Gelb Art Exhibit Explores Diversity of Andover Communit

"Who Are We?" Exhibit challenges assumptions about racial identity

November 20, 2008 --"Who Are We?", a Phillips Academy community exhibition currently on display in the Gelb Gallery, is a follow-up exercise based on the structure and concepts of the recently displayed traveling exhibition, "The Hapa Project", by visiting artist Kip Fulbeck. The Hapa Project, which Fulbeck began in 2001, represents 1,200 self-selected subjects of mixed heritage paired with accompanying short text answers to the question, “What Are You?”

Fulbeck’s visual research on identity not only reflects his own personal narrative of being of mixed heritage (half Asian and half white), but also clearly suggests he does not exist in isolation. Hapa, a Hawaiian term for half, applies to a number of individuals who identify with more than one ethnic heritage or country of origin. Fulbeck’s images and text have the power to pose important questions in the minds of viewers. These questions challenge our own ignorance and discomfort with assumptions made regarding racial identity and/or ambiguous racial identity. 

Often humorous or sympathetic, Kip Fulbeck’s images may be viewed as institutional identification cards or a type of “mug-shot” of membership. In today’s world it may be unusual to be without some sort of identification card. Identification cards often reveal unflattering images in favor of an accurate physical description of the members of any community or place. From club or sport associations, religion, current and future aspirations, many of the individuals represented in the community exhibition form a visual “Facebook” installation to be considered by a wider viewing audience. The exhibition is provides a sample of the PA community.

Teenage years often include time and opportunities to examine the self and consider the curious question of belonging. It may also be a time of overwhelming questions, such as who am I, where am I going, and what does this all mean? The incidental intersections in this cross section of 211 Phillips Academy faculty, staff, students, and children of the community may represent a type of cultural DMZ full of complex identifications involving more than just a person’s heritage. Of special coincidence, president-elect Barack Obama recently used the term “mutt” to not only describe the type of dog his family may adopt but as a way to describe his own mixed heritage. Many subjects of this exhibition use similar terminology in describing themselves. The undercurrent of pride in that designation suggests a hopeful culture of acceptance for mixed communities now and in the future. 

The image plus text pieces in this space represent the efforts of many individuals. In addition to Kip Fulbeck, sincere appreciation is extended to the many members of the community at large who participated by posing for the camera and writing a short statement of how they identify themselves and their heritage as well as to all those who helped set up the exhibit.

"The Hapa Project" and "Who Are We?" exhibitions were made possible by the generous support of Leo Ullman ’57, the Office of Community and Multicultural Development, Linda Carter Griffith, Aya Murata, Carlos Hoyt, the Office of Residential Life, and Shirley Veenema of the Department of Art