Author: Karina Chiqui Narvaez

The Jungle was one of the most outstanding and moving performance I have ever seen.

Although I read the NYT article beforehand and did some research as to what I should have expected, my expectation were blown away. The set was marvelous. I really enjoyed how the stage was in the midst of Salar’s Afghan restaurant, and how the audience was seated as guests in the restaurants. I also appreciated the ability the actors had to stay in character before the play started. Even before the play began, Salar would go around offering Chai tea to the guests as he would promise an excellent dining experience. This really added to the authenticity of the production.

One of the scenes that evoked strong emotions from many was the scene that showed the footage of the body of a dead little boy washed up on the shores of Turkey. His name was Alan Kurdi. He was three years old at the time of his death, as him and his family attempted to flee the Syrian civil war in 2015. I remember seeing this photo floating in the news and social media for a prolonged amount of time, and for the play to connect this photo to the stories of the refugees at Calais was very moving.

Another scene that was very powerful was when the French government began demolishing the Jungle. Personally, I would have preferred some sort of trigger warning because I was not expecting such immense theatrical productions. I was completely scared and confused when the roof was lifted. There was smoke everywhere, blaring sounds, strange lights, a scary, dark figure with a bullhorn representing the French government and finally everything went black. A couple months ago, I was at a huge concert in Central Park where there was a false shooting which ultimately started a massive panic attack and a stampede. Because there was so much going on so quickly (with no warning) and the set finally went black, this scene really mimicked the atmosphere during that event and brought back unwanted memories.

All in all, I really appreciate the message this production was trying to send. It was trying to bring awareness to the global problem of the refugee crisis and did an excellent point of addressing the causes as to why people immigrate–something that is not explained all too well in the contemporary world. One issue that I did have, although it is not connected to the play or the production value, is the sense that many people in the audience need a form of entertainment, such as this play, in order to qualify these issues as a human rights issue not a political issue. Personally I feel that we are all citizens of the world, and it is in everyone’s best to look out for others and be informed about these sort of issues. Another thing that could have been addressed to the audience members is the fact that the refugee crisis at Calais, is currently and exactly happening at our southern border. There should have been some sort of emphasis on this, as we can be helping the same refugees, who endure the same sorts of hardships in search of a better life.

Martha Rosler is an artist who delves in the realm of avant-garde art. Her work is very peculiar about what it wants to say and the method through which she gets her message across is a very thoughtful and creative one.

At the Jewish Museum on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the exhibit that I could connect to the most was Martha Rosler: Irrespective. Her works of art attempt to shed light on the injustices in the United States and around the world during her lifetime. In essence, she attempts to show the world what she thinks is unfair in terms of how different groups are treated. What makes Rosler different from other activists, however, is the fact that she uses avant-garde art to promote and spread her ideas.

Avant-garde art is art that is not traditional, in the sense that it follows Dada or Pop art. It is not traditional in the way that it does not follow the medium and message of classical works of art. Classical works of art, such as the Mona Lisa or The Creation of Adam, normally tend to delight the viewer by offering pleasant or thoughtful view. However the purpose of avant-garde art is to be experimental and innovative, and even urges the viewer to come up with a different answer to the typical question, “What is art?”.

Martha Rosler: Irrespective

The work of art that I found most appealing was placed in the exhibit that displayed Rosler’s most recent art. It is titled, “Point n Shoot”. Produced in 2016, in the heat of the presidential elections, Rosler took a photo of the moment President Trump made one of the most controversial statements at a press conference as he rallied for support. Then president-elect Trump made a remark saying he “could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and [I] wouldn’t lose any voters”, as the crowd around him jumped and praised whatever he said. This grotesque remark made national headlines and caused massive controversy, as this was two months after the San Bernardino shooting that claimed 14 lives.

What made this work of art most interesting and appealing is the background of the photo had inscribed the various names of people of color who were killed due to police brutality and the lack of gun reform. This piece of art was the most chilling to me, as it forced viewers to make the connection between Trump’s blunt comment and the fact that many minorities lives have been lost during police encounters because of unjust laws that protect police from serving time due to these crimes. Many police officers have not been convicted or have been simply let go on paid leave when it comes to cases that resulted in the death of a person of color.

The names of the person killed, the age they were at the time of their death and the city/state are also mentioned. To the right of Trump’s shoulders were the names of individuals killed, that have made national headlines. Tamir Rice, at age 12, was shot and killed in Cleveland by a police officer after he had been playing at the local park with a water gun. The two police officers involved were placed on paid leave and were the grand jury decided to not indict them–essentially letting them go free without any consequence of taking away a young, innocent life. It was very chilling reading through the names of the list, and it became increasingly easy to understand just how universal the issues of gun control and police brutality are across the nation.

Martha Rosler: Irrespective

Rosler’s “Point n Shoot” is experimental in the way that it takes a photo of a press conference and the exact words of the President at the time the photo was taken, but also features the names of people of color who have been killed due to a lack of gun reform and police brutality. Work like this has never been very popular or reached mainstream media, especially if it is as political as this specific pease. All in all, there is nothing in this work of art that says this is Rosler’s exact point, however it is up to the viewer to make valid connections in order to come up with a conclusion. This is how the work of art attempt to make a change in the viewer or how the world views this certain topic.

It was the evening of Tuesday, November 6th. My last class, English, had ended early and I was stuck with the many options I had left. I could go home, I could go eat, I could study, I could do some math homework, I could begin writing my many papers I had coming up. Yet the temptation to go home was so strong.

It was around four o’clock when I ended up walking around Madison Square Park. The whole day had been gloomy and wet, but this didn’t bother me. The views were amazing. It was the time of year that the leaves of the trees turned from green to vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red. I fell instantly in love; I had to stop and admire all the beautiful shades the different trees displayed. These colorful days only last briefly, as the leaves quickly fall off and leave the branches barren.

Beautiful Scenery in Madison Square Park

I begin to wonder how this, the inevitable cycle of the natural seasons, correlates to life. Good times are always met with bad times. One must endure hardship to reach bliss, and vice versa. This is what always comes to mind whenever I see beautiful views in nature. I also remember that soon it will be so cold and snow will fall, but I stop myself from having these thoughts too much as I realize it will ruin my walk. I continue to admire the gorgeous fall shades the trees beautifully display.

I notice the park is uncannily empty. I begin to wonder why. It is now around five o’clock in the evening, shouldn’t everyone be out of work and on their way home? Where are all the kids and moms who always play at the park? Even the cute dogs and their walkers are nowhere to be seen. I only see the occasional person with a briefcase and umbrella in their hand. That’s when I realize. It’s drizzling, the sky is filled with heavy clouds and is remarkably gray. It is soon about to pour. And it begins to pour.

I run west out of Madison Square Park and quickly try to make a decision as to where to go. I make myself to a nearby food place, Hill Country Chicken on Broadway and West 25th St. As I purchase a small apple pie cup, which was amazingly delicious, I get a text message from my mom. She wants to know if I’m still in Manhattan so we can go home together. I completely forgot she was in the city and quickly reply that I am. She wants me to meet her in the next hour at her office on 28th St, only a couple blocks away!

I finish my pie cup and begin walking northward on Broadway. It’s no longer raining so I walk slowly and admire the people who are also walking. I begin to wonder where they’re all going. Are they going home or to a second job? Maybe they’re even going to take night classes, or maybe meeting a date at a nearby restaurant. The possibilities are endless.

I finally arrive to where my mom’s office is. I’m early so I wait outside for her to come out, and that’s when I see the Empire State Building. My mom’s office is located at such a precise location where one can easily see the Empire State Building without many obstructions–which is hard to do in the city of New York. The tower is lit red, white and blue. I begin to wonder why these colors in specific, when I remember today was the Midterm Elections.

For months I had been excited to see the results of this election. Today was finally the day America would see a change in politics. Hopefully. I then began to remember the vast amount of people I saw with “I Voted” stickers. I also remembered my own election day process, as I had gone to vote early in the morning before going to school. As I stared at the beautiful Empire State Building, I reflected on the democratic practices our country runs on and how grateful I am to be apart of such a great country, despite all the controversies and hardships we have endured. It was a great way to end the day.

Empire State Building displays red, white and blue lights for Midterm Elections

On the night of November 3rd, I traveled downtown near Battery Park and the World Trade Center as I made myself down to the Poet’s House. At this particular reading, there were six successful poets from diverse backgrounds and primary languages. Although the reading was held at the Poet’s House, this reading was hosted by the Iowa International Writing Program.

Tehila Hakimi reading her work

The first poet, Tehila Hakimi, hails from Israel. Because her primary language is Hebrew, she first read her poems in her native tongue then she passed the microphone to her trusted translator. The first two poems were published in her poetry volume, We’ll Work Tomorrow, and the last poem was an exclusive reading of an unpublished poem. All three poems were about the vastness of life, freedom and her people. She emphasized how hardworking the Jewish people are as she  made a point of their freedom from slavery and the massive success many Jewish people have experienced today, all while emphasizing the hope for a better future for all people. I also noticed how she read from right to left, something I only realized is how Hebrew is read. Her participation was made possible by the United States-Israel Educational Foundation.

The second poet, Chandramohan Sathyananthan, hails from India. He is the only poet who wrote and read his poems in English, as he fluent in English. He organizes English-language poetry readings in Kerala, a southwestern state of India, where he also coordinates a subaltern cultural collective. His participation was made possible by the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.

The third reader, Ausra Kaziliunaite, hails from Lithuania. She read her poems in her native lithuanian. The common theme of her poems were also about her people but also had to do with the metaphor of birds as she compared their ability to fly to the freedom of many different enslaved peoples. She is the author of four volumes of poetry; the poems she read were from The Moon is a Pill, one of her volumes that recently appeared in English. Like the other non-native English speakers, she had two translators read her poems in English. What striked me the most about this author was that she sported a bright pink hair, something I thought was uncommon for successful poets just because it is out of the ordinary. She is a recipient of many national awards, such as the Young Artists Prize from Lithuania’s Ministry of Culture. Her participation was made possible by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

The fourth reader, Umar Timol, hails from Mauritius. Before reading his work, he explained where Mauritius is, as many in the audience did not know. He explained Mauritius as a small island off the coast of India and said that this would be a perfect honeymoon spot! He is the author of four poetry volumes, two novels and two comic books. His poetry collection 52 Fragments pour l’aimee [52 Fragments for the Beloved] (2016) received the Poetry Prize at the Moldova Poetry Festival. He did not use a translator but rather read the translations himself. He read his poems in the language they were written in–French–then he read them in English. His participation was made possible by the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.

The fifth and final reader, Bejan Matur, hails from Turkey. She is the author of nine poetry collections and has worked with many NGOs on conflict resolution. Two of her poems she read in her native Turkish but her last poem she read in Kurdish, which she explained she is also fluent in because of the fact that her mother is Kurdish. Herpresentation was rather powerful as she took the microphone of the stand and began to walk around the stage and made hand motions to emphasize certain words as she spoke. She was the only author to do so. She also read the English translations herself, noting that she isn’t very fluent in English as she apologized to the audience beforehand. Her participation was made possible by an anonymous gift to IWP (Iowa International Writing Program).

Q&A Session with the Authors

After all the poets finished reading their work, the authors took questions from the audience. One of the most intriguing questions was how the authors worked to translate their work. Most of the authors noted that it was difficult to effectively translate their work without losing the essential meaning, so they had to relate their experiences to translators in order to maintain the meaning of their work.

Nightime views outside of the Poet’s House

After attending a poetry reading like this, that featured such a diverse pool of authors with a common theme of a positive outlook on life, I feel like I might find myself at other poetry or even novel readings in the future. It is very interesting seeing how authors showcase their work in the way that they read, because it leaves clarity in the audience as we can see their work for how it is intended to be seen.

Happy Hit Men

Jill Freedman is an American photographer, who started off her career in the most unlikely way. Born in Pittsburg in 1939, Freedman followed the generic path of going to college but found herself unsure of what she wanted to do after graduating. After wandering around Europe and singing for her meals, she finally got her hands on a camera and instantly fell in love with the art of photography. Although she was self taught, she found inspiration through many groundbreaking photographers such as André Kertész, W. Eugene Smith, Dorothea Lange, and Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Freedman has published many photography books, in which she showcases her diverse photographic collections. Her collections include topics like photographs about New York City, circuses’, Ireland, people and animals and cops and firefighters. A particular collection that I found interesting was titled, “boys’ club”. Included in this collection displayed on her website, was a note that explained the purpose of the collection. Freedman wanted to capture the essence of a man, through his candid interactions with other men, women, children, animals and when they are by themselves.

A particular photo titled, “Happy Hit Men” captured my attention because it shows a group of well-dressed men standing in front of an Episcopal church, presumably after mass or some other religious ceremony. What’s interesting is that these men, although they are dressed formal and are serious-looking, they are all applauding and cheering on one of their own as he dances for the other’s amusement. It looks like everyone is genuinely having a good time in this moment in time.

It is generally easy to see that studium of the photo is the group of five, well-dressed men celebrating on the front steps of an Episcopal church. It is important to understand that the cause of celebration is not very clear and there is no date of when this picture was taken. Considering this, the punctum can be believed to be the main man standing in the middle of the other four men, as he purses his lips in a comical way with hands raised and snapping. He is dancing, presumably for the amusement of the other men as they applaud and cheer him on. I believe this is the punctum because it calls the most attention to the picture, as the other four men are looking directly at him and that man is standing almost in the center of the photo.

“Head in the Clouds”, 2014

After viewing many beautiful works of art in many art galleries, I was finally able to choose the one most interesting to me. This work of art can be found in a small and serene art gallery in The Bronx. As one enters the gallery, this humongous piece of art is sitting directly in front of the entrance, begging its onlookers to take a moment and appreciate it. As any curious individual would do, I stopped and attempted to understand a little of what the artist was trying to say. This piece of art almost reached the ceiling, and although it was difficult to fully understand what was occurring, I understood that there was a man holding a house, possibly with a vision of something that he wanted others to know about. The man’s face seems thoughtful; as his mouth is ajar, it seems like he has something important he has to say but there is something impeding his ability to say what he thinks. The abstractness of his body may mean different things to different people but I saw this as society’s pessimistic view of this man, which would be causing his hesitation in relaying his thoughts. What I found interesting about this work of art, is that there are only two major colors: black and white. I took this as a symbol for dark and pureness. As the sculpture increases in elevation, white becomes the predominant color whereas black is only popular at the bottom. The artist might have chosen this color scheme because the abstractness of the sculpture was already too striking, but it could also symbolize the pureness of the man regardless of the abstractness of his body.

As I approached the sculpture and found the metal inscription plate, I learned that the piece of art is named “Head in the Clouds” and the house is actually the painter’s childhood home. The plate also mentions that the house could be pointing to Renaissance art in which important figures regularly held small houses in portraits to emphasize the importance of religion in daily life. Because this sculpture is placed in an art gallery and basically given it’s own exhibit, the environment creates an atmosphere of thoughtfulness that forces the audience to deeply look at the sculpture. On the other hand, if this sculpture was placed on a random city street, onlookers would not spend more than two minutes looking at it because of the fact that it’s abstract and can be confusing. Therefore, the environment shaped the perception of the sculpture because it force it’s viewers to take time and look for something that may not necessarily been present.

In New York City, it can be extremely easy to find a work of public art. Anywhere you look, you are bound to find public art. That’s why this part of this assignment was the most difficult, because I encountered so many wonderful pieces of art that I had difficulty choosing just one. After much deliberation, I choose to write about the most beautiful and insightful one I came across. It is a painting of La Virgen de Guadalupe on one of the most unlikely canvas–the metal overhead gate of a warehouse in Bushwick, Brooklyn. She is seen praying, with a thoughtful or peaceful facial expression. I really appreciated this piece of public art because of the location it is in. This closed warehouse is located in a sidestreet, where wholesale warehouses are located and commercial business is popular. At first, I thought it was random and a little weird to see this icon painted so beautifully on a metal rollup gate but then I appreciated it because of the bright colors and peaceful ambiance around it.

In this case, I think the painting of La Virgen did change the environment it was in because the area around this painting was pristine. There were no plastered ads, littered trash or even people loitering around this area. The area was cleared of these things. I also enjoyed the fact that this was painted on a metal roll up gate, providing a sense of humility to the viewers.

Virgen de Guadalupe

Male Lion

This metalwork sculpture of a Lion originates from Nepal, a country in South Asia. Although there is no record of the artist, this piece of art dates back to the 19th century. This can be found in The Rubin Museum of Art.

At first glance, it was difficult for me to see this sculpture as a lion, given that it does not look like a tradition lion. Instead of the standard silky mane, this lion sports what seems to be protective armor.  Around it’s neck is a chained bell and directly below is a decorative, regal looking accessory; this gives the audience an idea that this may be a piece of chest armor. On all four legs, there is what seems to be a metal band bracelet with fire exiting through the backside. The lion’s tail twists and turns upwards, giving the audience an idea that this lion is alert and may be perceiving danger. The head is one of the most intricate and interesting part of the entire piece. On top of it’s head sits a meticulously designed crown, or another form of authority-bearing accessory. The eyes are dilated and contain a blue iris. The mouth is open, exposing the lion’s ferocious jaw and pointy teeth as it breathes fire!

Given all these details, I have concluded that this lion may be a royal warrior or a royal guardian. The demeanor of this lion is strong and powerful, as it is shown in his perfect posture and wide open eyes. This can be inferred to mean lions were used as a icons of strength, power, authority and affluence.