"Think about the fact that since the 1940s, Ebony has been published, every month, and continues to be," explained Lauren Haynes, curator at the Studio Museum in Harlem, in an interview with The Huffington Post. "It's about taking stock of this moment, thinking about what that says and if it says anything at all, really."
Haynes curated the ongoing exhibition "Speaking of People: Ebony, Jet and Contemporary Art," an inter-generational, multidisciplinary look at the influence of these two long-running black publications on the consciousness of contemporary artists.
"They were the first magazines of their kind," Linda Johnson Rice, chairman of the Johnson Publishing Company, told ArtNews. The Johnson Publishing Company began publishing Ebony in November of 1945 and, after selling out their initial run in under a month, haven't stopped since. Six years later a sister publication, Jet, was added to the agenda.
Godfried Donkor, Ebony Accra edition, 2014 Collage on paper 27 1⁄2 × 39 9/25 in. Courtesy the artist
"The magazines were born out of a need that my parents saw, that there were no magazines that really spoke to black people. Ebony wrote about architects and artists, the share cropper who sent his nine kids to college, real African Americans at a time when everyone else only covered them as entertainers and athletes."
Around 70 years after the magazines' beginnings, Haynes noticed the immense impact the printed publications were having on artists of all different ages and backgrounds. "About two years ago, we noticed there were a lot of artists thinking about and using materials from the magazine, particularly around the time of an exhibition here at the museum called "The Stray Light," featuring work by photographer David Hartt, who had access to the Johnson's old publishing building.
Ellen Gallagher , DeLuxe, 2004–5 Portfolio of sixty etchings with photogravure, spitbite, collage, laser-cutting, screenprint, offset lithography, hand painting and Plasticine
"It became what felt like a really great moment to look and explore and see how many artists -- which artists and what artists were doing with these materials. Particularly works like Ellen Gallagher's 'DeLuxe' which is in the museum's collection and we've shown other times, but wanting to bring out this particular aspect of it."
The exhibition features work from 16 artists including Hank Willis Thomas, Godfried Donkor, Glenn Ligon, Kerry James Marshall and Martine Syms. While some created work especially for the show, all had previously explored either thematic or material elements of Ebony and Jet in some way prior to the exhibition. Some artists incorporate physical elements of the magazine into their work, while others operate on a more conceptual plane, exploring the space opened up by these two periodicals.
Hank Willis Thomas, Jet People, 2010 Gouache acrylic on canvas 20 × 40 in. Courtesy the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York © Hank Willis Thomas
The diversity of the artists on view speaks to the diversity of the black experience. "There's a wide range of artists working in different materials, different ways," said Haynes. "What was really exciting to me was to have a common source material but it wasn't just, Oh, all artists are in this time or this place or working in a certain material. There was a range and a wide array of artists using the materials. Just the breadth that Ebony and Jet have had and continue to have."
The exhibition also touches on the precarious status print media holds in the quickly digitizing culture around us. Jet stopped its print publication earlier this year. "I think this is one of those interesting moments in the conversation that happens so often around print media and magazines -- if it's dying, if everything is moving digital, what it means?"
Ellen Gallagher, Hare, 2013 Ink, watercolor, oil, pencil and cut paper on paper 44 4/5 × 46 3/5 in. Private Collection. Courtesy Hauser & Wirth Photo credit: Ernst Moritz © Ellen Gallaghers
However, at its core, the show celebrates two very particular facets of print media, and the invaluable effect they've had on documenting, shaping and inspiring contemporary culture. The exhibition runs until March 8, 2015 at the Studio Museum in Harlem.
Godfried Donkor
Ebony Jo'burg edition, 2014 Collage on paper27 1⁄2 × 39 9/25 in.Courtesy the artist
Noel Anderson
Ebony Painting 1, 2012 Manipulated Ebony page and carpet foam 20 5/8 × 16 ¾ × 1 7/8 in. Courtesy the artist and Tilton Gallery, New York
Glenn Ligon
Endless Column/Nu Nile (Yellow), 1985 Synthetic polymer, ink and graphite on paper 22 1/8 × 15 1⁄4 in.Courtesy the artistPhoto: Ronal Amstutz
Purvis Young
Horses on Ebony, 1994Paint on copy of Ebony magazine17 × 11 in. each, diptychCourtesy Skot Foreman and the artist’s estate Photo: Marc Bernier
Martine Syms
Johnson Publishing Company Building, 1971, 2013 Altered archival photograph18 × 24 in.Courtesy the artist
Godfried Donkor
Ebony Lagos edition, 2014 Collage on paper27 1⁄2 × 39 9/25 in. Courtesy the artist
David Hartt
Carpet at The Johnson Publishing Company Headquarters, Chicago, Illinois, 2011 Archival pigment print mounted to Dibond and framed60 × 80 in.Edition of 6 + 1 APCourtesy the artist and Corbett vs Dempsey, Chicago, IL
Noel Anderson
Ebony Painting 2, 2012 Manipulated Ebony page and carpet foam 20 5/8 × 16 ¾ × 1 7/8 in. Courtesy the artist and Tilton Gallery, New York
Glenn Ligon
The Cock/Nu Nile, 1985Synthetic polymer, ink and graphite on paper 22 1/8 × 15 1⁄4 in.Courtesy the artist
Kerry James Marshall
Black, 2002Inkjet print on paper49 3/5 × 42 9/10 in.Courtesy the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.