The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter Exploring Black Diaspora Artistry with Dr. Tiffany E. Barber: Integrity, Representation, and Artistic Evolution
Embrace the journey with 'The Truth in This Art' podcast, hosted by none other than Rob Lee. Today our guest is Dr. Tiffany E. Barber, a distinguished scholar, curator, and critic renowned for her extensive contributions in prestigious academic journals, media outlets, and documentaries. With a focus on artists of the Black diaspora within the United States and the broader Atlantic world, her multifaceted work encompasses themes like abstraction, dance, fashion, feminism, and representation ethics. Notably, she recently curated a virtual, multimedia exhibition on Afrofuturism's significance in challenging times, hosted on Google Arts and Culture. Dr. Barber holds the positions of Assistant Professor of Africana Studies and Art History at the University of Delaware, and curator-in-residence at the Delaware Contemporary. She boasts fellowships from institutions like ArtTable, the Delaware Art Museum, and the University of Virginia's Carter G. Woodson Institute. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Getty Research Institute, she is currently crafting her debut book, while her expertise spans 20th and 21st-century visual art, new media, and performance within the Black Diaspora, further enriched by her dance background and experience in the public art sphere.
In this edition:
- Explore how Dr. Barber appreciates artists who demonstrate quick thinking and problem-solving within their creative process.
- Discuss the significance of artistic integrity and the dangers of being overly influenced by market forces in the art world, as emphasized by Dr. Barber.
- Delve into Dr. Barber's personal journey influenced by her mother's impact on her passion for art and her unique perspective on concepts of blackness and womanhood.
- Examine Dr. Barber's insights on the shallow representation of black artists in pop culture and the broader failure to address underlying structural inequalities.
- Engage in a conversation about Dr. Barber's call for a more comprehensive approach beyond mere representation and visibility in addressing the challenges within the art world.
Tune in and be amazed as Dr. Tiffany E. Barber discusses her journey as a scholar, curator, and writer focusing on artists of the Black Diaspora. She shares how her background in dance led her to curatorial practice and her interest in bringing together different art forms. Dr. Barber also talks about the importance of maintaining integrity in the art world and the challenges of being misquoted or misunderstood. She credits her mother for inspiring her love of art and shaping her perspective on blackness and womanhood. Dr. Barber reflects on the representation of black artists in pop culture and the need for more than just visibility and representation.
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Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:
- Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
- Edited by Daniel Alexis
- Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor
Photos:
- Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
- Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.
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