Brian Herrick Makes Art

www.brianherrick.com

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Back to school! For maybe the most unconventional school year yet. All classes are starting virtually where I teach, it will be interesting. We’re starting the year off by studying this amazing and prolific artist: Deborah Roberts @rdeborah191 I’m excited to see how my k-4 kiddos will interpret her work and how they’ll create their own. Teachers out there: good luck as we kick the year off. Do good work, go easy on yourselves and stay strong. Art lovers: follow the thoughtful and inspiring work of @rdeborah191 ! #deborahrobertsart #deborahroberts #blackartists #blackart #blacklivesmatter #wecandobetter #backtoschool #arteducation #arted #artschool #collage #contemporaryart #powerful #strong #socialjusticeeducation https://www.instagram.com/p/CERkgj_hn7J/?igshid=jes1t3b2bur7

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Swipe to read the entire comic. Episode 2: Nobody Said It Was Easy. These are actual headlines and if you haven't read them yet, you can read each article to see the many perspectives on the subject. The path forward is not clear. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try and walk the path. Is Anti-racism possible? Can we even do it? I don't know, but if we don't try, how will we ever know? STAY STRONG everyone. "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." -James Baldwin #blacklivesmatter #antiracism #comics #staystrong #onedayatatime #nobodysaiditwaseasy #wecandobetter #wecandothis #jamesbaldwin https://www.instagram.com/p/CDT_ghIhFLE/?igshid=nidp52lhznmi

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I finished Tar Baby by Toni Morrison a few weeks ago and wanted to make my own cover illustration, because making art is how I process. This is ink, Gouache and watercolor on paper. It was an amazing and heart breaking book, and it took me way too long to get to. Written in 1982, it is just as relevant today as it was then (unfortunately things haven’t changed much.) Watch the YouTube video titled “Toni Morrison beautifully answers the illegitimate question on Race” from Jan 1998 on the Charlie Rose show. Over her career, Morrison constantly faced variations of the same question over and over: “Will you ever write a book for the white audience, a book that is not based on the black gaze?” This question, posed again and again is how institutional racism is perpetuated. To ask this question is white centering and in effect is to say to BIPOC artists: “Stay in your lane.” As I read fiction these days I’m doing my best to read mostly women of color because I need to hear multiple perspectives and step outside of my own white perspective. I’m not saying we need to cancel all white authors. It’s just that for me, at age 47 it’s safe to say I’ve spent a lifetime reading mostly white male authors. Isn’t time to hear other voices? #tonimorrison #tarbaby #blackartmatters #multipleperspectives #blackfeminism #illustration #bookcovers #gouache #watercolor #watercolour #dustjacket #dippen #notdigital #notdigitalart https://www.instagram.com/p/CDOyik5BCE-/?igshid=12vbvs9txhx74

[brianherrickmakesart]

Lots of new followers around here. Thank you if you’re new, and thanks to those of you who were here before. I made a comic recently which was in response to doing work from the Me And White Supremacy book by Layla F. Saad and highlighted my own reflection about checking my thoughts rather than acting out of defensiveness. The feedback, support, pushback and outrage for that comic has been insightful to the way that we are struggling right now as a country. We are divided. I wanted to be clear that I am not an expert, I am not perfect, I am not not trained in anti-racism. I am an art teacher of 18 years, a father, a husband, a son, an artist, a cis white male and a flawed human being. I’m doing my own introspection around anti-racism. I’ve received many questions asking for advice. If you are looking for inspiration, may I suggest reading and following the work of @laylafsaad @rachel.cargle @eji_org @ibramxk @teachandtransform @colorofchange @bryanstevensonoffical @teaching_tolerance @teacher_rachel_415 @austinchanning and @brenebrown, to name just a few people I’m taking inspiration from, for their respective fields of expertise. Welcome, and thanks for coming along. https://www.instagram.com/p/CDJjPLPBPrV/?igshid=1ksjx6ccvgcg5

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Please follow the brilliant and compassionate work of @theartoffun Christian Robinson. His books are beautiful and his goal of having kids see themselves in books is beautiful. And fanboy alert if you scroll back in my feed you can see when I got to meet him and was completely star struck. Thanks Christian Robinson for your lovely books! Give him a follow! #blacklivesmatter #multipleperspectives #blackartmatters #kidlit #children_illustration #childrensbooks #booksmatter #weareinthistogether #thankyou #arteducation #artschool https://www.instagram.com/p/CCGiiMSB9CS/?igshid=10xpquac2iiq

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We studied Stanley Whitney a few years back and his work and process was a huge hit with the students. His work is simple and limitless. He explores color relentlessly, reminding us how relational color is, and that there are always new combinations to be found. Give @stanley.whitney a follow! #blackartmatters #blacklivesmatter #keepgoing #artschool #arteducation #artistsofcolor #abstractart #painting #colour #color https://www.instagram.com/p/CB3CyyABxG1/?igshid=sgeowm6epfjb

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A few years back Ramekon O’Arwisters ( @ramekon ) was the artist in Residence at the elementary school I teach at. When Ramakan first stood in front of the students on his first day he stood quietly in front of the kids and there was this long pause as he held his knitting needle in one hand and a piece of fabric in his other. He said, I'm not going to tell you, I'm going to show you. Watch me." I have never heard such silence and felt such focus with my students. He did the same thing over and over again and the kids had it. Ramekins gift is not just as an artist but as a person who brings people together with a practice of social art work. His work as an artist is astounding, his work as a human is exemplary. Follow @ramekon ! #blacklivesmatter #blackartmatters #artmatters #ramekonoarwisters #artschoool #arteducation #fiberart https://www.instagram.com/p/CBfx4teh8NA/?igshid=yzch8frjd5lx

[brianherrickmakesart]

This is the work of my friend and colleague Rodney Ewing @ledette . I have the privilege of working with him and learning from him on a daily basis (at least pre covid). Rodney is a tireless artist, a gifted writer and one of the most intuitive and empathetic teachers I’ve ever worked with. He’s also incredibly funny and most of our time in between teaching involves talking sci-fi and doing imitations of our favorite lines from movies. (He’s way better at it than me). Whenever I have an obscure question about the marvel universe, he’s the person I call. But you should follow him because his art is phenomenal. Go see for yourself: @ledette #blacklivesmatter #artschool #followthisartist #amazinghuman #iappreciateyou #relevantart #blackartists #rodneyewing #rodneyewingart https://www.instagram.com/p/CBdeRdah5Sc/?igshid=1v3agh1bphfkp

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Many (most) museums of our country have been posting messages in support of Black Lives Matter. However, their actions speak louder than words. Museums like @sfmoma and @themuseumofmodernart may be saying the right things right now, posting on social media in support of black lives matter, but their collections tell an entirely different story, a story of omission. A story highlighting white men. We can do better. Museums: this is your opportunity to change. Open up your doors so that everyone has a seat at the table. Support your employees of color. Hire black curators and curators of color. Train your staff, docents and guards with cultural competency so that people of color (and everyone) will feel welcome. Hire professionals like @eddiemoorejr who will challenge your white norms and encourage you to walk the walk. Lift up women artists who have been ignored (#hilmaafklint needs to be included in the cannon ASAP) Rewrite the story of art so that it accurately represents history. Make museums accessible and open to all. Develop a clear strategic plan like @gardnermuseum did to promote community engagement and ensure diversity representation “of women, people of color, and non-Western artists in historic and contemporary exhibitions, new artistic commissions, and performance programs.” It’s on their website for the world to see, check it out. Learn from them. @deyoungmuseum released a statement saying they are working on reimagining their systems, and I hope they follow through with a formal, published strategic plan. We are watching and waiting. Stop saying you support people of color and simply start showing their work. Check out the recent article from the New York Times addressing the issues. #blacklivesmatter #wecandobetter #justicenow #blackartmatters #handdrawntext #typeface #handdrawntype #handdrawnletters #illustration #actionsspeaklouder https://www.instagram.com/p/CBatmkoBeZp/?igshid=1uhk2r8ecwfdj

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Follow Ezra Clayton Daniels @ezracdaniels for his insightful and beautiful comics. Also, according to @fantagraphics there is a sale of his book BTTM FDRS (order by Sunday) that he did with Ben Passmore @daygloayhole. All profits go to the Chicago food depository. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBYOA3OB7CG/?igshid=e7ut3md1iifm

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This is the amazing work of Nina Chanel Abney. Give her a follow: @ninachanel Her most recent post is about how white businesses are missing the point in their attempt to commodify the work of black artists. @shantell_martin is reporting the same on her feed. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBS1v3bhMqa/?igshid=hewzg46n4ux0

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Please follow the prolific and intuitive @shantell_martin . We studied her as a school a few years back. Her process based style is unbelievably accessible and transformative for kids (and speaking personally for adults as well.) follow her! https://www.instagram.com/p/CBMH31fBvYl/?igshid=kq1ub7q4vva5

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The insightful and fantastic work of @svlocke . I Could write a long description about how brilliant Steve Locke is. Just follow him and figure it out for yourself. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBKC03ehmeN/?igshid=1p7s1fz038zjy

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If you haven’t read this yet do yourself a favor. It’s brilliant and true. If you have read it, swing over to @chimamanda_adichie ‘s feed and watch her read from sections of this book and experience the brilliance all over again. Cover illustration by @jningwong . https://www.instagram.com/p/CBI5MygBq7Q/?igshid=1er6rnoikxh05

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This is the work of activist, artist, and environmentalist Favianna Rodriguez @favianna1 . Follow her! https://www.instagram.com/p/CBIw3EvhLNg/?igshid=1t93vycjp13h1

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Take five minutes to write a letter demanding #justiceforbreonnataylor Adresses are in my images for Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Mayor Greg Fischer. #blacklivesmatter #wecandobetter #happybirthdaybreonnataylor #beanantiracist https://www.instagram.com/p/CBGFu03B7HU/?igshid=130mzullksht4

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Repost from @femmepowercomix #supportblackbusiness #blacklivesmatter #supportblackownedbusinesses #blackcomics #multipleperspectives #readblackauthors https://www.instagram.com/p/CBA6uRDByv9/?igshid=slvdr5ef1t6w