Photo by Vivian Marie Doering
Song of Sons was a dynamic public art series on view in Washington, DC from May 12 - September 28, 2025 featuring the work of Nate Langston Palmer, inspired by his ongoing documentation of a group of dancers he has been following since 2019. The dance group, composed of young Black and brown men, specializes in Beat Ya Feet, a dance style that originated in and remains unique to Washington, DC. Using dance and creative expression as its vehicle, the series focuses on the lives of these young men and their unique journeys into adulthood. As an artist born and raised in DC, Palmer has seen the City change drastically over the last few decades, and as a result, he has seen many of his neighbors forced to sell their homes and move to the outskirts of the City. What is clear is that with the displacement of long-term Black residents comes the displacement of a vast cultural network, one that in DC is deeply rooted in music, dance, and play. In and of DC, Palmer’s work explores cultural expression, young Black joy, and brotherhood. It aims to preserve and celebrate Black culture in Washington, DC, and those who keep it alive.
Song of Sons was funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Public Art Building Communities Grant Program, with additional support from Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners and Bloomberg Connects.
PRESS FOR SONG OF SONS
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EBONY MAGAZINE
SURFACE MAGAZINE’S DESIGN DISPATCH
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FIND THE ARTWORK
Song of Sons was presented across two main sites and a series of transit shelters connecting them in SW and SE Washington, DC.
Building Wraps + Projection: Two building-sized photographs wrapping the corner of 800 9th Street SW (Corner of 9th Street and Maine Avenue SW building at The Wharf), and a nightly video projection begins at 7 PM and runs to 7 AM.
The Nicholson Project: A photographic installation visible from the back alley behind The Nicholson Project at 2310 Nicholson Street SE.
Transit Shelters: Five photographs were installed on select bus shelters on transit lines that connected the two main sites.
Bloomberg Connects App
To further extend its reach and accessibility, Song of Sons was available on the Bloomberg Connects app, featuring a guided tour and map of the exhibition sites, and additional behind-the-scenes content released on a rolling basis throughout the exhibition’s run. The exhibition is archived on the app.
You can view the app content with this link:
guides.bloombergconnects.org/en-US/guide/theNicholsonProject
Content is best viewed by downloading the app:
www.bloombergconnects.org
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About nate langston palmer
Nate Langston Palmer is a documentary and fine art photographer. Through his practice in imagemaking, Palmer examines the collective understanding of masculinity in the United States, specifically within Black American communities. He currently lives and works between NYC and DC. @langstonpalmer
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