Cut/Across

            
                        Not Just An "Other" Exhibition took place on March 5, 1988 at Washington Project for the Arts in Washington, D.C. The synopsis of the exhibit was formulated around the artist's groups: Black Artists/ White Artists, Latinegro Theatre Collective, and Seoul Group.
                       I was very intrigued by the personal writings, questions, concerns, photographs, etc. workshop with the focus on racism and the nature of identity. The installation was displayed by BAWA and allowed the public to participate with questions and/or their own experiences. This particular exhibit allowed people, the artists and viewers, to participate in what otherwise would be an uncomfortable conversation.
                       "I breathe air. Air is important. Air and space are important. I walk on the ground. Ground is important. I cook to make me warm. I need fire. Fire is important. The five elements are important...We need to find a better position from which to communicate. We need each other. We are basically the same," as spoken by Yuriko Yamaguchi resonates to me for several reasons. One being that race is political. Ethnicity is not bad, it is not good, it just is. Yamaguchi strips race down to being/ the act of being and I find that to be most impressive.
                       Cut/Across was intended to exemplify what it means to be American. I wonder if an exhibition like this would be more effective today?