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“The last 18 months” coincides perfectly with start of the BLM protests. I’ve been involved with an arts-based non-profit for a long time. They do very specifi

“The last 18 months” coincides perfectly with start of the BLM protests. I’ve been involved with an arts-based non-profit for a long time. They do very specific type of older art. They produce it, exhibit it, encourage others to produce it, etc. The art form is Eurocentric, with a political history that contains some small instances racism, and vast oceans of mainstream liberalism. Every since BLM protests happened (the second time - in June 2020), they’ve been freaking out. Suddenly they’re trying to hire as many “BIPOC” as possible, even though there aren’t many open slots. They’re acknowledging every racial injustice under the heavens. They’re apologizing for existing (literally). Most of all, they’re scared. When I go to their exhibitions, every single person, is white. Occasionally a Black family will be there. Everyone in the crowd parts to allow them through. Everyone greets them - and only them. I imagine this awkward veneration is one reason why so few Black families come. Most of all, the leaders of this org are scared. Terrified. They don’t want to be considered “non-anti-racist.” When speaking with others, the terror is palpable. Edit: just to be clear this is an author specific type of performance art. Think a Bach symphony, a Wagner opera company, or a Shakespeare theater.

golemotron 5y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_panic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_panic
telesilla 5y ago
Suggest to them that they talk about exactly what you are saying here. Say that it's difficult. That we are figuring it out. Put together exhibitions that talk about it. That's a hell of a lot better than shutting down communication. Be inclusive. Ask for help from other galleries who have better representation. Maybe they can do an exchange. Identify what there is to be afraid of - it's the necessary step to moving forward.
- pyuser583 5y ago
  Regarding putting together exhibitions, this is an author specific type of performance art. Kind of like a Shakespeare theater company. There’s room to reinterpret the artist, but frankly interpreting this author as socially conscious has been done so many times it’s boring. It would be like putting on a feminist production of Antigone, or a pacifist recitation of the Iliad, or an anti-racist production of Othello - not only “already done” but probably what the author intended. The folks running the show have been avoiding actual “woke” (so hate the phrase) art for exactly this reason - already done 1000 time - and the new era demands new efforts! Instead it’s hiring and outreach that’s gone bonkers. Regarding communication- it isn’t that people have stopped talking. They’ve stopped listening. Realistically, the donors are in charge. They’re the only ones listened to. And currently the powers that be are trying very hard to find new “anti-racist” donors, preferably BIPOC donors. I’m not sure what anyone can do about that. Other than stop donating. What do you mean when you talk about doing an exchange with other galleries?
  - telesilla 5y ago
    Thank you for the response, it's interesting to read about the perspective. >What do you mean when you talk about doing an exchange with other galleries You've been really clear at outlining some of the concerns of the artists and the economic concerns. It would be interesting to take those concerns and questions and ask for feedback from others in the community who are underrepresented. Perhaps an informal gathering of some other people in the field in the form of a structured symposium. Or just a sit-down. One of the world's worst offenders of pushing a euro-centric history recently went full frontal and acknowledged their history (the Rijksmuseum,https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/whats-on/exhibitions/past/slavery https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/whats-on/exhibitions/past/slav...). Might be helpful also to seek out similar situations and how they are working through it.
- throwaway4aday 5y ago
  They are afraid of online mobs and local activists looking for a target. That's what everyone is afraid of when it comes to this foolish moment in history. If it was simply a matter of being more inclusive there'd be nothing to worry about. Instead, everyone's trying to cover their ass and not stick out so they don't become the next takedown. The funny thing is if you just ignore social media, none of this has any direct consequence. The only real world consequences are from someone higher up the chain getting spooked and trying to appease the mob by throwing you under the bus. It's like a prisoner's dilemma writ large. The consequences of this will be interesting, it already looks like a lot of people are just deciding to self-sort into groups that won't defect. Others, like the author of the article, are going independent so they don't have to worry about their employer or coworkers defecting.
  - telesilla 5y ago
    >online mobs and local activists looking for a targe Do these actually exist in their local environment or are people just afraid because of what's going on over the media networks? Forgive me, as I'm outside of where you are and I often see people being afraid of things that aren't often there.
    - pyuser583 5y ago
      They’re mostly older folks. Not tech savvy. I doubt it’s the twitterotti. Not sure where there fear is from. Part of it is simply not wanting to be racist, but not knowing what racism means (as a consensus definition). The author mentioned going from most left wing to right wing without changing opinions. That’s what’s going on here … the definition of “racist” is vague so it’s better to move as far to the left as possible. I think it’s the uncertainty over what is acceptable that’s causing fear.
pessimizer 5y ago
> Most of all, they’re scared. Scared of criticism. Why shouldn't they be? They've created an exclusively white environment, possibly subsidized by public funds. A lot of people in the US grew up in sundown towns, but think that the reason that there are no black people where they live is because black people didn't want to live there. They see racism how a fish sees water. They should be relieved that it's almost over. They were victims of media trying to get the anti-Trump clicks while also being anti-Sanders, leaving them with Russian conspiracy theories (are you spreading them?) and talk about race and gender (are you a bigot and don't know it?). It'll be over once Trump fully eclipses along with public anxiety about helping him, and they'll only have had to deal with one black family.

golemotron 5y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_panic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_panic

telesilla 5y ago

Suggest to them that they talk about exactly what you are saying here. Say that it's difficult. That we are figuring it out. Put together exhibitions that talk about it. That's a hell of a lot better than shutting down communication. Be inclusive. Ask for help from other galleries who have better representation. Maybe they can do an exchange. Identify what there is to be afraid of - it's the necessary step to moving forward.

pyuser583 5y ago
Regarding putting together exhibitions, this is an author specific type of performance art. Kind of like a Shakespeare theater company. There’s room to reinterpret the artist, but frankly interpreting this author as socially conscious has been done so many times it’s boring. It would be like putting on a feminist production of Antigone, or a pacifist recitation of the Iliad, or an anti-racist production of Othello - not only “already done” but probably what the author intended. The folks running the show have been avoiding actual “woke” (so hate the phrase) art for exactly this reason - already done 1000 time - and the new era demands new efforts! Instead it’s hiring and outreach that’s gone bonkers. Regarding communication- it isn’t that people have stopped talking. They’ve stopped listening. Realistically, the donors are in charge. They’re the only ones listened to. And currently the powers that be are trying very hard to find new “anti-racist” donors, preferably BIPOC donors. I’m not sure what anyone can do about that. Other than stop donating. What do you mean when you talk about doing an exchange with other galleries?
- telesilla 5y ago
  Thank you for the response, it's interesting to read about the perspective. >What do you mean when you talk about doing an exchange with other galleries You've been really clear at outlining some of the concerns of the artists and the economic concerns. It would be interesting to take those concerns and questions and ask for feedback from others in the community who are underrepresented. Perhaps an informal gathering of some other people in the field in the form of a structured symposium. Or just a sit-down. One of the world's worst offenders of pushing a euro-centric history recently went full frontal and acknowledged their history (the Rijksmuseum,https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/whats-on/exhibitions/past/slavery https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/whats-on/exhibitions/past/slav...). Might be helpful also to seek out similar situations and how they are working through it.
throwaway4aday 5y ago
They are afraid of online mobs and local activists looking for a target. That's what everyone is afraid of when it comes to this foolish moment in history. If it was simply a matter of being more inclusive there'd be nothing to worry about. Instead, everyone's trying to cover their ass and not stick out so they don't become the next takedown. The funny thing is if you just ignore social media, none of this has any direct consequence. The only real world consequences are from someone higher up the chain getting spooked and trying to appease the mob by throwing you under the bus. It's like a prisoner's dilemma writ large. The consequences of this will be interesting, it already looks like a lot of people are just deciding to self-sort into groups that won't defect. Others, like the author of the article, are going independent so they don't have to worry about their employer or coworkers defecting.
- telesilla 5y ago
  >online mobs and local activists looking for a targe Do these actually exist in their local environment or are people just afraid because of what's going on over the media networks? Forgive me, as I'm outside of where you are and I often see people being afraid of things that aren't often there.
  - pyuser583 5y ago
    They’re mostly older folks. Not tech savvy. I doubt it’s the twitterotti. Not sure where there fear is from. Part of it is simply not wanting to be racist, but not knowing what racism means (as a consensus definition). The author mentioned going from most left wing to right wing without changing opinions. That’s what’s going on here … the definition of “racist” is vague so it’s better to move as far to the left as possible. I think it’s the uncertainty over what is acceptable that’s causing fear.

pessimizer 5y ago

> Most of all, they’re scared. Scared of criticism. Why shouldn't they be? They've created an exclusively white environment, possibly subsidized by public funds. A lot of people in the US grew up in sundown towns, but think that the reason that there are no black people where they live is because black people didn't want to live there. They see racism how a fish sees water. They should be relieved that it's almost over. They were victims of media trying to get the anti-Trump clicks while also being anti-Sanders, leaving them with Russian conspiracy theories (are you spreading them?) and talk about race and gender (are you a bigot and don't know it?). It'll be over once Trump fully eclipses along with public anxiety about helping him, and they'll only have had to deal with one black family.