Kaitlyn Arroyo
Professor Cacoilo
Self Image: I
February 20th, 2022
My American Stitches Flag (2021) Mixed Media
BURN: Origins and Resistance
Dr. Antoinette Ellis-Williams is a Chair and Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies. I was highly intrigued to learn that she was our new artist for this week's lesson. Miss Williams created the BURN: Origins and Resistance exhibit found in New Jersey City University and remains there for local students to view in the Visual Arts Gallery. What makes William's so unique and stand out from other artists who present the same genre of artistry, is that she works at the college, and hosts monthly seminars to talk about and share her artwork to inspire students who are willing to learn more about her.
Artist Antoinette Ellis-Williams wanted to create an exhibit that embodied her culture and tested the boundaries of growth and triumph over an African American woman. The BURN project was meant to shed light on the culture for African Americans while embracing the American way of life when traveling here. Williams interviewed 14 different women who spoke about their own experiences of the "burn," and what it truly means to reminisce on the past and speak on behalf of their own personal struggles. When we talk about the burn, it is associated with fire. Fire spreads and leaves scars that heal over time, but it is never the same again. That's the analogy I believe is presented and correlates with her work.
Upon exploring the artworks of Williams, there were two portraits that captivated my attention. Both had a sense of familiarity and warm presence to it. Autumn's Fire/Breonna's Forest is a landscape portrait created with acrylic paints and cold wax on canvas. Different mediums were used to affect the texture and color of the art. Primary colors were blended together to get those layers of purple, green, and orange values. The way the painting provoked the viewer by the use of color schemes and brush strokes gave texture to the piece when viewing it closely. At first glance, you don't know what you're looking at, which is common for Miss Williams' work because it is to be determined by the viewer alone. Everyone interprets things differently, so when we imagine things we're able to make sense of it. In the image, I can clearly visualize a river that overtakes the majority of the painting. There are trees scattered around to bring the focal point into view.
My American Stitches Flag is created by the use of fabrics and cowrie shells that are used as currency in Africa. However, it is more than just money. It also represents power in trade and symbolizes wealthy communities. The loose fabrics are sewn together to incorporate everything coming together as one single art-piece. Fabrics are a major form of expression, as the patterns are a popular means of communication. Wearers who look at these particular pieces of fabric would easily be able to recognize what religion, culture, and society they came from. Unity is represented as everything is drawing you to the middle, which makes it seem like it's trying to reach a destination. The choice of color was very interesting because it looks like the flag is in the middle of a body of water, and the whole thing is encapsulated in this majestic royal blue. The flag is made to express African heritage and used for commerative purposes such as political or tribal events.
My sister and I compared how we interpreted the above images, and what we inferred was the imagery that is placed in the background, midground, and foreground of the pictures. My sister saw a bridge that overhung the river landscape and by observing closely I was able to visualize it. In the American Stitches Flag, she was able to detect the textures used to create the piece: fabrics. Autumn's Fire title describes the end of a new beginning: Fall. We describe this season as the growing cycle of ripeness and maturity, because this is when multi-colored leaves start growing and falling on trees. Seasons come and go, but they will always turn up again. Both images are embroidered on a golden frame which directs attention back onto the artwork. Frames are chosen to complement the work and are a tool so that the viewer can fully immerse themselves into the painting.
Everyone could learn a valuable lesson from Antoinette Ellis-Williams. It doesn't matter who creates the artwork: but how we determine, comprehend, and treasure it. What I'm able to perceive from viewing the gallery is there is a central theme of social justice. There is a powerful message of "We're all in this together" - and talking about life experiences makes the viewer relate to the artist on a more personal level. Though there is no direct correlation between the two artworks, I believe the message behind it is much more powerful. Everyone associates the burn with something different and is used in her artwork to empower and heal those who seek treatment.
Kaitlyn Arroyo, Embracing the American Culture, 2022
Provided in the image above is a selfie that I took with the American flag to represent patriarchy, and the culture my country presents. Truly living in America means that everyone is living under protected rights to announce everyone as equals. We are given rights and are allowed to vote, pay taxes, and live the American Way: adheres to the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Here I am embodying my culture and not being ashamed of who I am. This relates to the works of Ellis-Williams because she appreciates her culture and is not afraid of her own self-identity.
Carey Dunne
Excerpt from: The Photographed, Collaged, and Painted Muses of Mickalene Thomas
One Quote
"By portraying real women with their own unique history, beauty and background, I'm working to diversify the representations of black women in art." (Dunne 1)
Miss Williams interviewed 14 different women to get inspiration for her artwork, so they could all bring something new to the table, and talk about their experiences to live through the "burn." More representation is needed in the art industry, as artwork is made for everyone to enjoy.
John Berger
Excerpt from: Ways of Seeing
One Quote
"The compositional unity of a painting contributes fundamentally to the power of it's image, but here the composition is written as though it were in itself the emotional charge of the painting." (Berger 13)
Composition in a painting relates to how different forms of mediums are set aside, but generally come together as a whole, making it the most structurally pleasing and appealing to the viewer. This was most effective in Miss Antoinette Ellis-Williams artwork because she used digital media and paints to draw emotion to her prestigious BURN project, with the help of numerous women volunteers who supported her.
Joanna Finkelstein
Excerpt from: The Art of Self Invention
One Quote
"This evidenced a new manner of thinking about people and their identity." (Finkelstein 44)
Thinking about our identity helps us to strengthen our character and builds us to become more aware/comfortable with our bodies. Everyone is born unique as their own individuality defines them as a person, and I believe that shines the most in Miss Williams work with self reflectment and appreciation of being an African American woman.
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