Back again!
Today marks the 3rd edition of my Artist a Day challenge! During Black History Month I share daily posts featuring African-American artists and artists of African descent throughout the diaspora.
In 2017 I will focus on artists who have committed to promoting and amplifying the artistic voices of others. They may be mentors, organizers, writers, scholars, curators, etc who have inspired others through their work. My goal is to connect each artist featured with another in a future post. These connections form a constellation of artists that have differing points of view or approach their work from multiple perspectives, but they are all guided in the spirit of promotion and advocacy with each playing an important role in creating canon.
Additionally a particular focus will be placed on West Coast artists this year. My primary source for inspiration and research is the encyclopedic, dense catalog for Now Dig This! Art and Black Los Angeles, 1960–1980. The show, curated by Kellie Jones for the Hammer in 2011 was instrumental in recognizing and documenting the institutional contributions of African American artists in Los Angeles.
Thank you to my regular readers for taking this journey with me. This is one of my favorite recurring features on the site and I hope you enjoy the highlighted works!
Post number 1 features the career of artist and “advocate of artistic opportunity”, Ruth Waddy.
Above image: Mark Bradford, Bridges and Tunnels, 2015.
Culture Shock Art 