Gallery of Stuff That Looks Cool

A Logo for America by Alfredo Jaar

This one caught by eye in particular because I liked the look of it, but I also really liked the message. America (as in the United States) is super divided in itself and we’re so vitriolic toward one another, this message of a more unified and inclusive America. Plus, the idea that we use America as just referring to the US is kinda weird to me. We should include All countries in North America and South America, because they are still “America”.

Another Day by Paul Ramirez Jonas

So this one caught my eye for two reasons. The first is that it’s technology, and I really like technology. The another thing is, like the last one, I like the message. The picture is a little blurry so I’ll describe that the screens display countries and their sunrise times, and the names disappear when said sunrise does happen. According to the gallery, the piece is supposed to blur the lines between countries and political boundaries, much like the last picture. Again, I really appreciate a more globalist view of the world, so this speaks to me in a way.

One of the Lost Frescoes of Palazzo Archinto

So I don’t really have anything deep or profound to say about the specific piece of art, I just really liked the look of it. It seems like something I’d like to own in my house and look at every once in a while. So yeah, that’s it.

Andiron

So this is another piece that just kind of caught my eye. Apparently it’s one of a pair. Both statues seem identical to me based on the pictures. It looks really cool, I like the intricate designs a lot. So yeah, enjoyed this one.

Galaxy M87

I was really surprised to find this little piece. If you don’t know, it’s the famous black hole picture that was taken last year. It’s the only photograph we have of an actual black hole. I was super interested in this when it came out, and it’s a huge scientific achievement. Even though I consider things like this more science than art, I can respect the claim of being legitimate art.

Time Is Up 2 by Sara Cwynar

So this piece was another one that caught my eye because it just looked cool. In particular, this one reminds me of a set of photos a photographer released that were deleted from her computer and subsequently recovered, but were partially overwritten, creating this corrupted, glitchy appearance. This piece reminds me of that, and I like the style so it caught my eye.

Airport Goodbye by Shahidul Alam

So this is another piece in which the message really resonated. The photo is of a man and woman, in which one is leaving their home country of Bangladesh to find opportunities in other parts of the world. According to the gallery, there’s a message about borders creating distance between us, but I can’t help but think about everyone who had to deal with a similar situation, where they left everything they knew and love because the poor opportunities in their countries forced them to find those opportunities elsewhere. It really is a sad situation, and one that made me think for a good while.

Touching of Hands by Genesis Breyer P-Orridge and Daniel Albrigio

So I could go off on a tangent about the message, of which talks about wisdom only being passed through the touching of hands, but the real reason I chose this piece is because I just couldn’t help but think of the current pandemic and how disconnected we are from each other. Plus you’re apparently supposed to shake hands with the statue, which is going to be a hard pass for most people after the pandemic is over, and that made me chuckle a little.

National Anthem (Jacksonville Jaguars) by Kota Ezawa

Admittedly, I know nothing about football, but this picture is more about current events anyway. After all the injustice in this country, especially racial injustice, I noticed that a bunch of football teams would kneel during the National Anthem in a football game as a sign of protest. This seems to be a drawing of one of those protests. With all the division and tension that this country is going through from these injustices as well as the pandemic, it’s tough not to think about, so of course the piece caught my eye. I think it’s great that people are finally starting to really take notice to all the racism and injustice that happens in this country.

United States Capitol, Washington D.C. by Josh Kline

So the museum catalog doesn’t say anything about this piece, so I’m going to do a little art analysis. This piece caught my eye because of the statement that this piece makes, and that statement is, as I perceive it, that with the government is disarray, it seems like the whole thing is “drowning”. That being said, with the constant butting of heads in Congress and Beyond, it’s tough to disagree with the piece or, if I’m misinterpreting, me. That’s what  I think anyway, and it’s why it caught my eye.