Analysis : The Art Museum

Featured and organized by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Romare Bearden’s collection is one that appreciates and depicts life for what it really is. Bearden did not like abstract expressionism. Instead, he made many collages depicting life with different perspectives, allowing the viewer to see reality, but also try to figure out the true meaning that Bearden meant to portray in the collage that was not directly seen by just looking at the picture. These collages were made by “Cut and pasted printed, colored and metallic papers, photostats, pencil, ink marker, gouache, watercolor, and pen and ink on Masonite” (MET Museum). Bearden liked telling narratives within these collages involving Harlem life. Whether it was on the streets, inside

The Montclair Art Museum is located in Montclair, New Jersey. The museum holds various collections throughout the year and offers an outlet for students and other artists to explore within their facilities. Upon visiting, the main exhibition presented was Matisse and American Art. This exhibition held 19 pieces created by Henri Matisse and other American artists. The museum centered on central theme of Matisse and there was a specific gallery of Matisse inspired Art. In this gallery I found Untitled #8 (2014) by Mickalene Thomas is a contemporary African-American artist born January 28, 1917 in Camden, New Jersey.

As we know, the result of “Art is” is “Art is” which returned in an ephemeral form at the Studio Museum. All forty photographs are on display on the basement level of the galleries, which are supposedly reserved for pieces in their permanent collection. The room just outside, whether coincidentally or not, is filled with photos of students - reflecting personal memories. How the museum decides to play with this, is by missing them with old-timer photos of Harlem from the

One artwork I observed in this exhibit was David Hammons (American, b. 1943). The Door (Admissions Office), 1969. In this photograph it shows a body pressed against a door trying to gain entry into an admissions office. The main character is a young African-American boy. The role the character plays is a student trying to get admissions into a White school. During this time the U.S. Federal Government implemented school desegregation throughout the nation in 1954. White communities did not like the idea of this and tried blocking black students from attending these white schools. The photo brings out a

The painting hanging on the red wall of Mills Center was something that I had never noticed before. I walk past the Mills Center at least four times each week and not seeing such an incredible piece of art demonstrates how ignorant I can be. This painting is an artwork titled “Arrival in Jerome” by Henry Sugimoto, who is best known for his depictions of the wartime internment experience, many of his paintings executed while he was confined at the Jerome and Rohwer camps. Sugimoto represents Japanese-Americans who loved the United States and worked so hard for the country, but were imprisoned and denied their basic rights during World War II. The painting

Among the many artworks I have seen, I decided to discuss about the “Sarcophagus Depicting a Battle between Soldiers and Amazons (Warrior Women)” from the Roman civilization. It was built sometime in between 140 A.D. to 170 A.D and is approximately forty and a half inches in length, ninety-one and a half inches in width, and fifty and a half inches tall in height (“Roman Sarcophagus”). This masterpiece appealed to me because of the unique approach that has been designed to honor the deceased. Many people are familiar with the formatting and inscriptions of a gravestone because it is usually engraved with an individual’s full name, birth date, and death date. During the Roman Empire, a sarcophagus, which is a coffin, was widely used to show decorative themes that includes: battle scenes, hunting scenes, weddings, or other memorable episodes from the life of the deceased individual. The most luxurious ones were made from marble surrounded by symbolic sculptures, figures and inscriptions on all four sides (“Sarcophagus”). Another feature that captured my attention was the large quantity of details used to bring out a lifelike aspect of the deceased individual’s favorable moments in their life. In this artwork, this sarcophagus was dedicated to a Roman commander. The exterior of the sarcophagus has been well-decorated and carved with exquisite details depicting a battle scene

Pollock-Krasner Foundation, Artists Rights Society (ARS). (2017). Collection. Retrieved from MOMA Museum of Modern Art, US: Museum of Modern Art [US]/https://www.moma.org/collection/works/78699

Upon entering the museum I was bombarded by this 12 x 45 ft. architectural painting. Almost resembling the museum building itself. With sharp horizontal and verticals lines, this multi colored piece reminded me of our last piece from project 8. Using a variety of colors with no obvious correlation, the clash of colors instantly made me reflect on how I could improve future and previous projects alike. The amount of straight lines in different lengths and widths, also reminded me of our piece from project 1. With no curves and lines going every which way, its amazing how a piece made entirely of lines with no figures could be so captivating.

Louis Jean Francois Lagrenee. The reason I chose this painting is because for me it

This piece was created during a time of political and social change. Increased political awareness and a focus on celebrity demanded art that was more

On September 26, 2017 I visited the Dallas Museum of Art where I saw “The Fountain of Vaucluse” by Thomas Cole. The oil on canvas painting, displays a rocky landscape which captures the beauty of nature and civilization while also provoking thought in the viewer. An individual’s nature to hope for something better than the current discomfort he or she is experiencing is portrayed through Cole’s use of color and environmental contrast in this piece.

The two works of art that I have chosen to analyze are 1) Jordan Casteel. Miles and JoJo. 2014. Oil on canvas, 54” x 72” and 2) Aaron Fowler. He Was. 2015. Mixed media, 134” x 165” x 108”. The themes that these works of art represent in regards to the exhibit are love, family, and pain. However, they also fall into other thematic categories. The main theme that seems to apply to both “Miles and JoJo” and “He Was” is Human Experience. Additionally, these arts differ in some ways.

Jan van Eyck was active since 1422 and died in 1441. He was the most celebrated painter of the fifteen-century in Europe. One of his famous works is “The Last Judgment”. At first sight this work immediately attracted my attention. The painting’s stunning colors and the fact that it reminded me of a previous similar work I have seen, triggered in my mind. The material that is used is oil on canvas, transferred from wood. The size of this work is 22 1/4 *7 2/3 in. (56.5 * 19.7cm).

This was actually my first visit to this museum since I have gone to Kennesaw. My expectations were pretty high initially upon going, because I have heard so many things about it from my peers. Just by their opinions, and my love for art I have myself, I was actually excited about going in to take a look. I must say, I was not disappointed by any of the art work I saw in there. I really enjoyed the exhibit of work from some students from a high school around this area. It really shows that the college really supports the youth of the future and their passion for art as a whole.

At first, I didn’t want to go to the museum. That day, I was exhausted after finishing school, so going all the way to San Francisco wasn’t exactly my idea of relaxing. Thankfully, my mom insisted we go that day, since it was my dad’s day off. I felt frustrated that we had to go right then, but my mom forced us.