Supporting black artists in the Twenty-first century
by Jordan Taylor
Despite the pandemic creating an unthinkable circumstance for Black entrepreneurs, statistics show that Black business ownership had increased by 28% during the spring months of 2021. Seeing that this statistic includes Black artists, we, as a collective of supporters, must take advantage of this rise in ownership and use it to propel Black artists in the industry. As we arrive at this fork in the road, or resurgence of Black Self, we are left with two options: we can allow beautiful pieces to go unseen in the depths of the internet or we can create a strong structure for future Black artists to flourish. While the internet acts as an intangible location for today’s resurgence of Black artistry, acting almost as Harlem did to the renaissance, it is an extremely viable method of connecting viewers to Black individuals and their work. It has not only broadened the limits of form, but allowed for a larger consumption of art. Although, simply using the internet as a resource is not a plan - we must pair it with a societal dedication to art as a form of history-making. The Harlem Renaissance would not have created such a large explosion of knowledge and dedication to Black art without the supporters themselves. Efforts of changemaking in Black culture have a legacy of using community to uplift, therefore, we must propose the same initiative. To continue creating representational change in the art community is to be intentional about purchasing, gifting, and supporting Black art. It is not enough to simply recognize the statistics on Black artists, rather we must create a plan and take steps that will elicit progress. Intentionally viewing artists as historians of our current moment will allow society to properly value pieces as indispensable and inimitable.
Ernie Barnes The Sugar Shack 1976. Acrylic on canvas 36 in. x 48 in. Collection of Jim and Jeannine Epstein. © Ernie Barnes Family Trust.Each time I visit my aunt’s home, my first step inside is always met with the perfect view of her favorite painting by Ernie Barnes. The facial expression of each character suggests their personal mesmerization with the music scene, yet their frozen movements illustrate a synchronous rhythm connecting the entire room. Even those glancing at the image for only a moment can feel the energy of the characters exuding from the piece. The vibrant colors within the moment allow you to imagine the scene and even the following dance moves of each person. Paintings by renowned artist, Ernie Barnes, are often a staple decoration in Black households. I still feel the same joy I felt when I first saw the painting as a child; there is no age limit to feeling cultural connectedness. This is why we must make art part of our everyday. There is intention in purchasing a work and choosing where to hang it in your home. Not only will the piece capture the interest of visitors or those who reside with you, it could open the conversation to learning more about Black artists and places to purchase pieces of art such as Etsy, Society6, Saatchi Art. We grew up with our grandmothers, aunties, family members, or even role models showing us Black art, it is now our job to continue the legacy of connectedness.
We need to take charge and ensure that the work of Black artists is central to the given institution’s story. Locations like The Mehari Sequar Gallery, created to directly promote Black artists, are rare, but extremely necessary. When we make space for and highlight art in our own lives, we create a context for the world to understand the value Black art. It allows society to see that art can not only create social change, but that it is crucial to identity and self-knowledge. Black art is part of our history and we must treat it delicately as so.
References :
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/05/02/black-business-pandemic-entrepreneurs/
https://lithub.com/are-we-in-the-middle-of-a-black-art-renaissance/
https://medium.com/illumination/the-rise-of-black-artists-in-the-art-world-a8c86817d0af