ART SURVEY l Textile Arts in NYC 2021

As, Howardena Pindell started in her 1987 Statistics Testimony And Supporting Documentation paper , “Over 50% of the citizens of New York are people of color…”  Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latine/ [o]/[a]/ [x]  and/ or Hispanic. This is still very true! in 2021. Yet it is not reflected in the Textile Arts community of NYC.

I began a small version of the survey around 2018, prior to seeing Howardena’s in-depth survey from the late 1980’s. At that time, I had been speaking with some other textiles friend who are Black and I was speaking about their experiences.  People who had participated in these residencies and  had mentioned to me just how white the spaces were. [ PWI -predominately white institutions] , but this is NYC, It just doesn’t make sense. I put the project on the back burner for a while. 

I picked it up in 2020 & 2021, and fully engaged with Howardena’s and many other resources I had come to relate to 

[see Bibliography] As I continued this research I started expanding to more institutions and artist’s programs and opportunities. This survey includes 3 institutions, I cut our some residencies that were just too early to include. 

Howardena’s research showed Nearly 31 years later

I want to focus on the demographics of NYC in 2021, thanks to the 2020 census, there are a lot of information available. Although no demographic collection is 100 % accurate this is a useful source to understand the population of NYC.

NYC DEMOGRAPHICS

NYC = 8.8 million people according to US 2020 census [censuss.gov]

white 42.7%

Black or African 24.3%

American Indian & Alaska Native .4%

Asian 14.!%

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander .1%

Two or more races 3.6%

Hispanic or Latino  29.1% 

Middle Eastern is not included as a classification on US census info and on US government papers.  [ NPR article ] Often times Census says these folks are white. But we know historically not all people who immigrate from this category are not treated as white American citizens when they come immigrate into the US, and are not allowed the same privileges as white Americans.

I also want to zoom in on Brooklyn, because yes I am a resident of this borough, but also one of the smaller institutions included in this survey is based there, So it will be good to have this info,

Brooklyn  = 2.74 million people according to US 2020 census

Census shows 28% BK residents  [nydailynews.com]

using Aug 13 NY Times Article

2.74 million people in Bk [bklyner.com]

white  37.6%

Black or African 28.2% [26.7]

Hispanic or Latino 18.9%

Asian 13.7%

I did make minor changes with the racial identity key, that I feel updates it for 2021. But it’s not perfect. Language is forever evolving and racial identify is deeply personal. 

To collect my research I spent a long time looking through artist’s profiles and press articles to hear how the various artists self-identified. There is not 

Why is the w lowercased?

Identity is complex and intensely personal. The intention of the survey is not meant to impose racial identity onto anyone, as I do believe identity is very personal.

But the meaning of this survey, through rigorous independent research is meant to highlight who has been accepted into the institutions highlight. And has no bearing on the artists work or deservingness…Selected artists are talented. But so are the MANY Black textile artists & Desiners who’ve been excluded from these spaces.

DATA SOURCES

My goal was to be as considerate, thoughtful and consistent when collecting all info. To collect my research I spent a long time looking through artist’s profiles and press articles to hear how the various artists self-identified. Many times, there was information available directly from the institutions that the artists were participating with. Obviously collecting racial identify can be very limiting, to synthesize data, And get comprehensive findings using limiting info.

It is not an easy task 

Some people are multicultural and may identify as multi-racial, which is fine …This identifying is not meant  to force racial identity upon anyone. This is just an art survey to see who is being included and who is being left out…Who’s artistic visions are supported and who are claimed to be “underrepresented” while I believe its being intentionally ignored or purposely overlooked. We, meaning Black people are underscored and emphasized  in mission statements and statements of purpose, but I see we are not included….

Collectives are hard to categorize, so unless I was able to identify the members of the collective, I marked them unknown…If any of those collectives or artist that participated in these residencies would like to self identify [further than on their website]

It was difficult to decide how to organize the statistics, but I tried to present them as clearly as possible. It was also difficult to determine how to identify groups of artists as there are many overlapping cultural heritages especially in North and South America. Although Egypt is located on the continent of Africa, people of European descent usually prefer to include them with western art statistics. I have counted them with statistics pertaining to Africa. Additional exhibition (gallery and museum) statistics are included in the text of the Testimony.  -MCA

This was not easy since interjectionally marginalized folks identities are just that intersections. I wish someone would further this research…including queer identities, non binary research. Those are also being left out of this. I just focused on the perspective from racial identify 

INTRO

As, Howardena Pindell started in her 1987 StatisticsTestimonyAndSupportingDocumentation paper , “Over 50% of the citizens of New York are people of color…” Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latino/a/x and/ or Hispanic. This is still very true! in 2021. Yet it is not reflected in the Textile Arts community of NYC.

[For the whole article, you can head over to my website at kesiena.com/ TextileArtSurvey_2021]

Pindell’s illuminating research anticipated today’s urgent conversations about equity and inclusion, and the questions she raised in her 1980s and 1990s studies are just as relevant today as they were then. Her work has inspired the MCA team to interrogate our own practices with the rigor and thoughtfulness practiced by Pindell and to encourage others to do so as well. -MCA CHICAGO

ACE HOTEL

ACE HOTEL TEXTILE GROUP SHOW AND IN-ROOM PROGRAM

BREAKDOWN - ACE HOTEL 

Looking at , the recent Textile show at The newly Ace Hotel…I’m left wondering…is this actually just the reflection of the gentrification we are seeing in NYC. The Black population is experiencing more and more decreases…

Howardena Quote couldn’t find one Black Artist 

A textile specific art show recently opened in Brooklyn featuring 21 artists and 287 rooms 

Tone deaf - - artist statements

PINDELL 0 Note: In a borough of New York with one of the largest Black populations and an active artists’ community, the curator was unable to locate one Black artist to include in her exhibition.n binary research. Those are also being left out of this. I just focused on the perspective from racial identify 

A Reflection of Brooklyn?

TEXTILE ARTS CENTER

The Textile Arts Center is a ““ according to them.

Textile Arts Center 10 year Reunion in 2019. Pre-Pandemic

TEXTILE ART CENTER MISSION STATEMENT

Especially because Black and descendants of Africans we have such a rich fiber knwoledge and a wealth of textile knowledge which is not being supported or nurtured in the New York City fiber community. Especially with the demographics of New York having a large demographic of Black people. Also specifically being “underrepresented ” are Indigenous people and Middle Eastern textile artists. Again people with amazing fiber and textile cultures. That are often appropriated…

TAC ART RESIDENCY

EXPENSIVE AND HAVE TO PAY

SHORT LIVED WIP RESIDENCY 2020 CAUSED FINANCIAL STRESS

SCHOLARSHIPS

MAD MUSEUM [Museum of Art & Design]

MAD MUSEUM

This was not easy since interjectionally marginalized folks identities are just that intersections. I wish someone would further this research…including queer identities, non binary research. Those are also being left out of this. I just focused on the perspective from racial identify 

The Burke Prize

the burke prize from MAD

FINDINGS

The Repeaters people who’ve been selected multiple times …a cross over with art shows etc The TAC Show was not included in this

Bibliography