Hi,
Tonight's class was about being sensitive to labels as applied to people. It can be confusing, but, common sense should prevail when addressing a person's ethnicity or perhaps a disability. We are not talking about the degrading words that should never be used anyway, but rather whether to use Native American or American Indian, as an example. I was raised in an era when anyone that was not white was colored. Using that term today may get you a much-deserved stick in the eye. I have had the most pleasure and the sometimes pain of living through civil rights (still being challenged), women's liberation (still being challenged), Americans with Disability Act, Equal pay for equal work, etc.., etc.. We struggle as a country to be better and more aware of how we address others. It may never be truly solved but one can hope.
Nancy our leader reminded us that only if an artist's ethnicity has bearing on the work being interpreted do you mention it. Otherwise, leave it alone as it really means nothing. Thank you Nancy for this class and reminding us to stay focused.
The rest of the evening was spent in interpretations which I bowed out of doing. I must do something as Nancy needs to hear me before I do my final interpretation. I have my 18 to 20 pieces picked out and am working on my final interpretation. With the help of my mentor Subie I will be ready for sure.
Morganna gave us a brief art lesson even including handouts. It is very useful to know the correct terms and to understand what makes up a painting or sculpture. She used these two pieces below to point out where the terms apply.
Gaston Lachaise's beautiful bronze Woman Seated
Nancy (another docent in training) also gave an interpretation of this wonderful sculpture. This woman was also the love of Gaston's life and his wife. He used her as the model for all his Woman series.
Also included in Morganna's art lesson was
George Bellow's stunning work "The Fisherman"
Bill gave a great interpretation of Georgia O'Keeffe's "White Birch". The intense colors in the above and below paintings make one remember why we enjoy seeing what these exceptional artists have created.
We are working with our mentors on March the 21st and have no class on the 28th. Our last class will be on April 4 and then we must do our final interpretations. We are invited to meet at the Modern Art Museum to take a tour on the 21st by Beth and Pat. Really looking forward to it. After the class, I am attending a book club at the ACMAA.
Lots of work to do until then and plenty more after. But it is all good.
Until next week,
Caroline
