by Ames X
written on February 12, 2016 after MFA panel
On (art) institutions: Their power, influence, pursuit of shareholders' interests, and inaccurate historical accounts. On activism, holding institutions accountable for their actions, on the sexualization and fetishization of AAPI women, on why it's so fucking important to RESIST and DEMAND an institution to pay attention to, respect, and do better by our existence.
Last summer, Xtina brought to my attention that the MFA had posted a culturally appropriative and misguided event on their Facebook page. To my dismay and anger, I saw a photo of young white woman dressed in what appeared to be a kimono captioned, "Channel your inner Camille on Wednesdays at the MFA's Flirting with the Exotic." I was ten shades of angry, frustrated, and appalled that the museum was so ignorant about the kind of harm and othering, amongst other issues, this event would mean for the AAPI community in Boston and beyond.
This led to our confrontation later that afternoon with the deputy director of the MFA, Katie Getchell, museum employees, and guards. We wanted to have a dialogue with the folks who were responsible for Kimono Wednesdays and Katie Getchell was the face of that prospect. Instead of showing concern or expressing the desire to understand our frustration, we were dismissed and then handed a piece of paper (some poor museum intern must have been asked to type up) stating that the MFA "did not believe that Kimono Wednesdays was racist" and that they "were sorry we felt that way." From that moment on, other protestors, Xtina, and myself took it upon ourselves to pretty much say, "we're here, we think this is fucked up, your dismissal of our concerns is fucked up, and we're going to exercise our right to make you pay attention." Despite the internet trolls, threats, physical harassment from museum guards, and racist remarks made to organizers and supporters, this institutional conversation with the public happened. WE DID IT.
I want to thank EVERYONE who organized, who showed up, who spread the word that Stand Against Yellow Face was happening, and who attempted to have critical, transformative conversations with people who did not understand why Kimono Wednesdays was problematic. Ya'll are majestic and make me feel hopeful about humanity, forreal. ♡