As promised, here’s a video about looking at art from John Berger’s Ways of Seeing:
Please be sure to prepare for your visit to the museum on Wednesday–think about what you’d like to see, and the questions you might have about what you’re looking at. Start with the banal (basic, haha), and then you’ll be able to get really deep in your group conversation. Also be sure to take a photo (without flash) so you can upload it to our blog–you can either write an official review or a blog post.
Here’s what you’ll be able to access on Wednesday night:
Floor 1:
Infinite Blue— The works of art in Infinite Blue feature blue in all its variety—a fascinating strand of visual poetry running from ancient times to the present day.
Disappeared Quipu—(not sure we will have access to this one. Currently negotiating!) Ancient quipus from the Museum’s collection with a newly commissioned installation by Cecilia Vicuña that combines monumental strands of knotted wool with a four-channel video projection.
Floor 3:
Egyptian Galleries (including “A Woman’s Afterlife: Gender Transformation in Ancient Egypt) and the Ancient Egyptian Galleries.
https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/womans_afterlife_ancient_egypt andhttps://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/ancient_egyptian_art
The Beaux-Arts Court—European painting and a few sculptures
Floor 5:
Almost the entire floor!
Rob Wynne’s installation “FLOAT”
American Art (an exciting and eclectic collection)– https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/american_art
Please look for this one hidden in a back corner: “Life, Death and Transformation in the Americas”–https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/life_death_transformation
The best representation of New York is probably its skyline. People flock from all over the globe to capture a view of the extravagant buildings lined up together from either Long Island City or Jersey City. It represents the beauty, diversity, and energy that this city embellishes. The biggest difference between that painting’s depiction of Dumbo, Brooklyn and Dumbo currently is the emotions that are being conveyed. The dark colors and feeble existence of light in Brooklyn show that there were probably many factories there and barely any night life. Nowadays, with the Carousel at Brooklyn Bridge Park and the opening of many bars and condos, downtown Brooklyn is bustling throughout the days and nights. In terms of juxtaposition however, the depiction of Manhattan can still represent the Manhattan and today. The staples of tall buildings, lights, and traffic congestion can make any viewer perceive that Manhattan as a modern day interpretation. In my opinion, I believe that the painting was chosen as part of the Infinite Blue exhibit in order to show how gentrification has affected the development of Brooklyn. The use of darker shades of blue, in this case navy, can convey a sense of melancholy in showing the deterioration of the past identity of Brooklyn. The aerial view of the Brooklyn Bridge maybe also carries on that symbolism because usually, in movies, when a character dies, the camera begins to zoom out on their body as a representation of homage and appreciation. Maybe the painter, Yvonne Jacquette, originally meant for it to be a homage to Brooklyn. Nonetheless, now it can symbolize a homage to what Brooklyn once was. Most of the lights in this 1983 painting come from the warehouses and the cargo stations, which literally highlights what represents Brooklyn. As a whole, I think that it does show the idea that “New York is the City that Never Sleeps” is a timeless notion. This painting probably takes place in the middle of the night, and the fact that there’s still cars filling up the highways, even in Brooklyn, shows that the spirit of New York City can never be taken away. I’m wondering why the artist chose to depict this particular location, rather than do something more significant such as the Twin Towers or the Empire State Building. I read up on the artist and she’s known for renting lofts at high-rises in Lower Manhattan and painting aerial views based on her perspective. Thus, with that context, maybe she wants the viewers to appreciate New York for what it is. In the midst of our bustling lives, she wants us to pause and take in our beautiful scenery that ironically is less appreciated by actual New Yorkers than by tourists.
Hi Brandon,
Your analysis of the painting is unique and significantly differs from my interpretation of the artwork. I enjoyed how you chose to focus on the lighting and color of the water and surrounding buildings to possibly signify factories and a less vibrant Dumbo area. Additionally, it was interesting to read your observation about how the aerial view conveys a sense of tribute to the deteriorating Brooklyn area. I interpret the image as focusing on the lights and beauty of New York City at night, even in less iconic locations. Most people think of Midtown or Downtown when thinking about the nighttime NYC skyline, however I believe the author intends to illustrate the majestic beauty of the city in general by adding attention to the lights of the surrounding buildings, the lights in the streets, the lights on the bridge, and even the lights on the ships. The lights represent the modernization, and technological advancements society has made in a relatively short period. Also, I believe the aerial view highlights the dynamic amount of activity and exciting sights are contained in this one small piece of the greater New York City environment. (It was most likely an accident, but I would recommend making a separate post for your analysis instead of adding your post as a reply to an already existing post so that way more people can immediately see your analysis. Just trying to help you!)
—Patrick Perrigo
Painting: “East River View With Brooklyn Bridge”
Artist: Yvonne Jacquette
/Users/brandonkan/Downloads/received_504959453248938.mp4