Farrow & Ball’s Post

Black professionals constantly strive towards equity in the spaces we occupy. That space may be within Financial Services, Media, Entertainment, or the Arts - to name a few. We, Black professionals across all levels of experience, professions, and industries, face a unique set of challenges and systemic barriers that often add a layer of complexity to our journeys. This leaves many of us with the desire and duty to make the playing field more level for those who follow us. In her recent article for Sweet July my dear friend, Crystal-Angelee B. discusses what true racial equity in the art world looks like. Though the industry of focus is different from the ones I have navigated, the requirements for progress remain consistent with what I have experienced. Some of the requirements that Crystal explores include: • Removing infrastructural biases within systems and processes • Galavanzing the support of leaders who are willing to be challenged and to challenge • Unleashing the power of community Check out her article below, edited by another great friend Brianne Garrett. Well done, ladies! #community #equity #racialequity #diversityequityandinclusion #inclusion

PIVOTAL: An Exploration of Art and Activism **CALL FOR ART | Sept 30th Deadline ** Artists have used their talents as a tool for activism for generations. From Faith Ringgold's painting "The United States of Attica"' to Kara Walker's critiques on colonialism to Tatyana Fazlalizadeh's campaign against street harassment "Stop Telling Women to Smile" women have continually used art to comment on the status quo. Juried by Artist/Educator/Activist Lisa Grand Murphy, the Women's Caucus for Art of Greater Washington, DC (WCADC) presents PIVOTAL, an exploration of the intersection between art and activism. WCADC invites all self-identified women artists based in the United States, to submit work that explores socio-political and economic protest, injustice, resistance, and activism, and how artists work to pivot us towards a more just society. Submission deadline is September 30. Visit and submit through EntryThingy - https://lnkd.in/gPPakaXP

Metamorphosis in Sculpture: Mason Weiss’s Queer Odyssey BANNED! Please help us fight the algorithm by liking, sharing, and subscribing! For contemporary transgender artist Mason Weiss, art is a journey of metamorphosis deeply rooted in his queer identity. Weiss’s unique approach to sculpture involves textiles and beadwork, crafting self-portraits and interactive pieces that are both a reclamation of personal history and a break from societal norms. His “freestyle stitching” technique eschews traditional patterns, mirroring the liberating essence of queerness. Childhood memorabilia inspires his work, blending playful nostalgia with personal narratives, creating a new mythology that fosters understanding and compassion. We hope this episode reaches you and you will share it with everyone you know. Unfortunately, our social media is being censored, and we are restricted on most platforms for the content we publish. Queer bodies. Queer stories. Queer people. We are f'cking here. We are Queer. Get f'cking used to it, FASCISTS! Today, your curator cannot mask his disdain for the cruelty humanity enacts upon its most vulnerable. ACTUP. FIGHT BACK. END FASCISM!

In every field, there are the wolves. And it’s up to insiders to blow the whistle. Here’s mine on how you can spot a bad artist: 👉🏼 Disrespectful of their collectors. If you hear they’re bragging that their paintings only take 30 min to paint, but are selling for $15k, don’t buy what they’re selling. 👉🏼 Copy-cats of the most famous painters. You can be influenced be a famous painter, but you should never be a knockoff of their work. copy-cat below. You can find a clear visual example at my blog post “How do Artists Do That?” 👉🏼 Secretive and offended when asked about their creating techniques and process. 👉🏼 Charming but an inability to answer your questions about their work or background. 👉🏼 Relying on shock or offensiveness rather than creativity. 👉🏼 Solely painting lockstep with political or art trends rather than faithfulness to their unique vision. So right now that would be pieces that orbit climate change, equity, LGBTQ awareness, globalism, racism, the Middle East, you know, the headlines. 👉🏼 Admired for biz savvy or strategy, impressive salesmanship, but not for their dedication to the discipline of creativity. If you liked this list, you’ll love my tips for how to find a good artist. See my blog. Link in bio. 📸 pic from my gallery this summer. Painting is “Kimball Island Glow”, Exeter, NH.

10 days ago, on December 8th, I presented my Qualifying Project for FIT Exhibition and Experience Design MA, The Rainbow Connection, an exhibition designed to foster empathy and connectivity within the Queer community. It's different from any exhibition you've ever been to. How? First, it's participatory, meaning you, the attendee are part of the exhibition. This is increasingly common, yet still not at all the norm. Secondly, it's dialogic. Sharing your personal stories and listening to others is part of the experience. This has been done before but is exceedingly rare. Finally, and most importantly, it's for the Queer Community at large, and for that reason is not in a museum or a gallery! Curious? Have a look! Still not convinced? Ask me to see the 200+ page thesis book. I have the supporting research. For the last 2 years I've been out to prove design can be meaningful and impactful to society, and here we are. I couldn't be prouder. https://lnkd.in/epUfVUqb

perspective within perspective

My drawing ‘Queer Elements’ created for Qtopia and my exhibition ‘We’re Here, We’re Queer’ now has prints available for sale through my gallery m. The initial concept for this work came from former head curator Liz Bradshaw and 50% of profits go towards Qtopia’s seed fund. Ever wondered what the + symbol at the end of LGBTQIA+ stands for? Queer Elements transforms the scientific periodic table into a rainbow of colours, words, flags and symbols, encompassing the A to Z of LGBTQIA+ terminology, vernacular, slang and communities. The artwork fuses art and science, employing the periodic table structure to create a diagram of queer culture through language. Arranged alphabetically, Each ‘element’ is a specific term, slang word or subgroup within the LGBTQIA+ community, alongside their corresponding flag and symbol. The periodic table is known for its adaptability as new elements are discovered. Similarly, the language of queer identity is continually evolving and being added to. ‘Queer Elements’ captures this dynamism acknowledging that language is a living entity reflecting an ever-changing LGBTQIA+ cultural landscape. You can buy prints of this work here: https://lnkd.in/gD8edM9H

As we celebrate Women's History Month, it's a time to reflect on the remarkable contributions of women trailblazers who have shaped history and continue to inspire us today. From breaking barriers in male-dominated fields to advocating for social change and innovation, these women have demonstrated resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to their goals. In this article, we delve into the stories of some extraordinary women who have left an indelible mark on the world and paved the way for future generations.

Quick comments on the findings from @museumsmovingforward survey “Workplace Equity and Organizational Culture in US Art Museums”. Here some quick notes: Museums are 71% Women, 36% People of Color (interested to see the percentage of those hat identify as black), 66% said they experience some sort of discrimination and 40% says working at museums negatively affect their health. Museum workers and their struggles to live a comfortable life has hit the news outlets pretty hard lately with article after article on the unfair practices of museums in #America. 28% of people find satisfaction in working at a museum vs 48% of people who find satisfaction working ANYWHERE else. I mean, even our institutions that are supposed to be a place for black men and women have forgotten our voices. Is this designed? I think so. What is the solution? I don’t know. I’m hoping maybe y’all can help me. Many of us work independently and do the work we would love to do at an institution or foundation to further the overall mission of art practice and highlight those that have been ignored by our society’s institutions. What are your thoughts? #artabovereality #museum #equity #independent #survey #data #diversity #laughter #contemporaryart #artworld

I am often asked what is art for or what is the role of the artist? I think this quote from one of the greatest thinkers and writers of the 20thC, James Baldwin, sums up perfectly what it means to be an artist and their duty to society: ''The artist is distinguished from all other responsible actors in society — the politicians, legislators, educators, and scientists — by the fact that he is his own test tube, his own laboratory, working according to very rigorous rules, however unstated these may be, and cannot allow any consideration to supersede his responsibility to reveal all that he can possibly discover concerning the mystery of the human being. Society must accept some things as real; but he must always know that visibile reality hides a deeper one, and that all our action and achievement rest on things unseen. A society must assume that it is stable, but the artist must know, and he must let us know, that there is nothing stable under heaven. One cannot possibly build a school, teach a child, or drive a car without taking some things for granted. The artist cannot and must not take anything for granted, but must drive to the heart of every answer and expose the question the answer hides.'' CasildART Contemporary is a not-for-profit art gallery. We place contemporary Black art in corporate spaces to showcase and celebrate the talent and creativity of Black artists. If you are interested in creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for your employees, clients and visitors, please get in touch @info@casildart.com #diversity #inclusion #equity #artforchange #corporate #culturalchange #transformation #BHM2024 #reclaimingnarrtives #artrentals #representation #duty #purpose