containR Youth Mural Project: Blog Post # 2 by Ruby Brubaker

“Something I noticed is that white people are more represented in [public] art, so I decided to paint people of colour. It’s important to show non-white people in media.”

Photo by Ruby Brubaker

Image Description: Artist Kate MacLean wears a white t-shirt and grey shorts. She stands on a stepladder looking at a phone. In front of her is a blue shipping container depicting two women against a pink ombre circle outlined in white. One is a Black woman in a yellow sundress sitting cross-legged and the other is only the legs of a woman sitting on her knees. In the foreground cans of spray paint and a piece of plywood with paint swatches are visible. The background shows another shipping container, a pink tree and an apartment building.

In creating her mural, part of Asian Canadian artist Kate MacLean’s inspiration was the Black Lives Matter movement.

As a young white woman, blogging about a mural and an artist inspired by a movement that is not only prevalent, but so necessary, Kate’s mural and our conversations are asking me to consider the responsibility of journalists and artists in either perpetuating or challenging power dynamics and imbalances present in today's white-centric society.  Representation is not only a matter of if, but also of how.  Being able to reflect on these issues as an observer is a privilege that comes with being white.  This privilege carries responsibilities.  

What privilege do you have?  How can you use your privilege to further anti-racism?  

What biases do you have? How can you recognize these and actively seek to remove them from your mindset? Do you see yourself represented in art? In the media?  And if yes, why you and not someone else?

Check out https://www.pb-resources.com/ a website by Alexis Williams - a student at NYU. It’s a great resource to learn about people’s stories, get involved with Black Lives Matter and support change.