Art Reads for Banned Books Week
J. M. W. Turner’s role in the slave trade, zines and riso prints from the New York Art Book Fair, and books we’re reading right now.
During a recent search through her late grandmother's extensive collection of library-related materials, I found a 2003-2004 state report detailing books that were banned or disputed in Texas public schools. At the time, I was only a child, and the iconic 1963 book Where the Wild Things Are sparked my curiosity about the power of storytelling.
This Banned Books Week, I am reminded of the ongoing attacks on our freedom of imagination and the right to access diverse perspectives. According to PEN America, a staggering 11,900 book bans were recorded across the nation in the last academic year, with over 8,100 of these occurring in Texas alone. Amidst this climate of censorship, art books offer a beacon of hope.
In her insightful review, artist, scholar, and critic Tao Leigh Goffe explores J.M.W. Turner's relationship with slavery in his artwork and personal life, arguing that Turner and the Slave Trade "recasts Romanticism's relationship to nature and landscape painting as a vehicle for colonial propaganda." Another thought-provoking book focuses on the craftspeople of Ancient Egypt, highlighting the significance of recognizing the contributions of everyday individuals who shape visual culture.
As the iconic slogan from my grandmother's report goes, "Free people read freely." This Banned Books Week, take a moment to appreciate art books and the communities of artists, scholars, and librarians who uphold the spirit of free expression and knowledge.
Written by urgent.news from Hyperallergic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
