#ARTivism

ARTivism.

‘Artivism’ is a term coined by author and UCSD Professor Ricardo Dominguez.

I’ve been holding that word like a touchstone.

I’m glad to see intelligent people are out there writing, making art and making sense of the election results. These people are less stupefied than I am, at least in my current state. I will rally. I will fly my ALLY flag and find new means of engagement. This article from HuffPost helped me, and I thank all these artists who came forward with fortifying ideas. I’ve selected a few to highlight for you.

What It Means To Be An Artist In The Time Of Trump

21 artists express their hopes, their goals, and their advice to fellow activists.

Confront what others confront.

“I think this election is just forcing a lot of people to confront a dark reality that so many others already face on a daily basis.”

― Genevieve Gaignard, photographer and installation artist

Superpowers and the privilege of having any audience.

“Everyone has different superpowers. For those whose superpower is helping people through their art, it’s important that they now put that superpower to use. Too many people abstract the meaning from their work. More than ever, artists who have the privilege of any audience must speak clearly about the issues that matter most.

Art is powerful ― is enough ― because it can make people feel differently. It forces people to be sensitive to others. It creates compassion. Our mission as artists is to remember that we have the power to make each other feel.”

― Emma Sulkowicz, performance artist

Public art organizations need to be braver.

“As artists we need to stop making work only for gallery or museum walls, or the coffee tables of collectors. Rather, in tandem with these shows and pieces, we also need to make work for the people. For free. On billboards, train stations, public parks, etc.

In order for that to happen, public art organizations need to be braver and stop highlighting work that is safe and decorative. The boards that control them need to give more power to the curators, and American cities need to lift much of the red tape that hinders and prevents artists from making challenging public art.

Racism, misogyny, homophobia, intolerance, anti-Semitism and xenophobia have now risen to the surface and it’s time for a major extraction. I believe that artists can ― and must ― play a role in that, but we need both the resolve and the opportunities to take our work much, much further.”

― Zoe Buckman, multimedia artist

Name it.

“In the aftermath of the Trump win, the role of the white artist is to continually name white supremacy, and to recognize their privilege by supporting and amplifying the work of artists of color. ”

― Vivek Shraya, writer and visual artist

Elevate, educate, uplift.

“Overcome and expose the bitter cynicism settling in the crevices of civilization, elevate, educate, uplift, ascent: generate hope. Expand your vision and dialogue, protect the vulnerable and ask for help, ignite a light, be a catalyst for powerful thought and ideas, muster up the courage.”

― Katya Grokhovsky, visual and performance artist

Muster up the courage.