Kara Walker & Jason Moran: Sending Out A Signal | Art21 "Extended Play"

[@s.f.6860]

Thank you for the beautiful dedication to our American history...

[@alenamarajh5045]

Kara Walker...is unmatched!!

[@alejandrovenegasheresi2697]

Incredible. Geniuses. I'm glad I bumped into this.

[@krisj2656]

I appreciated Kara Walker's art. Her creation of the wooden cutouts put onto the steam calliope gives an audiological representation of the unsettling emotions of enslaved Africans during that time. I like how she calls it a "Moving monument." Pieces like those should not be stationary and lost within the wind but rather able to move and stick out against any background. I admire Kara's ability to be uncomfortable in order to portray history accurately. The music also adds a suspenseful feeling. Moran described the calliope as "unsettling while trying to play more settling music". I believe that is the perfect analogy to use. It was such a norm during the slave trade to disregard the enslaved person's emotions or even consider them human. Enslavers being so carefree, calm, and racist while enslaved persons were being tortured and dying can be seen as a sugarcoating tool to not face the harsh realities.

[@markkinkle7038]

I am just beginning to engage with Kara's work. I've been watching a lot of her discussion surrounding her artwork. In that pursuit to hear her talk about her work, I happened upon this video. Your comment struck me to my core. As a highly-educated person of color, I struggle to understand her work. I know, from watching her discuss her work she has core themes: race, slavery, what it "means" to be black. You have such as astute voice, and I think you understand what she is trying to get us (the "viewer") to think about and/or engage with. If I may ask, how do you arrive at your assessment of this work? What literature, videos, etc. did you read/watch. I have already noted, you read Moran's description of her work so consider that noted.

[@katienumiusher]

This is so powerful!! Thank you!!

[@jellyfishmachinist]

I heard the screams of torture and cries against oppression. And a mocking of those who perpetrated this suffering, juxtaposed with remembering our history . And curiosity of how these times will be remembered for the haves and havenots , villains and those under their spell currently. This work asks such serious questions in surprisingly playful ways. Bravo Kara Walker.

[@simuliid]

Wow, I am in tears. Not of pain or joy, but just the creative geniuses these two are. How they told the story, the horror, and the beauty. I was looking for Kara's rendition of "Brown Sugar" and couldn't find it and landed here. Does anyone know where her video is of that song?

[@adamamram3017]

What an incredible work of art.

[@generaldom]

She's great

[@allermenchenaufder]

Haunting

[@MrVinni123]

Genius.

[@claudemontes]

The public should have the opportunity to play instead of being a passive audience.

[@amccullon9952]

marblecutter Art isn’t for the observer it’s for the artist.

[@claudemontes]

@@patricksford I would not be there for any reason other than to play a few notes . Public art is not a spectator sport.

[@AliBerkok]

"Should"?? Tell us the reason why.

[@claudemontes]

Public Art is not a spectator sport

[@claudemontes]

@@amccullon9952 "art that is not for the observer" should stay in the studio. Public art is for the public to do with what they wish = look, touch, play interact...etc

[@oswaldphills]

Got me.

[@TheGranti7a]

Yep, disturbing.

[@none9703]

I'm no longer famous. I'm out.