Black Art Library

MISSION STATEMENT

Black Art Library is a collection of books and other art history ephemera focused on Black visual art intended to be an educational resource to share within the Black community and beyond. We intend to introduce or expand the community’s knowledge of Black art from the past and the present through art books.

Interview with Asmaa Walton of Black Art Library

Questions by Maake Issue 16 curator Stephanie Baptist

Let’s start at the beginning, can you tell us a bit about your background?

Yes! So I had always kind of grown up with exposure to the arts but I wasn’t super interested. After changing universities and majors a few times I finally found the Art department at Michigan State University. I came across the art education program and thought I would give it a shot. I fell in love with it! 

After graduating from Michigan State I completed a Master of Arts in Art Politics from NYU. I had more of an interest in community centered art education but did not know what that really looked like. I began an internship at the Toledo Museum of Art in the education department and soon after received a fellowship there. After completing my time in Toledo I moved on to the Saint Louis Art Museum where I was the 2019-2020 Romare Bearden Graduate Museum Fellow. While completing my fellowship I started Black Art Library just as something small I had going on outside of work. 1 month after starting it all we were on lockdown. During this time I kept buying books and building a community through our instagram account.

I moved home to Detroit in August 2020 and the next month the library had its first local pop up! After that Black Art Library really just continued to grow.

Were you an avid reader as a child? 

I actually was not, I didn’t read a lot as a kid. I actually had always been good in my English classes growing up. All throughout high school I took AP English but can’t recall actually finishing any of the books. 

In college I became drawn to art books because I felt they were a little different. You don’t necessarily have to read an art book from cover to cover. The images are beautiful and I feel like next to seeing an artwork in person the book is the next thing!

What is your relationship to the library and how did Black Art Library come about?

Honestly as someone who did not grow up enjoying to read the library was not a place on my list of places I want to visit. In adulthood I realized just important libraries as spaces are so important to the community.  

As someone who works in arts education, does Black Art Library address any particular gaps? 

My desire to start Black Art Library came from my lack of exposure to Black Art during my time in school all the way through college. I spent a lot of time looking up and finding out about artists from the internet on my own. I wanted to be able to make it easier for others to learn about Black artists without it being so difficult to find the information. By building this collection I'm trying to pull together as many of these books in one space that makes it easier for others to learn. 

Locality (Detroit) seems to be an important part of your social art practice, yet the very nature of books allows for global reach. Can you talk to us a bit more about this, what you want Detroiters and the broader community to take away from engaging with BAL?

What I want everyone to gain from Black Art Library is just one new piece of knowledge, at least. I do not expect people to view the collection and leave wanting to be an artist or a curator. I just want the opportunity to share information that they may not be familiar with. 

I want Detroiters to have the chance to learn more about Black visual art and to have a space in the community where they can do it. 

How did you decide what books would be a part of the archive? Is it organized thematically?

It really just began with books I could afford that were related to Black visual art in some way. I was purchasing books used from different book sellers. 

It may be unrealistic but I would like to have every book on the subject in the collection. 

What are some contemporary or historical art books that you’re excited about? Any first editions in your archive?

The books that interest me most are the very old ones that may not be easy to find. Last year I acquired two books for the collection that were super exciting to me. One was  75 Years of Freedom: Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution published in 1940 by the Library of Congress and the other title was The Negro in Art by Alain Locke published also in 1940.

Can you share some of your recent influences? Are there specific spaces, works of art, literature or even people that are important to you? 

Over the past couple  years I have been very intrigued by all that Theaster Gates does including his dedication to preserving Black culture. The Stony Island Arts Bank is a space that I’m very amazed by. 

What is the largest difference between showcasing your archive online and curating exhibitions (eg, your exhibition at MoCAD and Detroit Art Book Fair)? 

The main difference is that the amount of books I can share in person at an exhibition or pop up is larger. I can only share so much online. Everything I share online is really meant to be more of a snapshot. 

Also during exhibitions I’m able to give up some control because I allow the spaces to decide how they want to share Black Art Library. I want to make sure it will resonate with their audiences.  

I saw that you have recently acquired a van that will be outfitted as a mobile library. Can you talk to us about this next step for BAL. Is mobility and accessibility a key component to your practice? 

Mobility and accessibility are definitely key components. Black Art Library’s pop ups have allowed us to introduce it to different communities including ones outside of Michigan. Having a mobile library for Black Art Library will make it easier to work with local organizations and schools. I want to be able to bring the library to them in the spaces they are comfortable.

Do you accept book donations and would you like to share with our readers how this might be possible?

Yes! Donations are always appreciated because they really have helped keep the collection going. I would not be able to do it without our wonderful donors. If you are interested in donating books to Black Art Library’s collection please send us an email to blackartlibrary@gmail.com

Do you have any advice or words of wisdom that you keep going back to as a source of inspiration? 

My words of advice would be to be confident in your vision but also be patient. From the beginning of Black Art Library’s inception I’ve been okay with letting things happen without putting too much pressure on myself. I like to think things will happen when they are meant to and sometimes you cannot force it. 

Ideation and actualization is often met with challenges, albeit financially, administratively, etc. 

What’s coming up next for you?

Next I’m really trying to solidify a permanent home for the library. That was always the end goal but I feel like the time is right. Next year will be 4 years since the project was started and I’m finally feeling ready to make roots!

To find out more about Black Art Library, check out their Instagram.