“Art and protest will forever be bound together.” [pg 7]
After reading this book, I realized that protest art is more than creating art about activism. Art and protest are connected in various ways, and Drew definitely showed that through her jobs in different museums, galleries, and Tumblr. After reading, I understood that simply showcasing art created by artists of different ethnicities, disabilities, sexualities, and gender is a form of activism. The art itself doesn’t have to be about advocacy or protest. Simply gathering a minority that has been ignored in the art world serves as a message. Art and protest will always be together because every art piece and exhibit is a form of activism.
“Of the 103 artists selected for the exhibition that year, only nine were Black.” [pg 40]
I was so shocked reading this quote. For a museum in a very diverse city, let alone a country that is considered a “melting pot” of culture, how is it that they could only acknowledge 9 Black artists? That is ridiculous, and I am very disappointed in the Whitney Museum. I hope they have improved and opened their eyes to more POC artists.
“We don’t have to subscribe to anyone else’s idea of success” [pg 52]
I love this quote because it serves as a reminder to people struggling with their career journey, especially in the arts. When people say “art won’t make you successful,” I think they think of painters like Monet and Picasso and award-winning, rich actors and playwrights. While that is the meaning of success, it clouds the minds of artists and diminishes their work as not “good enough” for the "top tier" works. This quote reminds me that success is different from one artist to another. They can be big, like having your fashion line recognized by a celebrity, to something small, like mastering how to draw hands.
Untitled (Perfect Lovers)
I love this piece so much. The overall design is so simple. I didn’t think I would like it because I don’t usually gravitate towards minimalism. However, the meaning of the piece makes this artwork meaningful. I actually found another piece by Félix González-Torres called Lovers that has a letter on it giving a perspective to how this piece is to be perceived. “We are synchronized, now and forever” is the most romantic/cheesy thing I’ve ever read. But it is also sad. Knowing how technology works, these clocks will eventually slow down and run out of battery. They could also slow down at different times, therefore discarding synchronicity. Untitled (Perfect Lovers) is such a profound piece that captures what being in a relationship is.
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