This is What I Know About Art Essay

 

“This Is What I Know About Art” is a book by Kimberly Drew and her experience in making her name known in the art world and the struggles she faced along the way due to her being a black woman. In this book, we follow her and the memories she pulls from that range from her days in college to when she begins working in art museums. It is when she is in an art class that she realizes the lack of diversity and from this moment, she makes it her mission to advocate for black artists and to make sure their voices and talents are recognized.  It is a quick read, and she writes in such an honest and casual way that it makes her words easy to understand and empathize with. Drews books tie in with what we’re learning about in class because what she does is activism. After realizing that there aren’t enough people of color in spaces of art, she started her blog titled “Black Contemporary Art” and still works to make sure spaces with art continue to be a place for everyone. There is a quote in the Art of Activism that notes, “When we protest, we are also demonstrating to the world who we are, what we believe in, and how we’d like the world to be. “ P.90. I believe what Kimberly Drew is showing what she believes in and what she’d like the world to be like, and that is very moving. 

After reading her story, it made me realize that my own work as a musician could be considered activism. I’ve written several songs about the male gaze and how unnecessarily sexualized women are in society and the struggles that come along with how that treatment makes women feel. It’s not my sole focus but I do acknowledge those issues because they exist in my everyday life. Not only this but I relate to Drews' experience with the difficulties of fitting into the art world but instead, I have this issue with the music world. A lot of the spaces I’m in are male dominated and I feel like I am not taken seriously as a musician because I am a woman. I have also seen how other women are treated in these spaces and it’s horrible. I’ve seen women getting cat-called on stage and questioned if they really know how to play the instrument that they are clearly skilled in. Drew notes on an experience she had in college where she noticed a lack of diversity in her class discussions and in the art, she was seeing. After meeting with an art advisor regarding a discussion she had in class about an art piece and her classmate's reaction to the piece, she was told that “If you wanted to be in a classroom with other students of color then you should not have enrolled in art history classes.” P.27. Instead of her white classmates and Professor seeing this as a learning experience and acknowledging her feelings as a black woman, they completely disregarded her and instead of that bringing her down, she used it as fuel to light her fire. 

Two moments stuck out to me in Drews book in particular and it’s because I was introduced to two pieces of art that I had never heard of before. The first was the 1993 documentary by Coco Fusco and Guillermo Gomez-Pena titled “The Couple in the Cage: Two undiscovered Amerindians Visit the West.” Drew notes that “The discussion began with anger and discomfort, and then a chorus of white guilt and tears erupted.” P.25 Before I got to this page, I watched the documentary, and it amused me because the same reaction her class had was the same one the people in the documentary had. I personally couldn’t believe that anyone actually thought they were serious, the entire thing looked like performance art to me. The second moment was when Drew reflected on Gonzalez-Torres' artwork Untitled (Perfect Lovers). This artwork was two clocks that start off in sync and then fall out of sync over time. This was a piece he created to symbolize his HIV-positive partner and his declining health and death from AIDS. The two clocks represent the two lovers beginning in sync and then falling out of that pattern as time passes on and their own lives change. This piece made me very emotional once I learned the symbolism behind it and Drew shared a quote that I absolutely found fitting. She says, “He made conceptual art about love and loss for all of us. His pieces helped me think about how I could bring tenderness to my work and that I didn’t have to divorce myself from my own identity.” P.33. 

Overall, I believe that authors, historians and curators (such as Kimberly Drew) can be activists because they can choose what to write about, document or what art goes up in a way that ensures everyone's voices are heard and valid, instead of it all just being the white experience.  

Works Cited (I'm having formatting issues and it won't let me put this on the bottom, sorry!!): 

   Duncombe, Steve. Lambert, Steve. The Art of Activism. OR Books, 2021. 

 Drew, Kimberly. This Is What I Know About Art. Penguin Young Readers Group, 2020.

The Couple in The Cage: Two undiscovered Amerindians Visit the West

Faith Ringgold, Woman Freedom Now: I found this piece on Kimberly Drews blog and it really stuck out to me because it looks like something I'd have hanging up in my room. I love the choice of colors and learning that it was made in the 70's just makes it even more powerful. The message it's getting across still holds up until this very day too as well unfortunately.

 

Alison Saar, Washtub Blues: I found this artwork on Kimberly Drews blog. I did my own research on it from there and learned that this artwork represents how often domestic work gets overlooked and it is underappreciated. The colors in this piece were really striking to me and the way the womans back is turned and we can only see her face in the reflection of the water in the bucket is so moving.

                                

Feliz Gonzalez-Torres - Untitled (Perfect Lovers

)

 

 

 

 

 

Intervention 1

 Intervention 1 Poster

    

    These are some images of my 1st intervention project/poster. The main idea is to spread awareness on the homelessness in the US. Showing on the outside what many people imagine they would be able to own just by reaching America, while on the inside its revealed the sad truth on how many that can't financially pay for homes have to live. The idea of the "American Dream" as a large house with a white picket fence is used to have people believe everyone living in the US can have that dream, when thats all just a lie.

Chapter 3: Act of Activism & Intervention 2

 Chapter 3 Quotes and Responses 

 

“We never start at zero, and it’s a mistake to think we create something from nothing.” (pg. 104)

-       This quote stood out to me because I feel like often, we forget that originality can only go so far. We can’t really create something out of nothing because whether we acknowledge it or not, everything comes from something. Our thoughts, our beliefs, our styles – these are things that are picked up from preconceived things, things that already exist on their own. We reconstruct the origin of something into another thing that seems more “us.” 

 

“By dramatizing those aspects of reality that are hard to see, or that we are reluctant to look at, we can make the invisible visible.” (pg. 109)

-       As activists and artists, it’s important to tackle the things that ae usually not spoken about. Most of the time, social issues are swept under the rug because they are deemed too uncomfortable or inappropriate. With the right resources, individuals can bring more acknowledgement to these issues. Speaking more on the hard-hitting topics can eventually turn into something bigger and can ultimately turn into something that is now impossible to ignore.

 

“The principle: transform tradition. We sometimes get hung up on what we think activists and artists, protests, and movements, are supposed to look like – this often being based on how things have looked in the past, or in other places. “(pg. 124) 

 

-       This quote really stood out to me because I feel like keeping traditions alive is sweet, however if we’re talking about activism, it’s a different story. In activism, I believe it's best to take away from previous artists and their purpose and use that to inspire us. 

Intervention 2 Idea: 

- For my second intervention idea I was thinking of expanding more on generational trauma but this time involving other writers in a video in which we start off with a few questions and then move on to their writing. 

Chapter 3 quotes, and Intervention 2 idea.

 "We are taught that history is made, and changed, by leaders. This is partly true: leaders often provide the skills, perspectives, examples, and charisma that is necessary for social movements. But it is people who make up those movements, and if the change is to be far-reaching and sustainable, then all of us must be the movement. The mark of a good leader is to train others to lead, give them the tools to succeed on their own, and get out of the way." (page 96)

I loved this quote so much, this whole section talks about how Jesus was an activist. The fact that I was an activist is something that I never thought about. He got mad at the temple of Jerusalem, and he gave speeches about how angry he was, on top of that, he destroyed the place. But the reason this quote stood up to me is that a lot of people have different meanings of why Jesus didn’t fight at the moment of his crucifixion. This book’s version is so far my favorite, Jesus was trying to tell people that he was not his savior. Yes, he gave them the tools, but it was up to the people to save themselves. I think that is why Jesus was a good leader, he led and educated people the best way he could, and then he removed himself from the equation. As the chapter states movements by the people, take more than one person to get going and spread the message. 

"We never start at zero, and it's a mistake to think we create something from nothing. We are always drawing from repositories of words, images, and meanings that already exist. This is what makes changing society so hard: we are working within the very culture we are trying to change. But within even the most oppressive of societies, there are pockets of counter-culture and of resistance that provide a cultural foundation-stories, songs, and institutions-upon which we can build." (page 104)

This is another quote that stood up to me because this is another thing that I have never stopped and thought about. Everything that we do comes from somewhere, and I believe what makes it original is when we add things that are more personal and important to us. This part of the lesson talks about The U.S. Civil Rights Movement, and it talks specifically about a stage image when a black woman (Rosa Parks) refused to give her seat to a white man on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Even though this was all staged, of course, these actions came from a real problem. As the chapter states she was not the first woman to get arrested for not giving her seat to a white man. All those experiences that black people had to go through were what gave artists and activists inspiration. Past experiences give us a voice and numerous ways to get inspired and do something good with it. That’s why it is always important to remember that we can always look back, and change injustices or whatever we think needs fixing or a voice. 

"The work that many of us do as activists can be grueling, and the world we open our eyes to is depressing. We lose a lot more often than we win, and even when we win, we have to fight again the very next day to hold on to the little we gained. It's easy to get dispirited as an activist. Because of this, it is important to bring creativity, joy, pleasure, and play into activism. Not only because it is a more effective way to get our messages across and entice others to join us, but, equally as important because it'll keep us doing the work that needs to be done, not as a chore or burden, but as invigorating, energizing, creative play." (page 128)

In conclusion, I loved this quote because it is true and at the same time sad. Activists have to fight hard for what they want, and that’s why it is important to add joy, art, and creativity to whatever we are fighting for. I laughed so hard at senator Jesse Helms's story and how the activist wrapped his house in a giant condom. I couldn’t believe what I was reading, it was a very risky thing to do, but that was so funny! Haha. Adding playfulness, as the chapter states, doesn’t make it look like a chore, and it will keep the movement and the cause afloat. It is important to have patience and believe in what we do, and of course, keep the creativity alive, that’s the key.

Intervention 2 idea:

For my second intervention, I am going to expand my first intervention. I am going to include more people. I am going to take photographs and do interviews. My second project will look like a documentary, with conversations, and images. 

This is What I know about Art - Response

 Caterina Da Souza 

This is What I know about Art - Response 

"He wrote that "If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated." 

When I read this quote it just kicked me. In the moment it made me realize how worried I am about the things that happen in my life, for instance: family, work, school and my personal problems. I am so worried about all of that, that I do not take a moment to think about how important its to be informed and also show to world my culture, my race, where I come from, my ancestors history. When I used to live in Peru after I moved there from Argentina. I feel in love with the history, the culture, traditions, the food. I got very emotional just thinking about how I used to love dancing our traditional dances, such as, musica negra, marinera, saya, huaino, etc. However, I just stopped doing all of that since I came to this country. I wasn't fully educated about all the history of my beautiful Perú but I had just enough of that culture education that made me ask myself, if I don't educate my future children, my siblings, my friends, then who will? I don't want my traditions to disappear for anyone I know not to be at least know a little of my culture. I want it to live forever. Social media's created communications to become so easy to do but at the same time so difficult to let us express ourselves in a deeper way that we end up forgetting where we come from. This book made me realize how much I want to show the world who I am and where I come from so proudly. I loved it.

"I left my desk to take a walk, but as I made my way to the exit, I began to cry. I looked around and it was still just a regular Saturday for everyone else. I didn't think much of it until a few days had passed, and it was just another Tuesday followed by just another Wednesday. It was as if Ferguson wasn't a reality for my coworkers" 

Reading this part of the book was a mix of feelings, unfortunately most of those feelings where negative more than positive. While reading the names of the victims Kimberli named in the book, I looked at each of the names and the feeling of impotence I had was so strong I could not help it so I started crying really bad while at work. What an eye opening book. It made me realize and understand the problem here in this country in a way I never have. I remember hearing about the BlackLivesMatter movement and may say I was ignorant in the topic. To think about one of the victims she named and realizing I was one of the people she was speaking about when she says it was a regular Saturday for everyone else. I came here to this country in 2015 so I didn't know about the injustice these victims received back in 2014 but I was definitely here when the incident of Jorge Floyd happened. From now on I pray to God to please protect everyone that doesn't deserve the same treatment these poor innocent babies and adults received for the color of their skin but if anything like this happens again, I do not want to confront it the same way I did when the incident of Jorge Floyd happened. I do not want to read another story like this and see it on my phone and then feel bad and act like nothing happened tomorrow. I am going to make sure I sum my voice to the movement I will protest and take this so serious as if the person who experience this injustice was one of my own. I do not want to act the same way I acted when something like this happened. I thank this book and God for creating Kimberli and for teaching me so much and such good lessons. I am grateful for being able to read a story of a person who is proud of her race and culture. Made me think of how such a small book can teach me so so much. 

Here I show some of my memories in Perú, proudly showing just a bit part of my Peruvian Culture.  

Marinera Norteña (Perú)

Musica Negra - Lando, negroide (Perú)

Selva Amazónica Peruana (Perú)

Saya Peruana (Perú) 

 

The art of Activism chp 3/ Intervention 2  

1.      “If we want to reach out to people beyond our own small circles then we need to speak in a language that is widely understood, finding inspiration in the figure that inspire others.”

When trying to reach out to or persuade others, we need to do so in an effective manner where everyone is included, and people’s voices are heard. Obtaining the public’s attention can be difficult especially when trying to reach people who may not be of the same background, don’t speak the same language, and don’t share similar views. It’s frightening to find courage to leave our comfort zone and wanting to promote change but not knowing what’s the best approach to take. One way we could do that is by creating art and making it relatable for everyone involved.

2.      “We need to be aware of the words we use, the images we employ, and the performances we stage will be made sense of in various contexts.”

Our words/language are meaningful, we need to be aware of how we use our words, and actions because they are powerful. We need to be sure we’re using it with good intention and conveying our messages in a manner that is widely understood. They can be used to build people up, confine people to where they are and break people down.

3.      “we lose a lot more often than we win, and when we win, we have to fight again the very next day to hold on to the little we gained.”

Life is full of challenges and setbacks, it’s a reminder that life is not easy and it’s important to keep fighting and making sure you try to find joy and pleasure in whatever it is you’re doing. It’s easy to let the losses overpower the wins because often we don’t give ourselves enough credit for the work that we do.

Intervention idea 2

For my second intervention, I intend on continuing with my first project but this time I will be conducting interviews and sharing the experience. I intend to take pictures and post quotes/stickers about my issue. I’m choosing to focus on this issue because it affects people who relate to me and people in my community.

3 Quotes & Intervention 2

 

Chapter 3  

 

3 quotes and Intervention 2 idea 

“When we protest, we are also demonstrating to the world who we are, what we believe in, and how we’d like the world to be. “ P.90 

This is the message I would like to get across with my group's project on rejecting hostile architecture. I would like one day not to see people struggling with homelessness on the streets and for them to have somewhere safe to go at night. I would like more resources available for them and for them to be respected as human beings. Other people in my class have addressed other serious issues as well such as war, LGBTQA+ struggles, mental health etc. And it gives me hope that these things will change one day since there are people who see how flawed our system is. 

“We learn from past successes and past failures, from people of the past whose struggles we identify with, and those whose actions we oppose. “ P.86 

This quote reminds me of the importance of documenting news, protests, politics because history always repeats itself. But, if we learn from the past and issues that were happening in the world, we can apply that to modern times and not make those same mistakes. 

 

“The mark of a good leader is to train others to lead, give them the tools to succeed in their own, and then get out of the way.” P.96 

I really resonated with this quote because a lot of well-known leaders weren’t outwardly taught by leaders they looked up to; For example, Ghandhi didn’t teach MLK himself, but MLK took what Ghandhi preached and applied those values to his own cause. A good leader inspires others and hopes that their word reaches people who will make a positive change.  

Intervention 2 Idea: 

For my group's next intervention, we will be performing a song (we’re both musicians) that we have written outside in Journal Square (hopefully). If we do not perform this in Journal Square, we will be performing at a closer location near where we live. We will still be keeping the topic of hostile architecture since we did not fully elaborate on the idea the first time around and we feel like we have more to explore. 

Daniel Lau: Quotes and Intervention idea 2

 Chapter 3 quotes 

"We can queer mass culture by making it say things it was never designed to say, and act in ways it was never meant to act." Pg. 126

Reaction: This gives me the impression that hate and unfair discrimination is unacceptable and should be stopped already. 

The principle: perform reality

" Here, it usefully allows us to visualize and to act out our dreams, to demonstrate  our convictions or prefigure our ideals." Pg 106

Reaction: Doing a performance art can be effective when sending out a message.

"Like the image and story of Rosa parks, we know these well." Pg. 106

Reaction: Based on her actions, she sent out a message that we shouldn't let people treat us like garbage and stick with our dignity. 

Intervention 2 idea

My idea would be a performance art based on drag queens. Hate and and unfair discrimination towards drag quuens is unacceptable and they should be treated equally just like everyone else.

What I would do in my intervention is create a video of myself, dressed up as a drag queen and go out in public with no shame. You may see people's reaction of seeing me when I'm out eating or shopping. Doing this would send a message that there's no shame of how we look like and people should stop being judgemental. Because in the end, we're all human beings and should be treated with respect. 

Chapter 3 quotes + Intervention 2

 "In order to be heard and understood, an activist needs to learn how to use popular culture, but they also need to know how to transform it so that it speaks to and for their own cause” (93).

What is currently trending is something that the general population would have knowledge about and an activist should learn how to use that to their advantage for their cause. However, they can’t simply just use what is trending, they need to twist it into something that supports their cause. 

“When we act in order to bring social change it is important not only to “demonstrate” what we are against in the here and now, but also to create a vision of the world we would like to bring into being in the future” (94). 

In activism, showing what is being protested against is as important as showing the way things should be. You can’t bring about a change when you don’t even know what that change would look like. 

“A great deal of activism and political art is directed towards criticizing what we don't like” (102). 

If something isn’t favorable then it is protested against. Instead, actions should be taken to change and better what is being criticized.

Intervention 2

My idea for intervention 2 is to focus on the topic of the LGBTQ community. Interview people on their opinions on the LGBTQ community. Maybe two different sets of questions depending on if the person is part of the community or not. The plan is to have a canvas or cardboard so that after the interviews people can paint on it. There would be a color scale that ranges from positive to negative (sort of like those colored pain charts). People will choose the color that correlates with their level of agreement and paint it onto the canvas or cardboard.

Chap. 3 and Intervention Idea

1. "We frequently present others with "the facts," expecting these to speak for themselves. They rarely do. People like to visualize ideas"

There are many ways to learn and I just find it easier to grasp something if there's visuals to go along with text or the other way around. I don't have to imagine it of there's real life examples in front of me. 

2. "But sometimes the best way to bring the world we want into being is to act "as if" it is already here."

The book talked about how usually we call something out that we don't like and we think of steps to change it, but rarely do we actually see changes. After some time, it can get lost in all the other news and be forgotten.

3. "People associate the message with the messenger, and how we appear in public communicates a message that is often more powerful than the words on the pamphlets we hand out."

This reminded me of a cartoon where in the episode a character changed the way they looked to get people's attention about trash in the ocean, however, no seemed to get the message because they were focused on her appearance. 

Intervention 2 Idea:

I was thinking of maybe creating a blog that focuses on all types of media about activism. There's a lot of people out there who find it difficult to express how they feel into words, so art is a good way to convey emotions through expressions. It doesn't necessarily have to focus on one sole topic like gun violence or climate change, but it can focus on any to give everyone a way to visualize different topics. 

Renee's Chapter 3 quotes and Intervention 2 idea

" A great deal of activism and political art is directed towards criticizing what we don't like. Occasionally it suggests the steps we might need to take to change things. But sometimes, the best way to bring the world we want into being is to act "as if" it is already here" (Duncome & Lambert pg. 102) 

This quote considers that people are protesting over present-day issues to solve a problem happening at that moment. However, they suggest protesting with the idea that the future will be greatly impacted if they don't solve this problem today. A good example of this kind of protest is with environmental activists because they are not only protesting to pass environmental regulations and save the earth, they will show the future consequences of global warming on their banners, signs, and postings.

"We are working within the very culture we are trying to change. But within even the most oppressive societies, there are pockets of counter culture and of resistance that provide a cultural foundation - stories, songs, and institutions upon which we can build." (pg. 104) 

A good example of this can be found in Texas, where a bounty hunter' bill against drag is attempting to be passed. Due to the political climate in the south, LGBTQ performers and trans people are in the greatest danger in 2023. To protest this, individuals have gone out into the streets holding signs in solidarity with the movement. In other places, active counter-protests drown out the alt-right groups ( and the white supremacists that are undoubtedly there). The alt-right propaganda machine is attempting to ban and restrict the freedoms of LGBTQ performers by spreading lies and fear-mongering to their followers. Therefore groups have to band together and continue living their lives in opposition to the oppressors. 

"Words we use, the images we employ, and the performances we stage will be made sense of in various contexts. Our opponents can consciously manipulate our symbols for their own ends, and we need to operate with the assumption that they will" (pg. 114) 

Thinking back to the history of protesting, it is true that any image created in opposition is twisted and used against the movement. We see this during the Suffragette movement, where propaganda cartoons made fun of women advocating for their right to vote. In the case of the Black Panthers, as described in the book, the FBI COINTELPRO program was set to defame and kill the movement. The FBI viewed the BPP, free breakfast program, as a threat to America, as if feeding children in low-income neighborhoods would threaten national safety. They were really afraid of black children growing up to continue fighting for their rights in such an oppressive state. More recently, during the BLM movement, counter-protesters took the slogan of Black Lives Matter and printed out banners saying "All Lives Matter" to shut down the fact that black people are systematically targeted and twisting the message to make themselves the victims. Overall, the opposition is expected, and activists must be prepared for it. 

Texas man holding up a sign on a freeway

Intervention 2 idea. 

For my second intervention, I want to make a performance all about gender. Gender performance is defined as something that is integrated into our daily practices, learned, and performed based on cultural and societal norms of feminity and masculinity. Take a second to remember what your childhood was like, what your parents dressed you in, and what toys you were allowed to play with. Girls play dress up while boys play with cars and nerf guns. When a child starts steering away from the norm, they could get punished. We see this in Bell Hooks' "Understanding Patriarchy." If you know LGBTQ history, you would know that gay people were outcasted from their families and left to fend for themselves, which brought about the emergence of "houses" and ballrooms. Therefore my intervention is not only about gender performance; it is about literal performance, celebrating drag queens, kings, trans people, vouge, and more. I also want to highlight historical love because LGBTQ people have existed since the beginning of time. 

I am creating a blog to document historical photos, videos, and performances for my intervention. In addition, I am interviewing my friends who identify as non-binary and highlighting their definitions of gender along with how they feel about current political unrest. I would also like to dress in masculine clothing for this video to highlight how lesbians have historically cross-dressed to express themselves and stay safe. Overall, this project was inspired by the anti-trans bills coming up in the last few weeks and that nazis and alt-right Republicans are favored over freedom of individual expression. This is a multi-media online performance that not only celebrates LGBTQ performance art but comments on the dangerous politics happening today. 

Here is the blog: Devine Rebis

I named it "Devine Rebis," as a Rebis is a personification of an alchemical magnum opus, combining opposite qualities to create something in perfect harmony, described as the divine hermaphrodite, a being of both male and female qualities. This comments on the work LGBTQ people put in to achieve their ideal gender identity, whether through simple clothes changes or HRT and surgery.

Chapter 3 & Intervention II Idea

 Intervention Idea

    For the second part of my intervention, I will create a video where I interview individuals that are familiar with thee struggles of having their natural hair. I will ask them various questions pertaining to their hair and ask them to show pictures of different stages and styles of their hair. I realized that the video that I was going to do in intervention one is basically the same idea as this one. the questions that I will ask are as follows:

• "Do you know what the Crown Act is?"
• "Do you know which states have already passed the Crown Act?"
• "How do you feel about the Crown Act only just being passed in 2019... only four years ago? Should it have been sooner?"
• "Have you ever felt discriminated against because of your natural hair?"
• "Have you ever felt like you had to change your hair depending on certain events to look more "presentable"?"
• "What does your natural hair mean to you?"
• "What can we do as a community to to uplift our youth who might be struggling with embracing they natural beauty and natural hair?"

The Art of Activism

"In the United States we use the words "demonstrate" and "protest" synonymously. It's a meaningful slippage, and one we don't think about enough. When we protest we are also demonstrating to the world who we are . . ."

    I find this quote so interesting because I never thought of protest as a demonstration. I actually never used the words synonymously as the quote says. When I think about demonstrations, I often think of teaching. Because of this, I think it's very powerful for them to be used together because an important part of activism is teaching and showing people who you are and what you believe in. 

"His moral: that an effective activist, if they want to reach anyone with their message, needs to adapt to who, what, and where people already are to "become all things to all people."

    I love this quote because I think its the best way to capture an audience. This pertains to activism as well as normal life. Empathy is such a great skill to have because it makes the person who you are empathizing with more open to what you have to say. I think it is important to be empathetic and understand your audience so that you can effectively communicate points in a way that is palatable.