On the “A” w/Souleo: Presidential Election Looms over New Museum Next Generation Dinner

There couldn’t be a more opportune time for the New Museum to honor photographer, LaToya Ruby Frazier than near the end of a tumultuous presidential election season. This past Friday in New York, Frazier was honored at the annual Next Gen dinner for her social and environmental justice driven work that explores political topics such as global warming, health care, and economic inequities.

“It is telling that I am being honored just days before the election. Artists that tend to work conceptually in sociopolitical documentary modes aren’t often viewed as cutting edge contemporary artists,” said Frazier. “But it is a pivotal time. I’m concerned about global warming and where health care is going. Seeing it all come to a head, at this very poignant intersection in our country, makes me deeply honored that the New Museum would highlight my practice for this award.”

The timeliness wasn’t lost on Massimiliano Gioni, artistic director at the New Museum. During the event, held at the soon-to-be open restaurant Chinese Tuxedo—a former opera house in Chinatown—Gioni shared that Frazier’s work takes on added weight as voters head to the polls.

“LaToya's work forces institutions and people to be aware of their position and their responsibilities and consequences,” he said. “Sadly it’s very inspiring work during time of [the] election. It shouldn’t be but it is a reminder of what’s at stake.”

No matter which candidate wins the presidency, Frazier will continue exploring disadvantaged communities. Her next series, set to debut in a solo show in February 2017 at MAC's in Belgium, investigates coal mining villages in the area. Again, it’s particularly timely as presidential candidate, Donald Trump has reportedly stated he would “save” the coal industry.

“You have Trump and [Mike] Pence running on a message that the U.S. has a war on coal. What I'm doing in this new series is interviewing and making collaborative photographs with people who are former coal miners from Belgium,” she said. “My work has taken on a cross-cultural conversation with coal juxtaposed to the 12 years I documented about what it means to be poor in a post-Reagan era in Braddock, Pennsylvania.”

Fashion designer Phillip Lim plans to take shoppers back to Reagan’s time of the 1980s, but not in that sense. Lim, who was in attendance, remained tight-lipped about the direction of his next collection. But he did let it slip that it will be partially inspired by “super early MTV.” Think 1980s more so along the lines of Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, and Prince.

Lim was more forthcoming about his thoughts on the election. Apparently Lim believes in a civic duty to vote, especially if you enjoy a free range of sartorial options.

“At end of day there is no such thing as a perfect person or platform or party. But choose the least of the evils,” said Lim, who reportedly plans to vote for Hillary Clinton. “Politics steers culture. If you want to get dressed up and be fashionable you’re playing a part. So play a part in other ways so you can continue to have that liberty. A lot of other countries don’t even have that liberty.”

And on that note, the Next Gen dinner proved that art, fashion, and political engagement are always in style.

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The column, On the “A” w/Souleo, covers the intersection of the arts, culture entertainment and philanthropy in Harlem and beyond and is written by Souleo, founder and president of arts administration company, Souleo Enterprises.