OuTtheCube
re: blackness-in-abstraction-- An Objection to the Use of the Phrase
Blackness in abstraction is NOT appropriation of anyone's philosophy! Contemporary artists add to the work of Beauford Delaney, Norman Lewis, Joe Overstreet, Alma Thomas, Sam Gilliam, Jack Whitten, Howardena Pindell, Ed Clarke (etc)
without creating references in written statements
relating to the black id'entity the art-world understands. (think PostBlack)
Sam Gilliam was recently described as undefinable with "art-world catch phrases!"(Washington Post)
in 2000 I coined a term acknowledging the role of black artists in expanding the language and boundaries of abstract painting. It's defined as a way of working, not as a way to classify black artists:
blackstraction (blak-strak’ sh-n) n.
1. the objectification of painting;
2. nonrepresentational drawings and paintings stressing formal internal relationships at times employing craft techniques and three dimensional presentation. blackstractionist n. an artist engaging therein…
blackstraction (blak-strak’ sh-n) v.t.
to make markings with color on diverse surfaces that relate to each other and their environment in two and three dimensions blackstractioned, blackstractioning
Blackstractionism (blak-strak’sh-niz-m) n. Fine Art
a style of emotive non-representational painting which appeared in the United States in the late 20th century employing craft techniques and sometimes three dimensional presentation b) theory and practice of blackstraction
(pass the word on: Blackstraction)
not surprising there is not much research readily available around this topic because artists working like this have a tendency not to define their work by race, generally are not well known and do not do well in the art-world.
artists and dealers both recognize the financial and critical benefits of "other" in whatever capacity - ethnicity - gender - etc
when the artists' "subject" is depicted
the way the art-world expects it to be...
which is why Sanford Biggers' work referencing
Fat Albert** will never be attributed with the power
of contextual ambiguity that would allow
a multiplicity of readings outside race!
not really odd, though...
it's how ART in the
ART-world
is
branded
marketed
identified
(race art)
(gender art)
(not white art)
**Introduction to the term can be found in this excerpt:
blackstraction-blak-strak-sh-n-n.
blackstraction-putting-the-word-out
***http://www.artnews.com/2016/07/11/black-bodies-white-cubes-the-problem-with-contemporary-arts-appropriation-of-race/
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