I visited the Wadsworth Atheneum alone. My family had other plans and I needed some quiet time so it all worked out to my advantage. I have always admired the museum, its architecture is quite imposing, but I have never visited before now. Finally the chance to explore this magnificent structure. As I walked up the steps and entered the foyer, I was greeted by a vibrant mix of color on th left hand side of the wall. The swirl of colors had an immediate effect on my spirit. The receptionist was genuinely pleasant and helpful.
The Wadsworth Atheneum was built in 1884 and it is the oldest public Museum of Art in the United States. It was built by Alexander Jackson Davis and the 'castle' was designed by Ithiel Town.The architectural style is Gothic Revival. The museum was constructed on the property of Daniel Wadsworth. Daniel Wadsworth was an affluent member of the community and wanted to share his love of the arts with his friends and neighbors.
The collection is seeped in history and culture that spans over five thousand years. The museum is said to have fifty thousand objects from various period including Renaissance, Baroque, French American Impressionists and African American Art and artifacts. There is also a display of eighteen century procelains. The museum is under new construction and certain sections are not available for public viewing. Nevertheless I was quite impressed by the exhibits I did see.
The artist I would like to focus on at this point is Robert Colescott. The painting that captured my attention the most is "Sixth Sense 1992". The medium is acrylic on canvas and the painting depicts the negative ways in which African Americans are sometimes perceived by others. That despite the fact that slavery has long been abolished the shackles somehow have remained intact in other ways. Robert Colescott is well known for his satirical view. The painting shows black figures with their expressionless faces and mouths taped shut. His use of of primary colors with his subjects all clustered together gives the art work a sense of urgency, like there is no escaping the urgency of the message he is trying to convey. A very powerful and sad image . It is thought provoking but at the same time it is also a reminder that as a people we can continue to rise and attain great heights.
Mr Colescott was born in California in 1925. He was a World War II Veteran and served in Europe. He earned a bachelors in Painting and Drawing and later a Masters Degree in 1952. He taught art for many years at Berkley, Cairo, Portland State and Tucson Universities. Robert often explored satire and crowds invoked with comical undertones. He studied under Fernand Leger in Paris and represented his country proudly in the Art World. Robert Colescott was considered a" figurative painter". His works can be found at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and other museums across the united States.
References:
http://www.iub.edu/~iuam/online_modules/aaa/artists/colescott.html
http://www.wikipedia.com
http://www.WadsworthAtheneum.org
Nicely done, Claudia! you have covered all of the main points of that I outlined in the template. Your writing is clear and lucid, and you have used your references appropriately.
ReplyDeleteIn order to do a better job with the photography. You might want to download the very excellent and free photo editing software from Google called Picasa3. with it, you can crop your picture and rotate them and improve the light and color. When you take your picture, stand squarely in front of your painting, take your time, and gently and slowly squeeze the shutter button so as not to shake the camera when the shutter goes off. Do a couple of close-ups and details of your piece as well and try to address a few details in your writing.