Editor s Note: As we do every year, the What s Up! staff looked back to see what arts stories we published in 2022 that we expect will have a lasting impact on the culture of our community in 2023. This one was co-written by April Wallace and Monica Hooper and published July 3.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a landmark case on affirmative action in late October. This case has the potential of ending race-conscious college admissions and affirmative action in general. Over the years, I have talked with many people who ask the question of why race consciousness should be included in any aspect of our lives, let alone the college admissions process. So, let me attempt to answer that question in the late October case – the case that is being brought to the high court by Students for Fair Admissions.
The eighth Bentonville Film Festival, which champions underrepresented storytellers on and off screen, was an epicenter of activity after two years of operating at understated levels due to the pandemic. This year its events and screenings were well attended, some even sold out.
An embroidered work by surrealist artist Madison Smith, 25, displays the American flag with the message âwhite supremacy is in every stitch of our country.â Smithâs work consists of pastel, yet striking colors alongside ethereal renderings of flowers and moths with phrases like âlet black girls be girlsâ and âlet black women cry.â
Last spring, Fayetteville residents Cheanie Kü and Simone Cottrell commissioned Smith to create a work of art to be publicly displayed in downtown Fayetteville outside the World Treasures store, which Kuâs mother owns. Smith had full artistic liberty over the project, and said she chose to ask a question for locals to interact with. Smith created a sculpture featuring a mirror and wooden letters spelling out a question: âDo you value black people as much as you value black culture?â