10 things I've taken from this class
1. Speak up even if you are unsure of the reaction you will get is-- you will probably learn something.
2. Leave room for others to speak. Let three others go before you if you are a compulsive hand raiser (as I am)
3. Consume art that is activism. Maquilapolis opened my eyes to something that had always been in front of me-- but never acknowledged or understood. It was not only eyeopening, but also inspiring and proof that our activism is not always needed. Communities can fight and have victories without any help from us. (Though I still think it is important to find opportunities to help)
4. Develop and empower others to be activists. When you are blessed with a vibrant art making career one can and should seek to empower and inspire others to use your infrastructure to evoke change in their own neck of the woods.
5. Be silent and listen.
6. Be vocal and passionate. Noga was so inspiring to have come in and see an artist passionate and inspired to make work deeply personal, and yet speak to a community in order to empower and enliven them. I hope to one day make art with as much verve and passion and Noga does.
7. Things are way simpler but much harder when a binary is presented. A spectrum allows for more wiggle room-- but you can cop out. Don't allow more opportunity to let you stay on your heals and ride the fence. Make a stand to the best of your ability.
I learned this one through our exploration of entitlement through both a spectrum and binary system.
8. You will feel uncomfortable as someone on the other side of entitlement. The good activist will swallow their pride or whatever small feeling of discomfort and know that a much greater fight is being fought, with much more pain which you have not experienced. Swallowing this is paltry in comparison to those who have actually suffered.
9. Constantly question your work, and how it could affect people. Down to the most minuscule detail. (also from Red and Boiling presentation)
10. Make your work politically. You should not betray the message of your work in the way you made it.
Thanks! And thank you for agreeing to meet with me tomorrow!
--
-David Kirk
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