This is the final OpenLab response of the semester. It is due April 20.
During our tour of “White Shoes”, we discussed how the photographs of the artist could be considered documentation of performance art. The artist placed herself in spaces in New York City that have legacies of enslavement. In this way, Faustine suggests that memories and histories can be held in places and things over time — in buildings, landscapes, and streets. Choose one image from the exhibit to answer the following questions (you can find images from the exhibition by searching for “White Shoes” Faustine on Google, and include a link to that image in your response):
What (hi)story does the place tell (separate from Faustine’s presence)? How does Faustine’s contemporary body speak with the history of the spaces that she inhabits? What is the dialogue between her body (and clothing and props) and the place? Does her presence reignite the past, or does her body create a new version of history or add something to the historical narrative?
Faustine’s presence in these spaces adds a layer of dialogue between past and present. She engages with the history embedded in the place through her body, clothing, and props. Her presence can evoke a range of responses: it may reignite the past by drawing attention to the historical injustices that occurred there or reinterpret history by offering a contemporary perspective on those spaces.
The dialogue between Faustine’s body and the place is dynamic. Her physical presence confronts viewers with the reality of the past and raises questions about how that history continues to influence the present. Her clothing and props may serve as visual cues, connecting her to specific historical narratives or symbols associated with slavery.
Image Link: https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/5cf/791/2b28e6e2a75bce41a3df4354007a614434-Faustine–Walk-to-Freedom-Frederick-Doug.rhorizontal.w700.jpg
Image in the Gallary: https://d1lfxha3ugu3d4.cloudfront.net/images/opencollection/exhibitions/size2/DIG_E_2024_Nona_Faustine_White_Shoes_08_Paula_Abreu_Pita_PS22.jpg
What history does the place tell (separate from Faustine’s presence)?
The image’s location is hard to pinpoint, but the photo was taken in Manhattan, New York, and if I were to guess based on the blurry street signs. It would either be Lower Manhattan/23rd or 123rd Street. Both areas have different histories, but I will go over 23rd Street. 23rd Street/Manhattan is home to a rich history for African Americans. While it was predominantly white, it was one of the first states to pass a law to completely abolish slavery. On top of that, after the Civil War, the Great Migration began to unfold, and while places like Uptown Harlem became densely populated, so did 23rd Street. Not only that, but the African American Renainase also played a significant role in the music/performance culture of New York. Not to mention racial segregation only ended in 1954.
How does Faustine’s contemporary body speak with the history of the spaces that she inhabits?
I don’t fully understand it but I’m not familiar with the history. I believe she represents both female suffrage and African American struggle. Within New York, a lot of high profile positions are selective and mostly cater towards white men. She’s proud of her history, body, and skin. A city that has a history of creating active disadvantages for black females within roles and paygrade. On top of that, these issues are being tackled to this day. She represents the past as well as the present.
What is the dialogue between her body (and clothing and props) and the place?
Her body is nearly naked. She has a silk lounge robe, but it’s very thin, so I’m not sure it’s doing much. As for the place, it’s in Manhattan, and she’s crossing the street. Her body language makes her seem very proud and confident. I believe her confidence in her body and place is supposed to represent how to make it in the city. You must be vulnerable and exposed to make it in the world fully.
Does her presence reignite the past, or does her body create a new version of history or add something to the historical narrative?
As mentioned in the previous questions, I believe her body is a narrative of history and current societal norms with society. I believe it’s an abstract idea to express a variety of feelings felt for female African Americans and how it’s important to remain proud of who you are despite how society may see you. Some people may view her a naked lady but true thinkers can see she’s a proud woman.
One image from the exhibit depicts Faustine standing in the middle of the street on a wooden box that was once a slave auction site. In this image, the place itself carries a heavy historical significance, representing a dark chapter in the city’s past when slaves were being sold after their long voyage across the Atlantic sea. Through Faustine’s contemporary body, and through her deliberate choice of location and her positioning within the frame, engages in a dialogue with the history of the space. Her presence challenges viewers to confront the lingering impact of slavery and racism in the present day. By standing in these spaces, Faustine highlights the enduring legacies of enslavement and systemic injustice, effectively bringing the past into the present moment. By inserting herself into these spaces, she invites viewers to reconsider how history shapes our present reality and to reflect on the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.
jianwei shi
In Faustine’s “White Shoes,” the subject is the various ways in which the historical past has been assimilated into white mainstream society. The subject is naked save for a pair of white high heels. The picture of Faustine wearing a white saree and high heels, standing on a deserted street with an overturned basket next to her, is one of the ones that really grabs my attention. I assume that the painting may not be intended for us, but rather for those who came before us to illustrate that African Americans were free from slavery, since our attention is drawn only to Faustine and the street scene behind her, disregarding the basket that has fallen aside. However, the fact that no one else is seen in this setting leads me to believe that racism is still present today, as evidenced by Faustine’s later photos, which mostly feature people who are either far from her or lack any imagery of anyone else at all. The show of the basket crumbling around her and her standing on the stake, among other things, suggest to me that the dialogue between the clothes and props on Faustine and the place is that it is free to do what it wants to do without having to listen to anyone else. All in all, her presence provokes memories of the past, particularly when her body reenters the historical narrative, and causes viewers to reconsider the significance of Faustine’s portrayal in the pictures, particularly when she is surrounded by a small number of antiques.
In the photo I choose from Nona Faustine’s “White Shoes” she is nude walking up the supreme court steps with shackles. The history of the supreme court is significant as in In Dred Scott v. Sandford, the Supreme Court ruled that Americans of African descent, whether free or slave, were not American citizens and could not sue in federal court. It also was also stated that congress “lacked the power to ban slavery in the U.S. There are many huge cases revolving the oppression of black people that involve the Supreme court. Faustine is holding shackles and it appears that she is aggressively “stepping up” against the oppression of blacks. She is essentially acknowledging the past, however, she is free from her shackles and the only way they will keep her down is “Over My Dead Body” as her piece is called. Her body acts as a way of empowerment for her and the shoes she’s wearing carry so much history. She is showing how empowered strong black people must stand against oppression to change their future.
https://pankmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Over-My-Dead-Body-Faustine.jpg
https://pankmagazine.com/2016/01/09/white-shoes/ (last photo in artice)
My favorite photo was titled “Over My Dead Body”. Her body, clothing, and props serve as a juxtaposition against the backdrop of history with a blend of the present. Her body is unclothed, matching the same attire as previous slaves who may have stood exactly where she is. It can also be seen as improper today and in the past as she is going against the etiquette of being clothes, yet she is wearing formal shoes. She has old chains in her left hand which is a reminder of those who were held captive in this place with no option but to obey.
Her body language is strong and confident as if there is nothing odd about her attire and she is strutting to the entrance of the building with ease. It feels as though she is rewriting the past by rebelling against those who dare try to oppress her. She is fighting against the building and the system that was made. The building is alluding to classicism, an homage, to what some see as great, to civilizations of the past. The building is huge and dominating over humans to show power. Faustine is unwavering in her determination to go against such a system, that with insight of the dark past of many will never be forgotten and actions repeated again.
what fustine is describing with this pictures is about the history and mistreatment of individuals of color. This is important for understanding as much about the history and trying to make an important point. I feel that this was impactful mostly to males as they are mostly focused on sexually and she is saying indercty about this and how mistreatment was https://images.app.goo.gl/QY5Czor2HjLZyuXG8
Jeremy Perricone | D276
In this image, we see Nona Faustine standing on a wooden box, completely nude except for her white shoes, on Wall St. This is a place that has hosted slave auctions in the past, and Faustine makes a statement through the props she brings with her. She is standing on the box like she is on display, as the slaves were during an auction, in the middle of a well known financial district. It is also important to note she has shackles on her wrist, portraying the slave’s captivity. I feel her presence and her pose reignite the past and remind people of the ugly history associated with the area.
Link
All graded