backstory: Out of one’s comfort zone

Self-described as the world’s largest street art exhibition, the show included a lot of interesting work.  What struck me most, however, was seeing work by several of the people who graciously helped me years ago while I was writing the graffiti chapter of my book on art and the New York City subway, people like Henry Chalfant, Martha Cooper, and LEE (Lee Quinones), and recalling the way I felt as a younger scholar writing about a topic I knew so little about. The book, which stemmed from my dissertation, covered a broad time-frame, from 1904 to contemporary art.  I couldn’t just skip that moment, but that moment was a real reach. 

As I look back, I recall the insecurity with which I worked in that space, and the way in which I alleviated that feeling by convincing myself I was just telling the story, neutrally, rather than interpreting the work as I had done in other chapters. 

The takeaway for me was—I can’t just skip the pieces that are uncomfortable.  And, as much as I’d like sometimes to set myself into a “neutral” zone, in the end it’s awfully hard to locate such as space, personally and professionally.

Tracy Fitzpatrick
Director, Neuberger Museum of Art