M12- Video review

For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Jacob Lawrence- He paints the things he knows and experience: national, racial, and class group of American life, wants a young person to enjoy the color and then the concept of works, has had a long career- one of Americas most respectful artists but wasn't easy to achieve as an African American born in Harlem after the Great Depression, he knew he wanted to paint for the rest of his life at 16,  Roosevelt administration wanted to elevate depression set up places for free instruction for the arts of any kind- available for any age- he went into Harlem art center, knew a lot of people from Harlem Renaissance, some school teachers bought his works- the attention was more important realizing his work had meaning, groups helped influence each other, young artists today need to get exposure- listen to older people in fields- helped him a lot having people around him, never forgot his history and how it influenced his work and made him who he is today- Harriet Tubman, Douglas, Booker T Washington, they were a part of him, very important to know americas history and their own peoples history, wants to be remembered for as a fine arts- form and content, positive factor in the arts

Faith Ringgold: Artist & Activist- remembers being young going to a gallery where her work was and the gallery dealer would look at her legs and not her art, born during Great Depression lived in Harlem, always making art as a kid, was a painter, sculptor, and writer, developed new form of art called painted "story quilts", rewrote aunt Jemima's whole story in one of her story quilts, became a leader in a protest movement to open museums to works by artists of color, first allowed men into museums, she decided to get involved in women issues, Whitney museum 1917 had very few women involved, her daughter said they should demand 50% women in museums, in protest they blew whistles and she had painted boiled eggs black with 50% written on them, felt they were apart of women equality in America, her art gained popularity and critical acclaim- work showing at the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, and the Whitney, can't wait for someone else to tell you who you are, need to write, paint, and do it, where art comes from, visual image of who you art- the power of being an artist

Romare Bearden: A Black Odyssey- Did a show on the Odyssey interpreted a myth happening possibly in Africa, was best known for collage work, African American who told the epic story of African America at the same time was telling the story of mankind in general, born in 1911 in Charlotte, North Carolina, died in 1988, went through a long life of changes in the world and United States, was an African American who looked white to many people- taught him of humanity, poet of Harlem, southern landscape painter- interiors of North and South, Odyssey told us that from the time we begin to think we are on an odyssey- relates to everyone, "Odysseus" series for a show at Cordier & Ekstrom Gallery (Manhattan) in 1977, read about Homer for a long time, story made sense to him- related to African Americans, work very unique- very colorful, characters making them as black as possible- making it an African American story- that they're the heroes of this story, trying to tell viewer that that basic story of humanity has an affinity with urban, rural, greek, and black life, theme in blues,  revises the tale of the cyclops- making it not a big master like expected, revises way women look- making them the way he knew growing up- strong and powerful- not a homebody, intellectual, was interested with myth because it gave an extension to literature, art and life itself, was a great story teller- played into his work, insisted art comes from other art- seeing lots of incorporation of other art styles/ideas in his work along with his own, was a master colorist, uses paper and cloth into his collage work

 

Fauvism- French avant garde movement start of twentieth movement, vivid colors, radical, exaggerated colors, credit for creating/starting this movement goes to Henri Matisse and Andre Derain who broke away from traditional methods at the time, bold brushstrokes and bright colors, their works were among renaissance sculpture, it was said that Donatello was among wild beasts, which their name was adopted from this remark, Van Gogh used color to express emotion, matisse didn't choose colors based on scientific theory but on feeling, observation and nature of each experience, resorted back to impressionist subjects, unified effect smiled artist style with fewer details, young artists thought the movement was exciting, used colors boldly to create compliments, expresses how conveys scene in mind, pattern of colors, was not an orderly movement, lack of manifesto made movement last only a few years- later led to cubism, brought possibilities of color to the forefront of art

Amadeo Modigliani- was an expressionist, modern artist, Italian jewish artist, focused on making abstract art that had emotion, died at a young age so only had a few artworks, bankrupt family, had many illnesses, was fascinated by art at an early age, his mom took him to art galleries and enrolled him to study with a paint master, developed a different approach to create art, worked and lived in Paris, worked with Picasso and Brancusi, also influenced by African art- came onto scene in Europe in 19th century, collectors brought back masks and Egyptian art, tribal aspects intrigued artists, used these influences in his works, masks facial forms abstracted and functional purposes, simple but noble, spiritual quality, his art wasn't received well until after he died, he only had one show and was shut down by police because of the nudity in his work, he struggled with alcohol, drugs, and failed relationships, often gave up his work to girlfriends or for food to eat, met and fell in love with his wife, whom he created several portraits of her and eventually while his wife was pregnant with their second child he got fatally ill, and his wife became so distraught she ended her life the day after he died, over time his work became very respectable and influential, his sculptures became some of the most valuable ever, his sculpture Tete was one of the most valuable ever sold, his ability to incorporate the past and present in his work made him the icon he's known for 

The best moments from Dolce&Gabbana Alta Moda- the scenery is beautiful, along with he women, clothing, jewelry, the harps at the beginning give a calming vibe, the expression on the models faces are straight and blank but clam and peaceful, there's a lot of white and gold, along with early colors and pastels

'On Creativity' interview with fashion icon Norma Kamali- music and fashion turns very fast, late 60s inspired by pop culture, created many staple pieces in women's wardrobes as time went by- including the sleeping bag coat, heel sneakers, all in one wrap dress, one piece red bathing suit, health, fitness, wellness and beauty intwined and connected, when you feel good about yourself your clothes play a part, clothes that can function for working out and casual, doesn't want to be told what to do, forced to come up with a clever way to come up with thing based on budget, ready for technology, style is a piece of clothing that can stay in style- becomes a new type of fashion, thought ahead as to what would be popular years to come- her pieces still selling from years ago

What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

each video taught me something new on each topic, but the video of Modigliani stuck out the most because I haven't heard of him before although he worked along side of many very famous artists, and his life story was very sad and depressing all for him to become one of the most important people in art as we know today