In 2019, Mary Louise Schumacher lost her job as an art and architecture critic at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, where she worked for over 18 years. Questioning the role of art critics in an ever-changing media landscape, she set off across the United States to direct a documentary tilted “Out of the Picture.”
The film follows art critics during a period of transformation for journalists and artists, in which many news organizations are removing their full-time critics on staff. On Thursday evening, “Out of the Picture” was screened at the Rhode Island School of Design’s Metcalf Auditorium.
“I don’t think that I can point to any popular culture depiction of art critics where they aren’t a stand-in for snobby elitism or out-of-touch weirdos,” says Artnet News national art critic Ben Davis at the beginning of the film.
While many critics, artists and experts are featured throughout the film, it largely focuses on the lives of five critics in particular.
One of these five individuals is Jeneé Osterheldt, then a young music critic at the Boston Globe who examined art in a way that centers people of color. Osterheldt, now a culture columnist at the Globe, is the creator of “A Beautiful Resistance,” a platform that amplifies the stories of Black voices.
The film screening was followed by a panel featuring Osterheldt and Charlotte Abotsi, a constituent engagement coordinator for the City of Providence’s Department of Art, Culture and Tourism. The panel was moderated by Tyanna Buie, associate professor and graduate program director in RISD’s Printmaking Department.
“Everybody has a story to tell, and everybody bears witness — whether you’re an artist, a writer, a thinker (or) an actor,” Osterheldt said during the panel. “Whatever your role is, if you are a human and alive, it is your duty to bear witness. It is part of your responsibility in nurturing humanity.”
During the panel, Abotsi talked about how “Out of the Picture” made her think of Providence. Although Providence has a thriving and diverse arts community, she believes it’s missing a true arts publication.
Angelina Rodgers, a senior at RISD, said the film was “eye opening.”
As Rodgers is looking to work in arts journalism, this film brought up many questions about what their future may look like. “This kind of national survey of different critics’ experiences was just so important to see,” they said.
