UNRAVELING RACISM: SEEING WHITE
This exhibit is available to travel again after the pandemic subsides.
“Turning the lens around, looking straight at white America – and at the notion of whiteness itself… You can have racism without individual racists, because systems and structures have been set up in a way that they just run this way on their own…”
– John Biewen, Scene on Radio, Seeing White, episode 1
Unraveling Racism: Seeing White
20 Michigan artists tug at the hidden strands of systemic racism woven into the fabric of American society – focusing on whiteness.
“Where did this idea of a white race come from? For what purpose? How has the meaning of white changed? How does it function now?”
Cultivating thoughtful and informed perspectives, small groups gathered regularly across urban, rural and suburban settings to respond to the podcast, share personal experiences and create an artistic dialog around these vital issues. Inclusive, inter-disciplinary + collaborative, this lively body of work is the result.
Hannah Burr • Justin Cox • Michael Dixon • Autumn-Grace Dougherty • Laura Earle • lisa eddy • Michelle Graznak • Donna Jackson • Rita Lee • Melanie Manos • Azya Moore • Nora Myers • Margaret Parker • Mia Risberg • Trisha Schultz • Laurie Wechter • Margie Weir • Elizabeth Wilson
An Art Kettle production.
About the Journey
The Art Kettle coordinated a unique art-making experience with a powerful project as its map. John Biewen’s Seeing White is a Peabody nominated series from the podcast Scene on Radio. Seeing White explores the hidden strands of systemic racism woven into the very fabric of American society. Artists listened to episodes, gathered regularly to engage in group discussion, and responded by creating their own artwork. This lively body of work will be showcased in a traveling exhibit Unraveling Racism: Seeing White. Our hope is to build understanding, inspire empathy and improve the systems shaping our communities so we all may thrive.
Special thanks to CDS for such a powerful podcast series.
The Scene on Radio podcast is a production of the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University.
Search for “Scene on Radio” in your podcast app to discover the Seeing White series by John Biewen.