San Bernardino. Beirut. Charleston. Paris. What is artÕs role in the face of unspeakable violence? In a personal
meditation on what he calls the generalities and particularities of violence, painter Jack Whitten links his experiences growing up as Òa product of American apartheidÓ in Alabama to the deaths of so many, including Eric Garner, Aylan Kurdi, and Darren Goforth. ÒMy art,Ó he writes, Òis an antidote used to counteract this poison.Ó
This pamphlet is published by the Walker Art Center as part of its online Artist Op-Eds series, an ongoing project inviting artists in all disciplines to respond through writing to events in the news. See more at wac.mn/artist-opeds