April 29, 2007
The artwork of William H. Johnson, an American Harlem Renaissance painter, is known for portraying American culture and more specifically African-American culture. The Harlem Renaissance is an art movement which occurred during the period known as Modern Art. Modern art covers the late 19th century to about 1970 (1). The Harlem Renaissance was known for portraying the culture or way of life for many African-Americans. Johnson’s 1942, painting “Ambulance on the Go”, covers both the American as well as the African-American culture. This painting depicts several Red-Cross ambulances going to the aid of soldiers during World War II. The painting is inspired by Johnson’s patriotism as an American. However, as an African-American there were other issues he may have had to encounter. During this time frame many African-Americans were not able to contribute to the War effort in the same manner as their white counterparts, because of deep segregation in the military (2). So, many African-Americans found alternative methods of contributing and expressing their patriotism. One of those methods was working for volunteer-related services, such as the American Red Cross, to aid our armed forces (3). Johnson most likely was aware of this aspect of African-American culture when he created this artwork.
Winslow Homer, an American painter, was known for painting landscapes, especially coastal landscapes, and farm life (4). Homer’s 1870 painting, “Dinner Horn” falls within the early Modern Art period (1) and depicts the culture of American farm life. Looking at the painting, the woman is calling the field workers in for dinner. The painting suggests that she played a part in preparing the dinner for the field workers. It further suggests that her role was to work in the house (perhaps preparing dinner), while the outdoor workers primary role was to farm the land. These observations point to the roles men and woman played in traditional farm culture.
In comparison, Johnson and Homer’s paintings belong to the same period of Art (Modern), but the cultures were vastly different. Firstly, America was not engaged in a war during the time Homer’s painting was created. Second, Johnson’s painting depicts motor vehicles, which indicates the culture used more advanced technology. Finally, Johnson’s culture came from the African-American point of view, which was not necessarily reflected in Homer’s work.
Citations:
(1) Wikipedia, Art Periods
URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_periods
April 29, 2007
(2) Smithsonian American Art Museum
URL: http://americanart.si.edu/highlights/artworks.cfm?id=GM&StartRow=41
April 29, 2007
(3) American Red Cross
URL: http://www.redcross.org/museum/history/ww2a.asp
April 29, 2007
(4) Wikipedia, Winslow Homer
URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winslow_Homer
April 29, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Contemporary Remix Photos And Statement
April 23, 2007
"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." -Andy Warhol
October: Oprah Winfrey
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License
"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." -Andy Warhol
2007 Calendar : African-Americans That Changed America
October: Oprah WinfreyRemix Statement:
My remix is a 2007 calendar which contains notable African-Americans who influenced and changed American culture. Each month features a popular and well accomplished African-American whose portrait is patterned after the unique style of Andy Warhol. As part of the African-American culture the men and women contained in the remix provide a model of excellence for me and all Americans who aspire for greatness and positive change.
The Calendar contains the following people:
January - Dr. Mae Jemison
February - Frederick Douglass
March - Muhammad Ali
April - Thurgood Marshall
May - Maya Angelou
June - Robert Johnson
July - Jackie Robinson
August - Ray Charles
September - Mary McLeod Bethune
October - Oprah Winfrey
November - Eleanor Holmes Norton
December - Rosa Parks
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Comments on Dadaism
April 15, 2007
During World War II Dadaism, a rebellious form of art, was used to mirror the reality of our world. It consisted mostly of raw photographic art collaged together, to make a visual protest. These protests were created to shock, astonish, and often times offend viewers as an expression of disapproval of our current state of affairs. For example, one of the popular anti-war related images of the Dada movement was that of the war-cripple.
Today I think we still have art that’s meant to shock as a means of protest, but it’s not referred to as Dadaism. Our modern forms of protest art have expanded to everything from photographs to movies, books, and TV. It includes mostly everything that touches our freedom of speech. Since we live in a world of mass media (satellites, TV, cable, international magazines, newspapers and the Internet) protest art is far more reaching than that of the original Dada movement. Although the way we view protest art may have expanded, we still struggle with the same issues of our past, specifically the issue of war (i.e. Vietnam, The first Gulf War, and the current war in Iraq).
During World War II Dadaism, a rebellious form of art, was used to mirror the reality of our world. It consisted mostly of raw photographic art collaged together, to make a visual protest. These protests were created to shock, astonish, and often times offend viewers as an expression of disapproval of our current state of affairs. For example, one of the popular anti-war related images of the Dada movement was that of the war-cripple.
Today I think we still have art that’s meant to shock as a means of protest, but it’s not referred to as Dadaism. Our modern forms of protest art have expanded to everything from photographs to movies, books, and TV. It includes mostly everything that touches our freedom of speech. Since we live in a world of mass media (satellites, TV, cable, international magazines, newspapers and the Internet) protest art is far more reaching than that of the original Dada movement. Although the way we view protest art may have expanded, we still struggle with the same issues of our past, specifically the issue of war (i.e. Vietnam, The first Gulf War, and the current war in Iraq).
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Activity 11 - Museum Ekphrasis
March 31, 2007
The painting I am describing is by French Artist Claude Monet. The painting was created in 1880 on an oil canvas located at the National Gallery of Art.
The very bottom of the painting consists of a round and brown table. Since the table is not exactly centered, the bottom and left edges of the table are completely cropped out of the painting. However the rounded right edge of the table is visible at the bottom right corner of the painting.
On the center of the table sits a dark red diamond shaped cloth-textured mat. The mat does not cover the entire table, but most of the table’s center. One corner of the mat points toward the bottom of the painting. The left corner points to the left of the paining and the right corner points to the right. Along the edges of the entire mat are golf ball sized balls along the edge of the entire mat. The color of each ball alternates between green and purple as you follow along the edge of the mat.
Placed on the center of the mat is an off white colored jar. The jar curves inward near its top to form a neck, similar to that of a vase. The curved neck at the top is short compared to overall height of the jar.
Coming from the opening of the jar, stands a tall arrangement of yellow Jerusalem Artichoke flowers and green leaves. The Jerusalem Artichoke resembles the shape and color of a sunflower. At the end of their long stems are thin, yellow, pointed petals formed around a circular golden center. Most of the green leaves are at the bottom of the arrangement, while most the yellow Jerusalem Artichokes are at the top.
Most of the background looks as if it were painted with thick strokes of bluish-grey with a few strokes of pale orange and red disbursed throughout the background
The painting I am describing is by French Artist Claude Monet. The painting was created in 1880 on an oil canvas located at the National Gallery of Art.
The very bottom of the painting consists of a round and brown table. Since the table is not exactly centered, the bottom and left edges of the table are completely cropped out of the painting. However the rounded right edge of the table is visible at the bottom right corner of the painting.
On the center of the table sits a dark red diamond shaped cloth-textured mat. The mat does not cover the entire table, but most of the table’s center. One corner of the mat points toward the bottom of the painting. The left corner points to the left of the paining and the right corner points to the right. Along the edges of the entire mat are golf ball sized balls along the edge of the entire mat. The color of each ball alternates between green and purple as you follow along the edge of the mat.
Placed on the center of the mat is an off white colored jar. The jar curves inward near its top to form a neck, similar to that of a vase. The curved neck at the top is short compared to overall height of the jar.
Coming from the opening of the jar, stands a tall arrangement of yellow Jerusalem Artichoke flowers and green leaves. The Jerusalem Artichoke resembles the shape and color of a sunflower. At the end of their long stems are thin, yellow, pointed petals formed around a circular golden center. Most of the green leaves are at the bottom of the arrangement, while most the yellow Jerusalem Artichokes are at the top.
Most of the background looks as if it were painted with thick strokes of bluish-grey with a few strokes of pale orange and red disbursed throughout the background
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