Blog #8: Non-Western

For part 2 of this blog I decided to talk about a Mexican artist named David Alfaro Siqueiros, a Mexican muralist. Siqueiros was big into politics and even served as a protestor, demonstrator and soldier in the Mexican Revolution. His political beliefs were so strong that he was eventually expelled from Mexico and consequently spent many years in jail due to his actions. His paintings normally reflect what it was like in jail; the pain and the suffering that was felt on a daily basis. With his art he wanted to educate people because he believed that art goes beyond individual satisfaction but should be focused on true meaning.

The piece I have decided to share is his most famous piece, Echo of a Scream. This piece is his reflection of fighting in the Mexican Revolution, and his interpretation of suffering. The baby in this work is there to illustrate the innocence and unnecessary suffering of innocent victims. Here is an image of it:

Echo of a Scream, 1937

What I love about this piece is just everything that it stands for and the intense emotion that it captures. To have this image of a baby reflect innocent victims was a clever play on emotion and it makes the picture very hard to look at in a way. I think the fact that Siqueiros uses his own pain and suffering to create art is an amazing talent to have because it really does shine through in his pieces; especially this one. The colors are so settle, almost gloomy with a hint of depression. When I look at it, I can’t help but think of destruction and I think that is what Siqueiros was trying to capture.

 

Resource:

https://classes.uaf.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_116531_1%26url%3D

 

 

Blog #7: Non-Western

I chose to start with the Africa exploration tab and found something very unique by the artist J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere. J.D is a photographer who concentrates on taking photographs that are dedicated to Nigerian culture. He strives for his work to have an anthropological feel; as if someone was walking through a gallery and participating in a documentary at the same time. One of his series consists of around 1000 photographs, and it is the Hairstyle series. Within this series are hundreds of photographs of unique and some outlandish hairstyles of the African culture. J.D decided to photograph hair because he sees hair as an art form, just as sculptors make beautiful sculptures; hairstylists create beautiful looks as well (CAACART).

 

I love this series because it is so unique; it goes beyond the photographs of landmarks and historical events. It captures this abstract beauty and African culture in a fun and artistic way. Hairstyles are always evolving with each new fashion trend and that is something that J.D has been documenting; therefore this series in reality can never truly fade. We look at hair and we rarely think of it as an art form, but the way that a hairstyle can strategically place each strand of hair makes them an artist all the same. I am fascinated by some of the hairstyles in this collection; they are unique, they spread culture, and they make you appreciate art and photography from a whole new angle.

 

Here are a few pictures from J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere’s Hairstyle Series:

Onile gogoro or akaba (1975)

 

Coiling Penny Penny (1974)

 

Roundabaout (1973)

 

Sources:

http://www.caacart.com/pigozzi-artist.php?i=Ojeikere-J-D-Okhai&m=59&s=1443

Blog #6 – Virtual Exhibit

The theme for my exhibit is “Embrace,” and this means to embrace yourself, embrace your culture, and embrace the power of that culture. I chose two powerful female artists who represent their culture in a dynamic way in the field of visual arts, Judith Baca and Lisa Fifield. Both of these women are extremely talented and their work stems from the cultural roots; Baca as a Mexican American and Fifield as a Native American.

 

Judith Baca is a Mexican American who was born in 1946 in Huntington Park to a musician and tire factory worker. As a child, Judith was not able to speak very good English and was forbidden to speech Spanish at school or at home, which made early childhood quite difficult for her. Because she had a hard time understanding what was in her textbooks, Judith began to paint and draw because it was a way for her to express herself clearly and it was something that she could easily understand and with that she developed a passion. She went to college at California State University, Northridge and studied Modern Abstract Art and her main goal was to create art that her family and her community would appreciate; outside of the normal gallery setting because she knew they would not attend. She decided to work on murals, outside, where all eyes could see. She is best known for her work on the Great Wall of Los Angeles, which is basically a mural depicting the history of L.A with an artistic spin; she wanted it to capture diversity, culture, and the history outside of the history books. Baca is known for including diverse groups of people in the makings of her murals; being an activist as well as a painter, it is one of her goals to unite diversity in a positive way.

 What I love about Judith Baca’s work is that it is so diverse; she captures diversity in every stroke. Her murals have this ability to tell a story; whether it is a story of struggle or a struggle of triumph, she highlights different races and different cultures in such an embracing and powerful light. Here are a few of her pieces:

“La Danza de la Tierra” by Judith Baca, 2009

I love this painting because of the drastic color and the instant pride in culture that can be felt when looking at it. This painting was done specifically for the Dallas Texas Latino Cultural Center and it is a mural that is displayed in the lobby of one of the performance halls. I can see why Judith Baca was chosen to complete a mural for this cultural center and why this mural hangs in one of the largest halls; it is absolutely breathtaking.

Absolutely Chicana, 2009

I love this painting not only for the bold color, the texture, the detail, and the flat out arrogance it carries but because of the meaning of the piece. This piece was painted to depict a photograph taken of the painter at an early time and she wanted to paint it in order to convey a message and revive this 1950’s attitude that Hispanic women possessed. The purpose of this piece was to show off a Chicana in the face of a hostile environment, and it pretty much says that no matter what is thrown their way, they can handle it and they can do it with this sort of “I don’t care” attitude. I love the arrogance of the piece and the attitude of a whole, I may not be Hispanic but this piece makes me proud to a be a strong woman none the less.

Tres Generaciones, 1975

This painting is beautiful in looks and meaning; I love the more settle colors and the brushstrokes and the way the light seems to hit the faces of these women. What I really love about this piece is the meaning behind it, and I am going to past Judith Baca’s words on this piece:

” The little girl with the crown on her head is my painting of me as a young child making my first communion then the standing figure opposite the indigenous women is me as i looked at the time I painted it in 1973*. The women in the middle is my mother Ortencia Baca at 18 yrs old and at her graduation and the standing women on the right  is my grandmother Francisca Baca. She raised me as my mother was a single parent in my primary years.  There is an obscured image of my grandfather in the back ground.”  (Judith Baca).

I love the embrace of her culture and her family in this painting and I think that this painting along with the other two I have posted really show why she fits in to my exhibit of “Embrace.” Here is an artist who loves her culture, and every culture around her and she paints these beautiful pictures and murals depicting these cultures in such a positive and uplifting way.

 

The other artist I chose for my gallery is Lisa Fifield and she is part of the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin and her work greatly reflects her love her Native American culture and the pride that has in it. Lisa was born in 1957 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and her upbringing was that of a standard Judea-Christian. As a child Fifield had this view of Native Americans and believed that it was right to take land from them and seen no harm in the negative way they were treated. It wasn’t until the 1970’s that she learned that her mother was full-blooded Native American, which of course changed her views on the native American culture. In the 80’s she was diagnosed with the disease Lupus and decided to take an art class as a way to cope with it; turns out she had an eye for art and the talent to match. With her new found talent she began to paint pieces that reflected the culture of native Americans; she wanted to give a voice to those who suffered through inequality in a spiritual and artistic manner. Here are some of her works:

Birch Bark Woman (Could not find date)

This painting is a perfect example of how Fifield embraces the native American culture as it depicts a woman as one with nature and I think that ties into the spirituality and sort of calmness possessed by this culture. I love the settle colors of this piece and the less than perfect shapes and brush strokes because it adds that extra something that really draws you in. I love that she literally painted a woman as one with nature because that speaks volumes of their culture itself; shows their love of nature, their selflessness, and their spiritual ability to form connections.

The Bird Funeral (couldn’t find date)

This painting is very unique and symbolic, yet amazing in it’s own right. We have all of these birds dressed up in clothes or cloaks if you will, mourning the loss of a fellow bird and that to me expresses a lot about the Native American culture. We know that people within this culture are very connected with nature; they tend to see animals as one of them and so this picture is conveying that message. A bid dies and none of us lose sleep, but within this culture it as if they have lost a friend or family member .

Helen Hide Bird

This is probably my favorite painting by Lisa Fifield and it depicts this clan mother and the strength and importance of the Native American woman. She is strong, she is powerful, and she is essential to life. This painting along with the other two paintings posted greatly reflect why Lisa Fifield’s work would fit in to my gallery of “Embrace”. She highlights her culture in a positive way and strives to make her culture not only known but respected; for they have lost a lot, suffered a lot, but they still continue to rise.

These two women are very powerful cultural artists and fit perfectly in to the theme of my virtual exhibit of “Embrace.” It is important for us to embrace our culture as well as the diverse cultures that surround us, and that is exactly what these women convey. Their artwork is breathtaking and their stories and symbolism even more so.

Resources:

https://classes.uaf.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_116531_1%26url%3D

http://www.judybaca.com/now/index.php?option=com_igallery&view=gallery&id=3&Itemid=73

http://lisafifield.orgfree.com/LBio.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Baca

 

Blog #5 – Early Modern

Photos from The Migration Series by Jacob Lawrence

I chose a painter who was influenced by both his African American roots and the closure of World War I, Jacob Lawrence, who is prominently known for his collection, The Migration Series. He started work on this series in 1941 and it’s essentially a sequence of 60 paintings that reflect the migration of African Americans from the racist south to the more urban north; which we all know is where the Harlem Renaissance also took effect. His style of paintings were known as “dynamic cubism” which is a type of abstraction art that focuses on colors and shapes to build the picture, and his influence was that of Harlem.

These paintings obviously are very connected to the roots of African Americans because they depict their struggle, and their journey from their rough life in the south to their budding creativity in the north. This also goes hand in hand with the closure of WWI as many African Americans began to migrate in order to make a better life for themselves and their families.

I love that he uses Harlem as his inspiration because as we read throughout this assignment, the Harlem Renaissance was a grand movement and a bold statement for African Americans during this time period. It was in Harlem where the African Americans really showcased their talent for the first time, and that is exactly what Lawrence did; he took his talent of painting with vibrant colors, loose shapes and brush strokes and he told a story over a collection of 60 pieces. I think the pieces are absolutely beautiful, but even more beautiful to me is the story and the reasoning behind the pieces.

Sources:

http://www.artsology.com/jacob_lawrence_builders.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Lawrence

https://classes.uaf.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_116531_1%26url%3D

 

Blog #4 Impressionism

I actually really like impressionism, and the unique style that it possesses. My favorite part about impressionism is the pointillism technique that can be used used, because I think that to use this technique and make something beautiful, it takes a really talented artist.  I love the color pallet that is used in these paintings, and the way the colors all seem to just be thrown together at first glance, but when you allow yourself to really focus on the piece; a beautiful scene comes to life.  I also like that impressionism veers away from the norm during this point in history; it doesn’t strive to depict historical moments or religious characters; instead it focuses on pleasant moments that are inspired by the fruitful lives of the upper and middle class and breathtaking landscapes. I love the way the brushstrokes are loose and the lines sketchy, it almost seems as if the artist strive not to be perfect in their technique, but at the end, the result is perfectly as they imagined it to be, which is really beautiful.

Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise

One of the most brilliant impressionism painters, Claude Monet, painted the ever so famous piece known as Impression, Sunrise. This picture is the true essence and being of an impressionism painting, it depicts a moment, a feeling, an impression, and it is done so beautifully that it absolutely captures the eye. The brush strokes in this painting are amazing, the way the color is just all washed together to create this sea bearing scene. At first glance it just seems like random colors mixed together, but when you step back you are able to see the boats floating toward the sunset with the shipyards in the distance, and it’s absolutely stunning.

John Singleton Copley, Watson and the Shark

When we look at impressionism compared to the romantic paintings of earlier on, the difference is almost amazing. Looking at a painting from the romantic time frame by John Singleton Copley titled, Watson and the Shark, you can immediately begin to note the differences. There is a major difference at first glance, this image is not a wash of colors that seems an illusion when you focus; you can immediately tell the storyline of this image as these men battle this shark to save the woman. The brush strokes are completely different; in impressionism they are loose and meant to be mystical and mysterious in a way. In this painting, they are tight, detailed, and precise. You can tell the facial expressions clearly on the characters in this piece, and you can make out every detail of the background as well. With impressionist paintings it all seems to be a big blur as the colors are so wadded together. The difference in shading is also evident when looking at the painting above from the impressionist and the painting from the romanticist; and that is what makes them unique.

It is almost silly to me that impressionism followed romanticism and with that I can now see why impressionism was looked down upon when it first rose to the surface. I think people may view the work of impressionism as amateur compared to the solid work of a romantic or realist painting at first glance, but in fact the technique that goes in to making an impressionism piece takes a vast amount of  talent and that is why I appreciate it so much. The fact that someone can sit there and make all of these dots of color into a beautiful work of art is amazing. The color pallet, the loose brush strokes, the effect of light and weather that is often portrayed, and the subject matter that goes outside of the box is why I am a fan of impressionism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Claude_Monet,_Impression,_soleil_levant,_1872.jpg

https://classes.uaf.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_116531_1%26url%3D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Watsonandtheshark-original.jpg

Blog #3 – Classical Era

A Vision of the Golden Rump

For this particular assignment, I decided to pick a play that may or may not have existed during this era, but was the fuel to the fire of the Theatrical Licensing Act of 1737, A Vision of a Golden Rump.  This alleged play was said to be written by novelist and dramatist, Henry Fielding in 1737 in England. Henry Fielding was apparently no stranger to writing pieces that slandered or mocked the government in some way, shape, or form.

This play was said to be about Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole, and is a mocking satire attributed to his “bowels of gold and the need for his wife to help him with his enemas” (blackboard). Because this play was never seen in theatres, nor was it ever debuted to an audience of any kind, many historians believe that Sir Robert Walpole made up the play as a reason to enforce censorship over the theatre. I think that this play in particular would be very popular with the growth of the middle class audience, because it is recognizable, humorous, easily understood, and it captures the essence of something that the audience can connect with (Sir Robert Walpole). I think that this play would have a great connection with the rise of the middle class because people want to see their government in this light; people love to have fuel to mock those who are “in charge” of them, with that being said, I think this play would have been very popular if it ever made it to the stage.

I personally think that the idea of A Vision of The Golden Rump is a great one, whether it was truly written or it was just a scandal made up to enforce censorship. If it was indeed a written play, then the idea of mocking and finding humor in something that is supposed to be serious, such as the government, is a great idea because it sells. The boom in audiences would have created a frenzy over a theatrical production such as this because this is the kind of work that people want to see; they want to laugh, they want to be able to gossip about it the next day, and feel as if they have an upper hand on those who have control over them in a sense; and that is what this production would bring. However, if it was just a scam, than hats off to Sir Robert Walpole, because it too was a fairly good idea; the government needed a scapegoat in order to enforce censorship on the theatre and this was a well thought out way to do so. If this was a scam, it is clear that the government had some sort of insecurity or fear of losing power or not being taken seriously, and with the rise in middle class audiences and the popularity that was the theatre, that was is to be expected.

If this was truly a play, it would be the one that I would want to see or it would be my favorite from this era, because I love the concept of it. Was it mocking, witty and daring? Or was it a scandal to enforce government involvement? Either way, very interesting, great story line, and one well thought out mystery!

https://classes.uaf.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_116531_1%26url%3D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Rump

http://suite101.com/article/british-censorship-a21023

Blog #2 Baroque

David and Goliath by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

 

 

I chose the painting, David and Goliath, done by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio in Prado, Madrid around 1599. I chose this painting because this artist in particular was an outlaw of sorts; he had been imprisoned numerous times and was constantly on the run for assault or killings. I think that the demeanor of this artist, and his twisted personality yet grounded view of religion helped him to create amazing pieces, such as this one. I think that Caravaggio’s work stems from The Council of Trent and the hopes to bring biblical works and views back to a glorious level. The reformation stemmed away from biblical images or allowed artists to alter those images in a way that maybe the churches would otherwise find appealing, but after The Council of Trent; we see these paintings coming back to their roots of biblical story telling. I appreciate the truth behind this painting as it portrays David as this young boy with strength and courage beyond words as he is tying a defeated Goliath in a muted triumph. I think Caravaggio did an amazing job at portraying these biblical characters and staying true to the story behind those characters. The thing that draws me into this painting is the settle colors and the detail that the artist put in to these characters. The facial expression of Goliath is one of ultimate death and defeat, and that is clear as day and that is captivating in its own right. The facial expression of David to me shows this intense concentration and you can see in the detail of his physical being that he is very strong and triumphant young man. The shadowing and the use of light and dark in this painting is absolutely breathtaking and I am a big fan of Caravaggio’s rugged, realistic, and refreshing works of art.

 

References

http://allart.biz/photos/image/Michelangelo_Caravaggio_25_David_and_Goliath.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggio

Blog #1 – Renaissance

This image displays the closed view of the Isenheim Altarpiece:

This image displays the open view of the Isenheim Altarpiece:

I chose to analyze the Isenheim Altarpiece from the Northern Renaissance, which is a painting that was done by the German painter, Matthias Grünewald sometime between 1510 and 1515 for the Monastery of St. Anthony in Isenheim (then in Germany) and is a painting composed of nine images on twelve panels. I chose this work of visual art because of the way that Grünewald took both a humanistic and a reformation approach to the piece and added a bit of morbidity and intense detail to it. When you glance at this piece from afar, it is clear that there is a story being told here, and it is told in such a breathtaking and captivating manner that one can’t help but to immediately want to know more about the story and what the painting represents.

The Isenheim Altarpiece is Grünewald’s most famous piece and it is a painting full of many biblical subjects and important religious moments. When the painting is closed, there is an image of Jesus Christ and His crucifixion, and for this time period it is the most morbid image of Jesus Christ to be displayed within the strokes of a paint brush. In the overview of the Northern Renaissance visual artists on blackboard, Nurton states: “This is one of the most morbid images of Christ, as his skin is pockmarked with wounds, and his flesh is torn and distorted where the nails have been driven through him.” One can tell by this attention to detail and this Gothic, yet faithful imagery of religion is a product of reformation. Artists such as Grünewald who took on this reformation in their work were able to express themselves in a less than perfect way; showing not only the glory and beautiful side of religion, but also the painful and emotional side and they were able to do that without jeopardizing their religion or being seen as iconoclasts. Next to the image of Christ being crucified is Mother Mary who is being held by a saint as she emotionally falls backwards, and Mary Magdalene on her knees with her hands folded and held high in the midst of prayer. Also standing next to Christ is St. John the Baptist with a lamb who is holding a smaller image of the cross which is there to symbolize His sanctification as “the lamb of God”.

When the painting is opened, the story and the life of Jesus begin to unfold. It  starts with Mary as she is told about the Immaculate Conception in which she will face, it then shares the birth of Jesus Christ and then the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The story is told within these panels, each beautifully painted and detailed. If one was to open the inner panels of this painting there is yet another painting done by  Grünewald, the Temptation of St. Anthony, which I won’t really go into detail about here as I am focusing on the first painting.

It is clear that Grünewald  got his inspiration from the reformation; as James Jackson states: “Grünewald’s paintings rely on northern art, literature, and reformation theology for inspiration. His apocalyptic visions are a disturbing illustration of the darker side of Protestant theology.” I couldn’t agree more with this quote, because it is evident that the attention to detail and the sadness of the painting are a result of the reformation, and it is captured in a light of morbidity and honesty. I love Grünewald’s approach to biblical characters and references, not only in this piece but from the other pieces that I was able to look over as well. His work is absolutely stunning in the sense that it is real; he captures pain, he captures suffering, and he captures beauty; all at once.

I have never been too concerned with art or interested in the visual arts, but after learning about the protestant reformation and getting a chance to see how the visual progressed from angels and bright light to demons and darkness is actually quite amazing. I think that Grünewald’s work is absolutely spectacular, and the fact that he could put so much pain and suffering into a piece and make it beautiful says a lot about his vision and him as an artist and it definitely says a lot about the impact that the protestant reformation had on the visual arts during the Northern Renaissance.

 

References

Jackson, James. “The Reformation and Counter-Reformation.” The Reformation and Counter-Reformation. James Jackson, n.d. Web. 27 May 2012. <http://staff.jccc.edu/jjackson/reformation.htm&gt;.

Urton, Robin. “The Northern Renaissance.” Eyecon of art. Eyecon Art, n.d. Web. 27 May 2012. <http://robinurton.com/history/Renaissance/northrenaiss.htm&gt;.

First Blog Post

Expecting our first!

Hello Everyone! I am working on assignment #1 and just wanted to be sure that I fully understand how to work everything on this site! Here is a recent photograph of me, so that you may better acquaint my blogs to a face!

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