PART 4 THEMES Art and Community Art and Social Protest/Conscience Chapter 4.1 Art and Community AS COMMUNITY Serve as gathering sites Become symbols Reflect concerns and practices of the groups that use them Public response can vary (like with the Vietnam Memorial) Public response may factor into the decision to keep it or not Serves a larger purpose-not just in scale but in use and meaning. It is conceived usually as long-term, so it should stand the test of time This is usually true-but not always (AIDS quilt or ceremonial rites). Gateways to Art: Understanding the Visual Arts, Debra J. DeWitte, Ralph M. Larmann, M. Kathryn Shields
Notre Dame Cathedral, interior, 1163 1250, Île de la Cité, Paris, France
PART 4 THEMES Chapter 4.1 Art and Community Notre Dame Cathedral Gothic cathedrals were a great source of civic pride and incredible testament to their resolve-took a lot of sacrifice to build these cathedrals Whole communities contributed to the building Notre Dame was an important pilgrimage site for Christians Held relics of Christ s passion: a piece of the True Cross, a portion of the Holy Lance, and the Crown of Thorns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-px1wuywkns Chartres Cathedral video Gateways to Art: Understanding the Visual Arts, Debra J. DeWitte, Ralph M. Larmann, M. Kathryn Shields
The Osun Osogbo Grove Is where people experience the rich culture of the Yoruba tribe. It also bring economic prosperity to the community. Osun Osogbo is a river goddess of fertility. The Grove serves as a place for spiritual worship for the community, cures infertility, heals diseases, offers prosperity and wards off evil. There are about 200 native species of plants here having medicinal value substantiated by the scientific research. The shrine has carvings and sculpture of various Yoruba deities-sculpture and architecture that are wholly organic components to the landscape, formed according to the Aruba religious commands. The shrine functions as a ceremonial homes of the gods and a protector of Yoruba culture and community. Most the sculpture is life-size or larger with bulging eyes, a hallmark of Yoruba art. ASHSHUSHOWBO
PART 4 THEMES Chapter 4.1 Art and Community Ritual: Performance, Balance, and Healing Art is often made in connection with beliefs: Philosophical Religious Ideological Artworks made to be used in a ritual context often have symbolic meanings The original context of ritual objects is important to consider Original use very different from display in museum and may no longer have access to multi-sensory experiences linked to object Gateways to Art: Understanding the Visual Arts, Debra J. DeWitte, Ralph M. Larmann, M. Kathryn Shields
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqhx3wa4fqw AIDS quilt The Names Project Began in 1987 as a small display of 2000 3 x 6 panels grew to 48,000 panels by 1996 when the last full unveiling occurred. In some respects, the largest community art world project to date
Alfred Preis The USS Arizona Memorial dedicated in 1962
Critics initially called the design a "squashed milk carton". Preis said, "Wherein the structure sags in the center but stands strong and vigorous at the ends, expresses initial defeat and ultimate victory... The overall effect is one of serenity. Overtones of sadness have been omitted to permit the individual to contemplate his own personal responses... his innermost feelings. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scq3wigxrqc
PART 4 THEMES Chapter 4.1 Art and Community Extra Credit Question-Extra 10 Points Possible Today we discussed artworks that in different ways reflect the importance of community. What does community mean to you? Describe and name a facility serving some aspect of community (building, park, gazebo, garden,?). Where is it? Who does it serve? What is the purpose, the audience or people it serves, its capacity, its scope? You need to be able to discuss and connect some artistic elements of the facility in your description. Three or More Paragraphs-Required Gateways to Art: Understanding the Visual Arts, Debra J. DeWitte, Ralph M. Larmann, M. Kathryn Shields Copyright 2011 Thames & Hudson
PART 4 THEMES Chapter 4.8 Art of Social Conscience ART AS SOCIAL PROTEST Reflects historical, social, and political concerns Tries to affect points of view Becomes the target of anger Find common ground and bring peace-but this is a rare instance, most artists tend to be agitators http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv_yyc7g4iw It s Still Elementary 1996 follow-up documentary to the 1996 movie, It s Elementary:Talking About Gay Issues in School directed by Debra Chasnoff and Johnny Symons Gateways to Art: Understanding the Visual Arts, Debra J. DeWitte, Ralph M. Larmann, M. Kathryn Shields
Pablo Picasso, Guernica, 1937. Oil on canvas, 11 5½ 25 5¾. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain
Diego Rivera, Man, Controller of the Universe, or Man in the Time Machine, 1934. Fresco, 15 11 37 6⅞. Full composite view of the fresco. Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City, Mexico
PART 4 THEMES Chapter 4.1 Art and Community Diego Rivera, Man Controller of the Universe, or Man in the Time Machine Rivera was commissioned by Nelson Rockefeller to design a mural for the new Radio Corporation Arts Building, NYC Rivera s approved proposal depicted the emergence of a perfect society through the liquidation of Tyranny The artist made changes based on communist leanings Changes included the addition of Vladimir Lenin leading a demonstration Rockefeller banned Rivera from the building and ordered the mural be destroyed Rivera re-created the work in Mexico City Gateways to Art: Understanding the Visual Arts, Debra J. DeWitte, Ralph M. Larmann, M. Kathryn Shields
PART 4 THEMES Art as the Object of Protest Chapter 4.8 Art of Social Conscience Artworks can evoke strong emotional responses Artworks (or what they represent to some viewers) can be the recipients of criticism or violence Gateways to Art: Understanding the Visual Arts, Debra J. DeWitte, Ralph M. Larmann, M. Kathryn Shields
Robert Mapplethorpe Ajitto, 1981 & Sonia and Tracy, 1988 Photos
Robert Mapplethorpe s 1989 The Perfect Moment with X Portfolio Series exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. was denied entry. One museum director in Cincinnati, Ohio was jailed on obscenity laws for showing the exhibition. The biggest controversy swirled around the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) who funded the artist and show. This came before the famous dung covered Madonna piece by Chris Ofili show in New York in 1996.
Diego Velázquez, The Toilet of Venus (Rokeby Venus), 1647 51. Oil on canvas 48¼ 69¾. National Gallery, London, England
4.122b Photograph of damage to the Rokeby Venus caused by Mary Richardson, 1914
PART 4 THEMES Chapter 4.8 Art of Social Conscience Photograph of damage to the Rokeby Venus caused by Mary Richardson Painting slashed by Mary Richardson in 1914 Suffragette saw it as an exemplar of sexist beauty, showing a woman solely as an object and vainly admiring herself Protesting against recent imprisonment of Suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst Results of attack: Damage to artwork repaired Richardson imprisoned temporarily For a few years women were not allowed to enter the National Gallery without a chaperone Gateways to Art: Understanding the Visual Arts, Debra J. DeWitte, Ralph M. Larmann, M. Kathryn Shields
Eric Fischl, Falling Woman, 2001 2. Bronze, 38 72 48. Private collection
PART 4 THEMES Chapter 4.8 Art of Social Conscience Subject: Eric Fischl, Falling Woman Made as a tribute to the victims of September 11, 2001 Shows a woman falling from one of the burning towers Response to artwork: Too upsetting to many who had witnessed victims falling Covered almost immediately after being presented Gateways to Art: Understanding the Visual Arts, Debra J. DeWitte, Ralph M. Larmann, M. Kathryn Shields