Art Is Not a Thing, It Is a Way

Featuring Curator and Writer Essence Harden, Visual Activist and Artist Zanele Muholi, SCAD Curator Ben Tollefson, and Chief Of Curatorial Affairs And Public Programs At The Museum Of The African Diaspora Key Jo Lee
The quote “Art is not a thing; it is a way” by American writer Elbert Hubbard suggests that art transcends physical objects, representing a process and a lifestyle. It portrays art as a holistic way of interacting with the world, emphasizing creativity and personal expression. This perspective views the artistic journey as a continuous process of self-discovery and expression, similar to Miles Davis’ concept that finding one’s unique voice takes time. Art involves redefining the familiar and exploring personal identity beyond conventional boundaries.
Forging an artistic language requires active looking, experiencing, and being in the world; to pull from the real and push beyond it. To disrupt the status quo. In honor of Master African-American architect, Paul R. Williams, invited panelists will discuss the ways in which despite racial, gendered, sexual, and class prejudices, artistic creation persists. Here, art becomes a way or a vehicle towards confronting, processing, and healing from injustices. Paul R. Williams's career predates the popularization of identity politics within artistic production and curation in the 1970s and 80s, paving the way for artistic expressions representative of authentic life experiences, and critical of the ongoing systemic issues that marginalize women artists, artists of color, LGBTQ+ artists, disabled artists, and indigenous artists. His legacy undoubtedly contributes to the importance of these conversations within architectural, design, art, and creative industries.
This Talk was filmed live at DESIGN MIAMI.LA 2024.