“Field Trip 1”

“Art and Identity: The Museum of Modern Art”
Visiting The Museum Of Modern Art was a great experience. I got to see so many types of art such as paintings, sculptures, photographs, installations, and sketches. It was definitely better then viewing works of art through a computer screen. I had the chance to view the creativity of many artist up close and for some art works, I got to feel the texture. Each work of art displayed identifies the artist , whether their cultural, personal, or historical identity.
             The first work of art that caught my eye was a piece from Frida Kahlo's , "Fulang-Chang and I". This oil painting identifies a part of her personal life. It is a portrait of herself with on of her pet monkey's. Many believe her pet monkey's sort of replaced the void space she may have had due to the fact that she wasn't able to conceive children. In my opinion after reading the description of Frida's artwork , the meaning that came to me was that she illustrated that she was strong in dealing with the unfortunate fact that she could not have children. Although she couldn't have the satisfaction of raising a child she still managed to move on with her pet monkey's.
              The next work of art titled "Collective Suicide" created by David Alfaro Siquieros represents a period in History. The Spanish Civil war to be exact , which started on 1936 and ended in 1939. This artwork depicts what David Alfaro Siquiero saw in the battlefield. The left side are Chichimec Indians committing suicide so they would have to surrender to the Invading Spanish Conquistadors which are found in the lower right of the artwork. This was one point of view from the Spanish civil war that Siquieros witnessed while he served as a soldier against fascist forces.
               The last artwork I choose titled "Zapatistas"  created by Jose Clemente Orozco sort of has a perspective of culture. Orozco experienced a part of the Mexican Revolution and this could have been a scene he saw in his experience. It shows Zapatistas(A group of followers of Revolutionary leader Zapata) marching to their deaths. The men were fellow Mexican's that may have been people he knew and he witnessed their butchery deaths. The blacks and earthy reds he used captures violent experiences in the war.
              The examples I have given show how the artist portray their personal life, culture , and historical events in their art works. These artist show how art can be a way tell a story without having to include words. Through their perspective viewer's get an idea of what the artist saw and /or experienced in the events or situations they have been through.

Frida Kahlo
"Fulang-Chang and I"
 In two parts, oil on composition board (1937) with painted mirror frame (added after 1939); and mirror with painted mirror frame (after 1939)
 1937 (assembled after 1939)

David Alfaro Siquieros
"Collective Suicide"
Lacquer on wood with applied sections
1936

Jose Clemente Orozco
Zapatistas
 Oil on canvas
1931

Narrative Digital Collage

In this collage you can see a few things that catch my interest which tell you a little about my life. To start off , the background image, it is a picture of Times Square. Although I do not like crowded places, I like coming to this location to just take in the sights. Next, the Pikachu, although it was one of my favorite shows that I use to watch when I was younger , it is a representation of myself. Pikachu looks lazy in this picture which shows that I'm a lazy guy as well. The Beatles are one of the groups of musicians that I listen to a lot. Their music always seems to put me in a good mood. Behind the image of The Beatles is a NYC N train. The N train represents the train that takes me home which is Astoria. I've lived in Astoria all my life and never plan on leaving it. I included a picture of myself dressed in a suit because I dress up in a suit most of the time I go out to a party which is often. Located at the bottom of the collage are DJ turntables which just show what I like to do in my spare time. I practice mixing music on an app in my phone and occasionally get to practice on my cousins turntables. The wolf represents the kind of person I am. A wolf is part of a wolf pack and I usually like to be with a group of people when I go out. The speakers are for the music I hear. When I listen to music I like to raise the volume up to the point where I am feeling the music vibrate through my body. The images on top of the collage are the house from the movie "Up" and my favorite superhero from when I was a kid, Batman. The house from "Up" is just there to show the viewers that it is one of my favorite movies.

Good Art V.S. Bad Art

In my opinion the best type of art is found in the streets. I sometimes find myself looking at street art the way people admire art piece's in museums. All the graffiti that is found on most buildings always attract my attention. The images always show me the creativity of "ordinary" people that aren't acknowledged for their talent. Then again this is only my opinion, what I call art is considered vandalism to others. A lot of this "vandalism" is inspiring to many people. Every time I look at graffiti it lets my imagination run freely and seems to give me a certain inspiration.

Simple but this is what I call good art

Now for "Bad" art. This is were so many people will get upset but I do not consider portraits good art. I see the point it sets out to give but it does not catch my attention. I feel as if art has to let you wonder , imagine, and inspire. Portraits do not do any of those three things mentioned to me. The bore me. I feel as if it doesn't show me the imagination of the artist. I get that it tells a small story of the person but sometimes I just want to come up with my own conclusions with whats going on and not have to have it explained.

In my opinion bad art