Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1284203
Carrie Mae Weems THREE TAKES ON LAURIE ANN FARRELL, senior curator, Dallas Contemporary On Carrie Mae Weems in the canon of contemporary art history. LAF: Carrie is arguably one of the most significant American artists working today. She is a recipient of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation genius grant and is the first African-American artist to have a retrospective at the Guggenheim in New York. As an image maker of our time, Weems' work mines her own family and local community for content. Her "Kitchen Table Series" (1990-2003) paved the way for women in the arts as well as discussions around self- representation. On your relationship. LAF: Carrie is a very generous friend, strong role model, and a fabulous human being. We've known each other for roughly 12 years, and we make an effort to keep in touch. I first worked with her in 2008 when I was at the Savannah College of Art and Design. At the Detroit Institute of Arts, I was proud to lead the acquisition of the last available "Kitchen Table Series" portfolio into the permanent collection. Key components of RESIST COVID/ TAKE 6! LAF: The DFW campaign's first phase uses billboards, public service announcements, public art projects, and other creative strategies in targeted DFW city neighborhoods to offer information aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. The campaign was conceived by Carrie and her longtime friend Pierre Loving. The graphics employ Carrie's photos combined with educational and life-affirming text. The second phase launching on September 4 i n c l u d e s more physical a c t i v a t i o n s across Dallas and Fort Worth coupled with the distribution of reusable cloth face masks to DFW areas with high COVID-19 infection rates. 34 (Continued on page 92) CARRIE MAE WEEMS HAS BEEN HAILED AS OUR NATION'S BEST CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHER. NOW AN UNPRECEDENTED COLLABORATION OF EIGHT DALLAS–FORT WORTH ART ENTITIES, LED BY THE DALLAS CONTEMPORARY, BRING HER AMBITIOUS PUBLIC-HEALTH PROJECT TO DFW. THE CURATOR, THE ARTIST, AND THE PATRON WEIGH IN. AS TOLD TO CATHERINE D. ANSPON RESIST COVID/TAKE 6! ARTIST PORTRAIT COURTESY JOHN D. & CATHERINE T. MACARTHUR FOUNDATION Carrie Mae Weems' church fans for RESIST COVID/ TAKE 6!