Artists, Curators, and Dealers Launch Initiatives to Support Black Lives Matter Movement
ARTNEWS
By Alex Greenberger
As protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd by policemen in Minneapolis have continued to rock the United States, many in the art world have gotten involved. Earlier this week, artists, curators, and dealers began unveiling initiatives intended to garner financial resources for Black Lives Matter–focused efforts through the sales of artworks and promises to match donations. “We all need to take action immediately; there is no time to waste,” a Gladstone representative said in a statement to ARTnews. “We all must work every day to challenge the iniquities of the criminal legal system, and strive towards a more just future.” [More]
By Alex Greenberger
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| A mural devoted to George Floyd in Oakland, California. CHRIS TUITE/IMAGESPACE/SHUTTERSTOCK |
- Arts.Black, a publication founded by critics Taylor Renee Aldridge and Jessica Lynne, sent an email newsletter that provided what was described as a “very, very short" list of initiatives to which readers could donate.
- A group of art workers and designers launched the Art for Philadelphia Community Bail Fund, which allows users to buy $300 works by seven artists based in the city, including Tiona Nekkia McClodden, Alex Da Corte, and Jonathan Lyndon Chase. Proceeds will go to the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund.
- Paul Mpagi Sepuya, whose work appeared in the 2019 Whitney Biennial, said on Tuesday that he would offer prints of one of his photographs to those who sent receipts for donations of $250, $500, $1,000, and more to a select list of funds.
- Gladstone Gallery, which has locations in New York and Brussels, said its promise to match donations of $100 to organizations including Black Lives Matter, the Black Visions Collective, and Community United Against Police, had seen so much interest that the gallery decided to up its cap for donations.
