Blog 4: Welcome to Crooklyn... Brooklyn Museum

Another gloomy day in the city taking the subway to Brooklyn. The smell of the subway system filling your lungs. The air of New York City mecca to art, music, and finance giant amount the all. The the exhibition of works from Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz stand in that limelight now bring the African American taste, style and experience to the eyes. An exceptional body of work to take in and ponder.

 

On the shoulder of Giants we experience this art which smacks the senses. In these works from Kehinde Wiley reflecting the king and queen with of the Deans' Collection. These oil on linen painting capture with extraordinary detail likeness of the Deans, Alicia and Swizz Beatz.

 

And as we continue our journey around the exhibition of the Deans' Collection we come to the work of Ernie Barnes,  Study of Spoken Word, Charcoal on Paper 2006.

This charcoal drawing honor many of our past spoken word artist keeping their names present and persistent to the future generations that come to admire this work. The work reflects an exceptionally  skill and treatment with the charcoal medium making me remember my studies of works done by Renassaince masters. The value and depth is near perfect and can clearly reflect the skill of the artist.

 

In these painting we see Esther Mahlangu, Ndebele Abstract, Acrylic on Canvas 2017.

Reflecting bold colors and symmetrical abstract patterns inspired by the Ndebele people of South Africa. A self taught painter the images reflect a native style similar to the Native American art of found in the US.

In Titus Kaphar, A Puzzled Revolution, Oil on canvas, 2021. We see one of the most infamous and often portrayed image of Muhammad Ali's 1965 "phantom punch" knockout of Sonny Liston. The figure of Ali is cut out in each of the images and replaced with different images which the artist does to reflect the missing African American figures from the history of art. This is especially felt in the famous image of the Madonna which hark ens to early masterpiece works of Europe.

Well that is a small taste of the many works of art you may find at the Brooklyn Museum. Take the trip and enjoy the art... 

Ohh and one last piece for the less contemporary artist out there.

 

 

Blog 3: New Art City

   Have you ever wondered what doing art in a virtual world looks like?

 

New Art City is the answer to that questions. An exhibition space for media out in the ether of the the web. A novel idea for a person unable to travel to the gallery or show. A space that can be visited by anyone from anywhere in the globe.  Per their website "Shows are real-time multiplayer and accessed using a web browser on computer or mobile device, with no need to register, install extra software or enter any personal information." This method of exhibition creates a room similar to any gallery white space to display your work in a digital medium giving the user and any guest a level of accessibility that the normal gallery does not grant.

 

Fluid Bodies, Blurred Boundaries, Underground Art And Design (UAAD), 12-17-2023

   

 

 Though it is unable to give the same exact feel of a regular museum with its ambiance, and offer the same level feel to the senses as you normal white space it is a great solution for many artist. Both the regular gallery and the virtually space have their place among artist each giving to the art community a space for individuals to gather and enjoy the arts.

Beyond My Skin, A Project by Flavia Mazzanti, Realized by Immerea, Sound by Brootworth,  2023

 

Blog 2: MANA

 Dan Flavin was an American minimalist artist best known for his installations created from commercially available fluorescent light fixtures. His abstract works create a sensual delight of color which mix to create an awe inspiring sensation reflected on the wall. In this installation we see his vision fully realized as he intended for it to be seen.

In the work of Jenny Nolan we receive a different take on art in this instillation we are treated to a yarn covered steal and wool object representational of a common power line found in all streets and blocks across the world. What the photo below lacks is the ambient sound eschewed through a tiny speaker that takes the subject on on auditory journey through a busy street or a park with bird sounds in the distance.

Blog 1: Artist Review Jean-Michel Basquiat to Arthur Jafa

America long drawn out history of race has been a bone of contention and one which has in been placed before the public eye with today's contemporary artists.

Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist with Haitian and Puerto Rican roots. He used social commentary in his artworks as a tool for introspection and for identifying with his experiences in the black community, and attacks on power structures and systems of racism. His painting reflected his roots in Puerto Rican culture as well as his Haitian culture. Basquiat's career in art started early with SAMO grafitti which carried cryptic statements.In  his later art career Basquiat would be keenly aware of the racism frequently embedded in his reception, whether it took the form of positive or negative stereotypes. In his work, he integrated critique of an art world that both celebrated and tokenized him seeing the American history rife with exclusion, invisibility and paternalism. In his works he would call out the hypocrisies he viewed.

 

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Eyes and Eggs, Jean-Michel Basquiat 1983. (acrylic, oilstick and paper collage on cotton drop cloth with metal hinges) 119 x 97 in. (302.3 x 246.4 cm) 

 

 

Dos Cabezas, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, 1982 acrylic and oilstick on canvas with wood supports, 59.75 × 60.5 in (151.8  × 154 cm)

Riding with Death, Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1988

 

Arthur Jafa in comparison, who is best know for his video and cinematography encapsulates the same message of inequality which causes the viewer to question their bias toward the African American community often reflecting the violence and positive influence to the overall arc that is the history of America. His video Love Is the Message, The Message Is Death resonates with images of the African American experience with a somber hymn that captures the viewer and takes them along on a ride, leaving you wondering and questioning you view on the subject.