Kelley Walker's CAM Exhibition Sparks Debate Over Artist Obligation to Explain Work

Kelley Walker's exhibition at the Saint Louis Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) ignited controversy, particularly after an artist talk on September 17, 2016, where Walker and curator Jeffrey Uslip were unresponsive to public questioning. This perceived reticence galvanized protests, leading the museum to erect walls and post trigger warnings around works like Black Star Press and Schema. The controversy raises questions about whether artists must explain their work, especially when addressing race. The exhibition's proximity to Ferguson, where Michael Brown's 2014 death sparked Black Lives Matter protests, heightened tensions. Critics note a shift in artist discourse from midcentury volubility to today's expectation of elucidation in artist talks and interviews. Artists like Sigmar Polke and David Hammons are known for elusiveness, while others like Gerhard Richter and Mike Kelley wrote extensively. The prevalence of artist self-explanation is linked to MFA training emphasizing interpretation. An open letter from three CAM staff members expressed discomfort with the work prior to opening. Glenn Ligon's 2010 Parkett article noted silence around race in Walker's work. The exhibition Kelley Walker: Schema and Kelley Walker: Direct Drive remains on view through December 31, 2016, at 3750 Washington Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108.