Chicago Movements in Color

As an emerging, Black woman curator, I am passionate about telling the under told stories of Black Americans and our history. Through this final project, I can say that my group mates and I have done just that because not often do we get to see our history of the civil rights movement being documented in color. In fact, before taking on this project, I had not formerly seen any civil rights imagery in color. 

Throughout the Seminar in Curatorial Course, I have learned a lot that will help me as I finish my matriculation at Spelman, but also as I prepare to obtain a career in the museum world. When considering the specific aspects of this course that have influenced my practice as a future curator, I cannot help but to think about the Curating and Activism section of our course. During that week, there were several readings that resonated with me, one being Art News’ “Are Art Museums Racist?” article. Another prominent reading from that week was The New York Time’s “Curator Urges Guggenheim to Fix Culture that Enables Racism.” Both readings really critique the issues of museums and other similar institutions as they relate to race. Institutional critique is a form of art that I have been passionate about as an artist, and hope to pursue during my curatorial work as well. I believe that it is important and necessary, even, to have these uncomfortable conversations in the art world. Our stories, as Black Americans, deserve to be told just as much as anyone else’s. We matter and our histories should matter within the art world, and everywhere else. 

Aside from the readings, I thoroughly enjoyed hearing from individuals that are already in the field. Specifically, Dr. Nicole Fleetwood, who I found to be very interesting. Her choosing to shed light on incarcerated folks and how their (and their family’s) lives have been forever changed, through her practice spoke volumes to me. I believe that it takes true passion and confidence to choose to tackle lesser known or less cared for topics in the field. She has inspired me to go forth about what I am passionate about, despite what the mainstream art world would say.

• JD