But is that Art?
Chapter 3: Cultural Crossings:
1. Select one of your own works and relate it
to a specific idea presented in this chapter? If you cannot find a connection,
describe why your work is divergent.
Throughout reading this chapter, I
feel like some of my ceramic pottery is
similar to Juventino Cosio Carrillo, a Huichol Indian artist from Mexico, whom
works with his family as a team to create traditional beaded masks. "The
Huichol's traditional form of art reflects another significant outside
influence, from a Dallas collector who thought that rounder beads might
facilitate greater perfection of design; in 1984 he had beads shipped in from
Japan and Czechoslovakia. The Huichol loved the new beads and immediately
adopted to their use for decorating bowls and carved bojects." Pg 81 Even
though my bowls may not have incorporated beads, it still included many similar
design elements and small details, For a few of my pieces i melted glass scraps
in the bottom of the bowl, and when they melted in the Kiln, it would create
this magnificent glassy design. I feel like a lot of time and effort was put
into these masks and I feel like I can relate to their styles and
symbolism.
Pick one work in this
chapter and answer the following questions. What ideas drive the work selected?
Who was it created for? What purpose does fill? What questions does it raise?
The work I chose to write about is
the nkisi nkondi nail fetish
statues from Loango, in the Kongo region. From first looking at these works
with bursting nails piercing the statues, these works seem quite fierce- like
the horror-movie monster Pinhead from the Hellraiser
series. But from further reading I than come across the initial perception of
the work, along with the modifications of learning the external facts: that the
nails were driven in over time by people to register agreements or seal dispute
resolutions. Some believe these works were considered so powerful they were
sometimes kept outside of the village. Although from looking at the sculptures
they do seem to resemble some frightening
powers. The types of questions that could be raised about these pieces
are " What types of arguments were solved? What did the nail symbolize? Do
the different statues have different meanings? and art statues more prized if
they have more nails through them? These pieces were really interesting to read
about, and it was really interesting to learn about the deeper meaning of the
process to the creation.
2.
List any ideas that are new to you in
this chapter.
From reading
this chapter It was really interesting to learn
the different ceremonies and meanings behind works. The Zen tea ceremony
is guided by subtle values of harmony and tranquility that affects everything
from choice of flowers, window- shades, and pottery, to the way the tea is
prepared and served. Pg 61 Many groups
in the Northwest Coast Indian galleries also have disputes how to
display a piece. For example some groups would display them "as individual
objects with commentary, whereas still another exhibited them only in a
ceremonial context that recreated the potlach ceremony in which they would
traditionally be employed." Pg 78
Notes:
·
Dewy
urged us to strive to achieve the internal experience of another culture. He
thought this required an immediate encounter, and not studying external facts
about geography, religion, and history. Pg 63
·
Knowledge
of context helps enhance our experience of other art forms too - say, coming to
appreciate the religious associations behind reggae, gospel music, or a Bach
mass. Pg 66
·
Much
indigenous art emerges from a complex history reflecting many interactions
during colonial rule. Pg 68
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