King of Arms Art Ball
by Rashaad Newsom
Photo: Mark Hartman |
Dear Rashaad, What is the imagery that has left a lasting impression on you and inspired you to create your own universe of amazing visual work? There is no one image; it is more of a lack of images that inspires me. Who are among your most valuable collaborators in your artistic journey so far? So many people are, but I would have to say the myriad of dancers I work with. |
They are really like my family and I could not make the works involving them without them. It is never a dull moment when we collaborate, something new is always discovered.
In addition to talent, what other elements should emerging artists concentrate on in order to reach wider audiences and receive support?
They should work on finding their own artistic voice, their own aesthetic language and think deeply about what they want to say as an artist.
You create impressive sculptures, gorgeous collages, thought provoking videos and a variety of multidisciplinary projects with an element of surprise and excitement and other layers of meaning. When do you decide what medium to use to transmit specific ideas through any given project?
It varies, sometimes I go into a project with a specific medium in mind and other times the work will lead me to the appropriate medium or mediums.
You were born in New Orleans and live and work in New York City. How do the art scenes in these two vibrant cities affect your creative output?
In so may ways, in regard to New Orleans, from the colorful Mardi Gras Indians of the Tremé, to the extravagantly creative custom car culture, and the New Orleans style brass bands, which have played a significant role in the development of traditional jazz. Improvisation is consistently regarded as being one of the key elements of the language of jazz, and in a lot of ways this diasporic tradition is the impetus behind a lot of the ideas explored in some of my performance work. More recently it has influenced my whole approach to staging a performance. Lately, I have been exploring processional performance, it was a style of performance I grew up with. It has allowed me to use the gesture of collage within social practice.
New York City is and continues to be a huge inspiration, the music, the diversity, the culture and the artist community I am a part of, it’s home.
In addition to talent, what other elements should emerging artists concentrate on in order to reach wider audiences and receive support?
They should work on finding their own artistic voice, their own aesthetic language and think deeply about what they want to say as an artist.
You create impressive sculptures, gorgeous collages, thought provoking videos and a variety of multidisciplinary projects with an element of surprise and excitement and other layers of meaning. When do you decide what medium to use to transmit specific ideas through any given project?
It varies, sometimes I go into a project with a specific medium in mind and other times the work will lead me to the appropriate medium or mediums.
You were born in New Orleans and live and work in New York City. How do the art scenes in these two vibrant cities affect your creative output?
In so may ways, in regard to New Orleans, from the colorful Mardi Gras Indians of the Tremé, to the extravagantly creative custom car culture, and the New Orleans style brass bands, which have played a significant role in the development of traditional jazz. Improvisation is consistently regarded as being one of the key elements of the language of jazz, and in a lot of ways this diasporic tradition is the impetus behind a lot of the ideas explored in some of my performance work. More recently it has influenced my whole approach to staging a performance. Lately, I have been exploring processional performance, it was a style of performance I grew up with. It has allowed me to use the gesture of collage within social practice.
New York City is and continues to be a huge inspiration, the music, the diversity, the culture and the artist community I am a part of, it’s home.
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What is your natural reaction seeing your name and your works exhibited in some of the most important museums and art venues around the world?
A combination of being surprised and extremely appreciative.
Since 2013, you have staged your annual King of Arms Art Ball as a platform to celebrate queer artists of color, explore contemporary social justice issues, and provide space for emerging artists to showcase their work. What was the driving force behind this project with real measurable impact?
I had been doing a lot of work with and about the Vogue community, that I am a part of within museum and gallery spaces. I do think it is incredibly important to have diversity in museums, and galleries, however that is not to say that it should be the end game for “marginal” people. We have to also create our own institutions to celebrate us, and our community. This thought process is what gave birth to the King of Arms Art Ball. It was also a way to build community.
Do you prefer to make statements through your art on current affairs?
My work is influenced by my lived experience so naturally at times it does.
Can you share with us some of the main events in your agenda in the weeks and months ahead?
On April 25th I will be showing some of my recent video work at the f: The new World Trade Center Transportation Hub, as well as in LA, in West Hollywood during gay pride. I am also very excited to be presenting my Performance Shade Composition at the Andy Warhol Museum this fall.
A combination of being surprised and extremely appreciative.
Since 2013, you have staged your annual King of Arms Art Ball as a platform to celebrate queer artists of color, explore contemporary social justice issues, and provide space for emerging artists to showcase their work. What was the driving force behind this project with real measurable impact?
I had been doing a lot of work with and about the Vogue community, that I am a part of within museum and gallery spaces. I do think it is incredibly important to have diversity in museums, and galleries, however that is not to say that it should be the end game for “marginal” people. We have to also create our own institutions to celebrate us, and our community. This thought process is what gave birth to the King of Arms Art Ball. It was also a way to build community.
Do you prefer to make statements through your art on current affairs?
My work is influenced by my lived experience so naturally at times it does.
Can you share with us some of the main events in your agenda in the weeks and months ahead?
On April 25th I will be showing some of my recent video work at the f: The new World Trade Center Transportation Hub, as well as in LA, in West Hollywood during gay pride. I am also very excited to be presenting my Performance Shade Composition at the Andy Warhol Museum this fall.
