Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Wall.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Where I landed was no where close to where I started. I studied political science and planned to be a lawyer then, I realized I loved the arts and pursued that instead.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has and has not been smooth. But, everything is that way… I have always had to create my own path to pursue what I wanted because the prescribed path never worked out in terms of timing or fit. When I really realized that the arts were my passion and that being an artist was not an option, I had to choose what I would do in the art world. When I got to where I wanted, working in art institutions/museums, I wasn’t as happy as I thought I would be so, I created a new path and new jobs to do in the art world. That has its challenges. It’s much easier to follow a prescribed path than to create your own – that is rough but very rewarding.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a curator, and an educator, and an administrator and a patron of the arts. Right now, I am in MA at an academic institution where I curate shows, run artist residencies, create programs and encourage college students to pursue careers in the arts. And, if they don’t want to do that, I encourage them to support and patron the arts. I am most proud of the opportunities I create for artists. There are not and will never be enough opportunities to support artists, their work and their practices. What sets me apart is my commitment to creating spaces for artists who come from historically underrepresented groups to ascend and be recognized for their contributions to the art world.
What’s next?
Right now, I am looking to expand what I do to create a better bridge between and support for emerging to mid-career BIPOC artists to curators and art historians. I am big on sustaining the practices of artists so they can make it long enough to be recognized for their contributions to the art world but that depends a lot on the work of art historians and curators. I am trying to create a new brick and mortar space – a museum, an infrastructure, and more vehicles to connect these folks on both the east and west coasts. The plan is still/always in the works but most of it is done through residencies, programming, exhibitions, and constant relationship building. Where I am in western Massachusetts lends itself well to creating that bridge because I am in a burgeoning art community – North Adams, home to MASS MoCA.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: ericabroussard.com
- Instagram: erica_wall_art_patron
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrt7p0mUhA6YmEo8PGU6uj1yZppL3xsqK
- Other: https://www.mcla.edu/mcla-in-the-community/bcrc/mcla-gallery-51/index.php
Image Credits
Megan Haley
