On Art and Artists

Visitors reflected on particular artworks and artist strategies that resonated deeply.

FABULOUS!! Impressive display of noted artists' works gathered to address / reflect / shame the history of Anti-Black violence... and survival. Thanks and Congrats!

FABULOUS!!

Impressive display of noted artists’ works gathered to address / reflect / shame the history of Anti-Black violence… and survival.

Thanx and Congrats!

I kept asking “What would Ida B. Wells think about this exhibit?” As someone who was “trained” as an artist in undergrad to grad school, this exhibit made me wonder how are we all rewriting Art History to reflect the real history that is divested from conversation about Art – I am grateful to be witness to many contemporary artists addressing history up close and authentically to remind us all – this happened – remember this happened.

I kept asking "What would Ida B. Wells think about this exhibit?" As someone who was "trained" as an artist in undergrad to grad school, this exhibit made me wonder how are we all rewriting Art History to reflect the real history that is divested from conversation about Art - I am grateful to be witness to many contemporary artists addressing history up close and authentically to remind us all - this happened - remember this happened.
Wow! This is heavy shit! And it documents the truth. It all happened. The unfathomable cruelty. The artists are courageous heroes. A display I will never forget. Brings me to tears.

Wow!

This is heavy shit! And it documents the truth. It all happened. The unfathomable cruelty. The artists are courageous heroes. A display I will never forget. Brings me to tears.

I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for these artists and curator to gather these works as witness to this violence and inhumanity.

The work by Howardena Pindell and by Carrie Mae Weems were most unsettling for me.

I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for these artists and curator to gather these works as witness to this violence and inhumanity—the work by Howardena Pindell and by Carrie Mae Weems were most unsettling for me.
A heartbreaking collection of talented storytellers exploring dark, upsetting moments in our history

A heartbreaking collection of talented storytellers exploring dark, upsetting moments in our history

Thank you for this exhibit. It is hard to see how artists engaged with violence, grief, sadness, and history

Thank you for this exhibit. It is hard to see how artists engaged with violence, grief, sadness, and history
This exhibit reflects the ongoing racial violence that is part your contry's past and present. I appreacite the way that artists offect commentary on how human beings are treated and mistreated. Their perspective taps into highly emotionally charged issues in our society in a way that is different from more traditional forms of communication.

This exhibit reflects the ongoing racial violence that is part your country’s past and present. I appreciate the way that artists effect commentary on how human beings are treated and mistreated. Their perspective taps into highly emotionally charged issues in our society in a way that is different from more traditional forms of communication.

Thanks to NU [Northwestern University] for the thoughtful and emotive exhibit. And mostly the artists – who had the courage to create the art – while again reliving the suffering.

Thanks to NU [Northwestern University] for the thoughtful and emotive exhibit. And mostly the artists – who had the courage to create the art – while again reliving the suffering.

Important, brilliant show. A reminder art reaches and moves in ways nothing else can.

The past has been uncovered in a new way. Be humbled and don’t be afraid to see in a new way. Realize what has happened use that as a motivator. Art is a way to convey thoughts and the world, and we are just conveying the past.

Although I thought I had a grasp on the atrocities done to African Americans, to see it portrayed through art pieces was invaluable.

Many thanks for this important show.

More art to:
·educate
·feel
·reflect
·act

W/ GRATITUDE

I thought it was extremely important to have seen this exhibition. Art often represents reality better than just words and I think this art has greatly increased my understanding of the struggles of Black people. 

Very powerful exhibition. Appreciated all the exhibits – looking at this history from an artist’s eye – drenches the work in the pain and struggle. The image with the words: “Stop white police from killing us.” was very, very hard to see. It seems like so little has changed. But we shall not, and must not, give up!

Through this exhibition, I got to appreciate art that leads one to encounter the history, the present the pain. How different artists deliver the trauma and the history in vastly diverse ways has inspired me as an aspiring artist to be more creative, more responsive, and to know the significance of what art can do. Thank you!