Author: Christian Gonzalez

One piece of artwork that caught my eye was Jack Levine’s painting called Welcome Home. Levine’s work is represented in Edith Halpert’s gallery in the Jewish Museum. All the artwork in the gallery once belonged to Edith Halpert. She owned nearly five hundred pieces of art by modern artists and nearly five hundred pieces of American folk art. Halpert planned on donating her collection but died prior to making the proper arrangements. Her collection sold for $3.95 million dollars. It is believed that her collection was so successful because of her name associated with the pieces, this is known as “The Halpert Influence”. Levine’s artwork was one of the pieces in her collection. It is able to show the United States’ General and his partners in a negative way. The individuals appear snobby and superior than the waiter and other working-class individuals. The artwork was made by painting oils on a canvas. The painting has a resemblance to political cartoons in newspapers. The sharp edges and the size of their heads replicate cartoon styles. This piece of work is not a mimesis because it intends to deliver a message which resulted in Levine making unnatural details.

Jack Levine was a soldier who fought during World War II and he has said that this painting was not intended to insult the Army, it was a celebration of leaving it. This artwork was criticized and was called “Anti-American” by many. However, Halpert supported Levine and said, “The Levine painting is not anti-American. It’s just anti-pompous general.” Levine’s work is political and shows his view of the American government. He illustrates the arrogant demeanor of the individuals through their facial expressions. The painting shows who benefits from war and leaves out the American heroes who risked their lives. The figures in the paintings have distorted and exaggerated faces to convey the message of them being corrupt. They all appear to be unhappy even though they are being catered to their every need by the waiter. This shows that these individuals can never be satisfied and will never be happy. The artwork was initially located in a gallery in Moscow to represent America’s superiority. The painting however, conveyed the opposite message. It was criticized by the President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower was not impressed with the painting and he explained, “It looks like a lampoon more than art as far as I am concerned.” Eisenhower, who was investigating unamerican activities at the time in fear of communisim, was pressured to take action against the painting and Levine but decided not to.

This painting was able to show the greediness of individuals in government while also showing America’s freedom of speech. One can criticize the military respectfully without facing unfair repercussions. This painting was able to show certain individuals’ beliefs of American government. The cartoon aspect of the painting worked well because it related to more individuals. The characteristics of the people are entertaining and in a certain way can even be comedic. Levine was successful in connecting with the American citizens and even with people worldwide. The initial viewers in Moscow were even able to identify the U.S. General and his associates as greedy unpleasant individuals. Levine’s message was political and he was able to convey his message to his entire audience.

Original:

Erasure Poem:

Credit to Danny Gurvich

I walk down a busy New York City street with my best friend by my side

I see ton of cars, long buses, and yellow taxis sitting at the traffic lights,

I see buildings all around me almost able to touch the sky,

I see the park across the street, filled with plants and trees.

I walk with my best friend who happens to be a dog,

He is small, brown, and has curly hair,

He is interested in the city similar to I, and loves to trot around the neighborhood blocks,

He is nice and friendly and wants to make friends with anyone he walks by,

He is curious of the smell in the air and often needs to be pulled on his leash to continue our walk.

I love seeing the community and all the different people I encounter,

There are business people dressed up in suits and ties,

There are musicians playing guitars, drums, or even the saxophone,

There are construction workers, working hard in the early hours,

There are college students making the commute to school.

It’s a nice cool fall day that everyone is enjoying,

My dog would stay out all day if he could, sadly we must return home,

My dog wants to run around the park and make new friends,

My dog wants to explore New York City.

I wish I was my dog and had no responsibilities,

I wish I was my dog and could sit inside, play with toys, and sleep for as long as I wanted.

Everyone around us is on their phone or has earphones in,

Are they texting their parents, friends, or loved ones,

Are they listening to music, is it jazz, rap, or hip hop,

Are they reading newspapers or emails,

I am not on my phone.

Where is everyone going?

I think they are going to work for day and won’t return until the night,

I they are tourists just admiring what the city has to offer.

Walking my dog allows me to appreciate my surroundings.

I refresh my head and plan out my day.

Although I do it for my dog this helps me, it’s how I get prepared for whatever the day throws my way.

Part 1

“I decided then to take as a guide for my new analysis the attraction I felt for certain photographs. For of this attraction, at least, I was certain. What to call it? Fascination? No, this photograph which I pick out and which I love has nothing in common with the shiny point which sways before your eyes and makes your head swim; what it produces in me is the very opposite of hebetude; something more like an internal agitation, an excitement, a certain labor too, the pressure of the unspeakable which wants to be spoken. Well, then? Interest? Of brief duration; one can either desire the object, the landscape, the body it represents; or love or have loved the being it permits us to recognize; or be astonished by what one sees; or else admire or dispute the photographer’s performance, etc.; but these interests are slight, heterogeneous; a certain photograph can satisfy one of them and interest me slightly ;and if another photograph interest me powerfully, I should like to know what there is in it that sets me off. So it seemed that the best word to designate (temporarily) the attraction certain photographs exerted upon me was advenienceor even adventure.This picture advenes, that one doesn’t” (Barthes 19).

-Chapter 7 is from page 18-20

Roland Barthes on the first page of the novel explains that he desperately wanted to learn photography. Barthes breaks down the parts of photos into three categories: the operator, target, and spectator. In the seventh chapter Barthes focuses on the spectator. Barthes is curious about what his interest is called and why he is intrigued. Barthes decides to called his interest “advenience” or “adventure”. This chapter of Part 1 connected with me the most. As Barthes mentions I am surrounded by photography constantly. Sometimes I take notice of a photo and other times I pass right by. This chapter made me realize that I take notice of photography first then I look closer for details. Barthes uses an example from Sartre in which he explains that magazines and newspapers have photos but leave almost no impression on him. Barthes explains that photographs need to animate the viewer to create every adventure. This chapter was crucial to understanding the spectator. It was previously mentioned in chapter four but chapter 7 gave me clarity in the role the spectator has on a photo.

Part 2

“Something like an essence of the Photograph floated in this particular photograph. I therefore decided to “derive” all Photography (its “nature”) form the only photograph which assuredly existed for me, and to take it somehow as a guide for my last investigation. All the world’s photographs formed a Labyrinth. I knew that at the center of this Labyrinth I would find nothing but this sole picture, fulfilling Nietzsche’s prophecy: “A labyrinthine man never seeks the truth, but only his Ariadne.” The Winter Garden Photograph was my Ariadne, not because it would help me discover a secret thing (monster or treasure), but because it would tell me what constituted that thread which drew me toward Photography, I had understood that henceforth I must interrogate the evidence of Photography, not from the viewpoint of pleasure, but in relation to what we romantically call love and death. (I cannot reproduce the Winter Garden Photograph. It exists only for me. For you, it would be nothing but an indifferent picture, one of thousands manifestations of the “ordinary”; it cannot in any way constitute the visible object of science; it cannot establish an objectivity, in the positive sense of the term; at most it would interest your stadium: period, clothes, photogeny; but in it, for you, no wound)” (Barthes 73).

In chapter thirty Barthes explains the most valuable photo to him. He calls this photo the Winter Garden Photograph. Barthes was very close to his mother and when she passed away he was obviously heartbroken. In chapter twenty-nine he explained following her death he could do no more then wait for his inevitable death. Searching for a photograph that captured his mother’s essence Barthes came across the Winter Garden Photograph. Barthes explains finding this photo was similar to finding treasure. I chose this chapter because it shows how much the spectator can influence a photo. In my opinion the spectator is the most important part of a photo. Barthes explains that this photo would mean nothing to his audience but it means everything to him. The Winter Garden Photograph shows that one’s animation towards the photo affects the way one interprets a photo. Everyone is different and everyone can find different photos amazing or horrible.

Question

The three parts of a photo are the operator, target, and spectator which is the most important? Are they equal in importance? Explain the function of each part.

Art galleries are unique and never the same, similar to fingerprints. You may walk into galleries and they might remind you of other galleries but not one of them is the same. A traditional gallery setup is white walls, wood floors, and artificial light. This gives the appearance of a “white cube” according to O’Doherty. Unique galleries have colored walls and different types of flooring. These different types of galleries have an impact on how a viewer experiences an individual’s work.

My classmates and I were scheduled to adventure up and down 22^nd Street. Our first stop was 535 West 22^nd Street where we admired DC Moore’s gallery. Yvonne Jacquette was one of the few artists featured in this gallery. Jacquette’s beautiful works showed different aspects of New York. Her exhibit was entitled “Daytime New York” and some of her featured works were, “Brooklyn Bridge View with Double Water Towers”, “Composite of Eventi Hotel Views II”, and “Three Ages of Construction II”. In this gallery the walls are white, the floor is wooden, and there are lights centered onto the artworks. This construction of the gallery is similar to O’Doherty’s description of the “white cube”. The white walls allowed me to appreciate all the colors in the artwork. I enjoyed looking at the water in “Brooklyn Bridge View with Double Water Towers” because the dark blue color illustrated the ripples in the ocean and really grabbed my attention. The space between the paintings also allowed me to appreciate each one individually before stepping back and seeing how all of them relate to the New York environment. There was a spotlight on each painting and shade in the empty space between the paintings. This gallery did a successful job in attracting the viewers’ attention toward the artworks.

During our experience on 22^nd Street we also encountered a gallery that was unique from the others. Most galleries followed the recipe to look like a “white cube” but there was an outlier. The Joanne Artman Gallery, located on 511 A West 22^nd Street, was a refreshing gallery to walk into. This gallery called their exhibit “TheWildBunch” and had works from Billy Schenck and Greg Miller. This gallery had a theme of the wild west which was obvious from their paintings and decorative choices. Some artworks that represented the theme are, “2 Feathers in Violet and Beige”, “Man with Blanket”, and “Woman Outlaws”. This gallery was unique because of the yellow wall, yellow couch, black pipes, and natural light. The natural lighting was the necessary amount to fill the entire room due to the small size of the gallery. I believe the size of the gallery plays a role in the decision on how it is structured. The gallery wants to push forward the theme and show off the artworks. The yellow wall fits the theme of the wild west and I think it maximizes the space to its fullest potential. The uniqueness of the gallery was appreciated and I believe the clear windows drew audiences in. I think that this strategy is bold and can work with certain artworks and spaces.

The way in which a gallery is created affects how the audience views the artwork. A “white cube” environment allows the audience to focus on individual paintings and admire their excellence. However, these galleries tend to blend in with other galleries and do not stand out. Unique and different galleries are enjoyable and can help promote a theme. They can also become overwhelming and cause the audience to overlook certain artworks. Both environments can work but I believe its effectiveness depends on what artwork is being displayed.

You can’t think about New York City and not think about the beautiful artwork all over the city. The art culture in New York City is essential to New Yorkers’ culture. There are several excellent museums in New York City but you do not need to go to art galleries in order to increase your art knowledge. Public art is prevalent and breath taking throughout the city. According to Kwon, there are three types of public art: art In Places, art as spaces, and new genre public art. Art in places has no relation to the space and has a humanizing aspect to a depressing urban environment. Art as spaces is artwork created for the site and the community. New genre public art is artwork that combats social issues and promotes action by the community.

You enter 14^thsquare park and immediately are drawn to the trees and plants all around you. The loud cries of joy from the kids in the playground and the dogs playfully barking at one another. City buildings and traffic surround the park and the car horns can still be heard. A large statue is surrounded by a green chairs with people talking and eating their food. The smell of their food along with the smell of groceries from the front of the park is in the air. Standing in the shade I can now admire the tall statue. It has a large concrete base. Across the base is stars all around the base. As my eye shifts upward I see a tall individual which is easily recognizable as Abraham Lincoln. He is made of bronze which has decayed to almost a dark green color. Uniquely, he was dressed in a cape over his suit. He is standing with confidence and one arm bent and his hand placed right where his chest and abdomens meet. In his other hand he is holding an envelope with his arm straight. His seriousness and his strong personality can be shown in his face features. His wrinkles demonstrates his wise appearances and his hair looks clean and dignified. The size of the statue demands the audiences’ attention in the beautiful park.

The artwork is entitled Abraham Lincoln was created by Henry Kirke Brown in 1869. I think this artwork is art in places. Abraham Lincoln has no direct relation to the location and wasn’t made for the community. Initially the statue was not located in the park. It originally stood on southwest corner of Union Square. The artwork has some interaction with the site. The artwork is situated in the middle of the walkway. People passing by are forced to pay attention to the statue. There are also chairs for individuals to sit and eat but they can also admire the statue too. The artist and the funding body, initially the Union League Club, does not play a role in the meaning of the piece. I believe that the statue was built to honor one of our great presidents and to teach the youth about him.

You get off at bowling green station and walk through battery park. You admire the scenery which is filled with trees and beautiful plants. As you walk by you can see the ocean and the Staten Island Ferry. As you approach the artwork you have a beautiful sight of the World Trade Center and the buildings surrounding it. Bikers pass by you going towards the bike trails. The air smells like oysters from the restaurant near by and the ocean in the distance. The Ferry horn and the helicopters distract the viewers attention momentarily. As you shift your attention towards the artwork your eye may see a spark of green. There are several tilted aluminum objects with holes in them. At first they look like cheese graders which are all different sizes. At a second glance you get hit with several small bright colors. The holes on the aluminum objects are filled with small clear glass balls. These glass balls reflect different bright lights into your eyes. As you move your eyes you see blue, green, purple, red, orange, and yellow lights. These lights give off a glare like street lamps at night.

The artwork entitled “Sunrise, Sunset (Revolution)” was created by Autumn Ewalt & Dharmesh Patel in partnership with Battery Park City Authority. I believe this artwork is art in places. The artwork does not connect with the site or the community. I originally viewed it as all the secret beauties in the city. With all the magnificent things in the city there is still small beauties in the city. However, upon further research the aluminum panels reflect the earth is spinning on axis traveling around the sun. The artwork is scattered in an empty space an seems random to viewers. People passing by are draw to the bright lights. This artwork attracts viewers and often makes them stand and look to see if they can see different colors. The artists identity does not play a role in the viewers understanding of the piece.

The artworks I encountered had similarities and differences. Both works were art in places but differed in the type of art. The Abraham Lincoln statue was a realistic life like statue. While the Sunrise, Sunset (Revolution) is an abstract form of art. The statue makes clear what they want the viewer to see and take away from the piece. The Sunrise, Sunset (Revolution) allows the viewer to interpret any way they chose. The artwork allows the viewer to input their own interpretation of the artwork. Both artworks had their own beauty and deserve admiration from the communities.

https://collections.frick.org/objects/151/the-comte-and-chevalier-de-choiseul-as-savoyards

https://www.frick.org/visit/museum/faq

Information:

The artist of this artwork is Francois-Hubert Drouais who created this piece in 1758. This beautiful illustration was created by oil on a canvas. Francois-Hubert Drouais was born in France and was famous during his time and produced works for clients such as the French’s royal family. Some of his most accomplished artworks are “Family Portrait”, “Madame de Pompadour at her Tambour Frame”, and “Portrait of a Young Women as a Vestal Virgin”. Francois-Hubert Drouais was best known for his portraits especially of little children.

Analysis:

The dog in this piece immediately grasped my attention. The dog was more realistic than the little boys in my opinion. The hair that was hanging off the dog’s arm and its floppy ears made the dog’s fur look very realistic. The color resembles what a real dog looks like. The dog does not have emphasized body parts but his eyes tell a story. The dog is looking up to a young boy and I viewed the dog as upset. With the paw in the boy’s hand, the dog looks at the boy and seems to be begging for attention. While the boys look at the painter and point to the box the dog remains focused on the boy. The dog’s main priority is the boy and it seems like nothing could distract him. The boys seem very distracted and the dog is their last concern which is why the dog is upset. This painting seems like a mimesis and Francois-Hubert Drouais was trying to recreate what was right in front of his eyes. The boys, the setting, and the dog are all extremely realistic and the artist had great skill in order to produce this artwork. My reaction towards the piece is it was beautifully executed and shows the dog and the boys’ relationship while being a mimesis.