We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Denver Crawford. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Denver below.
Denver, appreciate you joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
It’s hard to remember the first time we began referring to ourselves as “Art Hoes,” but it must have started around 2017 when Christopher “Ender” Coryat and I first met at a coffee shop downtown. Chris was completing his college education in fine art practices, and I had just moved to the city with a BFA in performance. I wasn’t sure how our personal histories and art practices would connect, but we always found commonality in referring to ourselves as “Art Hoes.” This self-made label allowed us to reach past differences in education or taste to acknowledge the idea and relationship that united us; an overwhelming need to experience ourselves and the world through art.
It wasn’t until the inception of Art Hoes United (AHU) that we were compelled to give tangible form to the phrase we had casually used for years to encapsulate the ineffable. Essentially, we defined our concept of an “Art Hoe” as embodying the spirit of one who cannot exist without an ongoing connection to art, with irreverence toward established tropes and stereotypes. An Art Hoe is characterized by an unyielding drive, individuality, and passion to engage with art and its history, firmly believing in its profound capacity to transform and enrich our humanity.
Certainly, the word “Hoe” holds diverse connotations that might stir controversy. However, when placed within the realm of “Art,” we perceive it as an affirmation of self-empowerment and a profound, spiritually connected relationship with one’s creative expression, engagement, and consumption of art.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Denver Crawford, and I am a multimedia artist, performer, and co-founder of Art Hoes United. Plucked from my Appalachian roots, I grew up in Virginia’s historical triangle, studied theatre performance at VCU in Richmond, and moved to New York which I’ve now called home for seven years.
As a young artist in the big city, I had big dreams and very little resources. My community grew with every new coffee shop and restaurant I worked at. I began to collaborate with painters, writers, philosophers, fashion designers, and all the art-ers you can think of. I felt like I had little chance of breaking into the creative industry on my own, and I’ve always relied on strong community and collaboration to find my purpose and drive to survive.
Fast forward seven years, and Art Hoes United is born. AHU represents the culmination of my experiences in museums, galleries, Broadway theaters, film sets, academic institutions, and life in the streets of NYC. Despite traversing these diverse spaces, I often felt like an outsider, yearning for real conversations about the struggles of working-class artists.
AHU emerged as a sanctuary for those who persist in creating art despite the distorting influence of capitalist pressures. We reject constraints that limit us to a single artistic path, embracing a renaissance ethos that spans across mediums, reflecting the urgent conversations of our time. For instance, our inaugural zine will showcase works from five artists, alongside essays, original prints, collages, and illustrations. Additionally, we’re developing a film adaptation and curating multiple gallery exhibitions this year.
Above all, AHU serves as a haven for artists who embrace multidisciplinary work and the communal spirit of self-expression. Led by Queer and BIPOC individuals, we welcome all creatives who seek to contribute to the forthcoming renaissance.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
AHU relies on our community of artists to understand and embrace the values we are infusing into our brand. We champion the underdogs, prioritizing new and emergent forms of art-making in our conversations. We prioritize concepts that re-interrupt our connection to art and history as we strategize for growth, with the goal of consistently providing new viewpoints and angles for collective appreciation of creative expression.
The loyalty we cultivate isn’t just to the brand; it’s to each other. We serve as the conduit through which artists discover each other’s work and styles, while also fostering the creation of new works. Artists we collaborate with are granted ultimate freedom of expression, and we spare no effort in connecting their work with the audiences that will value it most. By facilitating connections among artists across disciplines, we foster unique collaborations and expressions unavailable elsewhere in the mainstream.
Our brand is anchored in the trust our community and clients place in the processes we’ve established to uplift underrepresented artists and alternative narratives, countering the predominantly white-patriarchal institutional view of what constitutes “Art.”
Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
Personally, I am a digital and technological skeptic. Having grown up during the age of the internet, I witnessed firsthand the shifts in everyday life that came with the introduction of faster, smaller, more efficient technologies. The rate at which I watched screen pixels shrink from honeycomb textures to the touch-screen, 4K displays we have today is astounding. Yet, contemplating our place on the trajectory of technological progress often leaves me feeling overwhelmed.
From my vantage point, the concept of NFTs appears to be founded on a vision of digital utopia, yet tinged with dystopian undertones. The success of NFTs seems to hinge on humanity’s ability to sustain and integrate the ever-evolving technologies we create, with scant attention given to the ecological and broader human consequences of their development. As we forge ahead into the digital frontier, the chasm between our mental and physical realms widens.
Personally, I find solace in analog existence – in works and ideas that necessitate shared physical space and engagement of our senses. I still struggle to bridge the gap between digital information and tangible, real-world experiences. While NFTs may offer immediate benefits such as increased income for artists or enhanced accessibility, I remain skeptical about their long-term viability. What purpose will NFTs serve in the future if we fail to reconcile the divide between digital and physical realities? I’m not yet convinced that NFTs offer a comprehensive, long-term solution to the complex challenges we encounter in determining the value of art.
Contact Info:
- Website: arthoesunited.org
- Instagram: arthoes.united
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
Image 1: AHU Logo Image 2: “Thou Hypocrite” Collaboration between Thomas Ruple and Denver Crawford, mixed media 4’x4′ Image 3: “Park Project” Denver Crawford, digital scan Image 4: “White/Face” Collaboration between Christopher “Ender” Coryat and Denver Crawford, video excerpt Image 5: Poster for “ENTER THE VOID or Facebook Play” original AHU production Image 6: Cover for AHU’s Inaugural zine “Art World”