Author: dannyfarran
Teju Cole and Raghubir Singh
Unfortunately, I was not able to make it to The Exterminating Angel, but I was able to see the exhibit Modernism on the Ganges by Raghubir Singh and I do see the points that Teju Cole made in his essay. When looking at some of McCurry’s more notable photographs they seem fraudulent and more like artwork. I don’t see life when looking at them. I see a still frame with poses not conveying any natural emotions. McCurry’s photographs, although beautiful, feel too forced. Cole is right, Singh’s photographs “[draw] a breathtaking coherence out of the chaos of the everyday.” Sing’s work is more insightful and encapsulates reality because reality is not all glam and artsy. I don’t mean to be critiquing McMurray’s work and deciding it to be inferior to Singh’s work because it is a stylistic approach. But, I, much like Cole, prefer a more lively picture that evokes emotion. I don’t find myself as infatuated with the picture of the Afghan girl that McCurry took as I am with something like Singh’s Subhas Chandra Bose Statue. Singh’s photograph brings out the hectic nature of the city he’s photographing. Singh’s photo may not be aesthetically pleasing but it is far more interesting. Comparison of the two could best be described like this: compare the paintings of the coalition war where forces were glorified to the works found in the twentieth century like Guernica depicting the horrors of the Spanish Civil War. There is a complete change in feel. From proud and dignified to grotesque and blood curdling. Singh’s work isn’t grotesque, but it is a different way to depict people and life that in my opinion is better suited for such a task. Singh’s photographs seem more truthful and honest to the day to day life of the people he captures; not withholding any details that might bother the viewed or detract from the photos beauty. Singh’s photos are dedicated to every aspect of life that appear in front of him.
The National Archives
To the National Archives of New York City,
I find great pleasure when I walk the halls of the Historic Alexander Hamilton U.S. Customs House in Bowling Green. The history that surrounds the building and the history kept within the building astonishes me. I believe it is the only place in New York City where you can walk in and come out with a copy of a New York Times article detailing Kafka’s death, court record, naturalization records, pictures of historical events, and even more. I feel at home in such a place being such a passionate fan of history. I think the best part of the Archives is that all the resources are provided free of charge. I have attempted to access databases and rarely are they free and as complete as the ones present at the Archives.
But I do find fault with the Archives and that is its difficult to locate. It shares a building with the National Museum of the American Indian. That specific portion of the building has a large banner plastered outside the building letting everyone who passes know what is there, however, the Archive’s own banner is much smaller. Additionally, a google search of the area surrounding the archives yields no results. The Archives is overshadowed by its neighbor and all the more iconic building in Manhattan. To find the Archive, one must be deliberately searching for it. There are so many opportunities, resources, and activities at the National Archives. The community could make beneficial use of such, but to even gather information of the place becomes an onerous task. Why is that when one searches for the Natural History Museum the New York Historical Society appears but when one searches for the National Museum of the American Indian the only neighbor that appears is the Charging Bull?
The Website is fairly active and all the information one would need is present there. But how would one even know there is a website? I passed by the building who knows how many times without knowing that the National Archives were there. It was not until I went on a trip with my history teacher to the archives that I learned of its existence. Prior to that I, a history loving student, had no knowledge at all. I find this really unfortunate. Even after my first visit, I thought the Archives were closed to private use. It was not until after a few visits that I learned it was open to public. This information needs to be more public and more opportunities should be given to students to visit the location.
The best way to combat that would be a number of things. First, the banner must be improved so that both locations recieve equal publicity. I actually came across the National Museum of the American Indian due to their large banner and that is how I became aware of that museum. Another action that would help would be some kind of advertising campaign. It doesn’t have to be excessive with TV commercials and posters everywhere. Something as simple as having ambassadors travel to schools, colleges, and other community centers and discussing the resources available at the archives. Third, host events such as National History Day! Brings students to the location and educate them about the purpose of the Archives. During my times there I only saw the elderly making use of the location and even then their numbers were sparse. Any sort of work to increase awareness for the Archives would be beneficial!
With many thanks,
Danny Farran
Open Letter National Archives
To the National Archives of New York City,
I find great pleasure when I walk the halls of the Historic Alexander Hamilton U.S. Customs House in Bowling Green. The history that surrounds the building and the history kept within the building astonishes me. I believe it is the only place in New York City where you can walk in and come out with a copy of a New York Times article detailing Kafka’s death, court record, naturalization records, pictures of historical events, and even more. I feel at home in such a place being such a passionate fan of history. I think the best part of the Archives is that all the resources are provided free of charge. I have attempted to access databases and rarely are they free and as complete as the ones present at the Archives.
But I do find fault with the Archives and that is its difficult to locate and there is a complete lack of advertisement for the location. It shares a building with the National Museum of the American Indian. That specific portion of the building has a large banner plastered outside the building letting everyone who passes know what there, however, the Archive is not advertised in any way. There are so many opportunities, resources, and activities at the National Archives and yet due to the lack of outreach they are left in the shadows.
The Website is fairly active and all the information one would need is present there. But how would one even know there is a website? I passed by the building who knows how many times without knowing that the National Archives were there. Google does not list the National archives as a museum. The only time the National Archives appear on a google search is when you specifically search up “NYC National Archives”. It was not until I went on a trip with my history teacher to the archives that I learned of its existence. Prior to that I, a history loving student, had no knowledge at all. I find this really unfortunate.
The best way to combat that would be a number of things. First of all, place a sign that let people now where you are on the building the archives are located at. If I had seen a building I would have become curios and visit and or research the location. I actually came across the National Museum of the American Indian due to their large banner and that is how I became aware of that museum. Another action that would help would be some kind of advertising campaign. It doesn’t have to be excessive with TV commercials and posters everywhere. Something as simple as having ambassadors travel to schools, colleges, and other community centers and discussing the resources available at the archives. Any sort of work to increase awareness for the Archives would be beneficial!
Cordially,
Danny Farran
Aterrizaje
This set of five pieces by Francisco Donoso instantly attracted me. They looked like something out of a Pink Floyd album. I couldn’t but feel transported to some mystical and ethereal landscape. The colors were vibrant and I just couldn’t look away. I know originally I was supposed to spend about 8 seconds looking at the pieces but I know I spent far more. I did not try to analyze them instead I just admired the work. Layers upon layers made to create the illusion of a three dimensional image; so real that I felt that I could stick my hand in. The vibrant colors only added to the dreamscape that I saw. I just could not help but stand there in awe staring at the pieces.
I then decided to take a closer look at the artworks. I saw connections throughout all of them. For some pieces it was a giant web all meeting at one intersection and others there was a center focus and everything was leading to it. Focusing specifically on Landscape, also known as Aterrizaje, the layers give the illusion of depth. Each layer closing in slowly into a blank center. The center is pure white. In relation to the theme of the exhibit I see the layers as the diverse makeup of America with the blank in the center representing the “heart of America”: White America. I’m still not sure what to make of the three blobs I can only assume that they represent individuals looking at the makeup of America.
Another piece in the collection that I was enamored by was Celestial Hood. Again I see the large interconnected web present. However, in this piece something is missing though; there are large sections where no trails are present. The web is not complete. Perhaps this is the disconnect between society and the marginalized minority. The dark colors present in this piece play to a feeling of sorrow. But, the different shades of blue and the crimson red meld together perfectly there is no conflict with the colors and that is unity among the minorities. It seems that the only portions of the piece that are separated are the those chunks without any trails.
My favorite piece was Origin. In that piece I saw the symbolic stripes of the flag of the United States. Again the interconnected web is present. This time complete but, in the center again is a white blob. The surrounding segments of the web are different colors and some mixing together. The red stripes make it fairly obvious that the piece is critiquing American society. While everything is connected there are clear differences among the segments those segments then branch off into separate segments. American society is connected however not unified.
A common theme in Francisco Donoso’s is the lack of unity in America. America is a giant web but there are differences amongst the population and so much so that separations occur. I see racial and social separations in these works and after looking at them for such a long time the mystical feeling is gone and instead sorrow and anger appear. I still enjoy the work but after the long analysis I began to view the works in a different light.
64th St.
18th avenue was a commercial area thriving on small businesses. Unfortunately due to rampant consumerism a lot of these businesses were run out by larger corporations. In the video you can see some remnants of the old neighborhood. You also see the presence of chain stores that are competing with the remaining businesses. Recently a Target has been placed in the neighborhood. Yet all this goes largely unnoticed by a majority of people who do not even realize the risk it poses to their day to day life. Most would prefer to get a cheap meal at a chain restaurant than to support a family working their restaurant. I consider it a miracle that the area still has a good number of small businesses but I am not sure how much longer it will be like that.
A Storm in the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rosalie
Looking out into the horizon; not really knowing what awaits in the unknown. The allure of wonder fascinated me as a child; whether it was looking to the skies and into the stars or below the sea beyond the reach of any man. My eyes fled the existence of the familiar around me and instead searched for the unknown.
In the past I often looked back to the days of exploration and imagined myself a doughty explorer who feared nothing. No land too wild to be tamed. No person mighty or brawny enough to halt my journey. Nothing could stop me in my tracks. I clad with a musket and loyal crew of men explore the lands unbeknownst to even the mightiest sailors and explorer. Heading westward before any even conceived the thought of the manifest destiny.
I find it funny, now that I have grown much older and have long abandoned the thought of exploration and adventure, that the only image to emerge when reminiscing of my youth is A Storm in the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rosalie. A quite dramatic piece that brought forth this idea of a large untamed expanse that lay in wait for a heroic young voyager, like myself, to claim it’s ripe treasure. I was exposed to this piece at a young age due to its home being the nearest museum to me. I did not know what initially caught my eye but I knew instantly that I was enamored of it. Perhaps it was the sunlight th
at illuminated valley. I always recall it being brighter than it really is. Maybe it was the shambolic way the trees were depicted. Actually, I do think it was the sunlight. It adds that dramatic flair to the piece and induces a sensation of grandeur. And as time went by my interpretation of it changed from land waiting for me, to Gandalf and Erkenbrand’s band flanking the vastly superior Urak-hai army at the Battle of Hornburg, to what I see now: a gateway to a memory.
Of course this was before I learned of the cruelty of these explorers and lamented the suffering of the indigenous people. My attitudes shifted from exploration to repair. I have not abandoned the unexplored frontiers but I do not look to them with same fascination that I had when I was a child. Now I am a man of politics and philanthropy. I still am a staunch advocate for the study and exploration of our seas and of space but no longer do I wish to do the exploration. Instead I would rather push progress from the ground with policy and grassroots organizing. I would rather develop our society and fix the issues that have been and are becoming prominent. So while a tempest may be brewing just beyond the skyline the sun will be there to remind me of dreams; the dreams I once had and what they mean to me now. For now the discovery that awaits me is no unruly strand of distant land but instead remedies for our concurrent affairs. My dream is now of an idyll nation and hopefully that could extend to the world. And knowing just how unlikely it is to come true I still seek solace in the idea that I can move mankind up the stairway of progress; even it be one step of thousands. Hope still stands by my side and when I think of hope I see Bierstadt’s sun from A Storm in the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rosalie shining through the mountain range as a tempest brew just over the skyline. And so, that sunlight that I was enamored of as a child still infatuates me. Then there’s a little part of me that still thinks of Gandalf.
