This is What I Know About Art- ESSAY

This is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew illustrates much of what we have covered in class in regards to art, and activism. In her book, Kimberly Drew becomes aware of the lack of representation in her art history classes and uses her life experience as a college student to begin a blog that highlights black artists. In doing this she creates a space for herself as a curator, and a place where inclusion, and visibility for black artists exist. This is Kimberly Drew’s artistic and activist intervention.

As a figure in the art world Kimberly draws attention to this critical issue of erasing black history by never including it in academia. A concept well illustrated by the Carter G Woodson quote in the book "If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition. It becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world and it stands in danger of being exterminated.” This lack of visibility, and representation exists in black communities, but also in many minority communities. Cultures that stray or vary from that of western ideals and traditions become obsolete and are something risking extermination. For this reason, the blog Kimberly Drew created countered this erasing of history by establishing a place where it was important and visible.

This concept of being denied visibility and denied credit for the enrichment an entire population brings to existence is something that strikes me deeply. Much like Kimberly Drew most of us did not learn about the great historical people of color that reshaped history, in a traditional education system. Instead, we were all taught a white washed version of history of what and who was important. This simultaneously neglected so many important historical figures of color. When attention is not given to a diverse group of people, they are not only forgotten, but unappreciated and undesired. I believe this relates to John Berger's “Ways of Seeing” in that, until recently people of diverse backgrounds and races were not idealized and made to be beautiful in mainstream media. I can recall as a child wishing I had blonde hair, green eyes and lighter skin. I was always called “La negrita” (little black girl) in my family because I am the darkest. When I looked at my peers, toys, books, and television I did not see those who looked like me and therefore wanted to look like them instead. In the quote by John Berger “Publicity needs to turn to its own advantage the traditional education of the average spectator buyer. What he has learnt at school of history, mythology, poetry can be used in the manufacturing of glamour.” This quote encompasses the point of manufacturing culture, in the past culture has been very exclusive in glamorizing whiteness while completely overlooking beauty elsewhere. By creating spaces where other forms of beauty including black women of color, Latinx, LGBTQ, and placing them in media, and depicting them as beautiful, valuable, and accepted manufactures a changing culture.

The idea of giving people back credit, and helping them in acknowledging their own beauty is something I value and see as a form of activism. All too often people are oppressed by being made to feel powerless, and undervalued. As a nurse I hope to one day use my skills in healthcare and my passion for art to create campaigns, initiatives ,and inclusion programs to help those people feel valued and provide a sense of worth. I don’t believe my professional journey will be complete unless I continue to take an activist role in addressing systemic oppression and becoming involved in the implementation of policies and interventions that will continue to uplift underserved and underrepresented populations. 

Unlike Kimberly Drew I have not yet discovered how I will accomplish this goal. Presently I am trying to increase my knowledge base, doing the work of reading, learning, and getting to know the people and populations I wish to advocate for. This class is also part of that, I enrolled with the hope of seeing how others take activist roles and to brainstorm and ultimately be influenced and inspired by their efforts.   



Works Cited

Drew, Kimberly. This Is What I Know About Art. Penguin Workshop, 2020.

Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. Penguin Books, 1972.

 

(Karen Vega , The first Oaxacan Model on the cover of VOGUE)

(Film by Beyonce depicting Black Beauty)