News of November 2, 2021
"Wake Me When I'm Free": Estate Announces Immersive Exhibition
From handwritten notes to 'Dear Mama': The estate announces 'Wake Me When I'm Free,' an immersive show opening January 2022 in Los Angeles.
A mix of museum, art installation, and sensory experience: On November 2, 2021, the estate announced “Tupac Shakur. Wake Me When I’m Free.” The show was scheduled to open on January 21, 2022, at The Canvas at L.A. Live in Los Angeles-spanning roughly 20,000 square feet, about 1,860 square meters. It was curated by Nwaka Onwusa, chief curator of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and creative director Jeremy Hodges.
From Song Lyrics to a Grocery List
Billboard cited handwritten lyrics for tracks like “California Love” and “Dear Mama,” galleries exploring Tupac’s upbringing and his mother Afeni Shakur, as well as numerous items never before shown. Arron Saxe, who advises the estate, spoke of thousands of handwritten pages, right down to a grocery list for a birthday party.
Six Months in Los Angeles, Then on Tour
Initially, six months in Los Angeles were planned, after which the exhibition was set to travel to other cities. How the show got underway can be found in the report on the opening.