stand against intolerance.

One notable aspect of the event was the collaboration with the Vivid Matter Collective, who used art as a powerful medium to speak out against hate. The artistic expressions showcased a poignant narrative of resilience and solidarity in the face of bigotry.

During the event, community members shared their personal experiences with hate, highlighting the importance of providing a safe space for such conversations. It is through open dialogue and empathy that we can begin to understand each other's perspectives and work towards meaningful change.

Conversations like these are not only important but necessary in today's society. We cannot afford to ignore or trivialize the pervasive issue of hate. Events like the one at MOHAI serve as reminders of our collective responsibility to combat hatred and discrimination in all its forms.

As we reflect on the insightful discussions and powerful artworks showcased at MOHAI, we extend our gratitude to the Black Heritage Society of Washington State, the Wing Luke Museum, and the Washington State Jewish Historical Society for their tireless efforts in promoting unity and understanding in our communities.

Seattle-based artists Moses Sun, and barry johnson, recently wrapped up their two-month tandem residency at The Understory. The public exhibit space, situated at the base of the Amazon Spheres, invited Moses and Barry to hold studio hours as part of Amazon's latest efforts to uplift the local arts community. Vivid Matter Collective Co-founder and Queen of Converge Takiyah Ward caught up with the duo to discuss their experience at Understory, their collaborative process, and the reception of their art.

"A lot of artists throughout history kind of work in caves. And a lot of people think about, particularly painting is like magic, because they're always wanting to get so close to it and say, like, 'how did you do that?' And to be able to be in this space daily, and get a couple 100 people that walk through Spheres, it's more than any show I've ever held in my life." He continued to say, "So it's great to be able to have work that I'm making [in] real time and to be able to have people from everywhere that kind of stumble into this place that are able to walk up and say, 'What are you doing?' 'Why are you doing it?' 'And can you tell me about like you?' " Said johnson

When asked what it's been like working together, Moses Sun said, "This time here with Barry has been very cool because barry and I, are we're the art brothers." He continued to say, "We all came together [in] 2020 for the Black Lives Matter protests mural. And then we've just taken off ever since being within here in the Understory right below the Amazon spheres, where there's this living, breathing plants and people populating going in and out. Some people wander in here thinking they're going to the Amazon Spheres. And then they're delighted to see there's something going on here."

To learn more about Moses Sun and barry johnson, you can headover to mosessun.studio to learn more about Moses, visit barryjohnson.com to learn more about barry, and head over to VividMatterCollective.com to learn more about VMC.

Tune into #Back2Besa on FOX 13 Seattle for more interviews like this every Saturday at 10:30 pm, with a replay on Sundays at 10 am on FOX 13+