Jan 21, 2010

Food for Thought


ArtTable's recent panel discussion, Blog This!: Blogging the Contemporary Arts, at X Initiative was not the rich conversation about art criticism in the blogosphere that I had hoped for. Rather, the discussion seemed geared toward novices for whom art blogs are something of mystery. That said, the work and achievements of the five panelists are an inspiration to many (including me) and it was nice to see the event so well attended. Art bloggers need support.

Shifting gears here, I couldn’t help but notice the lack of diversity among panelists. This is something I've recognized at events of this sort in the past. The moderator claimed to have cast a wide net in selecting speakers. She was clearly referring to their various roles in the art world (educator, artist, dealer, etc). It probably goes without saying that different voices, social experiences and perspectives can significantly shift the course of any dialog. I left the event wondering: Why are people of color frequently absent from public forums about art blogging, or online art criticism? Are we deliberately left out? Or are we not present because we don’t blog about art at the same rate as our white counterparts? Do art blogs by people of color attract different audiences or less attention on the whole?

I suppose most speakers and attendees of art blog meet-ups mirror the predominantly white art world. But the prospect of art bloggers as a racially homogeneous community of people and authorities is, in my mind, at odds with the spirit of social media -- platforms that have ostensibly diversified authorship by decentralizing power. Aren't non-whites and minorities contributing to art discourse more than ever? Not necessarily. When I brought this up to a friend of mine, she said, "Becoming a writer -- knowing how to write -- is a hurdle that can exclude people who don't have the same access to education." Hence, just because self-publishing tools such as blogs are readily available does not mean that everyone can wield them effectively. And, for sure, race and class continue to play a role in who has access to education, art, and the web.

The discourse on art blogging -- the future of art criticism -- is quite young and there are still many conversations to be had. But down the road I hope no one has to ask, à la Linda Nochlin, why there have been no great art bloggers of color, only to realize, as Nochlin said of women artists in 1971, that there have been many interesting and very good ones who were insufficiently investigated or appreciated. I’m just sayin', it’s something to think about.

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15 comments:

  1. The lack of art blogging by people of color could in part be due to a lack of interest in the contemporary art scene by people or color. There are a lot of factors that play a part in this (some of which have been stated in your post), but I think on the whole, the art scene isn't widely prescribed as a field or area of interest to many people of color from within their respective community. Part of it is due to a lack of arts education in public schools, part of it could be a feeling of exclusion from one's peers as someone who might have an interest in art, hell... I'll go as far as to say some people of color may feel that art is for other people aka white people. I'm not saying that is right or is the case for everyone, but that is a sentiment I heard growing up when telling people of my artistic interests. If it wasn't graffiti or air-brushing clothing for people then what was the point if it wasn't bringing in money? So, as previously stated issues of economics and class are inherent to this conversation as well as identity and what one feels they are entitled to pursue.
    On another note, with Sidekicks, Blackberries, iPhone/iPod Touches blogging can be done on the cheap and on the fly. Twitter anyone? So, if technology is as readily available as it is then in my mind the main culprit is a lack of interest/understanding about the art world and the organizations, that exist to keep it afloat. If more people of color knew of the art industry both non-profit and commercial, galleries and museums that exist and the services they provide then, maybe, possibly, more diversity in the arts would
    be a reality.
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  2. You've made some great points, Anonymous.

    I really don't want to accept that there's a lack of interest in contemporary art by people of color, but there could be something to that. And as you suggest, there are a number of reasons why that might be. I think lack of art education is huge. Though, personally, I didn't visit an art museum until I was in my 20s. That one visit changed my life.

    Many people in my family see art as a white endeavor, so they have never stepped foot inside a museum or gallery. Of course, they don't read or write about art either. However, I have an uncle who is a recreational painter, a great painter. From what I gather, he never pursued his work professionally because he felt that art was something he couldn't do because of racial barriers. No one in my family really understands why I do what I do, or why I would choose to work in an segregated, or isolating field. But my work has, at the very least, peaked their interest -- now they want to know more about art.

    So, again, I think you make a great point about access to art education.
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  3. if we look at this as a strict numbers basis, then what Anonymous states is true: there ARE fewer people of color in, and/or interested in, the arts than whites...ergo, there will be fewer participants and audience members at such events who are of color. And, yes, access to education and opportunities will ALWAYS be a part of the problem (the effects of 200+ years of slavery, 100+ years of de jure discrimination and the continuing (though somewhat abated) de facto discrimination do not erase themselves upon the election of a black president).

    But leaving it at the numbers and the historical consequences phenomena skates over the role that the panel organizers play in this scenario.

    We know there are art writers and bloggers who are of color, and we know that some of them are very good (just as with whites). So why didn't the organizers select any bloggers of color?

    There is no single answer for this, but I have a few ideas. First, people tend to pick their "friends" (which is true in any industry) for these types of things, and, let's face it, if the organizer is white that there's a good chance that most of their friends will be white. Second, it occurs to very few organizers of such events that it might be important to host a panel of people of varied backgrounds, and that such "diversity" adds value to the conversation because it offers additional ideas. Diversity is necessary because echo chambers are useless in terms of moving conversation along. (Instead, the organizers tend to get stuck on diversity for diversity sake, which can go horribly wrong). So, I think that it is incumbent upon organizers (and self-appointed authorities) to get outside of their boxes and consider whether their presenters really represent a broad array of ideas and perspectives.

    I guarantee that if there were more representations of people of color as panelists, there would be more audience members of color, and if there are more audience members of color.... well, we might get closer to addressing the numbers gap, and putting more holes in the walls of institutional racism.

    As a footnote, I do want to say that there is also an unintended consequence in encouraging organizers to be more "inclusive", i.e, the pigeonholing effect, which is a problem in the art world generally. But that's a topic for another day.

    --Just Another Person Tired of Hearing The Same People Talk All The Time.
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  4. It's almost a chicken and egg scenario of what needs to come first and I'd like to say neither. They both need to happen simutaneously. If birds of a feather flock together is a reality then artists/curators/writers/bloggers of color should start assembling their/our own panel discussions or curating shows. Not as an Us vs. Them, but as a means to present a more balanced participation of panelists and attendess. Who else knows the lack there of greater than us? On the whole, I would say that as a creative person of color working on their craft, attending openings, talks/residencies, going to films, etc., chances are we are going to have an easier time including/inviting those with less or more melanin than ourselves. Chalk it up to the numbers of those involved in the scene. Mind you, this to me is just a matter of fact when one pursues a career in the visual arts within a certain social class (another discussion regarding the art world all together).
    Lately I've been watching a lot of Justice League of America (JLA Unlimited)cartoons on YouTube. One of the episodes was a special where the writers of the show were interviewed. A commenter of the YouTube community asked why there were so many Black writers on the show. For this segment the writers consisted of two Blacks, maybe three white and one of possible Hispanic descent. The two Black writers provided content for all of the DC universe's characters. Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Flash, they along with their co-workers wrote for this show. They weren't only involved with the story lines of Black Lighting or the John Stewart Green Lantern. Their knowledge and skillset of the genre allowed for this as well as their counterparts to provide input for theteh Black characters.
    So... maybe the art world should take a hint from the comic world and broaden its horizons. I do believe that when red mixes with yellow the color orange is still the result, regardless of who wields the brush or looks at the painting.


    --Someone Who Should have Created a Screen Name for This Entry
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  5. Just Another Person Tired...: Yes, yes, yes. I was hoping someone would bring up the role organizers play in lack of representation on these panels. Why do people have to be reminded to be inclusive?? Ugh. On the flip side, I realize, as you've stated, that encouraging diversity often leads to tokenism and pigeonholing, which is as much a product of narrow thinking as leaving people of color out altogether.
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  6. Someone Who Should Have Created a Screen Name:

    I imagined that someone might read this post and suggest a panel discussion FOR people of color about art blogging/criticism. (I've thought of organizing one myself.) While I can't say I wouldn't merrily skip to such an event, I'd rather see people of color brought into "mainstream" conversation(s).

    If art bloggers/writers of color were to create their own panel discussions (1) I think it would be perceived as "us vs. them" regardless of how you spin it and (2) I have this horrible feeling that art bloggers/writers of color would continue to exist on the margins.

    Broadening the view of the existing landscape, not painting a new one is, I think, the goal.
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  7. It wish all the comments on this post weren't anonymous...what gives?
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  8. Hrag just asked me on Twitter to define "color." To clarify, I mean non-whites and minorities.
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  9. After blogging about the Washington Color School all day, I laughed at my first [obviously wrong] interpretation of "Art bloggers of color."

    That said, the Washington Project for the Arts hosted a panel about arts writing a couple of weeks ago with an artist/blogger of color, Isabel Manalo.

    And for whatever grief my NYC carpetbagging writeup caused, I was stoked by the highly engaged, multi-racial crowd. It's probably the most fully integrated art world event I've been to that didn't involve Chris Ofili.
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  10. Nicole,

    The Us vs Them could/would be avoided by the simple fact of the panel organizers being mindful of who they sought to participate. In this case, the organizers of color and their peers/comrades of non-color would simply by conducting or organizing an event involving the multi-racial people that thy/we already know. It shouldn't read as a diversity agenda as the participants are simply those who are known by the organizers to have a valid say or experience in the discussion. Now, if someone ala the kid from the JLA YouTube thread were to wonder "Why are there so many people of color on this panel?", then that's their problem. What they should really ask is why aren't more panels and art events presented with a more encompassing make up of artists who make work in this city?
    A bit utopian and wishful thinking maybe, but I think in order for existing groups to do what his thread suggests, those groups will have to see it in action first and then follow suit as the popularity of said events spreads.

    Hrag, I am the Anonymous of the 1st and 3rd comments.
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  11. hi - CINQUE HICKS is an early artblogger, was good and well known at the time... not sure what he is doing now. TIM MCFARLANE is an artist in philly...(http://initforlife.blogspot.com/) tim shows at bridgette mayer gallery.
    ... and there was a guy in miami named ONAJIDE, not sure if i have his name right...he was another early one and i'm not sure if he is still doing it either.
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  13. Martin,

    I've heard of Cinque Hicks, but the other bloggers you've mentioned are new to me.

    This post doesn't focus on art bloggers of African descent, but I have searched for them in the past. I'm sure you know that standard methods of searching, like Google, tend to kick back blogs that focus on artists of African descent, which is not every black art blogger's focus.

    I don't have any recommendations at the moment...but perhaps I will in the near future.
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  14. Oops. I accidentally deleted Martin's second comment in which he asked about other black art bloggers.
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  15. Check out Socialwayne.com's February series "28 Days of Diversity: People of color impacting the social web" @ http://socialwayne.com/category/28-days-of-diversity/
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