The Color of Kindness
The Color of Kindness project began in 2012 because I wanted to begin working with color again after a long hiatus, and I wished for more kindness in my life. It struck me I could integrate my “relational” art practices - my exploration of important social concerns in the presence of others - with something as traditional as painting. I chose to do this through the simple question of “What color comes to mind when you think of kindness?”
Rather than approaching individuals in public, I simply sat outside and drew and allowed them to approach me, to initiate conversation about what I was drawing and studying in the landscape. Over the course of our conversation, I asked the question about color and kindness. I did not ask "What is the color of kindness," but rather "What color comes to mind when you think of kindness?" The first question could invite debate at best, or insulting generalizations and hurtful words or actions at worst. The question I asked was one of individual associations of color with experiences of kindness. There was no wrong answer to this question, only memories, stories of lived encounters. Each person was invited as the author of their encounters and memories to share them with me, or to pass.
I posed this question to many people, and most of them picked their color easily but struggled to explain why. Occasionally, this question triggered difficult emotions, because color is a culturally charged element in the United States of America. When I was able to connect with those who found the question difficult, or simplistic, I did my best to listen openly. Sometimes, moments of kindness moved between us even in the midst of fear and conflict.
I am editing this in 2021, after over a year of epidemics including the epidemic of racism that has plagued our nation since its inception. In 2012, exploration the concepts of kindness and color had a different meaning than it does in today's context, almost a decade later. Today, I support a group called Color of Change, with monthly donations. It is my hope that change and kindness can go hand in hand, but that is a dream that must be tempered by the very real experiences of those who experience racism, which is never kind. I continue to ponder this project and wonder how I might update it given our changing context. When I come to a new idea, I'll post it here.
Rather than approaching individuals in public, I simply sat outside and drew and allowed them to approach me, to initiate conversation about what I was drawing and studying in the landscape. Over the course of our conversation, I asked the question about color and kindness. I did not ask "What is the color of kindness," but rather "What color comes to mind when you think of kindness?" The first question could invite debate at best, or insulting generalizations and hurtful words or actions at worst. The question I asked was one of individual associations of color with experiences of kindness. There was no wrong answer to this question, only memories, stories of lived encounters. Each person was invited as the author of their encounters and memories to share them with me, or to pass.
I posed this question to many people, and most of them picked their color easily but struggled to explain why. Occasionally, this question triggered difficult emotions, because color is a culturally charged element in the United States of America. When I was able to connect with those who found the question difficult, or simplistic, I did my best to listen openly. Sometimes, moments of kindness moved between us even in the midst of fear and conflict.
I am editing this in 2021, after over a year of epidemics including the epidemic of racism that has plagued our nation since its inception. In 2012, exploration the concepts of kindness and color had a different meaning than it does in today's context, almost a decade later. Today, I support a group called Color of Change, with monthly donations. It is my hope that change and kindness can go hand in hand, but that is a dream that must be tempered by the very real experiences of those who experience racism, which is never kind. I continue to ponder this project and wonder how I might update it given our changing context. When I come to a new idea, I'll post it here.