| Dear John, I’ve been more than a reader of Hyperallergic since its founding. As the recipient of the publication’s first Emily H. Tremaine Journalism Fellowship for Curators in 2019, I’m also a contributor. I keep coming back because I know I’ll find that key piece of information or analysis I’m looking for, like Jillian Steinhauer’s 2015 article and Jasmine Weber’s 2018 follow-up report that exposed the connection between the Whitney Museum’s then-Vice Chair Warren Kanders, the manufacture of so-called “less lethal weapons,” and the tear gas used at the US-Mexico border and in Ferguson that set off months of protest and reckoning. Or Seph Rodney’s many reviews of shows big and small, in which his gimlet eye seeks out and unpacks multiple layers of meaning and tension. Or Senior Editor Hakim Bishara’s vocal and tenacious opinion coverage that never leaves the political and social nuance behind. Or Editor-in-Chief Hrag Vartanian’s ever-excellent podcasts that pose questions I yearn to hear answered.
And, of course, the whole team’s dedication to ensuring that art and culture remain situated in life, in all its complexity and contradiction. Hyperallergic does not shy away from any subject, even those that have landed more than one culture worker in hot water, like speaking out for Palestinian and Indigenous rights. In a world of “likes” and vapid cultural reportage, Hyperallergic stands out for its commitment to journalistic integrity, courage, and nuance. This dedication is radically refreshing and a boon to us readers and writers alike. I’m always reflective this time of year, and there would be a huge hole if Hyper were not there to fill it. As we look to the start of 2025 and all the uncertainty this new year will bring, I know I can rely on Hyperallergic to send those deeply needed stories to my inbox: Whether an incisive piece of analysis or art criticism, coverage of a show I would never have heard about otherwise, or the chuckles I get each year from the April Fools’ satirical issue, I know Hyper will help get me through. — Laura Raicovich |
