Exhibition of the gulf war

Yesterday I attended MoMA PS1 and viewed the exhibition of the Gulf War. I enjoyed viewing the films and art, but it wasn’t the type of art I was used to. I don’t think I was ready for some of the pictures displayed or videos shown. As a young adult I didn’t have the opportunity to learn much about the war, I was fairly taken back by what I seen.

The first piece I seen was the ginormous CNN chain which was very symbolic for me because CNN was and still is the news station that keeps the people connected and informed on what’s going on in the world. The next room I walked into was a room where a video was being projected. The video was displaying actual footage of the United States aiming missiles at locations and bombing them, it was disturbing, but informative. After viewing the video, I was hesitant to go any further, but I did. I seen things like corpse, guns and bombs, I hated it! But there are somethings I also enjoyed I liked that the museum was in chronological order the timeline of these events started to make complete sense, I wasn’t aware of the connection between the Gulf War and the bombing of the twin towers. I have two favorite pieces one being Sue Coe’s Bomb Shelter I appreciated that piece because it showed me humanity. There is a war going on and there are civilians being affected and all they want to do is protect themselves and their families. The second piece is by Guerrilla Girls, The Estrogen Bomb. I absolutely loved this piece because it reminded me of how I felt. We are at war because of egos of the men in charge, lets take care of real business, like education, health care and ending income inequality.

I enjoyed my time at PS1 I learned things I’ve never knew, it forced me to do my own research on the Gulf War. But I don’t enjoy seeing violence, families mourning, or cities being destroyed. I just couldn’t bare it. Sometimes I don’t watch the news because it makes me feel sad. PS1 was an eye opener and it gave me a reality check. I am glad I had the opportunity to visit MoMA PS1.

Carrie Mae Weems

Carrie Mae Weems

Carrie Mae Weems uses text, fabric, audio, digital images and instillation video when creating, but she is known for being a photographer with impeccable story telling skills, with the ability to tell a story through her pictures. Her style of art is influenced by history, specifically black history. She shoots photos of people reenacting major mild stones in our history. Politics, sexism and personal identity are also displayed in her work. She scrutinizes every event just to make sure she is portraying the story right.  As a young child she wanted to know more about herself, her voice. These are things that intrigued her. Carrie Mae Weems has a huge family of 300 plus members that influence her art as well. A lot of her photos are just memories of growing up black. This is something everyone wouldn’t be able to relate to, that’s what makes it so beautiful. Carrie is allowing people to enter her world. Carrie Mae is an artist who wants to keep the past very much present and I think people could appreciate that.

The Wasteland

The documentary The Wasteland was nothing short of amazing. I learned how art and a person’s way of like can go hand and hand. It is a literal statement when someone says a picture is worth a million words. Vic Muniz is a contemporary artist with a unique way of expressing his thoughts through his artwork. He uses objects found in everyday life, one of those items being garbage. Vic’s next project would take place in Brazil where he is originally from, in the largest garbage dump in the world. He sought out to change the lives of a few individuals who worked at the dump.

Vic not only wanted to give the employees at the dump proceeds of the pictures taken of them he wanted to do a social experiment. He wanted to take the pickers out of their element and “show them another world”. Vic had his own reservations about the pickers before he met them, thinking they were all drug users. After meeting and getting to know one another a bond was created. The way Vic viewed the employees changed, he realized they were hard working people who weren’t fortunate. In the film Vic made an excellent point when he said, “the same garbage from the millionaire’s mansion mixes with the poorest”. We are all human we are just living with different circumstances.

            The artwork done was astronomical and it gave the pickers a sense of importance, boosted their self-esteem. They realized the garbage they work with everyday can be transformed into something beautiful. Vic taught them how to look at art and explained how people often interpreted it. See the picture then the material and then understand the idea. This also applies to life and I believe they understood that.

            Vic Muniz did something amazing he gave the pickers hope for a better life. Friendships were built and lives were changed. Art and social change are both influential in this film.

Marc Chagall

I and the Village

Oil on Canvas 1911

Cubism was created by two well known artists, Picasso and Braque. The time was around 1907. Photography was also out around this time. Picasso and Braque brought something new to the art scene and remained relevant. Cubism is geometric shapes that overlap each other forming a picture when analyzed.  The geometric shapes gave the viewer the chance to view the picture behind the picture, the structure instead of just viewing the surface. It is said that this is how we all view things at a glance. The picture has many different shapes all pulling together to form a picture. Cubism goes against what we learned art should look like. The picture is flat, two dimensional and does not follow the traditional Western style of art. The colors used in this style of art are not heavy mostly plain colors.

Peter Blume

The Eternal City

Oil on board 1937

The surrealism movement was when art was based on the unconscious mind. Unconscious like when a person is in a dream like state. When people dream, we often have weird or unrealistic things happening in our dreams. Often those things can symbolize something this is what surrealism is based on. In the picture I choose the green jack in a box represented someone or something scary, mean etc. The jack in the box is exaggerated but gets the point across. The picture almost seems animated, the woman sitting down panhandling doesn’t seem to be threaten by this monster and nor does anyone else in the picture. There are different types of people all in one picture. There are businessmen, soldier’s elderly and animals. The symbolization between all  people in the picture is civilization.

Anne W. Brigman

(American, Honolulu Hawaii 1869- 1950 Eagle Rock, California)

Date: 1905

            Anne W. Brigman was born in 1869, she was a painter. In 1902 she found interest in photography. At this time photography wasn’t accepted as an art form, but Anne didn’t agree, she believed photography should be appreciated as paintings were appreciated. She was eventually invited to be a part of photo secession, which was a movement made up of mainly men, that shared her same beliefs.

            The female body and environment were the focus of Anne’s photography, the photos were sublime. There weren’t many women viewed as respected artist, Anne was determined to be different and she did just that. The photo was asymmetrical, the balance was created by the woman and huge diagonal tree trunk. I interpreted the naked women standing alone in Anne’s photo meant, strength, determination and women empowerment. Her photography reminded me of work done in the romantic era. The dark sky and shaded background add more emotion to the photo. A bare woman in the woods willing to face anything coming her way.

IMPRESSIONISM POST IMPRESSIONISM

 POST IMPRESSIONISM

                                                                         IMPRESSIONISM

In 1874 there was a new style of art discovered. One that didn’t set boundaries and didn’t restrict an artist to somewhere indoors. This style of art was called impressionism, artist started taking there canvases outdoors. No sketching required just the artist their canvas and their interpretation of their view.

Impressionism art are usually paintings of ordinary scenes or landscapes. The artist gives and indebt look into the scenery, using light and dark shades of colors. The colors are very important because they can be very informative. Informing the audience of times of day, seasons and weather. Making the audience feel the art appose to just viewing it, capturing the moment. The artist also uses plenty of repetitiveness, and that helps capture the context.

Post impressionism art gives the artist freedom to interpret their focus as they see it. Not just viewing something and painting.  Instead viewing, understanding and looking past the exterior. The artist uses bold colors to express emotion and bold lines to create debt. The picture often appears flat and simple but contains lots of detail and emotion. The artist will often express emotion through color. For example, drawing a person in a red room might interpret as anger or maybe even luck in some cultures. The bold shapes used give the picture debt and direction.

Virgin and Child with Four Angels

Diane Villanueva        

Title: Virgin and Child with Four Angels

Artist Gerard David    

            The oil painting was created around 1510-1515 in the period of Northern Renaissance. This painting is religious which is very common in artwork done in the Renaissance period. Virgin Mary is holding baby Jesus, Mary was wearing a bright red robe she was gazing at baby Jesus while holding him in his off-white blanket. she is surrounded by four angels, two above her head holding a crown that is meant for Mary she just birthed Christ while still being a virgin.   The two angels left and right of her were playing string instruments. It seems that baby Jesus and Mary are being praised. The ground beneath Mary was a light and dark blue, matching the robes of some but not all the angels. The ground and the robes corresponded with the bright blue skies and mountains. The angel off to the left was wearing a green robe which complimented the grass and trees. Looking closely, I noticed a monk standing way in the back underneath the tree. This is a perfect example of asymmetrical painting. Everything in the painting doesn’t always correspond but I do think they compliment each other. Colors, shapes were things are placed in the painting. The monk in the far back looking over at Mary and the angels was symbolic to me. Maybe meaning they are always going to be watched and protected.   

       

The calling of Saint Matthew

Diane Villanueva

Title: The Calling of Saint Mathew (1599-1600)

Artist: Michelangelo Merisi Caravaggio

Location:San Luigi dei Francesi

            The calling of saint Matthew is a painting about Jesus calling on Matthew to follow him. The painting is dark but still rich in color. The men in the painting look realistic their facial expressions are all different. The painting has just enough light shining in from the open window to see the stone walls and dirty windows. The men sitting at the table seem to be privileged their clothing rich in color and well put together. The sword behind one of the men can possibly mean they are authority figures. Jesus and the man next to him are barefoot and in rags. Matthew’s head is hanging low as if he’s ashamed of something he might have done. Jesus is letting Matthew know everyone can follow Jesus. I think this painting is symmetrical everything in the painting seems to correspond with each other. There is a simple balance in color. Baroque paintings are often dramatic, the emotion on there faces and their body language is a perfect example of that.

           

           

John Wesley Jarvis, General Andrew Jackson

My first perception of the painting was Andrew Jackson was a strong man, a leader in the middle of a war. His uniform fancy like one a man in charge would wear. The white horse on the left looked extremely scared, It seemed to be running from something or someone. The background was what I  notice to be a wooded area according to the combination of colors used. The painting commended Andrew Jackson for a well fought war. After reading the essay written by Ned Blackhawk it didn’t change my perception completely, it informed me more of Andrew Jackson. Andrew Jackson was a very controversial president. Some people loved him others didn’t, he was a murderer that just so happen to be president. He slaughtered American Indians if they didn’t obey his demands. The essay changed my perception from thinking Andrew Jackson was a strong, proud president fighting for our country. Instead he was a president whom killed people if they didn’t follow his lead.