The Brooklyn Museum by Bathsheba Williams https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176 Decolonize Museums en-us 2018-11-16 19:44:50 UTC 2024-11-21 14:15:56 UTC hello@padlet.com Museums are NOT neutral bathshebawilliams7 https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306031686 The Brooklyn Museum's recent controversy has led to the unveiling of the president, David Berliner, and other board trustees ties to real estate companies that are promoting and participating in the gentrification of minority communities. This association removes any facade of neutrality that the museum held. ]]> 2018-11-19 17:34:56 UTC https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306031686 Background of the controversy bathshebawilliams7 https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306046347 * The Brooklyn Museum is located at 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY.
* Kristen Windmuller-Luna (below) was appointed as the Sills Family  Consulting Curator, African Arts in April 2018. 
* Additionally, Drew Sawyer, also caucasian, was hired as a photographer at the museum, the announcement with Dr. Windmuller-Luna's was poorly planned. Sawyer was hired in the photography department, not African art. ]]> 2018-11-19 18:05:28 UTC https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306046347 Backlash bathshebawilliams7 https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306056083 Community activists were outraged with the appointments as they further highlight a lack of diversity and inclusion in hiring practices. 60% of the community surrounding the Brooklyn Museum are from the African diaspora, Latin America, or Asia. ]]> 2018-11-19 18:24:21 UTC https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306056083 Colonization on display in our museums bathshebawilliams7 https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306062179 The controversy has been described as reminiscent of a scene from the film Black Panther. There is so much unpacking that could be done on this scene alone but the message between the film and the Brooklyn Museum is clear. African art and artifacts have been stolen by colonizers and now the descendants of those colonizers determine how the art if viewed. ]]> 2018-11-19 18:36:23 UTC https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306062179 What went wrong? bathshebawilliams7 https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306079928 Appointing Dr. Windmuller-Luna curator of the African Arts exhibit is a failure on the part of the Brooklyn Museum to truly diversify staff. The message from the museum is that there are no qualified members of the African diaspora who could have been appointed. Of course, this is not truly the case. The response from director Anne Pasternak was also troubling. Pasternak's rebuttal asserts that there are no persons of African descent who hold the necessary education level. This brings about the question of economic access to education. Educational equity is just as valuable as monetary equity and the Brooklyn Museum has not thus far shown any initiative toward rectifying this problem. Paternak's assertion that the museum is committed to equity and promoting the voices of minorities is not in line with this decision.


 
]]> 2018-11-19 19:12:56 UTC https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306079928 Director's Response - Anne Pasternak bathshebawilliams7 https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306084334 “The Brooklyn Museum stands by our appointment of Dr. Kristen Windmuller-Luna as the Sills Family Consulting Curator of African Arts. The Museum’s collection of African arts is among the most important and extensive in the nation. Giving the collection the prominence it deserves, in terms of both its aesthetics and cultural value, has been one of this institution’s most pressing priorities. In order to ensure the highest level of scholarly excellence in how we preserve and present our collections of historical African arts, we knew the job required a specialist with a Ph.D. in this area.” ]]> 2018-11-19 19:21:50 UTC https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306084334 Intentional or not? bathshebawilliams7 https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306090237 Dr. Windmuller-Luna's educational background is impressive when viewed through the lens of privilege. She is Yale and Princeton educated, with a PhD in Art and Archaeology. She is also a lecturer at the Met on African art, has curated multiple African art exhibits, and appeared on a PBS special. She has published research on African art in academic journals. Despite these qualifications, the fact still remains that Africa, the diaspora, and its art are continuously presented to us by those whose connection to the diaspora is through violence. ]]> 2018-11-19 19:34:28 UTC https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306090237 Response cont'd bathshebawilliams7 https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306091751 “The Brooklyn Museum recognizes that the longstanding and pervasive issues of structural racism profoundly affect the lives of people of color. It is right to press museums and other institutions to diversify their leadership. Museums help shape the cultural imagination and contribute to society, so we have a responsibility to bring the broadest possible range of voices into our work. Cultural institutions also need to do much more to support young people of diverse backgrounds in pursuing advanced degrees in art history and succeeding in leadership positions. Please know that every day the Brooklyn Museum is working to advance these efforts and its longstanding and widely recognized commitment to equity in all its forms, including race, class, gender, and sexual orientation.”]]> 2018-11-19 19:37:53 UTC https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306091751 bathshebawilliams7 https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306100689 Kimberly Selden of Freedom Land Media tweeted, "People from the African Diaspora are frustrated w/ white people being gatekeepers of our narrative. We have yet to be afforded the same access & opportunities so it’s hard to swallow the image of TWO white ppl in roles that curate OUR culture and contributions."]]> 2018-11-19 20:00:10 UTC https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306100689 What could have been done? bathshebawilliams7 https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306107135 Rather than the abrasive tone of the response from director Anne Pasternak, more care should have been given to terminology used. Pasternak states that the African arts exhibit required the "highest level of scholarly excellence...the job required a specialist with a Ph.D. in this area." This statement implies that there were no qualified persons of color for the position. Additionally, Dr. Windmuller-Luna's PhD is in Art and Archaeology and is not afro centered, her post graduate research however is focused on African art. Furthermore, acknowledging that there are a lack of opportunities for people of color in the art world and in general is a great first step. It also could have been beneficial for the director to start a conversation about the alleged lack of POC possessing advanced degrees. Respecting the complaints of the public would have helped to alleviate and address some of the controversy. ]]> 2018-11-19 20:17:36 UTC https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306107135 bathshebawilliams7 https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306135548 2018-11-19 22:03:10 UTC https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306135548 Decolonization theory; words or practice? bathshebawilliams7 https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306145293 Decolonization is a scary word for many, but it is an essential element leading to equity, equality, diversity, inclusion and access. Stating that the museum is committed to these ideals but not backing those words with action is a mistake on the part of the Brooklyn Museum. Decolonization is not an easy process but the push from local community groups should be addressed by the museum. Movements are taking place across the country pushing for the decolonization of many institutions and practices. A decolonization committee is a start toward fully integrating spaces, education, careers, etc. Accountability is essential to pushing decolonization. Director Anne Paternak's response to criticism is an example of how criticism of institutional issues is often taken as a personal attack. In practice, decolonization will force institutions to reflect the population of the United States. Equitable access to education and positions of power will dominate the culture. ]]> 2018-11-19 22:44:06 UTC https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306145293 Bibliography bathshebawilliams7 https://padlet.com/bathshebawilliams7/91siczzbq176/wish/306158471 Brooklyn Museum. (2018). Kristen Windmuller-Luna. Retrieved from https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/about/curatorial_staff/kristen_windmuller_luna

Herreria, C. (2018, April 06). People Want To Know Why Brooklyn Museum's New African Art Curator Is White. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/brooklyn-museum-white-curator-african-art_us_5abc09e6e4b06409775cd2d7

Levitt, P. (2015, November 09). Museums Must Attract Diverse Visitors or Risk Irrelevance. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/11/museums-must-attract-diverse-visitors-or-risk-irrelevance/433347/

Salam, M. (2018, April 07). Brooklyn Museum Defends Its Hiring of a White Curator of African Art. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/06/arts/brooklyn-museum-african-arts.html

Sargent, A. (2018, May 21). To Fight Racism Within Museums, They Need to Stop Acting Like They're Neutral. Retrieved from https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/pavpkn/to-fight-racism-within-museums-they-need-to-stop-acting-like-theyre-neutral

Schneider, T. (2018, November 02). The Gray Market: Why the Brooklyn Museum Hiring Controversy Shows We Need Structural Action on Arts Diversity (and Other Insights). Retrieved from https://news.artnet.com/market/gray-market-brooklyn-museum-diversity-1257761

Wizard, M. (2018, May 05). Black Panther Museum Scene Full HD. [Video File]  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYwr6Q1Hl_4
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