#soulofanationreader

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“I feel it is my moral obligation as a black artist to try to graphically document what I feel socially,” David Hammons said in 1969, one year before he made this haunting double self-portrait which appears in 'Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power,' copublished by D.A.P. and @tate as well as on the cover of 'The Soul of a Nation Reader,' published by @gregoryrmiller ⁠ ⁠ Titled “Black First, America Second” (1970), this body print and silkscreen on paper presents one version of the self that “clings to the stars of the national flag,” according to 'Soul of a Nation' originating curators Mark Godfrey and Zoé Whitley, “while the other self appears almost painfully cleaved by its stripes… [It] is an image both timely and resolutely of its time.” ⁠ ⁠ #blackhistory #blackhistorymonth #davidhammons #blackfirstamericasecond @vampirefriendly @markgodfrey1973 #soulofanationreader #soulofanation @zoe.whitley⁠ #blackpower #blackart https://www.instagram.com/p/Co2sldMpjqJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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A few of the texts excerpted in 'The Soul of a Nation Reader,' a Staff Pick on Juneteenth and every day.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Conceived as a reader connected to the landmark exhibition 'Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power,' which shone a light on the vital contributions made by Black artists over two decades, this anthology published by @gregoryrmiller collects over 200 texts from the artists, critics, curators and others who sought to shape and define the art of their time.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Exhaustively researched and edited by exhibition curator @markgodfrey1973 — who provides the substantial introduction — and @vampirefriendly included are rare and out-of-print texts from artists and writers, as well as texts published for the first time ever. Afterword is by @zoe.whitley⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Contributors include: Emma Amos, Dore Ashton, Amiri Baraka, Romare Bearden, Dawoud Bey, Frank Bowling, Gwendolyn Brooks, Linda Goode Bryant, John Coplans, Hugh M. Davies, Melvin Dixon, Jeff Donaldson, Emory Douglas, David C. Driskell, Melvin Edwards, Ralph Ellison, Sam Gilliam, David Hammons, Napoleon Henderson, Jay Jacobs, Jae Jarrell, Wadsworth Jarrell, Daniel LaRue Johnson, Hilton Kramer, Jacob Lawrence, Al Loving, Evangeline J. Montgomery, Toni Morrison, Lorraine O'Grady, John Outterbridge, Joe Overstreet, Marion Perkins, Howardena Pindell, Noah Purifoy, Ishmael Reed, Faith Ringgold, Barbara Rose, Betye Saar, Jeanne Siegel, Lowery Stokes Sims, Beuford Smith, Alma Thomas, Ruth Waddy, Charles White, Jack Whitten, William T. Williams, Gerald Williams, Hale Woodruff and Cherilyn C. Wright, among dozens more.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Read more via linkinbio.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ #soulofanationreader #soulofanation #juneteenth #blackpower https://www.instagram.com/p/CQTe6SljKcH/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Today, we remember Romare Bearden, born OTD in 1911, with "Pittsburgh Memory" (1964) — reproduced from 'Soul of a Nation,' published by D.A.P. & @tate — and this unsigned statement from the 1965 exhibition pamphlet, 'Spiral: First Group Showing⁠ (Works in Black and White)' — reproduced from 'The Soul of a Nation Reader: Writings by and about Black American Artists, 1960–1980,' published by @gregoryrmiller ⁠ ⁠ The Spiral artist collective, which included Bearden, Emma Amos, Hale Woodruff and Norman Lewis, came together in the summer of 1963 to debate and discuss the role of Black artists during times of racial adversity.⁠ ⁠ “During the summer of 1963, at a time of crucial metamorphosis just before the now historic March on Washington, a group of Negro artists met to discuss their position in American society and to explore other common problems,” the artists wrote. “One of those present, the distinguished painter Hale Woodruff, asked the question, 'Why are we here?' He suggested, in answering his own question, that we, as Negroes, could not fail to be touched by the outrage of segregation, or fail to relate to the self-reliance, hope, and courage of those persons who were marching in the interest of man’s dignity. ⁠ In examining ourselves, we soon realized we were also examining the present health of a wounded American society, as well as much of Western culture. Despite many varying viewpoints, the members of the group felt they had something definitive and positive to affirm. If possible, in these times, we hoped with our art to justify life. In time we came to depend upon one another, and perceived that talent and aptitude were not the only means needed for creativity, since creativity is an aspect of human behavior, comprehensible only in terms of a dynamic social relationship.⁠ As a symbol for the group we chose the spiral—⁠ a particular kind of spiral, the Archimedian one;⁠ because, from a starting point, it moves outward⁠ embracing all directions, yet constantly upward.…”⁠ You can read the full statement ⁠ @theartnewspaper.official ​via linkinbio.⁠ #romarebearden #spiral #soulofanationreader #soulofanation @markgodfrey1973 @vampirefriendly @zoe.whitley https://www.instagram.com/p/CTUePw_Lyo1/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Attention serious book people!! ‘The ‘Soul of a Nation’ Reader: Writings by and about Black American Artists, 1960–1980,’ is a New Release this week! Edited with text by Mark Godfrey and Allie Biswas with afterword by Zoé Whitley, this remarkable 628-page compendium collects approximately 230 original texts on Black identity, activism and social responsibility—many of which are previously unpublished, rare or have been out of print for decades.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ What is “Black art”? This question was posed and answered time and time again between 1960 and 1980 by artists, curators and critics deeply affected by this turbulent period of radical social and political upheaval in America. Rather than answering in one way, they argued for radically different ideas of what “Black art” meant.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Across newspapers and magazines, catalogs, pamphlets, interviews, public talks and panel discussions, a lively debate emerged between artists and others to address profound questions of how Black artists should or should not deal with politics, about what audiences they should address and inspire, where they should try to exhibit, how their work should be curated, and whether there was or was not such a category as “Black art” in the first place.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Conceived as a reader connected to the landmark exhibition 'Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power,' which shone a light on the vital contributions made by Black artists over two decades, this anthology collects over 200 texts from the artists, critics, curators and others who sought to shape and define the art of their time.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Exhaustively researched and edited by exhibition curator Mark Godfrey, who provides the substantial introduction, and Allie Biswas, included are rare and out-of-print texts from artists and writers, as well as texts published for the first time ever.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Published by @gregoryrmiller ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ See a complete list of contributors via linkinbio.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ @markgodfrey1973 @vampirefriendly #soulofanationreader #soulofanation #blackart #writingsonblackart https://www.instagram.com/p/CO-acUcJk19/?igshid=e9szkmytj89i

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A few preview photos of ‘The Soul of a Nation Reader: Writings by and about Black American Artists, 1960–1980’ from co-editor Allie Biswas. #Repost @vampirefriendly ・・・ If you’ve spoken to me at some point over the last six years, you’ll have heard about this book I’m working on. I’m thrilled to tell you that it’s finally here - here are 230 writings by Black American artists, writers and curators that were published between the 1960s and early ‘80s, which think about the question: What is “Black art”? ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Many of these texts are extremely difficult to find and are being published for the very first time. It’s exciting. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Thank you to my incredible co-editor Mark Godfrey @markgodfrey1973 it has been a real journey. Thanks also to our unwaveringly supportive publisher Gregory Miller @gregoryrmiller, to Julia Ma and @miko_mcg who designed the book and to @zoe.whitley who wrote the afterword. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Lastly, thank you to David Hammons - his work Black First, America Second (1970) is what you can see on the cover.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #soulofanationreader #soulofanation @markgodfrey1973 https://www.instagram.com/p/COsU8NMJZMq/?igshid=18ijlrpa6m574