ARTISTS

Andrea Arroyo
Corinne May Botz
Sasha Phyars-Burgess
iliana emilia garcia
Beatrice Glow and Alexandre Girardeau
Zac Hacmon
Georgia Lale
Bundith Phunsombatlert
L.J. Roberts
Iván Sikic
Elisabeth Smolarz
Rosary Solimanto
Susan Stainman
Patricia Thornley
Vangeline
Michael Kelly Williams

Divisive rhetoric has reverberated in our current political climate, and empathy has proven to be a challenging sentiment for many Americans to conjure. This exhibition features artists who reveal a capacity for empathy, a willingness to reflect on another’s perspective or to understand those whose backgrounds differ from their own. Rather than propose empathy as a solution for today’s societal ills, this exhibition also acknowledges the limitations of ‘walking in other people’s shoes.’ To empathize, in this case, is to look at someone else’s belief systems in relation to one’s own worldview, to better comprehend why we believe what we believe, while recognizing that no one can ever truly perceive someone else’s struggle. Through an attempt to appreciate another’s experiences and values across social, political, and cultural divides, progress can be made toward finding common ground and fostering an environment of mutual respect.

This exhibition is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, New York City Council Member Stephen Levin, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and with generous support from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Robert Lehman Foundation, Iorio Charitable Foundation, Select Equity Group Foundation, many individuals and Smack Mellon’s Members. 

Smack Mellon’s programs are also made possible with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and with generous support from The New York Community Trust, The Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund of The New York Community Trust, The Roy and Niuta Titus Foundation, Jerome Foundation, The Greenwich Collection Ltd, Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation Inc., Brooklyn Arts Council, and Exploring The Arts.

Space for Smack Mellon’s programs is generously provided by the Walentas family and Two Trees Management.