MADISON, Wis. – Dozens of alumni, students, and faculty from the University of Wisconsin’s art and art history departments are coming to the defense of black artists they say were mistreated by a Madison museum.
On Thursday, several members of the group delivered a letter to the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art’s front desk addressed to MMoCA’s executive director in a show of support for artists who took part in the museum’s “Ain’t I Woman?” exhibit.
Among the group was Madison-based artist Ben Orozsco who said as a regular patron of MMoCA, he was saddened by claims the museum showed a lack of care for its artists.
“I felt really disappointed just knowing the caliber of artists that have come through here and witnessing a moment where these artists were treated differently,” Orozsco said.
By the end of August, almost half of MMoCA’s 2022 Wisconsin Triennial artists had pulled out from the exhibition, which sought to highlight black women artists in the state. The artists cited claims of repeated mistreatment by the museum, including an improper response to the damage and theft of one exhibitioner’s artwork.
That collective of artists also launched a website detailing what they called a “shameful” experience with the museum and a list of demands for change, including a review of museum contracts and policies, the removal of MMoCA’s Executive Director, and a public apology.
Soon after, MMoCA’s board released a public statement apologizing for the damage to Lilada Gee’s artwork, but called accusations of institutional racism “inappropriate and unfounded.”
However, three weeks later in another statement released Wednesday, they said the following:
“MMoCA’s board recognizes that its apologies to date have offered little consolation; the board knows, understands, and recognizes the need for action.”
They also shared plans for a truth and reconciliation project, launched earlier this month, to address institutional racism within MMoCA and the root cause of the conflict.
It’s a move Orozsco called a half step in the right direction calling on the museum to publicize its diversity equity inclusion policies.
“I want to see these changes playing out,” he said, “because saying one thing and doing another thing is a behavior they have demonstrated before.”
The “Ain’t I a Woman?” exhibit at MMoCA will display the works of the remaining artists in the showcase through the first week of October.
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