Hi everyone! My name is Tiffany Gaines, and I am an emerging curator and multimedia artist in Western NY. (Check out some of my recent curatorial projects at the Burchfield Penney Art Center and the Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art.) This fall, I am so excited to begin my Master of Arts in Visual Studies. As a young, Black woman working in the arts sector, I do not see many people that look like me in my field. The fine arts can feel far removed for many where I come from, and I feel called to pay forward the same inspiration and empowerment to my community that afforded me to get to where I am today. The work that I do allows me to amplify the voices of artists of color who have been historically excluded from the fine arts, whose work resonates with my experience of the world on a personal level, as well as explore my own lived experiences through my art practice.
While there is a tremendous need for increased diversity and inclusion in the arts, support for people like me to advance our education, develop our practice and gain the necessary skills to thrive remains minimal. I was fortunate enough to receive an external scholarship towards my studies, however this is simply not enough to get me through my first year of school. As an independent, full time non-profit worker, like so many I do not have the means or family support to pay thousands out of pocket or stop working to take assistantships to pay for school. The $11,000 goal of this fundraiser is to cover the cost of my first-year tuition, fees, and necessary supplies.
For me, attending graduate school is a way to demand space in places where my community has so often been barred due to a lack of access and financial support.
"Part of the Art" is a larger concept central to my work that serves as the antithesis to this reality. Through my practice I aspire to encourage people from all walks of life to engage in art on multiple levels. I believe that art can be an impactful way to weave communities together; it is only through the shared emotion, reflection and contemplation experienced through art that real change becomes possible. For it to be possible though, the spaces in which we hope for art to thrive must be reflective of the diverse world in which we live. The interdisciplinary nature of my program will allow me to continue to further develop my skills and ideas as both a curator and an artist to be an advocate and to do this important work throughout my community.
If you choose to donate, please know that I am so appreciative, and that your support will go a long way in ensuring that historically excluded communities have a chance to be part of the art.
I am currently developing my next multimedia piece spawned from this concept entitled “Messages from the People.” The piece will incorporate the voices of my community, bringing them directly into my art practice. I plan to work on this piece over the course of my first year in the program. As a token of gratitude, I will be making limited edition posters of my piece “Messages from the People” once it is complete, to give to contributors of $500 or more. Follow me on Instagram (@_itstiffanyyy ), and stay tuned for updates on my progress!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and for your support in my graduate studies.
With peace and love,
Tiffany