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| Rebecca Belmore, "ishkode (fire)" |
-- By Tom Phillips
Two middle-aged white male art critics were coming down in the elevator after previewing the Whitney Museum of American Art's 80th Biennial. With an air of befuddled irritation, one said to the other, "Quiet as it's Kept? What does that mean?" He was referring to the show's cryptic subtitle, which came from African-American co-curator Adrienne Edwards. His friend had no clue.
A third, older white male critic was standing nearby, and recalled for them the explanation Ms. Edwards had given in her pre-show remarks. Her mother and her aunties used to say it all the time, she said--- to preface something widely known to be true, but not discussed in public.
