HOWDOYOUSAYYAMINAFRICAN?, “Good Stock on the Dimension Floor: An Opera, 2014″ (still), video, color, sound, 54 min (collection of the artists, © HOWDOYOUSAYYAMINAFRICAN?, via whitney.org)
The 38-member collective of artists that withdrew from the Whitney Biennial two weeks ago, known as the Yams Collective or HOWDOYOUSAYYAMINAFRICAN?, is screening its pulled contribution along with other material in an alternative Brooklyn space tonight and tomorrow. The event, which Yams Collective first announced when they recused themselves from the Biennial, will begin 8pm both days at FREECANDY, located in the Clinton Hill neighborhood at 905 Atlantic Avenue.
A member of the collective spoke to Hyperallergic regarding the choice of the venue and area. “It’s basically within the neighborhood, within the community, putting the art back to where we come from. In the institution it’s a very different audience; since they’ve alienated this population we’re putting it back here,” they said.
FREECANDY is a co-working space by day and a gallery and exhibition space by night, according to organizers, and it is a black-owned business.
“…since they’ve alienated this population we’re putting it back here.”
What population was alienated?
The population of people who ARENT implants to the area? Who were born and raised there?
The WB isn’t supposed to be a regionalist show. It’s cool Grabner grabbed some Chicago artists, but how is an “our population” complaint valid in any way? Maybe we should have a government census bureau regulate what curators put in museums. At least that way my new mud wrestling / art performance collaborative in Pickens County, Alabama has a shot at the big time. Whoop!