Introductory

Art History Online Final Exam
The Fight For Equality
Minfulartthroughtheages.blogspot.com
James Seasholtz
19th Century-Contemporary

The Fight for Equality

Artists that will have their work shown in this exhibition:
William Bahrends
Jean-Francois Millet
Lei Yixin
Eugene L. Daub and Rob Firmin
George Segal
Thomas Benjamin Kennington
Vincent Van Gogh
Eugene Delacroix
Norman Rockwell
J. Howard Miller

The Fight for Equality is an exhibition about artists of our past and present portraying the common struggles of inequality of human beings, which will include racism, feminist movements and sexism in art. These are all recurring themes in history so tying everything together from different time periods was relatively simple.

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese Statue by William Bahrends

2005 Sculpture measures 8 ft

William Bahrends sculptures in bronze, marble, and terra cotta have all been wildly praised. Bahrends likes to research his portraits subjects before beginning clay studies. He does all of his sculptures in his own studio in North Carolina.

"This monument honors Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese: Teamates, friends, and men of courage and conviction." William Bahrends.

This piece was very enticing to me because I love sports and there is nothing better then an underdog. Jackie Robinson was the ultimate underdog being an African American in an all white sport. Society didn't want to see Jackie as an equal, but behind the ignorant eyes of society the people knew that he was an equal when it came to playing the game.

The Gleaners

The Gleaners by Jean-Francois Millet

1857 Painting measures 33 in by 44 in

Jean-Francois Millet was a French Painter born in 1814. He is know for scenes of Peasant farmers in his artwork. Millet is also known for being a part of the Realism movement and it definitely shows through his paintings. A piece titled L'homme A La Houe inspired the famouse poem "The Man With the Hoe" by Edwin Markham. More notable works of Millets include Angelus, and the Potato Planters.

During this time period, inequality was big with race and women. this image has both which gives you an idea of how terrible these times were. The Gleaners is an image women picking up grains left after a harvest.

Stone of Hope

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial by Lei Yixin

2011 White Granite Sculpture stands at 30 ft

Yixin was born 1954 in China and was recognized as a master sculpture, which came with a lifetime stipend from the Chinese government. Some of his works are in China's National Art Gallery. He came to the attention of Americans when he was commissioned for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

I chose this sculpture because it is absolutely phenomenal. He led a very important time for African Americans, and his beliefs ignited a movement, a movement that would change the lives of everyone. Martin Luther King Jr is the definition of equality.

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks Statue by Eugene L Daub and Rob Firmin

2013 Sculpture measures 9 ft

Eugen L Daub is a contemporary figure sculpture. Rob Firmin is a sculpture and architect. In 2004 Daub and Rob Firmin teamed up and won competition to make Rosa Parks statue in 2009.

"Its another break through for someone who has made so many possible." House Speaker John A Boehner.

I chose this statue because not only is she an important figure in the fight against inequality, but also because this sculpture will be added to the great sculptures of history in 2013. It is great to know that we still have great artists and sculptors like the ones we read about in art history books.

The Gay Liberation Monument

Gay Liberation by George Segal

1980 Sculpture measures life size

George Segal is sculptor that was born in New York City in November 1924. He is best associated with the pop art movement and his cast life size figures. His figures never contain any color which leaves his figures looking melancholy.

I chose this image because now is a very trying time for people in the gay community, as its always been and this sculpture seems to try and aim to get confidence out of the gay community to feel more comfortable in their own skin, and to be happy with who you are.

Pinch of Poverty

Pinch of Poverty by Thomas Benjamin Kennington

1891 Painting measures 6.6 in by 5.85 in

Thomas Benjamin Kennington was an English genre portrait painter born in the year 1856. He trained at the Liverpool School of Art, Royal College of Art, and Acadamie Julien. He is known for domestic and everyday life scenes in his paintings. Some Notable works of his include Orphans, Homeless, and Pinch of Poverty which all posses similar emotions.

Pinch of Poverty really shows the viewer what it is like to experience being a mother of two with only the clothes on their back and having to sell flowers in the rain just to provide. This connects to my theme because it shows a drastically low level of wealth which is an indication of inequality.

The Potato Eaters

The Potato Eaters by Vincent Van Gogh

1885 Painting measures 32.3 in by 44.9 in

Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch post impressionist painter born in March 1853 who had a fairly short life of 37 years. He wasnt well known during his time, but was praised for his rough style of painting and bold color. A couple of his known influences were the impressionists and Eugene Delacroix. Some of his notable works include Starry Night, Bedroom In Arles, and his self portrait with straw hat.

"The Potato Eaters is the deliberate attempt of an eager young artist to prove himself to the world after five years of study." Louis Van Tilborgh, The Van Gogh Museum.

I chose this image because it shows how low the poverty level was back then and it proves that over time poverty will still exist. What it says about my theme of equality is that although we can improve equality for human kind, the possibility of everyone being equal is just out of our reach if the poverty rate continues down this path the way it has for centuries now.

Liberty Leading the People

Liberty Leading The People by Eugene Delacroix

1830 Painting measures 102.4 in by 128 in

The French Romantic artist Eugene Delacroix was born 1798. His style which includes expressive brush strokes and his study of color shaped the works of impressionists. The major theme of his artwork was dramatic romanticism. Baudelaire once stated about Delacroix, "Delacroix was passionately in love with passion, but coldly determined to express passion as clearly as possible."

"His Painting Liberty Leading The People is one of the most famous and radical pictures of its time. It is the sort of work that in very first glance just captures the viewers eye through its dynamic subject." Nadeem Alam Critical Analysis.

I chose this image because not only are there very few like it, it captures and harnesses the potential power of women. It also captures an actual battle for equality during this time period so for my particular theme of equality its a two birds one stone scenario.

The Problem We All Live With

The Problem We All Live With by Norman Rockwell

1964 Painting Measures 36 in. high 58 in. wide

Norman Rockwell is a painter/illustrator born in 1894 in New York City. He is well known for the reflection of American culture in his works. Some other notable works of his include Willie Gillis, Saying Grace, and Four Freedoms. He also produced covers for the Boy Scouts of Americas publication and cover illustrations for The Saturday Evening Post magazine.

"The painting has come to serve as an important symbol of civil rights, and Museum Trustee Ruby Bridges' historic journey" says Museum Director/CEO Laurie Norton Moffatt.

I chose this piece because it really captures the ignorance of human kind. We as humans are trying to reach a level of true equality and at the time of this painting, we were the farthest from it. When someone like Norman Rockwell has the compassion in his heart to try and put peoples ignorance in perspective, it can spark beautiful harmonious movements in history.

Rosie the Riveter

We Can Do It! by J. Howard Miller

Propaganda Poster/Painting 1943

J. Howard Miller was an American graphic artist who graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 1939. He is known for producing propaganda art, the "We Can Do It!" being the most well known. He was hired by the Westinghouse Company to produce propaganda images to support WWII and to motivate individuals involved. His work has been used many years later in feminist movements. When the image was reintroduced in took up the name Rosie the Riveter, Rosie being an iconic female war production worker.

I chose this piece because this painting assisted women when it came to realizing that they to were as equal as men, and that with this attitude they could contribute in any way they wanted to during war or any other period.

Conclusion

One thing that I learned from the process of organizing this exhibition is that most art is mindful in the sense that the art has a direct correlation to events that are happening in a particular artists life at a specific moment in time. The challenging part of this process was connecting many different styles of art of different time periods to a specific theme. Another difficulty I had was finding significant pieces for my particular theme. It was interesting to try and figure out the themes of many pieces of art, and I believe that part came natural to me. 

The job of a curator was very interesting and at times fulfilling, although I am not sure that it would be for me professionally. Another thing that I noticed during this process was that it seems that when it comes to the equality of humankind there are many faults still to this day, but I love the fact that we are evolving from our ignorance. Overall we were once enemies of the same species that have evolved to strangers, which is currently blossoming into the state of acquaintances and in my opinion we are on our way to true equality. Art is a great tool to show generations after us how we have evolved and gives them a window pane in which to view the world we currently live in.