Pitts Grad Research Assignment: Discussion Questions on Article or Essay

This is a text also taken from "The Friendliest Black Artist in America."
This article is by Kristine Stiles entitled "Thunderbird Immolation: Burning Racism."


Stiles, Kristine. William Pope. L : The Friendliest Black Artist in America. By Mark H. Bessire. New York: MIT P, 2002.


I have chosen this text in effort to reign in t some semblance of order my research regiem. I am genuinely interested in reading this text as I honestly believe it to inform my present direction and studio practice.

1. I find this a just one fascinating tale of a streets performer, William Pope L. I wonder at the courage to take "public art" to such a degree both with Thunderbird and the crawls and other such pieces. Where does this sort of art situate currently in the "art world?"
I do not really know where such a performative type of engagement finds a home in the art world right now. This is the discussion I would like to have. Are there any other artist who engage on the same sort of resonant levels or are they still fringe type artist.
2. How does the art of william Pope L. fit into the idea of institutional critique? Does it? What is your take on institutional criticism.
It seems like it does not if the term institutional critique is only looking at the art world. But does it, that's what I am asking. And also is William Pope L. also critiquing in this piece specificly the art world by staging it in fron of 420 west broadway? Is it a double stab? I think obviously so but when I read writers write about such a cult personality I begin to wonder if what I am reading is an aesthicization of the event. I don't know what do you think? My mind has not quite grown so large to grasp the yellow in the piece. I'm sure it is there for a reason. If anything that is the only thing I don't understand. The rest is just powerful.