Prof. Cacoilo
Activist, Interlopers, and Pranksters
24 October 2023
In Kimberly Drew’s autobiography “This Is What I Know About Art”, she recounts how she became an art history major, and eventually started working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The most pivotal moment in her career was starting the Black Contemporary Art Tumblr page. She exposed the everyday person to the world of fine art and spread awareness about black artists. Sage Lazzaro’s article “Memes Are Our Generation’s Protest Art”, explains why social media is powerful and keeps us all connected. Once a meme is posted on social media, they quickly gain popularity. Lazzaro wrote, “They spread so quickly and evolve and transform, and it’s hard to shut them down in the way other forms of communicative protest can be silenced.” (Lazzaro, 2019). Social media allows us to share information at a distance. It connects people that otherwise would’ve never crossed paths.
Bell Hooks briefly goes over the importance of community in her book, “The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love”. Hooks states, “Dismantling and changing patriarchal culture is work that men and women must do together.” (Hooks, 2004). Kimberly Drew recognized utilizing social media gave her a chance to build a community. The Black Contemporary Art Tumblr gave Kimberly a voice and sense of community. People of color realized they could make space for themselves in the world of fine art through her blog. This is evident when she asks her supporters to submit art in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Her Tumblr page became a space for POC to mourn without having to speak. Kimberly Drew explains that sharing art helped her heal and cope with the racial violence of 2014. Drew describes how posting art in support of Black Lives Matter made her feel, “In that moment, I began to understand how intimately art and activism could work together to produce a collective voice and shared community.” (Drew, 2020). The Black Contemporary Art Tumblr helped Kimberly be an activist and create a safe space for POC in the world of fine art.
Andrea David’s intervention “The Human Body as a Form of Activism”, gave me the opportunity to express how I feel without judgment. She gave the class no rules, offered us art supplies, and simply told us to add whatever we’d like. Similar to Kimberly Drew, Andrea offered the class a safe space. Andrea David’s execution was different but I was moved by the end of her presentation. She reminded me of how it feels to make artwork with no rules or expectations.
Stephen Duncombe and Steve Lambert’s book “The Art of Activism: Your All-Purpose Guide to Making the Impossible Possible”, describes how art can have an effect on us emotionally. Duncombe and Lambert go over this effect, "This sublime power of art to circumvent our rational minds and affect our emotions, bodies, and even spirit, has been recognized for millennia." (Duncombe & Lambert, 2021). Art can give people the strength to express how they feel. A riffle effect happens when people are inspired by an artist or artwork. Suddenly, you have the confidence to say or create something that is controversial.
The exhibition Artistas de Latinoamérica Sueños y Posibilidades curated by Midori Yoshimoto, is about representing who you are without shame. Midori is an activist because she uplifts POC and doesn’t ask for anything in return. Latin artists are given the opportunity to share their artwork for free. Ray Arcadio has two acrylic paintings in the exhibition, “Queen of Pop” and “Lisa, Lisa”. The paintings reflect on how latin celebrities represent their culture and communities. Ray Arcadio was born in the Dominican Republic and graduated from NJCU in 1991. He takes pride in his culture and centers his artwork around his identity. Arcadio’s artwork is activist simply because he is Dominican and painting other POC. Positive representation is one of the most powerful forms of activism. When POC see someone that looks like them have paintings in a gallery, they feel they could one day do the same.
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.
Hooks, Bell. The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love. Washington Square Press, 2004.
Lazzaro, Sage. “Memes Are Our Generation’s Protest Art.” VICE, 1 Mar. 2019, www.vice.com/en/article/mbzxa3/memes-are-our-generations-protest-art.
Bell Hooks briefly goes over the importance of community in her book, “The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love”. Hooks states, “Dismantling and changing patriarchal culture is work that men and women must do together.” (Hooks, 2004). Kimberly Drew recognized utilizing social media gave her a chance to build a community. The Black Contemporary Art Tumblr gave Kimberly a voice and sense of community. People of color realized they could make space for themselves in the world of fine art through her blog. This is evident when she asks her supporters to submit art in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Her Tumblr page became a space for POC to mourn without having to speak. Kimberly Drew explains that sharing art helped her heal and cope with the racial violence of 2014. Drew describes how posting art in support of Black Lives Matter made her feel, “In that moment, I began to understand how intimately art and activism could work together to produce a collective voice and shared community.” (Drew, 2020). The Black Contemporary Art Tumblr helped Kimberly be an activist and create a safe space for POC in the world of fine art.
Andrea David’s intervention “The Human Body as a Form of Activism”, gave me the opportunity to express how I feel without judgment. She gave the class no rules, offered us art supplies, and simply told us to add whatever we’d like. Similar to Kimberly Drew, Andrea offered the class a safe space. Andrea David’s execution was different but I was moved by the end of her presentation. She reminded me of how it feels to make artwork with no rules or expectations.
Stephen Duncombe and Steve Lambert’s book “The Art of Activism: Your All-Purpose Guide to Making the Impossible Possible”, describes how art can have an effect on us emotionally. Duncombe and Lambert go over this effect, "This sublime power of art to circumvent our rational minds and affect our emotions, bodies, and even spirit, has been recognized for millennia." (Duncombe & Lambert, 2021). Art can give people the strength to express how they feel. A riffle effect happens when people are inspired by an artist or artwork. Suddenly, you have the confidence to say or create something that is controversial.
The exhibition Artistas de Latinoamérica Sueños y Posibilidades curated by Midori Yoshimoto, is about representing who you are without shame. Midori is an activist because she uplifts POC and doesn’t ask for anything in return. Latin artists are given the opportunity to share their artwork for free. Ray Arcadio has two acrylic paintings in the exhibition, “Queen of Pop” and “Lisa, Lisa”. The paintings reflect on how latin celebrities represent their culture and communities. Ray Arcadio was born in the Dominican Republic and graduated from NJCU in 1991. He takes pride in his culture and centers his artwork around his identity. Arcadio’s artwork is activist simply because he is Dominican and painting other POC. Positive representation is one of the most powerful forms of activism. When POC see someone that looks like them have paintings in a gallery, they feel they could one day do the same.
"Queen of Pop" acrylic on canvas, 2023
"Lisa, Lisa" acrylic and airbrush on canvas, 2023
"Icons are the flags we plant to let everyone know we are here but also who we are, and where we come from." - Ray Arcadio
Works Cited
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.
Hooks, Bell. The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love. Washington Square Press, 2004.
Lazzaro, Sage. “Memes Are Our Generation’s Protest Art.” VICE, 1 Mar. 2019, www.vice.com/en/article/mbzxa3/memes-are-our-generations-protest-art.
Sylvia Padilla "Reliquia" acrylic on canvas, 2023
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