The Limits of Solidarity
Damien Davis on the day after the strike, a report on galleries and street vendors in Tribeca, and the real story of photographer Eugène Atget.
Rage, sympathy, and fear for individuals at risk of persecution, deportation, and state-sanctioned murder fill our hearts and our news feeds. We celebrate those who are willing to take a stand in this dangerous and oppressive landscape, when even speaking up can feel like a risk. But is participating in a one-day strike enough? And how is solidarity practiced on the day after?
Two stories in today's newsletter prompt readers to ask difficult questions. The first is an in-depth report about tensions between art galleries and street vendors in a Manhattan art hub. The other is artist Damien Davis's opinion piece about the art world's performative allyship. These pieces invite us to think beyond good intentions and toward the more uncomfortable truth of what accountability and change truly demand.
— Valentina Di Liscia, senior editor
Tribeca Galleries Discuss Reporting Street Vendors, Drawing Criticism
A group of galleries in Tribeca met in January to discuss “issues of safety and accessibility” related to street vendor presence on and near Broadway, raising concerns among activists who say these sellers — many of them immigrants — are already under threat from local and federal officials. Staff Writer Isa Farfan spoke with street vendor advocates and local galleries for this deeply reported story, which illuminates the need for more education and information when it comes to the most vulnerable members of our community.
After the Strike, Will Art Galleries Be Allies?
Remember the black squares of 2020, shared on social media as a gesture of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement? Recent posts from arts organizations loudly announcing their participation in Friday's anti-ICE strike reminded Damien Davis of these and other often “frictionless” acts of allyship. In a much-needed opinion, he asks: “Will anything still be different after the news cycle passes and the next show opens?”
Onassis AiR Opens Applications for 2026–27 Residencies in Athens
Participants receive an artist’s fee, a research budget, housing, round-trip travel, mentoring, and other resources to support their work.
From Our Critics
Eugène Atget, Readymade Icon
An exhibition retells the story of his discovery by Berenice Abbott, leaving out the details of a life defined by failure. | Julia Curl
James Castle Was a World Unto Himself
These works feel almost metaphysically transportive — like a universe bound by a different set of rules that’s a pleasure to explore. | Lisa Yin Zhang
Claude Cahun’s Survival Guide for the Ages
A new translation of the French artist’s 1930 memoir is a kaleidoscopic collection of dialogues, sketches, and Blakean proverbs. | Joyelle McSweeney
Explore Low and Full Residency MFA Options at Maine College of Art & Design
Built on a commitment to one-on-one mentoring, the MFA in Studio Art offers an interdisciplinary approach that inspires students to think across traditional academic boundaries.
Member Comment
Sandy Sanders on Valentina Di Liscia's “Another NFT Platform Bites the Dust”:
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ICYMI
On Being a Somali Artist in Minnesota
Violence has a way of turning familiar places into guarded ground. And yet, I ask not what has been taken, but what we will continue to build from what remains. | Ifrah Mansour
