by Jon Lackman | 15 February 2010 | Conferences
Keynote speaker Dawoud Bey, who “began making photographs in 1969 after seeing the ‘Harlem On My Mind’ exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art,” has a blog, to which he has posted a transcript of his remarks. Excerpts:
The art world is often presumed to be a rather liberal place. But–to be sure–it contains more than its fair share of those who are invested in re-inscribing art and culture itself as an arena of privilege and exclusion. Too often these acts of exclusion have left us as a community ever more isolated from the larger social community. It is that larger community that has the potential to embrace our work and make it imperative, giving it a much deeper and sustained presence in the fabric of society … I was reminded of this not too long when I found myself at dinner with a couple of young curators and their patrons. None of them knew the work or name of a single black artists that I asked them about, all of whom I confess had emerged before the 1990s. None of these rang a bell for these young art historians and museum workers who are charged with mounting exhibitions and writing publications that document the expressive work of our time. And these were not obscure or marginal names…to me anyway.
University of Cincinnati graduate student Auna R. Hearne, aka BlackAesthetic, wins this year’s award for best art-historian twitterer:
Riding to Chicago with 2 weird white girls and a foreign one. Let the crazy tweets begin…
At the #CAA2010 Convocation, very cool to see my favorite artists & art historians: Griselda Pollock, Barkley Hendricks, & Holland Cotter
Holland Cotter is a cute dude! Wow…and he talks exactly the way I thought he would! Cynical and intelligent! #CAA2010
The #CAA2010 Convocation speaker is pissing off all the ppl ready to pour up at the gala. Chill, Dawoud Bey is speaking
Art nerds unite! I feel like I’m going to be doing a lot of eye rolling this next couple of days. These people are passionate #CAA2010
Old white people at #CAA2010 stop staring. No I’m not a part of the hotel staff, I’m a grad student.
Getting up to put the monkey suit on. Thinking about hitting the Students & Emerging Professionals breakfast shindig #CAA2010
Last night the convocation speaker said “Think about what you are here for.” That was the most resounding statement. #CAA2010
At the book fair, is there a broke grad student discount?! I would love to buy about every book but… ha! #CAA2010
headed to my 1st session at 12:30 entitled “How is Queer Art Relational?” #CAA2010
Yes, I am identifying. The gay and black art historian goes to gay and black sessions #CAA2010
At the Queer Art session with a bunch of white butches and some old queens. lol #cantwait #CAA2010
I agree, forget Bourriaud #CAA2010
#overheard at #CAA2010 “I didn’t think I would see other black ppl here, are you going to the black thing too?!” #joyinmyspirit
Images make papers interesting. Virginia Solomon’s “All Tomorrow’s Parties: Queer Aesthetics & Cultural Politics” AND images #FTW #CAA2010
#Futurebabymama Kara Keeling, Ph.D. University of Southern California
I live to be a discussant like Jennifer A. Gonzalez of UC Santa Cruz from the Blacknss as Model session. Amazing commentary #CAA2010
Debating on whether or not I’m crashing the Yale U reception. My advisor is an alum and said she would claim me but #idontknow #CAA2010
A presence from the queer session was in the “black” session. Shared feeling of otherness? #CAA2010
I had to leave that last session. It was shameless Artist’s Self Promotion. I don’t like your art, don’t impose it on me #CAA2010
I went to the Yale U reception to find Glenda Swan & my advisor. Neither were there and I was clearly not wanted #CAA2010 #Itscool #noshade
Fuck yo Ivy League reception in the ballroom, this is how urban research institutions get down #CAA2010 http://yfrog.com/1em1mj
I have so much respect for my school director right now. what a stand up dude. Really appreciate this free, unlimited alcohol
just heard about a party in 1276…Queers…I’m on my way
I literally got
wasted last night. I was gone off of … WHITE WINE?! What is going on? white wine! I had about 2 bottles tho I know we went somewhere, to a Mexican joint. They charged my card for some food I didn’t eat. I’m not sure how I got back to the hotel
Today, I’m wearing grey and purple. If you see me at #CAA2010 speak! Yes, I’m attending the conference. No I don’t work at the Hyatt
I’m running late, but I’m fine. Headed to the African Diaspora session because Jacqueline Francis is in charge #FTW
Bronze Level, West Tower, Water Tower pow pow pow I just sunk your battleship #CAA2010
Dear #CAA2010 the African Diaspora session is full, there are people spilling out the door. Take notice and give us a bigger room next yr!
Thoroughly enjoying this session. Next up…Tobias Wolford: “What is Africa to me? African American art & the problem of origins” #CAA2010
This speaker sucked the life out of this session. Not sure if its his tone or the subject of the paper. Mass exit #CAA2010
Putting my art history hat back on, heading to the second queer art session: “Desire is Queer!” oh yes it is #CAA2010
Argh! Missing the Art & Violence session! But I’m more gay than violent & there is a white butch w/ an Irish accent speaking #sold #CAA2010
I just got on an elevator going up with some stiff looking artists/art historians. And its 34 floors in this hotel #FML #CAA2010
I know I’m not the only black and gay art historian at #CAA2010 I’m just the only one tweeting lmao
This session’s next paper – A Long Hard Look: Queer Desire in Contemporary Life Drawing #somegayshit #FTW #CAA2010
I’m super boo, grad student broke like a jok but I just bought the LAST copy of this book on Kara Walker at the #CAA2010 Book fair #fistpump
UChicago Press is handing out glasses of white/red wine at their #CAA2010 booth but due to last night, I know the powers of white wine
Chancing white wine again…just one (very expensive) glass of Chardonnay
Last session of #CAA2010: African American Art. I was running late but I’m here. Very underwhelming audience. I’m slightly disappointed
You don’t want to argue with me. Especially not on Twitter. I write better than I speak and I will light your ass on fire
#sigh Most of the presenters on the African American art panel are white. I’m not racist but I would like to see faces like mine #CAA2010
Argh! This session is sooo dry. Why do I feel out of place at an African American art session?? #CAA2010
And the only black scholar speaks like a Southern preacher and is an unimpressive academic. #wevegottodobetter #CAA2010
This presenter is having technical difficulties and keeps pronouncing Catlett phonetically. CAT-LET #Fail #gtfoh #CAA2010
I’m starting to realize that! The most impressive well spoken speakers @ the #CAA2010 sessions I attended…were visual artists
I can’t wait to read this book: Kara Walker-No, Kara Walker-Yes, Kara Walker-? … I bought the last copy available at #CAA2010 pow pow pow
Everybody that knows me knows that I’m not impressed with Kara Walker. I bought the book to bolster my own personal opinion #CAA2010
This could have been written by almost any self-impressed grad student. Why is it taking up space here?
That’s kind of harsh, Mamie. I thought it was light and funny.
I think the tweets are excellent, but just want to observe that only certain folks are allowed to say things like this:
“I’m not racist but I would like to see faces like mine”
“I’m not a racist but…”
This person broke everything down to race. “two weird white girls” “old white people” “white butches” this person seems more interested in the color of the people and presenters than the art or info.