Week 4

 The Cindy Sherman Effect 

"Now we all take it for granted that a photograph can be Photoshopped. We live in the era of YouTube fame and reality-TV shows and makeovers, where you can be anything you want to be any minute of the day, and artists are responding to that. Cindy was one of the first to explore the idea of the malleability or fluidity of identity.”

"Says Julie Heffernan, “I remember how exciting it was to see Cindy Sherman’s work for the first time, to walk into a gallery and see, all of a sudden, a room full of women’s faces. Disguised or not, it was thrilling. Here we were, women coming out of the woodwork. She mirrored my state of mind at the time, a woman artist who was tired of all the bravado of the male-dominated art world.”

The Ugly Beauty of Sherman Effect

"her images are so foundational to feminist art criticism, to notions of the “male gaze,” that it can be difficult to see them for themselves — they come to us encrusted with theory. Sherman herself is reluctant to discuss the meaning of her work; she is amused by the interpretive frenzy it provokes."

"She wore men’s clothes when she left the apartment, when she managed to leave at all. Longo remembered her getting made up and being too frightened to go out. She would hide in her room and play dress-up, and she began taking photographs of the characters she was creating."

 Danielle Scott: Kinfolk

In Danielle Scott's Exhibition: Kinfolk, there were many works of art that showcased the lives of African Americans and what they have been through or aspire. These pieces of art send out a powerful message in just photograph form that show the struggle, exhaustion, and power these individuals possess, and Scott depicted that perfectly. There were two main pieces that have caught my attention, and these were the Queen of Angels, 2020 and MaDear Seamstress, 2022. Although all of Scotts’ pieces were remarkably incredible and have many different stories and points of view, I felt as if I can relate to some. These artworks can be interpreted in many ways or even be connected to oneself which makes even more powerful in meaning. Scott is an activist and a storyteller if these peoples lives just like many of us are as well without even knowing it.

Queen of Angels, 2020
Mixed medium assemblage on vintage iron board

Starting off with the Queen of Angels, 2020. This piece is a mixed medium assemblage on a vintage iron board. The photograph shows a woman walking on what appears to be newspaper as she wears a shirt that has faces of individuals who she can possibly know. Above her head there is a halo made out of sunflowers: if one knows the sunflower is symbolic for vitality, intelligence, and happiness above all. However, there is a twist in this piece because it is a shape of a halo which is significant for one being holy or spiritually lead. If one looks closely to the woman’s facial expression she is not showing a smile but surrounding her is all sources of happiness and memories; the way I interpret this art piece is that a woman is walking through life with struggle but that does not stop her from seeking happiness and freedom as she carries the images of her loved on her shirt (heart) leaving behind the exhaustion which is represented from her stepping on the newspapers. One does not know the struggle anyone goes through unless said out loud but Scott uses different colors and incorporates symbolism into her artwork to convey a message that leaves one being able to connect with the artwork.

MaDear Seamstress, 2022
Mixed medium assemblage and resin

The next art piece that caught my attention was MaDear Seamstress, 2022. This piece was one of my favorites because I was able to connect with it from my own personal experience. This is a mixed medium assemblage and resin, it shows a elderly woman sitting on a chair depicting an older life. When I saw this, I immediately thought of my own grandparents and the stories they have shared with me of struggle, exhaustion, and lastly hope. My grandmother immigrated to the United States when she was 27 years old leaving behind 2 of her children in Ecuador just until she could find a way to bring them as soon as she was settled. She explained her experiences of why she wanted a better life for her and her children to be able to live life with as many opportunities; however, leaving behind a child and entering a new world (country) is not as easy as it is said. My grandmother exhausted herself day and night to earn a living to get her children into the states and after restless nights and many lawyers later, her hope became a reality. Although the artwork of Scott in MaDear Seamstress, 2022 is indicated for different purposes, one can relate it to any form of struggle. Viewing this image, you can see the woman in the picture is exhausted by the look in her eyes and what appears to be eye bags underneath.

Overall, I felt as though this exhibition was amazing to say the least. I felt connected to these pieces and learned more about the lives of others through an image. Every artist uses their talents to convey feelings or express themselves or even to bring awareness to anything they feel passionate about. Scott has done a wonderful job with this exhibition and left me wanted to explore more on different cultures/ artworks and wanting to see what more is out there.

"Through her eyes"
Inspired by MaDear Seamstress, 2022