Dallas Contemporary Criticized Amidst Termination Of Employees and Delayed Anti-Hate Statement

DALLAS, TX – Dallas-based artist Ciara Elle Bryant, a former employee of the Dallas Contemporary (DC) reached out to Glasstire alleging her termination from the organization for what she says the DC described as “low visitor turn out.” Bryant, who was employed by DC as a Learning & Visitors Service Associate, also alleged, in a since-removed video from her Instagram account, that she found the timing of termination too coincidental to not be related to emails she sent to the staff of the DC urging the institution to make an anti-hate statement in support of Asian-Americans.

Glasstire has reached out to the Dallas Contemporary’s Director, Peter Doroshenko, for comment and so far has not received a response. We will update this story with any response we receive.

Bryant’s email to the DC staff, dated March 26, 2021, had the following subject line: “DC needs to make a statement Asian Hate Crime.” In the email, Bryant notes the DC’s current exhibitions of works by Asian artists, including the major show of works by Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara. Bryant sent the email to DC staff in the wake of the March 16 murders, by a mass shooter, of eight people in Atlanta, six of whom were women of Asian descent. Many businesses, non-profits, and individuals across the country and the globe issued statements of solidarity for the Asian community in the days immediately following the event.