10/25/23
Professor. Cacoilo
“This Is What I Know About Art” Essay
The book “This Is What I Know About Art” by Kimberly Drew, allows us to view her experience in the art world as a student and contributor. Kimberly Drew’s autobiographical story helps illustrate some of the themes and issues we have discussed in class by highlighting the lack of black artists she was exposed to during her time in school and how she took a stand against this issue. This stand against the lack of exposure to black artists encouraged and motivated her to speak up and spread awareness, allowing her to grow as an individual in the art world. The book states "There have been Black people since the beginning of time, but I was not seeing any of their art in any of my classes. " Authors, historians, and curators can be activists by using their platform to spread awareness on ongoing issues. For example, Kimberly Drew started a blog to highlight black art and not allow it to be exterminated in society. Authors, historians, and curators can not only raise awareness, but encourage dialogue, and influence change by writing, advocating, and participating in public discourse. Kimberly Drew starting a blog helps me connect well to her activism and journey because that is a perfect example of art intervention. Her blog allowed her to be an activist in art and showed similarities in ideals to rappers Cheikh Sene and Maktar Fall as they “created a news program to provide youth with the information they needed in order to be effective and aware political citizens”. This can be found in the book “The Art Of Activism” by Steve Duncombe and Steve Lambert on page 34.
The art in the exhibition Artistas de Latinoamérica Sueños y Posibilidades (Latin American Artists: Dreams and Possibilities) connects to our discussions of art and activism as well as the mission of Kimberly Drew's work and her experience in her book by highlighting Latin artists and struggles they had or family has faced. In the exhibition artists like Jacqueline Herranz-Brooks used her art to illustrate her background and the injustice the people in Cuba and America face due to government policies. Her artwork allows us to understand her Cuban roots and the struggles she has faced along the way. Her spreading awareness of corrupt government policies through art is a good example of art activism. Vanezza Cruz is another artist in the exhibition whose art is consistent with her experience as a darker-skinned Latina. “She challenges the Eurocentric standards of not only beauty but the fine arts world that disempowers the BIPOC community and in particular, black women.” Through her art, she encourages and uplifts those who are often unheard and unseen in the mainstream art world. Vanezza Cruz artwork connects well with Kimberly Drew because both encourage and highlight issues in the black community. The exhibition itself is activist because it provided a platform for Latin artists to address social, political, and cultural issues, and engaged us to take part in their experience and culture.
Two artworks in the exhibition that I think connect to our readings of Kimberly Drew as well as previous readings about art and activism are “Undocumented/ Documented” by Natali Bravo-Barbee and “Queen of Propox” by Ray Arcadio. The artwork “Undocumented/ Documented” by Natali Bravo-Barbee recognizes the efforts of immigrants trying to obtain a passport and a better future. Natali states “These candid captures not only serve as official forms of identification but also encapsulate the resilience and aspirations of those who navigated unfamiliar landscapes in pursuit of a better future.” This collage of passports aims to show people's journeys and the power of bureaucracy to shape an individual life. The artwork “Queen of Propox” by Ray Arcadio illustrates the immigrant mind, identity, and human struggle to understand ourselves. This painting features a black woman with a mask composed of symbols, urban and indigenous markings as well as social-political messages. These paintings can be activist because they highlight the social structure. The artwork “Undocumented/ Documented” by Natali Bravo-Barbee truly shows art activism because it shows us the privilege we have as American citizens compared to immigrants who are struggling to acquire citizenship. We as American-born citizens don’t value our passports as much as immigrants because that's something we have had since birth. Whereas immigrants view the passport as a sign of importance. Natali states “passport photos become iconic images within family histories.
In conclusion, the exhibition gave Latin artists a platform to express and bring awareness to their culture and issues in their community. Kimberly Drew also used her platform to bring awareness to black issues and push for black art to be recognized in spaces they aren't regularly in. Both the exhibition and Kimberly Drew show their efforts in art activism and supporting their culture.
Drew, Kimberly. This Is What I Know about Art. Penguin Workshop, 2020.
Duncombe, Stephen, and Steve Lambert. The Art of Activism: Your All-Purpose Guide to Making The Impossible Possible. O/R, OR Books, 2021.
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