Post 5 - Carrie Mae Weems Interview notes & Response

Abagail T. Serrano 

2/25/25

Carrie Mae Weems Interview Response & Notes 

“Well, you know, one of the things that I was thinking about was whether it might be possible to use black subjects to represent universal concerns.”

I feel as though this quote can surpass the black subject in photography. Any subject in any form of artwork faces these issues and it is important in any piece. Hearing it from her perspective was validating despite the differences in our craft. She thinks about how others will respond and relate to her work, the subject, and the concerns she is relaying. She closely follows how possible or impossible it might be to make those things universal. I think at some point it is impossible, just like you can never please everything, you can never appeal to everyone, but it can be relatable to many, and that is the goal. So whether it's black subjects, white subjects, fictional subjects, etc… there is a way to make it relatable but never quite universal.

“I'm an artist trying to figure out how to do this shit. So, though it's true that I'm talking a whole lot, and actually I'm very good on my feet when I'm up and talking, I want to use my time to make art not to write. Yet I want to hear critics talk about work in a way that makes sense. ”

I love when artists acknowledge how the creative process doesn’t have a timeline or an “answer” a lot of times and figuring it out is a key part of the process. The focus on art, as opposed to writing (which is often a different art form), is something that I feel a lot of visual artists struggle with. At least when writing about our work, the way we express ourselves often comes from the work itself, but writing is a powerful tool for an artist. Being able to explain what you see in your work can help others understand the message when looking at different works you make. Not everyone will read an artist's statement, self-critique, the little plaque next to a piece, etc… but those who do get a greater glimpse into the work you make. Talking is great when you have the time to, but you can’t be everywhere at once, expressing your meaning to whoever looks at your work. The only way to have some sort of control outside of the artwork is to write. Create a relationship between your art and the words you would use to describe it. I often speak out loud to myself and take notes from myself or record what I am saying to influence the writing. I think the way she puts it is very relatable and the discussion the artist and interviewer are having still respect writing too which I appreciate.

Main notes while reading

• Home is wherever you find it.
• Less of a questions interview and more of a discussion
• “Home for me is both mysterious and mythic-the known and the unknown. “
• “I wanted to know how I fit into that as a woman who was already starting to move around, starting to travel, and digging, digging. ”
• “These images of black men and black women should speak on many levels, calling to mind in the viewer a range of issues and concerns. ”
• Her answers are layered and thoughtful. She doesn’t just give one or two sentences unless thats all there is to offer. 
• Her meaning and goal is included in most of her answers she approaches the issues, meanings and concerns in her work. 
• References specific pieces of hers during discussion to exemplify her words.