The first work of art that interested me was a sculpture by Willie Cole named Harlem Rose as a tribute to the growth of African American culture and prosperity during the Harlem Renaissance. This being said, the worn down shoe soles show the integration of black women into the work force during the 1950’s, as well as the civil rights protests and public demonstrations that led to their eventual equality. I found this piece extremely interesting because it is shaped like a burst, showing that the movement is not yet over and it will continue to spread and grow as more people join.
This piece by Jerry Kearns grabbed my attention because at first, it appears to be an average poster-like image showing two armed men posed as confident protagonists, but as you look closer you see a very familiar scene: The infamous photo of the victims of American napalm attacks during the Vietnam war. This became a very controversial photo, causing the masses of Americans to disapprove of the war and swayed the public opinion. This being said, Kearns uses this background image to make a statement about America’s position in the war, showing how the Americans saw themselves as heroes until the public turned against the war effort.
The last piece of artwork that interested me was a sculpture by John Flanagan titled “Mother and Son”. This grabbed my attention because the two figures were carved from the same piece of wood, which speaks to how the bond between mother and son are extremely close, almost impossible to break. The mother is shown holding her son from his feet to lift him up to her face, showing how a mother works to love and nurture her children, while keeping them safe from danger. He is not held at her side, or by his middle like children are usually carried, but he is supported from the bottom to show the deep love mothers have and how they continuously support and care for their children even at their lowest.
Madison Bell says
I love how you were able to draw in so much historical context for your first two pieces. Your love and interest of history is evident and it’s great to be able to apply it to everything else. I think your analysis for each of these pieces was relevant and accurate.