Essay 3/13
In Kimberly Drew's book, "This Is What I Know About Art," and Dr. Maura Reilly's essay, "Towards Curatorial Activism," the both offer valuable insights into the intersection of art, activism, and institutional critique. The readings connect deeply with the themes and issues discussed in class as to shedding light on the ways authors, historians, and curators can engage in activism through their work.
One main theme that is focused from Drew's book is the importance of representation and inclusivity in the art world. Drew is able to describe her experience as a black woman in her college while at her school it predominantly focuses on white spaces within the art industry. She highlights the lack of diversity and systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities. In the text it states, “As time went on, I also realized that I didn’t get many opportunities to learn about the artists and movements that got me interested in art in the first place. There have been Black people since the beginning of time, but I was not seeing any of their art in any of my classes.” (Drew,17). This goes into furthermore of how there is social justice and equity and there is a need for greater representation.
Drew's work as a curator and social media influencer is a prime example of her support for underrepresented voices and viewpoints.She explains, “I did not want Black art to be a negligible factor. I did not want Black art to be exterminated. I saw it happening in my art history classes, and I just had to do something to build a history online.” (Drew,18). In apps such as Tumbler, and Instagram Drew pushes out the work of underrepresented artists and advocates for greater diversity in museum exhibitions. This correlates with Reilly's concept of curatorial activism, which emphasizes the role of curators in challenging institutional norms and advocating for social change.
Drew makes a significant point on the need of community and mentoring in the art industry, which struck me as very crucial at one point in her book. She goes onto expressing, “I knew that I wanted to record as many Black artists as possible for anyone, like me, who needed to see more art by Black people. I knew that I had to resist the erasure of Black artists. I did not want anyone to say that Black artists did not exist.” (Drew, 19). She goes onto sharing anecdotes about people who guided her and encouraged her all throughout her career.
This emphasizes how crucial it is to create support systems for up-and-coming artists and elevate their voices.
Drew's dedication to challenging the existing quo and advocating for institutional change is another example of her activism. She is an advocate for museums to have meaningful conversations about representation and cultural appropriation while also acknowledging their colonial past. One quote from Drew's writing that resonates deeply is, "I am concerned with museums' relationships with blackness, our ideas of white supremacy, and the ways that we can liberate ourselves from these structures." (Drew, 28). The statement captures Drew’s dedication to overcoming a challenge in the art world.
In one of the key points of "Towards Curatorial Activism" Reilly emphasizes the need for curators to recognize and address the systemic injustice that exists within the art world. She goes onto critiquing the lack of diversity in museums by pointing out how women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups go unknown.In the text she states, “And don’t we have an ethical responsibility to ensure that, if not the past, then our present and future are more inclusive than exclusive?” (Dr Maura Reilly, 14). She contends that by opposing these systems and trying to make settings that are more welcoming to both artists and spectators, curators may take on an activist role.It highlights the importance of confronting institutional biases and advocating for inclusivity. "This Is What I Know About Art" and "Towards Curatorial Activism" offer valuable perspectives on the role of art, activism, and institutional critique.
Part 2
The vibrant mixed-media piece "Ella Fitzgerald (First Lady of Song)" honors the legendary jazz vocalist. Fitzgerald may be depicted in the artwork in a lively way that captures her captivating charm and brilliant theatrical presence. The artwork's expressive style and vibrant color palette both demonstrate this. Ben Jones was able to use multiple colors and in a way the artwork looks like a mirror or something that one looks at in the shape of a heart. It was most likely done this way for admiration of the singer.
With this portrayal of Fitzgerald, Jones may also highlight historical connections, racial stereotypes, or perseverance while demonstrating the contributions made by Black musicians to music and other spheres of society. As a result, it facilitates reflection on themes of diversity and inclusion in the arts and thereby promotes a deeper comprehension.
Examining "The King family" as a powerful example of a mixed-media piece that portrays a family with several generations. The image may depict a variety of people to illustrate the complexity and diversity of family dynamics. The use of vibrant colors and an expressive style by Jones in this painting would seem to convey a feeling of the significance of blood kinship. Jones was successful in capturing the sentiments of family and affection.
Family-relevant topics like love, strength, and unity might be honored in this composition. Ben Jones chose to depict King’s family by adding his family and incorporating them all in the portrait, highlighting the beauty and tenacity of familial ties via variety, inclusiveness, and representation. This artwork explores representation, activism, and creativity. It hopes to promote compassion and respect by embracing variety throughout all types of family structures. m
Work Cited
Drew, Kimberly. This Is What I Know about Art. Penguin Workshop, 2020.
Jones, Ben. Ella Fitzgerald
(First Lady of Song) 2002 , Harold B Lemmerman Gallery, Jersey City, NJ.
Jones, Ben. The King Family, 1970, Harold B Lemmerman Gallery, Jersey City, NJ.
Reilly, Maura. “What Is Curatorial Activism?” ARTnews.Com, ARTnews.com, 18 Nov. 2019, www.artnews.com/art-news/news/what-is-curatorial-activism-9271/amp/.
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