70 years ago the Nazi party controlled the arts. If art didn't promote a healthy, pristine, nationalistic Aryan (blond hair, blue eyed), Hitler supporter, the art was viewed as degenerate. Much was destroyed. What little survived was shown in the 1937 Entartete Kunst or Degenerate Art show to be ridiculed and distgusted. Famous artists whose work is now worth millions were 'exhibited' there.
The Academies of the French 17th through 19th centuries dictated the worth of art by the hierarchy of genres. History paintings were the most valued and in a Salon they were placed at eye level. Portraits were placed just a little higher on the wall, but still easily visible. Next came landscapes and last and least important were still-life paintings which were shoved so high against the ceiling that they were completely unviewable.
Times have changed.
As an art historian, and one whose emphasis is modern and contemporary art, my heart rejoices over the strides contemporary art has made in this present day. In arguably the most important day of U.S. history, a half-black man has been chosen to run our country. A street artist, Sheperd Fairey, has been chosen to depict the official portrait of Barack Obama, a man of mixed ethnicity--a minority even. The portrait lines the walls next to the stalwart poses of Gilbert Stewart's George Washington and the all-american feel of Norman Rockwell's Richard Nixon. What is street art? Basically a lot of the stuff I've shown here on my blog. Contemporary artists who use found material such as trash bags, balloons, spray paint, etc. Those artists are now breaking out of the private gallery sector and are now making their way into the museum world. Dan Steinhilber and Maggie Michael at the MOA, Hirshhorn, and other museums for example. This portrait, which has been reproduced all over DC, is a perfect example of the CHANGE that President Obama promises to bring. Out with the old. In with the new. Never has any president been so strongly supported by the youth, by celebrities. He's hip. So his art must be hip, right?
That's one change that I'm excited for.
representin' the white gloves! That's what I do too.
The portrait is being installed at the National Portrait Gallery. I have not yet been over to see it, but look forward to it.
For only a few days this gallery in Georgetown put on a fantastic show depicting Obama art and art that represented his policies. It was a very politically charged show. The energy was high, the art was revolutionary, and the turn out was extraodinary.
Title panel
I do believe that President Obama represents hope in many ways and to many groups of people. I want people to learn from his example and to believe in themselves. Put service first. Those black men in white shirts and ties depicted here look like they know what's goin' on! They look like missionaries!
So much has built up to this time in world history. There's a saying that's been going around town that goes something like this:
Rosa sat so that Martin could walk. Martin walked so Obama could run. Obama runs so our children can fly.
These two pieces are made from license plates and crayons.
One of my favorites.
This one was awesome. This is a 3-D sculpture of wire that is perfectly shaped to depict Obama's face. It's about 3'x 3' at the base.
Now that's street art. On the day of inauguration I saw people selling shoes like this. As well as flip flops, slippers, earrings, air fresheners and about anything else you could possibly think of. If it had his face on it, people would buy it.
This is my favorite piece in the show. I love it for its abstractedness and anyone who knows me knows I'm a sucker for that design pattern in the background. My bedspread looks like that kind of. I love the design of it in general and the emotion it evokes. If everyone could strive to have a close family like this one shows, I know the world would be a much better place.
So you can see we've come such a long ways from the genre hierarchy of the centuries past. Though I've heard the enthusiasm of Obama compared loosely with the hysteria of Hitler, the freedom of expression has never been so accepted.
so cute and homey!
My bed. I still huddle only on one side.
Here's my view from my biggest window. It looks out towards Georgetown. I can see the chapel steeples in the distance. That big sandy colored building has a fancy Italian restaurant on the ground level and at night all the trees are lit up with christmas lights. It's really pretty. The building directly next door, which you can see a little of, is a bar, niiiiice.
My closet. Very Important. See I really didn't bring that many clothes.
And my bathroom. It's so nice to have my own bathroom. I'm a little weird about posting bathroom pictures on my blog, especially because I'm the only one who uses it. It's like I'm just asking you to conjure up mental images of me using it, so therefore, no shower shots.
This was a few days before at the Temple. What a babe! Sorry boys, she's off the market.
