Richard Oscar

Arts of Resistance 

Professor Cacoilo

10/25/23

  
 Kimberly Drew's book "This Is What I Know About Art" gives us a glimpse into her experiences as an author and student in the art industry. The autobiographical narrative of Kimberly Drew highlights the shortage of black artists she was exposed to while attending school and how she rebelled against this problem, which serves as an illustration of some of the concepts and concerns we have covered in class. She was inspired and driven to speak out and raise awareness by her stand against the underrepresentation of black artists, which helped her develop as a unique person in the art world. She shows how difficult it was for her to get started in the predominantly white, male art field and how hard she had to work to get to where she is now.According to Drew, "a lot of people of color feel like they don't have the luxury of pursuing liberal arts education."  Historians, writers, and curators can become activists by utilizing their positions to raise awareness of current problems. Kimberly Drew, for instance, launched a blog to promote black art and prevent it from being eliminated from society. Writers, advocates, and participants in public debate are ways that authors, historians, and curators can not only increase awareness but also foster debate and effect change. Since Kimberly Drew began blogging, which is a great example of creative intervention, I can better identify to her activism and journey. She used this platform to educate herself and other members of society who had similar issues or problems that needed to be addressed. Throughout the book, there were a few instances that I felt were especially significant and important. "If being in the arts has taught me anything," she remarked. The reason this book is about what I do know is that admitting "I don't know" is one of the wisest things someone can do"(This is what I know about art by Kimberly drew).  This comment caught my attention because, although individuals frequently don't know what art is, they feel compelled to express their opinions because doing so would validate them. By emphasizing Latin artists and the challenges they or their families have encountered, the artwork in the exhibition Latin American Artists: Dreams and Possibilities links to our conversations about art and activism as well as Kimberly Drew's work and her story in her book. Artists at the exhibition use the canvas to depict both the injustices experienced by people in America and their own backgrounds. Through artwork, we may comprehend the challenges that people have endured throughout their lives. Art activism is exemplified by artists who use their chosen arts to raise awareness of corrupt government policies. "The very same facts we might use to make the case for a humane Justice system would be interpreted a further evidence justifying stricter law and order". "Artistic activism works differently: we encode an idea into a piece that is then seen, heard,or otherwise experienced by others"( The arts of activism by Steve Duncombe).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 "Red White and Starry Blue" by Katherine Miranda and " An authentic Brazilian Experience " by Juno Zago. Illustrates the feeling of affiliation the American-born and developed Puerto Rican diaspora has with the island. The elaborate, dangling dream catchers allude to our aspirations to re-establish a connection with a culture that we can only vaguely understand. She specifically wanted to blend and blend the identities of the American and Puerto Rican flags by utilizing the colors red, white, and blue, which are references to both flags. This will make it difficult to tell which flag is being mentioned. This relates to the values that Kimberly Drew stood for.The collage alludes to the colors of the Brazilian flag and, taken as a whole, conveys the feeling of trying to keep ties to a place you can no longer travel to or engage in regularly. which is somewhat comparable to the artwork Kimberly would have depicted.