Comments on The Liberator Magazine :: Art. Culture. Education. Politics. Truth...: The Negro Artist

this link is interesting. i thought it was kinda r...

2006-07-10T11:40:00.000-04:00

this link is interesting. i thought it was kinda relevant to the whole artists discussion. it just shows the role the artist can play if she so chooses... in helping to inspire to action or to empart a vision onto people (link)

that doesn't sound like a bad idea... ;-)

2006-06-18T09:27:00.000-04:00

that doesn't sound like a bad idea... ;-)

i agree with you ogechi. that's what i was trying ...

2006-06-16T17:13:00.000-04:00

i agree with you ogechi. that's what i was trying to get across with me saying fools can become wise and often that process is art in itself, beautiful art. again, "CommonSense" is a perfect metaphorical illustration for me of an artist's journey from fool to wise (although wisdom is a neverending cup) and the beauty of the process. his first album is just as good as his last in my opinion. but they are different. his first album was just as honest as his last. but somehow he has reached a higher level of honesty. so somehow his last is more honest than his first. and yet somehow it is not because he was being honest when he penned his first. i respect the artist because she must create at every point. and those creations at different points end up being her life's portfolio. imagine the artist who thought and read and grew her whole life and never created a piece of art until her dying day... imagine the tree that stayed a seed her whole life and on the last day of her life she grew 50 feet and produced 10 pounds of bananas... interesting perhaps but not natural. there's something beautiful about watching that tree every season and getting to know it all over again after every extra inch it grows.

o, i'll add walker to the list and see if someone is interested in taking that interview on. what's good with you doing it? :)

Btw. I'm really thrilled to have this convo w/ you...

2006-06-16T16:43:00.000-04:00

Btw.
I'm really thrilled to have this convo w/ you brothers and sisters.

Honesty is an important issue for artists.Im glad ...

2006-06-16T16:37:00.000-04:00

Honesty is an important issue for artists.
Im glad someone brought that up.
However, honesty and integrity is something that is honed in practice.
There's an old saying that goes...
"actions speak louder than words."
Over time, an artist learns to reconcile the ethereal vision w/ our 3dimensional reality using tools called ability and intent.
By exercising ability we learn to communicate effectively through our medium and honesty comes out because we use these products to show who we are, our intent.
It is a path that every artist must walk. No short cuts.
When someone comes out in the world and presents themselves as a refined artist, as Kara does, as I do, as others do, I would expect that they are giving an honest demonstration of their ability and intent.
By a person's deeds, one can decide whether or not to include said person into your vision of community or family.
Brian, you should try to interview Ms. Walker for the Liberator.
You can contact her through the Art Dept. at Columbia University.
Good Luck.

I'm gonna have to agree with both of you (Brian & ...

2006-06-16T15:57:00.000-04:00

I'm gonna have to agree with both of you (Brian & Raven). Honesty is key. As an artist my ultimate goal is to remember my past, manifest my present and the imagine the possibilities of my future as a woman, as a daughter, as a friend, as a tennis player, as an observer, as a nerd, as an artist, as a designer, as a sister, as a Black person, as a human being. The only way I can do that is to be who I am and a major part of who I am is Black. I guess that's the responsibility... in a way...to be honest with self and what you create and express/represent.

"We younger Negro artists who create now intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame. If white people are pleased we are glad. If they are not, it doesn't matter. We know we are beautiful. And ugly too. The tom-tom cries and the tom-tom laughs. If colored people are pleased we are glad. If they are not, their displeasure doesn't matter either. We build our temples for tomorrow, strong as we know how, and we stand on top of the mountain, free within ourselves."
-Langston Hughes-

I am not familiar with the two artists mentioned b...

2006-06-16T11:50:00.000-04:00

I am not familiar with the two artists mentioned but after reading this blog I will be :-).

Kemi, I would have liked to see your exhibit --sounds really interesting and brings to mind some themes/ideas I encountered in a class on black women in the visual media in undergrad..this discussion brings to mind an artist who did her own interpretation of the so-called Hottentot Venus and got hell for it...Im really bad with names so i cant recall it write now..but she is NY-based...the controversy stemmed from those who thought her piece acted in the agency of "the gaze" because of the nudity and other stuff..its not something i would probably have in my house..but i could appreciate the statement she was making after my initial shock
black artists ( and not artists who happen to be black in my opinion) do have a certain amount of responsibility by default and part of that responsibility is to not censor themselves and to be accountable to themselves and the larger force field that they happen to be apart of--thats where that honesty part comes in that brian is talking about...and I agree that self-analysis and identification is key and neccesary

I'm riding that same wave. My only constant remind...

2006-06-15T13:11:00.000-04:00

I'm riding that same wave. My only constant reminder to myself and others is that honesty (which encompasses knowledge of self and/or the persuit of it) is the one REQUIREMENT.

I'm fine with telling people to "do their thing" or admitting that people are going to live their own lives.

However, I observe too often us not being the keepers of our brothers and sisters.

How am I someone's keeper? Is it by making suggestions on every little thing they do? No. But we should constantly be challenging eachother to be more honest, more knowledgable of ourselves (which encompasses, those who make us, which encompasses the experiences that have allowed for the existence of our experience)... and more vulnerability that enables us to do the first two things I just mentioned.

In those 2 things, we can't settle for just letting eachother do our own thing. That's the essence of community/family. Cause I ain't really tryna have any friends, I'm tryna grow into families.

I totally agree with you ogechi, Kara is going to ...

2006-06-15T12:58:00.000-04:00

I totally agree with you ogechi, Kara is going to do her no matter what folks think. I wasn't sweatin her it was my associate in question that was. It was kinda of funny because we were telling not to jump to judgements based on one documentary she saw and she got really defensive and asked why we didn't believe her (her knowledge of Walker). She could not even consider the possibility of Walker wanting the her work to speak for itself, whatever that interpretation may be, she didn't want to consider any possibility for that matter.

As for me, I'm just putting some questions out there because they keep coming up time and time again as I move forward with my artistic pursuits. However, I do believe that you can care about what your fellow man and woman are doing but in the end they will live their life and you can only live yours.

I'm a Black artist. Blakety-blak-blak-blak.My vali...

2006-06-15T11:17:00.000-04:00

I'm a Black artist.
Blakety-blak-blak-blak.
My validation for what i do comes from the Black-ass starry Universe and the vision that I will once again rejoin my ancestors and creator in the great oneness of All.
My work is in direct conversation with the wisdom of elders and prophets of Africa in the old world and in the new world. On Earth I stand in line with our history and future of the great artists, musicians, writers, poets, rappers, dancers, and griots of our great afrikan culture.
Lastly, truth resonates with truth.
Who on earth is the judge of truth?

All that said:

Don't sweat Kara.
She do her thug. She been doin' it all this time and she ain't gonna stop. She chose her road.

Now you choose yours.

"I got mine/ don't worry about his/Say it loud..."
-James Brown

All those decent Negroes who hated on people like Kara and the like, only fueled controversy which drew more attention to their deeds and work.

"All this petty chitter chatter/ only made my pockets fatter"
-Lil' Kim

In the meantime, get on a level.
If you are on the path, stay true to your shit. Take opportunities. Make opportunities. Get your work out there. No excuses. Keep trying. Never stop. Show no fear.

It takes years of hard work.

Our black arts are the continuation of our cultural existence.
Be a true soldier and lift your voice.

This went down at San Francisco State University. ...

2006-06-15T00:36:00.000-04:00

This went down at San Francisco State University. I think Walker and Ofili are both brilliant artists and let me just state that not only white folks purchasing certain pieces of hers but anyone for that matter, how plausible is it? Some of her work I would definately want to have in my home but I am extremely sensitive to art and I couldn't dream of having some of her more explicit pieces greeting me around the corner (but that's just me). I definately believe that it should be displayed and appreciated as an expression of a brilliant artist and her personal perspective of a history we all need to remember. I also like to consider the "life after creation". And, hey, it is her work and she should have the freedom to do whatever she pleases...

first of all, you guys frickin rock for being so c...

2006-06-14T22:17:00.000-04:00

first of all, you guys frickin rock for being so candid and SMART.

second of all, kemi - what school did this happen at, if you don't mind me asking -

as an artist myself, i don't care what anyone thinks, when it comes to my own art. however, this is a luxury because i don't have to answer to anyone, cause i don't do it for the money or for a boss.

this whole dialogue reminds ome of the dave chappelle situation, where supposedly oprah and bill cosby and the likes got all p-o'ed at dave for taking comedy "too far" - you can't please everyone when you're a true artist,

walker's work- her stuff is undeniably brillant, just like the brownstones in brooklyn, so people with the resources will buy it. if i had the cash i would buy walker and
ofili pieces, but i don't. and this kind of art is for a certain palette, i'm sure there's lots of black AND white folks who wouldn't want a walker silhoutte in their parlor....

true to self, it's the only path.
i'd love to see some of your work kemi - do you have it up online?

Thanks and I knew you were just making a point. I ...

2006-06-14T22:01:00.000-04:00

Thanks and I knew you were just making a point. I was surprrised to hear that she was selling her silhouette pieces. I don't know it just rubbed me the wrong way...you would have to see her work to judge for yourself...

Duh (to me)?! I totally misread that but now I got...

2006-06-14T21:58:00.000-04:00

Duh (to me)?! I totally misread that but now I got you blood.

I appreciate art that speaks for itself and I think this is a particular dilemma for Black folks. Everything that we put out has the danger of being read negatively and/or stereotypically. It's a thin line we, Black artists, must walk that is if we choose to walk it. But it is unfair to say that we as Black artist must censor our truths/our art. Chris Ofili was banned from showing in New York back in 99' because of his piece "The Virgin Mary", while his co-exhibitor displayed art that bordered child pornography. We get scrutinized for showing some multidimensionality. But say we screw censorship and/or responsibility? To whom do we sale our work to? Most of Walker's work is owned by museums and private collector's who are mostly, if not all rich and white. For anyone who has seen Walker's work, I ask would it be plausible to make a buck off of work that speaks so many horrific truths about Black/U.S. history? Walker herself mentioned that she couldn't imagine some millionaire couple oodling over such images...

But let me say that I don't think your piece was f...

2006-06-14T21:55:00.000-04:00

But let me say that I don't think your piece was foolish at all (obviously i haven't seen it). Your situaton sounds like a different one from the Walker lady. Plus she had money involved which always calls a whole nuther set of issues into question. From what you've said, I think that your piece was an honest work from the heart, rooted in your connection with your knowledge YOURself. The question there seems to be about the white folks. And by no means do I think you should have to apologize for anyone for your work if it is honest. I was just trying to get across that "honest" is a key word. It implies that one knows ones self, honestly -- or at least is on that journey, with an honest desire to complete it. It sounds like your on that journey.

Just wanted to add: Common is a perfect example.No...

2006-06-14T21:31:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to add: Common is a perfect example.

Nothing wrong with being a fool. I was a fool. And am a fool still probably.

Nothing wrong with it at all. But it is definitely not the ideal state.

But in life we should embrace the process of growth.

The only problem I see is lack of balance. It's one thing to be a fool with wise elders around who are constantly prodding and challenging you to be wise.

It's another to be a fool in a sea of fools, with little cultural or community guidance. That's the S^*& that makes me wanna holla.

oh no doubt. I was saying I agree with that freedo...

2006-06-14T21:26:00.000-04:00

oh no doubt. I was saying I agree with that freedom

"But fools can always become wise. And sometimes that's the beauty of art. Certainly it's the beauty of life."

"But let's be clear. The artist who doesn't know h...

2006-06-14T21:21:00.000-04:00

"But let's be clear. The artist who doesn't know herself and fights for the freedom to do whatever she wants to like a spoiled brat is a fool."

She might be a fool but why can't she fight for that freedom? Maybe her art and/or her fight will lead her to her sense of self maybe not. But shouldn't she have the freedom?

ah... I can hear Ellison and Wright talking to eac...

2006-06-14T21:08:00.000-04:00

ah... I can hear Ellison and Wright talking to eachother now.

:)

"What would they say?" I ask myself.

Yea, I be talking to them! I don't be talkin when ya'll around. But when you leave... "I be talkin" lol

Ideally, the artist should "know thyself." Cause nowadays (and perhaps all-a-days) we have artists who claim they want the freedom to do whatever kind of art they want to do. Fine. But the problem is that many artists (people for that matter) don't have the institutional or the cultural demand placed on them by the community to know themselves in a historical context.

Once the artist embarks on the path of self-knowledge, her art will reflect her honest self.

Hence, there is no such thing as "black art" perse... however, black people who know themselves in the way I described above, produce art that is true to their immediate self and their historical self.

At that point I think art should be left to speak for itself and not censored in anyway.

But let's be clear. The artist who doesn't know herself and fights for the freedom to do whatever she wants to like a spoiled brat is a fool.

But fools can always become wise. And sometimes that's the beauty of art. Certainly it's the beauty of life.

So all that is left for us to do is encourage artists to discover themselves and know thier "selfs." I trust that if that task is taken seriously, there's nothing more to worry about.

i hate being the first comment.anyway, as a "black...

2006-06-14T20:20:00.000-04:00

i hate being the first comment.
anyway, as a "black artist" myself i'd like to take this opportunity to shun any concept of having any sort of extra social responsibility just cuz im black. i do think of the consequences of my art but im not going to compromise to avoid stepping on toes. When black artists compromise artistically we allow others to dictate our art which goes against the very idea of being an artist.