As we finish our last book I want you to reflect on one aspect of art making. How much is art about protest, about self knowledge, declaration of independence, and /or seeking independence? Respond both historically and personally. What is the motivation behind your work, the work you admire?
And finally, after reading all these essays and news reports consider how you would have handled the situation if you had been the target of the attacks?
A note on spring semester:
Registration is now open. We are offering Research with guest professor Helen Klebesadle from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is an amazing artist/educator and if you have not taken Research I highly recommend this class. BTW you can repeat Research for your degree.
We are also offering a seminar 5360, Traditional Crafts Today, by me. This is not he same class on Crafts offered in the past so you need a seminar I think you will love this class. You can also arrange for an Independent Study class with either Ed or myself.
I am looking forward to your artworks as response to the readings. Remember any media, any response...this is your class.
If you are coming to TAEA come by the TTU table in the vendors hall to visit.
Future, I will be at TAEA and plan to attend the session that you and Ed are presenting on Friday. Can't wait! I'm shocked it's time to think about spring semester already...but I'll be thinking through the options (and probably emailing you about the ins and outs of Independent study class).
ReplyDeleteI, also will look for you at TAEA tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see all of you tomorrow!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAspect of Art Making:
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of contemporary collectors think art must be challenging or a protest.
The aspect of art which appeals to me is a little different. I look for self knowledge in work.
I look for work which is “authentic”. Work looks at life full of difficulties and challenges and makes something beautiful.
For example, Bonnard’s work, I have always admired his work. He painted, over and over, his bathroom with lush and lavish color. Photographs of his actual bathroom—the model for all of the works—show that this bathroom so richly and vibrantly painted in his art is entirely white. That is the transformative power of art—beauty pulled from of the ordinary.
Another example, in honor of the 50th anniversary of Dr. Who, is Vincent Van Gogh. He made beauty out of both the ordinary and through his difficulties. In the Dr. Who episode, Vincent and Dr. Who meet. They have to rely on Vincent’s unique vision to “fight monsters together and win.”
In the denouement, they summarize Vincent’s work. “… his command of colour most magnificent. He transformed the pain of his tormented life into ecstatic beauty. Pain is easy to portray, but to use your passion and pain to portray the ecstasy and joy and magnificence of our world, no one had ever done it before. Perhaps no one ever will again.
Personally, art making has been about community and daily life. I wanted people to look at the things they so often overlook. Recently, that motivation has changed. It’s about the strength in that simple beauty, the power of nature to destroy and heal.
It’s still about connectedness but it is much more personal and self aware.
Certainly, my goal is to make artwork which is transformation, personal and healing to others. Not a protest, my work would be a survival guide and aid.
Were I the curator in the protest situation—I would have wanted support from my board and the director of the museum.
Were I the artist—I would have been very disheartened. It would have hurt my feelings to be so misunderstood.
I think being the artist is the loneliest position because you have no job to hide behind.
DeleteArt can be about expressing yourself, rather it’s about your mood, feelings, or opinions (positive/negative). Art can also be a visual representation of something, like a portrait, or landscape. Art can even be about nothing at all. There are so many things that art can be about. Art can be about anything you want it to be in the entire universe, and sometimes it’s about protests. However I do not believe that all art is about protests. At the same time, what is a protest? Are you protesting against a religion, political group, or organization? Or are you protesting the way a certain medium is executed in art and trying it in a different way through experimentation? Are you protesting against others, or yourself? Protest, like art, is all over the board and not just one definition. That’s what makes the two so powerful! With this in mind, self-knowledge goes hand in hand. Are you experimenting with concepts, mediums, use of mediums, etc.? Why are you expressing your feelings about this? Why this topic? Why do you care, and why make art about it? Are you addressing a serious issue, or are you poking fun? I find self-knowledge very important when making work, because it not only makes you a better artist, but also helps others to understand your work better. How art can help with your independence, or on the path to independence is like a journal, or life experience. When making art, and expressing yourself, you learn more about yourself. You love what you make or hate it. Your piece is successful and goes on to a gallery for a show, or stays in the back of your closet. You uncover a new focus in your art, or stylization, or preferred medium. All of this and more can lead you down the path of discovering who you really are as an artist, person, friend, etc. My motivation behind my work comes from my passion for animals, and the environment. My motivation comes from real living successful artists that I see, read about, or know in life. I am an artist. If I am not creating, a part of me feels like I am dead on the inside, even if it’s a silly little sketch on napkin at a restaurant. That drive to be happy, and creating, drives me. When I’m lying in bed and can’t sleep because I keep thinking about something I want to work on, or trying to find an idea to create; that drives me. The joy I feel of being an artist, that is what drives and motivates me. If I had been in the situation of Lopez, I would have handled the situation to the best of my ability, by either writing a letter explaining what my piece was about and apologizing for whomever I offended, and not throwing a fit about being attacked. Or I would have just left it alone and let the situation take its course. I would not attack back, nor would get angry. As humans something offends us all, and you can’t help how you feel. So I would try to remember that whenever someone would get upset. That’s how they feel, and that ok. This is how I feel, and move on.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that helps is humor. And grace. Getting in a fight is non productive and leads to even more extreme statements based on passion instead of facts.
DeleteAs I read about this art controversy, the thought came to mind "what if artists sought to never offend? Make only pleasant art, art acceptable to the majority? Fluffy art, like Rococo or Kinkadian scenes." I don't believe that the majority of artists seek to create huge furors with their pieces; artists seek to express ideas/struggles/thoughts from their autobiography or from their cultural context. When Alma Lopez created her Our Lady featuring Rachel Salinas as the Virgin of Guadalupe, her intent certainly centered more on her life, her attachment/relationship to the Virgin. That it created a huge uproar lies outside of her construction, outside of her control. Artists release their creative work out into the world, unable to control how various contexts of viewers will perceive the piece(s). I am a religious person, although I prefer to frame that part of my persona as a faith, not an adherence to a set of liturgies or rules. As a faith-based individual I perceive art through my biblical world-view; this lens sharpens how I absorb an artwork. As a person I am very open and nonjudgemental--it takes a lot to make me feel uncomfortable when viewing artwork. Even then, I still search through the work for the artist's intent, the artist's meaning when confronting an unsettling art work. I myself make uncomfortable artworks--of course shrouded in layers of metaphor to hide what I am really saying--so I understand the need to express ideas or images that do not digest easily. Yet, I acknowledge that within my own faith systems, and many other conservative (morally, not so much politically) faiths, believers will not even enter a room containing art with nudity, uncomfortable themes, or pieces with religious push-back. I feel that is their prerogative. But, just as I realize not all share my faith/moral boundaries, I do not expect the world to conform to my standards/viewpoint so I do not expect public institutions to conform only to me.
ReplyDeleteIf I were Alma, and my work was released into the public sphere to be greeted with anger and controversy, I know I'd be hurt. An artist's work is (of COURSE!) personal. Despite the hurt that I'd feel, I'd do my level best to react in public as logically and cordially as possible, despite the charged emotions floating around. I liked reading that Alma did not back down from her depiction of Our Lady; that she stood by her work and by her right to make that work. Alma didn't throw negativity back at the protestors--although I'd understand if she did. She also made attempts to talk with the public, to assuage their anger by explaining the direction she came from with her work. I suppose at the end of the day an artist decides--is this work important enough, that even if it causes controversy and contention, it still holds a valid, meaningful place in our dialogue? Then make the work. And stand strong.
Look back on Mia Lin and the Viet Nam memorial. Powerful art cause powerful reactions. I have know artist that purposely try to cause controversy sometimes from a place of truth and sometimes from need for attention. I have know and personally experienced art work that seems to provoke intense emotions. I try to return to the artist's intent to find a place to stand, a place to be "at ease" with the work. I can defend almost any work of art but I know I do not personally like nor respect all art. One role is public as an educator or curator , the other role is my life.
DeleteOooh, and I thought I'd share about TAEA this year. Ed and Future's presentation "Strategies to Cope when feeling Overwhelmed" fit perfectly into my current reality. It felt like I had about one week after getting home from Junction this summer and then it was pedal to the metal again. I went back to work three weeks before everyone else and it's felt like every week's unfinished "to-do" items have overflowed into the next week. Ugh. I FINALLY have the time this week to finish two home projects I started 8 and 4 months ago: refinishing hardwoods and painting the ceilings. Projects that should take one weekend stretch on and on when there's just no time.
ReplyDeleteI felt super guilty--although I know that neither Future nor Ed intended to shame!!--that I've been neglecting my art making. Both Future and Ed talked about the importance of having a studio space to escape into and the time to create. Part of my busyness has been "nesting" of sorts--finishing the floors so I can set up the indoor studio room, and clearing the garage for the ginormous oval kiln I just got. But even those are works in progress: I still have to piece together a chunk of money to pay an electrician to update the breaker box and run a line for my kiln. Seems like even my Art is digging into my wallet, just like my Car, School, and Edward Jones all have their fingers rifling through my Benjamins.
I did refocus during the convention. I feel pulled between grad school, my teaching career, and my professional art making. The convention refocused me, that I can streamline graduate work and teaching together, and that I can put time in my schedule for my personal art. I suppose as a person goes further down the road into their career, things certainly don't slow down at all--more just gets piled on!! It's important to learn those boundaries to take care of oneself and one's art.
thank you and of course we did not mean to shame in any way but to be a cheering squad!
DeleteI once felt that art was something created for aesthetic reasons or just because I wanted to paint it or for something to hang in my house or someone elses... maybe just an exploration but nothing that was really meaningful and when I looked at pieces that were meaningful I think I just didn't get it..maybe I didn't connect or relate to it, then I also looked at some art and though how is this art? Who would want to buy a bunch of paint splattered on canvas or a circle in the middle of a canvas or a few brush marks?? Who would want this and why? I found myself just questioning art and the artists and not really knowing much about why others created art, or for that matter why do I create art? I have always been told what to make and now I have so much freedom.. what do I make? comes up a lot... Thanks to Helen and Future my art has taken a DRASTIC turn and only for the better. I have been amazed at some of the artist they have introduced to us. Juane Quick-to-See Smith is one that stands out to me not only as a collage artist because that is what I do, but as one that works through her issues as a person through her art and the hardships that not only her but her people have been through. I relate so much to that! For me my art has become all about dealing with my issues and getting those out of me and onto canvas! I can say that I have dealt with anxiety for too many years, one of my first pieces in this series I am working on is all about anxiety for the first time in a REALLY long time I have not had anxiety!!!!! I know that my art is a major release for me, it is my counseling and everytime I think I am closer to doing some of the more positive side of things more of the issues I have buried arise and I know I need to create about those things in order to move on. I will post a few of them and will also share my blog with you and invite you to follow. I will say it does have my story on their for those that do not know my story although after Junction this version is the "pretty" version but you will see through my art that the pretty version is not what is inside me and the battles I fight.
ReplyDeleteAs for being in Alma's shoes, I know my feelings would be hurt, one because so many had issues with my work, but two because people would be offended by it. At the same time I would probably be angry too because people were not listening to her and what her art was really about, they were too judgmental. I know that many will probably be offended by my work now, but my work is for me and for my healing and if you connect to it great if not move on and get over it. I would hope I would be able to put my feelings aside and stand for what I believe in and what is right!
When you trust your reasons/purpose the response to others comments is much easier. Just keep making art.
DeleteThe expression of art in me is like breathing, literally there is not a day or night that goes by that I am not “inhaling” creative thoughts and ideas. Doing art is also incredibly relaxing for me and truly is a way of life. Recently, since I have been blessed with studio space to work in, I have felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude to be able to express my artistic passion! A quote by Thomas Merton sums it up perfectly for me: “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”
ReplyDeleteIn doing my art I love to experiment with different media, I love to try new techniques, and stretch the medium to discover its possibilities.
The types of artists that I am drawn to are ones that are unconventional and create what is called “Naïve Art.” Marc Chagall is one of those artists and his paintings are so poetic to me. I really like how he artistically shows his love for his wife along with his Russian-Jewish heritage in a very dream like way. The paintings called the “Birthday” and “Over the Town” is two of my favorites which accurately portray “Naïve Art.”Lately, I have been doing art with people with special needs and I find their art so fascinating. It is also so wonderful to witness the absolute Joy they have when they are creating art. I also love the bond of friendship that is forged through this process which is a true blessing.
Isn't it wonderful to have a space (even the little tiny space we have for you) so that you can go to without having clean away something else.
DeleteWhat a great quote, " Art enables us to find ourselfs and lose ourselves at the same time." So true, creating art opens up a world for the artist. That is interesting about "Naive Art" and how people with special needs create art so freely. It is so hard for artists to let go of social constructs of the world and just create. Creating without being self conscious, that is challenging. After reading Our Lady of Controversy, and the battles an artist like Alma Lopez faced because of her expression it might be difficult for us artists to give ourselves permission to create freely.
DeleteOn making my art: I seek to discover my transient identity in my culture and in my region, which is forever morphing. The current view of my identity has changed from ten years ago. Ten years ago I was more disconnected from my cultural heritage as a result of some negative experiences in which I faced racism from within my own race for not being “Mexican enough.” Ten years ago my view of my identity was that I was “American,” because I was born in America, etc. My art was flat and had no charge. I painted from vintage family portraits, but I had no message.
ReplyDeleteI have since learned to take off my armor, embrace this unique culture that I live in, which Gloria Anzaldua calls the Borderlands, the Rio Grande Valley. The more that dig into my indigineity, the more content and comfortable I become with myself. I grew up speaking only English, mostly because that is what my mother wanted. In my adulthood, as a teacher, I had to learn Spanish there is no way around it, and I love it. I feel as if I lost out in a lot of my life growing up with the language barrier. Especially with my relatives that speak or spoke only Spanish, like my grandparents. All but my maternal Grandmother have passed away, and I love hearing my Grandma Cuca’s stories. I am so grateful for the kind of bonding that happens on a spiritual level.
Not only is it my identity that I seek to define, but my spirituality. I find a lot of inspiration in pre-Columbian gods and goddesses. I am fascinated by the energies that they represent and how they have transcended over time to remain in our lives. Such as Tonantzin, Coyolxahuqui, as well as other goddess from other cultures that I relate to as well. Most of the goddess that I find inspiration are from ancient civilizations; earth, mother, and moon goddesses especially. I recently came up with a saying, “ As a chican@, I will never be chican@ enough and always be too chican@, simultaneously.” This is out of frustration of being told, “But aren’t you Chicano?!”
Regarding handling such a controversy myself, I would have been an emotional wreck. After reading the events that occurred in chapter 10 such as the “pilgrimage”, and the forum that was to initially occur I am appalled at what outrageous protests including the burying of Our Lady, I am at loss as to how I would have handled it. My meditation would be perseverance, patience, and resolve. I would not back down, and strive to continue doing what Alma did. No matter what, my story is someone else’s story too. Alma Lopez may have had 500 hate letters, but there will always be the letters that thank her for being brave in such adversity. I would hope that I would have the courage to fight for my artwork and no back down to the bulldogs that were hell bent on destroying Alma and what she represented to them.
I love the story of the Kinky Boots 'protest" from the Thanksgiving Day Macy's Parade. The parade has a long history of honoring current Broadway show and Kinky Boots is a huge hit, if you have not seen the film version go rent it. This wonderful story of slow to develop friendship between a drag queen and a boot maker trying to save the family business is a delightful tale of family and tradition. Well, a few, much like the Dallas Pride Parade, thought it was inappropriate for families. i assume because there were men dressed as women or actual drag queens, not sure does not matter. What was grand is they came in drag (very high heeled boots and boas) to Macys to shop and just greet folks. What a hoot.
DeleteAnd on the Dallas Pride Parade. While in Dallas I had a chance to talk to and asked a few folks who were there what there take was on concerning the "fear". One young man, a very successful architect said this: " Of course it will have elements of sexuality. For the most part as gays we are not allowed to show any affection or any sexual energy. This is our one chance to simply BE, and be outrageous. As times change the need for this parade will change also.
I will have to check out the documentary. Speaking of Pride Parades I am reminded of the documentary "Valentine Road," which is not about art, but about the murder of a middle school boy by another male student. I love how director Marta Cunningham never allowed the boy that murdered Lawrence King to speak, and when asked why she responded, " Because Larry is not here to tell his story, so Brandon doesn't get to tell his either." This is such a moving documentary about delicate gender identity and expression in which the victim was vilified by the a very biased and hyper-judgmental community. Gender identity is one of many volatile topics in today's culture that creates many marginalized people. It is the struggles of the marginalized that we find strength, just like Alma's Our Controversy.
DeleteI think art is mostly about self knowledge. How an artist identifies himself amongst others. I make artwork that represents me and how I am in the world. Like Alma Lopez I feel like we make our artwork based on our interpretation of ourselves against/vs. the world. I also feel that artwork is how we feel during that moment in our life whether we make art for protest, self knowledge, or declaration of independence and or seeking independence. I feel like an artisit’s artwork is always interchangeable. If we become famous or not and somebody sees our artwork the interpretation will change as time goes on.
ReplyDeleteMy artwork is never finished because I feel like I am and never will be finished as a person. As I grow, I keep learning so I am never finished like my artwork. I currently have no motivation to do any artwork and I don’t know why. Maybe it is because I have always been graded and I don’t get a grade anymore but I do feel I have hit a wall with my artwork.
If I would have encountered the attacks Alma Lopez had been through I would have taken it with ease. Not everybody will like my artwork and I don’t expect them too. Artwork is always going to be a part of controversy. Somebody always has something to say if it is publicized figure like The Virgin. If people feel strongly about that subject they will always have something negative to say about it. If my work is controversial it has no intention to be but my attitude is that I don’t care. I make/made my artwork for myself and if people don’t like it then fine. I could care less what people say about my work. The negative people or the “haters”, don’t bother me anymore. Somebody somewhere will like it and that’s all I care about. The old me would not have taken hate very well. I think Alma Lopez and many artists like her have done a great job in facing these controversies. You shouldn’t have to feel bad for something you love and feel so passionate about.
As I summarize this last reading section, the incidents in Santa Fe cause me to pause about the premise "Why Art"?
ReplyDeleteGossip, scandal and religious fanaticism consumed the La Virgen de Guadalupe exhibit. Some saw evil incarnate in protestors who demanded censorship in the name of religion. The incident is perhaps aptly stated: Irreverent Apparition. To portray the Mother of God in bikini attire is to desecrate her in a most outrageous and sacrilegious manner, according to colonialist and strict conservative ideals.
Another controversy of the exhibit was the compelling revelation - the Cyber-chapel, new-age chapel or satanic chapel. I agree that when you cross sacred boundaries that have been established over 500 years, you can't simply present a thought that won't have strong backlash. Question is, who does our lady of controversy directly relate to? The Aztec goddess Tonantzin? To Ana Lopez herself with the juxtaposition of Mexicana/Chicana or Latina feminist artists?
I laughed at the prayerful comments deeming the work "trash", "sacrilegious" and "offensive", claiming that Mary was a virgin, not a stripper. My question is this: Is the God created Female and figure an abomination? What? Aren't beautiful bodies designed by our creator a blessed thing? Maybe we're damning ourselves with our shallow, disproportionate, unsophisticated minds.
My friend and fresco artist Frederico Vigil recently ran into a buzz saw when a portion of his fresco work was restricted from view to the public because of malfunctioned air conditioning equipment at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque New Mexico. The cost of this cultural center was nearly 1 million dollars to taxpayers, and the center was open only 1 day a week for viewing. Political undertones also kept the cultural center closed until the media coverage of the concern.
I believe Emily has a very strong, valid point with her comment "what if artists sought to never offend?" If you consider the depth of those words, how can artists compose any works without offending something, someone, context, environment or subject matter (in any manner)? That argument eternally is flawed. How do we as human beings establish methods to our processes? Is everything then invalid? That premise is simply preposterous. Sometimes art is offensive, controversial and intentionally and unintentionally thought provoking. God created man and his intellect - to declare that as flawed, insignificant or invalid, is absurd.
If protest of art results because of conflicting ideology(ies), then perhaps it was meant to be. In Los Angeles, the procession for Virgin of Guadalupe happened with controversy, but in Santa Fe New Mexico, it was a toxic environment.
Artwork designed by artists is extremely personal. Ana Lopez deserves far more respect and acceptance as a significant contributor to Chicana feminism. Sometimes "Shock" must occur to make us think and re-evaluate our ideologies and the rationale and integrity behind those rationales.