Fatima Khan Essay Part 1 & 2

Part 1

            There is a certain level of authenticity in artistic activism. Art is ambiguous and abstract which is what makes it authentic because it can be interpreted in many ways. This Is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew and the essay Towards Curatorial Activism by Dr. Maura Reilly both touch upon what it means to bring diversity into the art world.

            Kimberly Drew is a great example of what it’s like to be a black woman in the art industry let alone the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In This Is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew, she states, “Though I appreciated my fellowship, I could not help but be frustrated by my environment. When I was hired, I was one of five people of color in our office". As people of color, a mutual dilemma all of us face or have faced in the past is being a minority in a work setting. In the art industry, people who come from money or fit a certain standard tend to get first dibs when it comes to opportunities or recognition, it’s quite rare to hear a story of someone who became extremely successful having gotten it out the mud. Curatorial activism is being able to use your capabilities to shed light on those who don’t often get the spotlight. In Dr. Reilly’s essay, she speaks about the need to acknowledge the lack of inclusivity and systemic injustice within the art world. As people who are well aware of this problem, 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?”. In a world that is already hard enough on marginalized groups, it’s important to be able to be the voice for them when they can’t be heard. Both Dr. Maura Reilly and Kimberly Drew make it clear that with the current political climate, these issues are both ignored and swept under the rug. Being an artistic activist while also being a person of color can be a form of protest that will manifest into us being seen and heard by the rest of the world.

Part 2

    Ben Jones’s exhibit was an eye-catching experience. Compared to what commercial art looks like, Jones’s art does a wonderful job at encapsulating black joy and black power. One thing that really drew me into his work was the amount of color and abstract design he uses throughout a majority of his paintings. After seeing his exhibit, it's clear that he uses his art to push through certain boundaries of toxic masculinity and stereotypes placed on black men. Being from a marginalized group, it's refreshing to see someone be so loud and proud about where they come from and who they are. I also appreciated seeing how he was able to celebrate other cultures in his art work which goes hand in hand with curatorial activism. Being able to indulge in different cultures without shedding your own is a true sign of confidence in yourself which to me is the highest level of activism for people who have been silenced by the oppressors. 

This art piece spoke volumes to me as Trayvon Martin's death was the first time I've heard of police brutality. Although it was 12 years ago, his death still remains one of the most impactful and dreadful but continues to be swept under the rug by the masses.

    When seeing this piece, immediately I thought of spirituality and the flyer for his show. To me, this shows the duality of man as there’s so much going on in one place. It seems as if when he made this piece he was in a place where he felt too much all at the same time, which again breaks a stereotype against men that they shouldn’t feel anything at all. I also liked how there’s rainbow hearts and what seems like a woman’s mouth around the man. This piece gives very feminine and masculine energy. 

Works Cited

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

2. Jones, Ben. Huey Newton Incarcerated. 1970, Harold B Lemmerman Gallery, Jersey City, NJ.

3. 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/.