Art
feature: check out the first installment of our twice-monthly partnership with the art hoe collective—get to know the crew
Hey lovely people it’s Sandra and Gabby from the Art Hoe Collective! Every two weeks we’ll be providing content for the AFROPUNK website. We hope you enjoy our work and thank you AFROPUNK for giving us this opportunity.
A phrase with a history and meaning that means we are creating a space outside of whiteness and centering us, people of color, for since far too long we have been displaced. This is what I want you to think of when you think of Art Hoe: a space for people of color to be the center, to no longer for feel displaced.
“Art Hoe gives POC a platform to express their internalized struggles, which is a problem we face everyday. We don’t have a voice in this society. It’s usually subdued by our white counterparts, and our anger is taken for granted – having this movement gives people an insight into who we really are,” says Mars, Art Hoe co-creator
In the art world, people of color have been ignored as artists though the fruits of our labor have been used to benefit whiteness. Art hoe collective exists to take back what is ours and put us in the forefront. We are here to give creatives of color a voice and a platform to showcase their work to a wide audience, something they felt they couldn’t do otherwise. We want to give creatives hope and the drive to keep doing what they love.
“Artists of colour for hundreds of years have been excluded from the art scene, while women of colour are fetishised and used as muses. Van Gogh drew so much inspiration from Japanese art, Picasso from African art, Gauguin from the women on the Pacific Islands he visited. We are often used as shallow inspiration without any sense of autonomy. We’re not expected to be capable of artistic qualities. We’re expected to be overly fetishised muses, but not artists. Even now in music and fashion this kind of cycle where we are taken from, then rejected, continues. Then when we attempt to create and showcase our own work, the same people who siphon off our creativity quickly shut us down. Art Hoe Collective is us putting our foot down and creating a space for ourselves. We’re no longer begging to be given the recognition we so rightfully deserve,” says Gabrielle Richardson, Writing Curator
Giving creatives of color a space to be themselves wholeheartedly and providing opportunities for them is our main goal. Taking Art Hoe to the next level and planning physical events where we can showcase artists in the way those only dreamed is something we’re working hard on. Every artists wants to be featured in a gallery and this is something we keep in mind. So far we’ve had people featured in various magazine and have had their work seen by tens of thousands of people. We’ve had people tell us this platform has given them the confidence to continue with their craft and see a life where their work is appreciated. This is what we’re all about. We are a collective for the people by the people.
By Sandra and Gabby of Art Hoe Collective*, AFROPUNK contributors
PHOTO & FILM:
“Its hard to put a label on my photos because I feel like they are all exquisite in their own way. The best part about being a creator is never knowing what to expect until after the hard work is put in. You plan, do the work, and hope people love it as much as you do. When your work is being perceived well it’s literally the best feeling. It’s more than just taking a photo, I want to create photos that are so pleasing to the eye it makes you sit and think. Photography is more than just a hobby for me but my life.”
By: Bree (ig: @exquisite_eye)
J A N U A R Y : PROJECTION AND REMEMBRANCE
“since i went to schools with primarily white students until high school, i was afraid to show more pride in my filipino heritage for the sake of assimilating. as a petite filipina, i’m got used to being overlooked for my size and my softspoken voice. but once i found a tight community of girls of color in high school, i was energized, i felt like i could just shout my pinay pride. i started dressing in vibrant colors and not caring what irrelevant rude white students said about how i liked to express myself thru my art and clothes. so now , most of my paintings and photos use bright colors to stand taller than i do when you’re standing next to me.” “this is a photo of my sweet friend hera from the summertime ! while the sun was setting she was glowing next to this yellow wall. i’m glad that people have appreciated this photo, but some people on tumblr have stolen it and not credited my work nor said this is hera. hera and i have both been taken advantage of for our work, and as creatives of color we don’t want to be whitewashed and used just for aesthetic. i want our light to shine, so i aim to create glowing, vibrant works of art 0:-)”
By: Sophie, 17, Filipina (ig: @very.small)
#Arthoecocurators “It me. The 24 year old momther of the art hoe crew aka @2jam4u I’m gender fluid and use my name, Jam, as my pronouns or they/them. I’ve been painting and writing poetry my whole life and am currently focusing on abstract Impressionism. To me, impressionist art is the closest I’m going to get to the feeling of romantic love and so it means a great deal to me. (Sometimes I sing and write lyrics but don’t expect much). Let me love on you in your selfies and mine.”
C U R A T O R W O R K:
Hey guys it’s Myles (@goldenpolaroid). I haven’t posted anything in a while for curator day so I’m posting this piece I did a while back. It’s a portrait I took of @artscooldropout while we were setting up for an art show. Right now it’s being displayed as a 12×18 framed print at @slow_culture for their what a time to be alive show in collab with @unif and @sundaylosangeles. If you’re located in LA stop by. The show is running until January 31st.
“John ( @paracosm) did this really cool drawing of me. He’s super talented and his attention to detail is AMAZING, plus he’s only 16. All of his pieces are extremely realistic and full of creative spirit. Art hoe is all about shouting out talent that deserves a spotlight and this young artist definitely deserves the attention. Follow him and check out his other work!”
DECEMBER [PHOTO AND FILM ] –
Bonita O, 23 (@invisiblefemmeofcolor)
they/them, Black, Nigerian genderfluid femme transboi
tumblr- invisiblefemmeofcolor
– Photographer- Picture 1 and 2- Wit Lopez (Philadelphia, PA), Picture 3- Myl Wyg (New Orleans, LA) Picture 4- Usri Yusra (Atlanta, GA)
– “Styling my me -Motivation- As a Black trans person who is also non binary and femme, I’ve been grappling with how I do and don’t look,how much space I am allowed to take up or am I “trans enough”? Over the past year, I have collaborated with many photographers/ artists who appreciates my presence. I always thought of myself as a loud mouth but I am learning its OK or Black femme folx and Black folx period to outspoken and take up space. A lot of inspiration around media making is myself. ITS OK to be your own biggest fan. For the first time ever, I am enjoying the way, I look, present and continue to fuck up the gender binary. Another thing I’m thankful for is the internet and how we can create our world and image. So if you want to be a Gawd/Gawdess/Gawdex you have to create yourself in your own image. Everything you ever thought was good about yourself—bring it to the surface. I’m a Gawd in all Black and fur coat or when I’m just some nigga in a dress. These photos represent me in my rawest form.”
Art Hoe Collective Instagram
Art Hoe Collective Tumblr
Mars’ Instagram
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