At first, the idea of an archive seems straightforward: an official repository of items that hold some kind of public or historical interest. But it’s all too easy to take that definition for granted without unpacking what lies beneath. Who has the power to make something official? Which public’s interests are being catered to? Whose histories do we deem worthy of preservation?
These are some of the questions raised by a small but impactful show at the Bushwick nonprofit Nurture Art. The Archive of Affect features six artists and groups who are building their own, more fluid archives than the concept traditionally suggests — evolving collections of art and testimony from people too often left out of official histories. All of the artists and groups — OlaRonke Akinmowo, Chloë Bass, Lise Brenner, Sarah Dahnke, Liz Linden and Jen Kennedy, and the Workers Art Coalition — have received Fellowships for Utopian Practice from the arts organization Culture Push, which curated the exhibition.
[mc4wp_form id=”6042″]
What began in 1997 as a slide registry in a filing cabinet, NURTUREart today annually features more than 50 artists and curators, presents more than 20 public events, reaches 200 public school students, and supports more than 1,500 emerging artists and curators in an online registry.
We nurture the creative lives of emerging artists, emerging curators, and youth by providing them support, resources, and platforms that help to strengthen and connect our dynamic communities in New York City and beyond.(NURTUREart).
You must be logged in to post a comment.