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New York
July 1, 2020

Letter from the editor:

The times they are a-changin’ (or at least they’re starting to). Amid various statements of solidarity with Black Lives Matter protests, numerous museums have been called out for not always practicing what they preach. Our staff writer Valentina Di Liscia shares news of @ChangeTheMuseum, an anonymous Instagram account “posting ‘stories of unchecked racism’” with the aim of “pressuring US museums to move beyond lip service proclamations.’”

Likewise, fellow staffer Hakim Bishara shares news of a clever parody campaign started by the group Artists for Workers, which targets institutions that “refuse to treat their workers justly.” Their latest campaign includes posters and a website that closely mirror the signage and style of the New Museum.

As debates around public monuments in the US and elsewhere continue, artists and academics have been adding their voices and ideas about how to best grapple with these public tributes to racists, imperialists, and other morally reprehensible figures. In Queens, artists Jeffrey Gibson and Nona Faustine have mounted their own artworks, injecting fresh energy into the conversation. Meanwhile, Nick Mirzoeff penned a thoughtful reflection on the recent decision to remove the Roosevelt statue that has long stood in front of the American Museum of Natural History.

Last but not least, a special shout out to the New Yorkers who contributed to our Pride month series, Queer Art Workers Reflect. Having a chance to hear from filmmaker Martine Granby, photographer Julieta Salgado, film publicist Danid Ninh, and so many others from all over helped make a very weird Pride month feels a lot more joyful. As we enter July, check out the full archive and remember, being a true ally requires year round commitment to elevating queer voices.

Stay safe.

Artists Parody New Museum, Calling Out Its “Political Inaction”

The group Artists for Workers has created a website replicating that of the museum, but instead provides resources for anti-racist organizing.

Hakim Bishara

Event Pick

As Debates Over Monuments Continue, Artists Erect Their Own at a Sculpture Park in Queens

Starting in July, Socrates Sculpture Park will unveil works by Nona Faustine, Jeffrey Gibson, and more, injecting fresh energy into current debates surrounding public monuments in the US.

Dessane Lopez Cassell

News

Metropolitan Museum Looks Toward Reopening in Late August

The New York Times reported that the major New York institution plans to reopen August 29, but the museum has yet to issue an official statement.

1,712 Confederate Monuments Remain Standing in United States

For every monument that has been removed, 10 others remain nationally, according to a study conducted by the data analysis company BeenVerified.

A Block in Brooklyn Gets a Black Lives Matter Mural

A new mural stretching 565 feet in Bed-Stuy memorializes over 150 victims of fatal anti-Black violence, including Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.

Why It’s Right That the Theodore Roosevelt Statue Comes Down

Maybe we can finally really look at Theodore Roosevelt statue: a monument that is all about hierarchy, created to express what American Museum of Natural History exhibits at the time called the “distinct races of mankind.”

Nick Mirzoeff

Meet the NYC Art Community: Dyeemah Simmons Wants to Stretch the Idea of What Museums Can Do

Dyeemah Simmons is a committed arts educator, photographer, and born and raised Harlemite who serves as Director of Access and Community Programs at the Whitney Museum of American Art.