This is What I know About Art: Essay

Mathew Zurita

ART-263-1108

Professor. Cacoilo

October 19, 2023

This is What I Know About Art

             In the book "This is What I Know About Art" by Kimberly Drew, she shows us that art and protests are inextricably linked. Drawing on her personal experience through art toward activism, Drew challenges us to create space for the change that we want to see in the world. The book is full of information of Black American artists who have been left out of U.S art history books and texts. Drew is very uplifting, positive, and passionate about her cause and she had devoted her life and career to helping Black artists to become well known. Teens will be drawn to her book because of its size and colorful cover. Even if students or other people are not interested in art history, they will find it very compelling to read it. Drew makes it huge point that whenever you speak your mind on a specific subject, there will always be someone ready to counter or attack on your opinion, no matter what race or gender you are. In page 26, Drew felt uncomfortable on what her professor said in her class. Her professor was talking about "The couple in the Cage", which was an ironic reenactment of the imperialists practice of displaying indigenous peoples in public venues such as taverns, museums, World Expos and freak shows. Drew’s professor said "If I were African American, I would see white guilt as equally as offensive as outright racism." After class, Drew launch straight into Facebook to tell her story. She wrote on what her professor said in class and she knew that her professor was trying to remedy the divide in her classroom, but at the same time however,  the language didn't sit well for her. She doesn't understand why would her professor have to "be an African American" to see that this guilt was monopolizing the conversation? Around the end of the week, she received a vague email requesting her presence at her professors office hours. Drew posted a quote by the Scholar bell hooks in her blog that explained "Throughout African American history, performance has been crucial in the struggle for liberation, precisely because it has not required the material resources demanded by other art forms." Drew was ready to discuss the performance art in Black culture and defend her Facebook post. When Drew and her professor were finally in the meeting together, he noted that it was very inappropriate for Drew to have taken his own quote out of context. Drew felt some type of regret about posting her professor quotes until her professor said something out of line. Her professor said that Drew made her classmates feel "uncomfortable" during the discussion. Drew said to the professor that she was upset the conversation had quickly turned into a support circle for white guilt. Drew's professor now then says "If you wanted to be in a classroom with other students of color then you should not have enrolled in art history classes." This professor was also Drew's art history adviser and that exchange made her feel alone and almost broke her. Her goal was to graduate and escape from her school so that she could finally achieve her goal and spread Black Contemporary art across the world. Drew's professor quote caught my attention because not only the professor was out of line for what he said but it proves that you can't say anything in social media because people can always find a way to report your posts and argue against your opinion. Drew's art professor thinks that students of color are not involved in art at all, in which its something I highly disagree with. Drew was ready to defend her Facebook post in the meeting. However, the professor noted that it was very inappropriate for her to have taken his quote out of context. In addition, her professor stated she made her classmates feel "uncomfortable" during the discussion. Drew felt some type of regret for that post she made afterwards even though she shouldn't because her professor was just unfair and difficult to persuade with. Another book that has a good connection to Drew goals in her book that she mentioned in, is called "The Art of Activism" by Steve Duncombe and Steve Lambert. In page 83, where it discusses the process and progress, it says "A good creative processes is what behind any successful artistic activists piece. But it's important to remember that process is just that: a process, and the point of a process is programming toward a goal." This ties in Kimberly Drew's goal because she wants to spread Black Contemporary art to the whole audience but she knows it's going to take a while to do that. She had to finish school first and she has to find a way to pay for school after she graduates. Drew had to pay for the fellowship at Creative Time, which is a public art organization based in New York City. She hates the idea of moving to New York since she grew up in New Jersey for her whole life. She wanted to travel far beyond of the East Coast but she realizes not everyone can't get anything in life. That's why process and progress fits in Drew's situation because her goal takes awhile to process so she has to make more and more progress to reach to her goal. 

             In the exhibition located in the NJCU visual arts building, the university had introduced to "Latin American Artists: Dreams and Possibilities". This was open in NJCU galleries and it explores the wide-ranging art making processes, distinctive cultural roots, issues of language and identity in Latin American art. Most of the art work and art pieces you experience in the gallery involved with activism and related to Kimberly Drew's book. For example, an Afro-Puerto Rican artist name Tenjin Ikeda, made an art piece that is located in Hepburn Hall gallery in the third floor. The art piece is called "Reservoir of Expression, 2023". The description states this "The heart holds memory. The heart knows pain and healing. The heart beats life into all that lives. The heart inspires. The heart is the drum of humanity. The heart is where creativity moves through us all, it compels us to move and lean into life. The heart is where our ancestors live and inspire us." Ikeda art work fits in Kimberly Drew because Drew is all about Black art and having a creative mindset. She follows through her heart of art history and creativity in order for her to become an inspiration of Black contemporary art. Ikeda might be consider as an activist because he his showing on how inside the heart, there is creativity, pain, inspiration, and life. People have so much creative ideas but they can't get it out because some people won't either accept that person’s idea or they know they will face judgement or negative feedback for it. It's hard to show your work to everyone because people can take it the right way or the wrong way. In today's world, people till this day are more sensitive than ever before so it's hard not to present your creative art in front of them. 

           There are three artworks that caught my attention in the gallery. One is from Ray Arcadio and two artworks from Kandy G Lopez. Ray Arcadio work is called "Remix" in which it was from Acrylic, airbrush, foam, board and wood on canvas. The description states "Icons are the flags we plant to let everyone know we are here but also who we are and where we come from." Remix is part of arcadio's messengers series. It shows this women that looks like from the 19th century because she dresses highly fancy. Her face is cover different shapes, patterns and long black certain objects around her face. This is connected to the book  "The Art of Activism" because in chapter 2 on page 73, it discusses how perfection is the enemy of completion. It says "Perfection is the voice that creeps up while you're working on a project and whispers over your shoulder." Arcadio did not want to make his artwork perfect, instead he wants to transform it to something out of place and make it more noticeable. His whole idea is not to make it perfect, its to make it on how he sees art from his own eyes. Two art pieces are from the same artist Kandy G Lopez. One is called "Human Fiber, 2015" that is made from thread on canvas. Another one is called "Jade, 2023" that is made from thread, yarn, and repurposed clothing. Both art piece is showing two black models wearing different fashion clothes. I feel this is connected towards Kimberly Drew. Drew states that she is a black contemporary artists that has a mind of creativity and says that black people are art themselves, along having creative ideas. Lopez art pieces shows two black models wearing these colorful and high fashion clothes in the streets. It goes to show that black people can have a great way to make art stand out more. They wear the art and share it to the public. People can have mix reactions to the clothing but at least it can create a reaction and having them observed their clothing closely. 

                In conclusion, both the exhibition and Kimberly Drew's book have similar interests between the two. Both have creative mind sets and share their work on how they view activism. Though not many of the latin artists are not consider to be activist, they still show their work in front of the audience, not afraid to face judgement or what people have to say negative about it. Kimberly Drew made an impact on Black art history because now, many black artists are not afraid to share their own point of view on black art. No matter what race or gender you are, you still have creative ideas and follow your heart at all times. Drew is the reason what makes Black Contemporary art of what it is today and still growing strong than ever before. 

                                                                 

                                      Works Cited

  Kimberly Drew. "This Is What I Know About Art".

  Steve Duncombe, Steve Lambert. "The Art of Activism".

  Latin Art Exhibition.  https://www.njcu.edu/community/events/latinx-art-exhibition