Cy Twombly

Cy Twombly

The Artist:

Cy Twombly was born in Lexington, Virginia in 1928. At the age of 14 Twombly began to take painting classes as well as attending lectures for four years. In the late 1940’s Twombly began to gain interest in German expressionism as well as Dada art work. (cytwombly.info ) After moving to Georgia Twombly found an opening in an art program in Washington and Lee University lead Twombly to move to New York City. In 1952 Twombly travel via a grant from the Richmond Museum of Fine Arts and between1952-1957.  In 1957 he left to live in Italy and a year later he had his first exhibit it Rome at the Galleria La Tartaruga. Twombly traveled to many places but always returned to New York City. Twombly created many pieces throughout his career and has work in many museums in the world. Passing away just under a year ago Cy Twombly left behind a great amount of work that continues to catch many views attention with his type of work that he expressed through out each piece. Although at first glance his work may be somewhat strange it definitely holds the power to want to see more. 

The Work:

This piece was created in 1992; it consists of wood, plastic leaves, plaster, and paint. I wanted to see what other piece of work was done by Twombly and this piece of work was a little easier to create meaning for. Each one of the elements holds a different use outside of this piece of work, although you could find the objects to be a part of a house or structure. When separated each piece that makes this work of art really nice to enjoy, by themselves conveys no strong meeting.

My Reaction:

Thinking back to the paintings in the dedicated space in the Philadelphia Museum of Art that to me clearly describe a troubled person, it was very intriguing to be able to see different variation in works of art that do not seem to be developed out of anger. During my research I found an enormous amount of work that deals with sculptures that were made of different and random materials. With most of them being untitled it is very difficult to tell the direction of each piece or even the influence behind them, which I believe may have something to do with the corresponding title of untitled. With the work of art that I chose it brings in two elements that make this sculpture have such a contrast in symbolism, but just as much may have changed the characteristics of each of the poetic meanings. Taking a flower and placing it in such a solid and ridged structure creates an instance that would seem impossible to find outside of the art work. Although a flower is corresponded with being delicate the form was changed when it appears to be stiffened with paint poured over top of it and left to dry, on the other hand the wooden box that is covered in plaster appears to look similar to a brick loses it ridged ness with the excess dripping of paint rolling down the side almost as if it is melting.

WORK CITED:

"Cy Twombly Biography." Cy Twombly Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 June 2012. <http://www.cytwombly.info/twombly_biography.htm>.

"NGA - Twombly: Early Years and Education." NGA - Twombly: Early Years and Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 June 2012. <http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2001/twombly/twombly2.shtm>.

Carrie Mae Weems Untitled ( Kitchen Series)

The Artist:

Carrie Mae Weems was born in Portland, Oregon in 1953. Before becoming a teenager Carrie Mae began to have an interest in the art of theater and dance. At the age of 16 years old she had her first child. Two years later Carrie Mae moved to San Francisco, then New York with her daughter, but didn't have much luck finding a job so she ended back up in San Francisco. As a birthday gift Carrie received her first camera in 1973. Shortly after beginning her education in photography and design Carrie later earns her bachelors degree at California Institute of the Arts in 1981, then in 1984 her masters from UC, lastly earning her doctorate in 1999. Between the time of her education Carrie Mae had many pieces of work that are now an inspiration to women photographers. Receiving her first major commission Carrie moved to Paris in 1993, then again steps back into New York by 1995 in which he marries Jeff Hoone. Carrie Mae Weems has many of her pieces in travels exhibits as well as exhibits all over the United States. At 59 Carrie is still using photography to empower those around her with her latest pieces on anti-violence, which is a public art project named Operation: Active.

The Work:

The photograph I selected is one shot from a series of work that I think fits very well with my topic of love. The series Untitled (kitchen table series)is a four-part tableau presenting characters in a domestic drama. Focusing on the intimate relationship of an educated working class black women and the space of a kitchen, the series addresses the themes of marriage, friendship, children, and loneliness. (Arnason 765) I felt a great sense of the lack of emotional and physical love between a married couple. The background shows a women who has taken herself to what she would believe to become a more desirable level for her husband, but in which his response shows no interest at all. Along with her expression the pose in which she is standing in gives her much of her character that you can almost read her mind in the amount of disbelief she is in. I also believe the lighting in this piece plays role in poetic imagery as the light fades her into the back ground matching the thoughts of her husband. In reverse the bright light is streaming down over top of the mans head as if the women was hoping that the light above his head signaling that he has some type of active thoughts and doesn't care to stare lifelessly into a newspaper. The empty chair to the right of the table adds a bit of emotion to the scene because it seems as though there are no other chairs around and the same emptiness of the chairs can play off of the woman's emptiness as the presents her sexual frustration. Her work has continued to have a unique power to embody difficult social truths and deep personal experiences. (Canning 55)

My Reaction:

This photograph caught my eye because it felt realistic in its emotion. I believe that this is a photograph that many married individuals can relate to. Love being an emotion can create many negative or positive emotions depending on the current standing of a relationship. Love is a very powerful part of people that can be carried into many motives that other emotions feed off of. I felt as though this photograph depicts the separation of a married couple in a way that isn't usually looked at and is so relevant to many times to come in married lives. Although times have changed you can replace the news paper with a newer technology and you will still fell the strong amount of tension between that man and women. Over all I believe that Carrie Mae Weems is a brilliant Photographer and her work shows a side that I haven't seen before in photography. Weems directs the viewer to those aspects of African American life that she deems important. (Arnason 765)

Work Cited:

Arnason, H. Harvard., and Elizabeth Mansfield. History of Modern Art: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Photography. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2010. Print.

Goodlin, Lisa. "Carrie Mae Weems." Carrie Mae Weems. Web. 07 June 2012. <http://carriemaeweems.net/>.

Harper, Glenn. Interventions and Provocations: Conversations on Art, Culture, and Resistance. Albany, NY: State University of New York, 1998. Print.