Twenty
ROY presents: Mary Klie
Fri, Sep 11, 2020 - 6:00 PM
Sat, Oct 3, 2020 - 3:00 PM
My work addresses whiteness and the many problems associated with white privilege and white supremacy.
I started making one collage a day on July 11th to get to forty collages by my 40th birthday. My focus was to call out racism and white privilege. The outcome has been profound. As I learn more about the depths of racism and whiteness I realize have only scratched the surface (literally and figuratively), and that my style of documentation has only just begun.
This brings me to: TWENTY
I used to think the white space that surrounded my collages was a metaphor of multitudes with thoughts on the white race, white patriarchy, feminism, an occasional ethereal atmosphere reference, and awkward humor thrown in the mix. I now know it is about so much more.
These collages are hung in groups of twenty and every twenty collages there is a reference to twenty dollars – George Floyd was killed over a counterfeit twenty-dollar bill, Harriet Tubman should be on the twenty-dollar bill, Sojourner Truth’s freedom was purchased for twenty dollars. The list goes on. Also, no ignoring - The year is 2020 and I turned 40 in 2020.
My collages provide an almost chronological dialog of current events but look closely and you will notice smaller conversations happening like our problematic white history, dark humor, perfectionism, religious hypocrisy, white superficiality, and so on and so on.
White privilege has afforded us seats at this privileged table. We must continue to try to inspire and educate others while most importantly, call out the racist ideas and systems within our society.
All collages are priced at $20 and all profits from this show will go directly to The Black School. A New York experimental art school teaching radical black history.
You can follow Mary on Instagram @maryklie
ROY asks:
name & preferred pronouns
Mary Klie (she,her)
how has art impacted you?
The only time I feel close to satisfied is when art is prevalent in my life, and not just creating it. Viewing art, reading about art and constantly learning is just as important. Looking back on my life I know this has been true for a very long time.
how are you staying creative in these extraordinary times?
I work out of my home so I have easy access to my work. Making my collages has been an essential coping mechanism more now than ever before.
what do you hope the viewer takes away from seeing your work?
I want viewers to question their roles in this important racial revolution. I hope to inspire others to challenge oppressive systems and to take steps towards becoming antiracist.
Explore Twenty with Mary Klie on our YouTube Channel
