3/13

 

Part 1:

  The art world is where artists highlight their work, get noticed, and even sell their work. However, there are some bumps in the art world regarding power dynamics. White men are the face of the art world. Women and people of color not so much. There could be an art show where 90% of white men's art is shown. While 7% are women and 3% are people of color. The book” This Is What I Know About Art,” by Kimberly Drew, and the essay “Towards Curatorial Activism,” by Dr. Maura Reilly speak on these issues and find ways to fix the issues the art world has. Issues such as representation, diversity, sexualism, and race.

            Kimberly Drew’s book is based on the experiences she had in the art world where she saw how race played a negative factor. However, from the start, Drew has been pointing out the wrongs. When her teacher said something that didn’t sit right with her, she went to Facebook and posted about it. Eventually, she got in trouble with the post she made. She was even told,” If you wanted to be in a classroom with other students of color then you should not have enrolled in art history class.” (pg., 27) Right here you see the ignorance and power dynamics in the art world. He is technically saying that art is for white people not people of color. The art world wasn’t too inclusive for people of her color. However, as a Black woman, she makes the lack of diversity and representation more known in the art world. Drew was big on the inclusion of marginalized communities also recognition of their work. Growing up, taking classes, and doing internships she only saw art by white people. She has seen how they were treated and made a blog to give them recognition and to feel included. What Drew said stuck out to me the most. Which was,” It was not just enough to be angry. I had to be strategic.” (pg. 43) We can’t always fight with aggression and anger sometimes we have to look for another way to get heard. You’ll be surprised what we can do if everybody comes together to change power dynamics in the art world.

            Dr. Reilly’s essay is similar to Drew's book because she goes into depth about curatorial activism and its job of challenging the unfairness in art institutions. In her essay, she argues for a more fair and inclusive approach when it comes to curators. What I mean by this as curators, stop ignoring gender, race, and identity issues. “A recent dash through the same galleries in 2009 revealed that little has changed.” From 2004 where there were 410 artworks by white men only 4 percent by women and fewer by artists of color. Five years have passed and there has still been no change besides adding one room dedicated to feminist art. However, it wasn’t a lot and was only 4. (Towards a Curatorial Activism) I wouldn’t even call that progress. Dr. Reilly stated, “The problem, she argued, lies not in our hormones, as women, nor by extension is it in the colour of our skin (if one happens to be non-white) — but in our institutions and our education” She is right society would make it seem like women and people of color is the problem when in reality we not. The majority of our institutions and education are started by white men and it’s unacceptable because it’s only made so they can exceed and not others if we are being honest. She points out that they are the source of inequality. The educational system didn’t provide opportunities for women and people of color to have a career in art around that time. Institutions like museums and galleries uphold power that only favors white males and leaves out women and people of color.

            So, both Drew and Dr. Reilly show the need for a more inclusive and diverse world. They also challenged the narrative by using their platforms to spread awareness and make marginalized groups feel more included. Words are powerful but it’s more effective depending on how you use them. Art activism and curatorial activism can be the key to the social change that we need in the art world.

Sources

Drew, Kimberly. This Is What I Know about Art. Penguin Workshop, 2020

Towards Curatorial Activism, by Dr Maura Reilly

 

Part 2: Will be done by 11:59 tomorrow after I go see the artwork in person.