Here is my High trip. I will post the photos for this and the final. sat or sunday when I get access to my freinds camera.
Andrew Driver
Group 5
Art 7:00 MW
High museum trip
My favorite piece at the High would have to be Double Bound Circle by Jackie Windsor 1971. It seems rather insignificant as a piece of artwork but it reminds me of my childhood. I used to play with rope a lot as a kid and made everything from swings to monkey’s paws. Looking back it’s amazing that I could get hours of enjoyment out of playing with suck an innocuous piece of rubbish.
I liked #73 by Mark Rothco 1952. It was an orange and red abstraction that was very pleasing to look at. However, I was unable to discern any message of symbolism. I can appreciate its beauty, but it does not fit my taste or décor. I am afraid it does not have the versatility of mood to adorn the walls of a domesticated building. It’s simplicity and plain cheeriness of color would grow tiresome very quickly.
The whole of my trip was very informative, however the piece that I gained the most knowledge from was an old art deco radio. Bluebird, 1934 Walter Dorwin. There was an elderly gentleman that was admiring it and I was drawn into a rather lengthy discussion about old radio’s and art deco décor. It was very interesting to talk to him and gain a bit of his insight on the development of art and architecture during his lifetime.
There were many intentionally melancholy pieces that I saw. I would figure the piano made by Hallet, Davis and Company, Boston in 1976 was unintentionally sad. To me it was a beautiful instrument going to waste. I can imagine it being played at weddings, and garden parties. Perhaps it was a gift. Now unfortunately it is silent and whatever music could grace its keys is forbidden. I wanted to play it very bad. It seemed lonely to me.
All art identifies a historic moment in time, as the art itself is historic. The example that sticks out in my mind was a photograph by Dorthea Lange 1932 called White Angle Breadline. Photographs are perhaps the best means of capturing history in art. I can think of no more a historic time than The Depression. This photo captures the desperation and the struggle of people of the day. The difficulty they faced in just getting a piece of bread is hard for us to imagine today. I felt this photo represented that well.
There was a photograph by Emmet Gowin entitled Edith 1967 that reminded me of my mother. She faces away from the camera but her body language and her hair even her clothes are those of my mother. It was rather saddening to look at for me. She herself is an artist so I see her every time I enter a museum.
There were several pieces that I found intriguing but I wouldn’t say shocking. Some I felt didn’t really deserve to be in a gallery. The one that I found the most interesting was the Nude photograph circa 1855 by an unknown photographer. I always knew they had pornography since probably ancient times but to see it and to compare it to today’s standards was a little strange.
The folk art gallery to me was fun, but a little tacky and kitsch. I enjoyed it but wouldn’t take any of it home. Folk artist did seem less constrained by traditions and a little more daring in their design and choice of color. However it was this exact fact that I find it distasteful to my eye. I preferred the established schools of art especially when they had a specific doctrine they were following. I guess it appeals to me because it seems more organized and planed, than the blatant emotionalism of the folk artists.
I have a same regard for contemporary art as I do folk art. Recently the rigidly accepted rules of art have become more lax and this I find unappealing. A lot of it I just plain don’t understand. My artistic tastes seem to advance no farther than the early 1960’s and the emergence of pop art. I find most of the contemporary schools such as minimalism and pop art pretensions and faddish. I feel a lot of modern art to me into what I call “the emperors clothes” school. In this school artist for whatever reason; lack of talent, money, etc, create a piece that is ether ridiculous or extremely simple in execution and explain it by saying “if you don’t get it you just don’t understand art”. Another major difference is that the message, when there is one, is much more blatant in modern art. I understand art can be a political statement, but it can be delivered with a bit of tact. Offending people will not change their point of view. I personally prefer the earlier pre 1960’s works personally, but every now and then a piece comes along I like.
I enjoyed the entire experience. I’ve grown up around art and find it fascinating. The most meaningful experience for me was sharing it with some one I care about.
