Marventz A
Doris Cacoilo
03/13/2024
Activist Interlop & Pranksters
Kimberly Drew & Ben Jones
We have been discussing topics such as Inequality, Racism, Sexism, and more. The connection between the readings and these issues is that we get to read about the author's experience on these topics as they inspire us to find our journey into art. For instance, Kimberly Drew talks about her experience as a black woman in the book This Is What I Know About Art. She mentioned that there weren't any black artists on the school wall she was attending, which Ben Jones also mentioned during his presentation. When he was in school, he once asked his professor who was teaching about modern artists to tell him about any great black artists, and the professor replied, "If there were any great black artists, they would be in the school." However, "There were many great black artists." He added. Dr Maura Reilly also mentioned at the beginning of his essay that "In 2004, when the Museum of Modern Art in New York City reopened its greatly expanded exhibition spaces, including a reinstallation of its permanent collection, 410 works in the fourth and fifth-floor galleries, only partly 16 artwork were by women." (Toward a curatorial activism pg10)
It is to show that Racism, Sexism,Gender inequality are issues we’ve been dealing with for a long time. It also teaches us how to raise awareness on these issues using artwork and by taking initiative. As we see in the book This Is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew. She stated that after she experienced that feeling at her school, she decided to create a blog to showcase black artwork that later gained much attention.(Chpt3).
Racism, Sexism, and Inequality are issues we are currently fighting against, and as Ben Jones stated, "We've changed a lot of things, but we still have to change more," Activism is a movement that must continue until these problems are solved. However, as Stephen Duncombe & Steve Lambert mentioned, "Activism is foreign to many people." It is mainly why people like authors, historians, and curators must use their platform to contribute, by writing books, incorporating facts into their work, and promoting diversity and equality to raise awareness.
Kimberly Drew mentioned in her book that she applied to a studio museum internship only because it was paid. And stated, "I wonder how many young people don't apply to internships because they are unpaid."(Chpt3). This quote caught my attention because I believe It is unfair to most students how many internships are still unpaid. As I mentioned in my previous project, most adults are unable to afford the cost of living a decent lifestyle with the amount of money they are earning, and college students stated that they could not meet their school needs from working a $14 per hour-paying job. In other words, unpaid internships are an issue that we need to bring more attention to for a change.
Part two
Ben Jones is the first activist artist I've met; his artwork is fantastic. I have always thought that art is impressive and powerful. However, being in this class and reading about black activists like Kimberly Drew, Ben Jones, and other activist artists has developed a more profound interest in learning about activist art specifically. One of the main things that caught my attention the second I entered Ben Jones's gallery was how colorful his artworks are. It later made sense as he stated during his presentation that black people come in different shades, which is true.
This picture caught my attention because, it can be interpreted in many ways. However, it depicts a person who desires to break free from the emotions holding them back. The artwork perfectly captures how societal rules and expectations can suppress individuals and prevent them from reaching their full potential. I found this picture particularly interesting due to the various names in the background, the color scheme, and the handcuffs on the man. In today's world, much negativity can hold individuals back from achieving their goals and reaching their full potential. The phrase "Deliver the funk" could have many meanings, such as anxiety, depression, and oppression. The word "funk" is powerful and can apply to many situations. This artwork is an excellent example of how individuals should stand up for their rights and demand changes in decisions that affect them.
This piece explains that we must protect our environment and empower the community to maintain a positive and healthy world. We must preserve and embrace what we have, especially since it comes from nature; we must show gratitude and appreciation for such beautiful products. When being gifted by the earth/Mother Nature, it is our responsibility to use our gifts in a way that will not affect the root of them. If we envision a promising future, we will have an empowering community to keep our society from collapsing.
This piece caught my attention as I walked in the gallery because of the aesthetic
of it and the message. I see this piece as a way of showing the step by step process
of accomplishing something. To me it represents the activist movement, we must
take the risk, we must take initiative, we must get out of our comfort zone for
changes, and fight for a better society/future which I believe the two bouquet of flower represents.
work cited:
Ben Jones Presentation
Toward a curatorial activism essay by Dr Maura Reilly
This is what i Know about art by Kimberly Drew
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