D.G.Shaw: 2008

Thursday, May 15, 2008

an example of a navajo textile..... not the ones at Yager museum but show the bold colors and geometric patterns.

Containers of Belief: Selected Native American Works from the Yager

Museum Guest Curator Richard W. Hill, Jr.
Willard Yager - archaeologist, writer and collector
obtained artifacts in the late 1800s and early 1900s

The purpose of this exhibit was to "focus on spiritual meaning of the artifacts as seen by the Native American Indians who created and used these extraordinary images."

In this exhibit one may find numerous artifacts being of: pottery, textiles, pictures/ photographs, sculptures, and some jewelry. I was particularly fond of the two textile pieces displayed.

The first was made by an unknown Navajo maker and bought by Yager in 1913. It is said it was most likely purchased to use as packing material for his pottery. This individual piece displays Greek Key Motif and Stepped “L” designs throughout. These designs mimic the zigzag patterns seen on the ceramics also shown. It is red, black and tan-ish in color and was roughly 5 ft x 3 ½ ft. “The colors are created by red aniline dyes obtained through Spanish and American traders.”This individual piece was “woven in honor of the Spider Woman” who is the “spirit being, that first taught Navajo Women how to weave.”

The second textile titled Two Grey Hills Textile, was also made by an unknown Navajo maker and was bought in 1913. This roughly 3 ft x 1 ½ ft piece was grey in color and “made from natural colored sheep wool.” Woven in are images which may have represented “mountains rising above its own reflection.” Also depicted are feathers which may have represented the “complex belief system” of the time.

I liked both of these pieces because they were bold and “unique.” Today, you seldom find anything handmade/ manmade anymore, mostly machine made. Knowing that each textile was handmade shows how dedicated people were and how much time and effort it took to make one. Each piece also tells a story and no one could make a perfect replica of one with meaning behind it. The bold colors and the geometric patterns enhance the meaning behind each individual piece and make them visually attractive.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Eye of Blue
Originally uploaded by ~Dezz~

Senior Art Show II

today i finally took time to go see the senior art show II here at hartwick. all the pieces were very creative and makes me think about how i can broaden my portfolio. one "exhibit" i liked in particular was that of jonathan valder's. his exhibit entitled "take a second look..." makes you think deeply not only about the artwork but the message he was trying to portray. no one seems to care too much for anything in life these days, until it is taken away from them. in the four compositions on the wall ordinary objects are portrayed that people pass by or see on a regular bases and may not think twice about them. one of those compositions, "untitled" created in january of 2008 with kodalith, tree branches, and tacks was one of his pieces in which i liked. in this piece four images of what appears to be an apple tree, are bordered by branches and sticks which i believe enhances the piece. if those four images were placed right next to each other verses a couple inches apart, the piece would not look as "good" and you may not have "taken a second look" at this particular composition. the sereneness of the apple and the overall piece reminds me of seeing apples or trees everyday and not necessarily caring about them although trees and food are necessary for survival. today everyone is becoming "green" and trying to preserve the enviornment, due to global warming, which also shows that if global warming wasnt a problem you may believe people wouldnt care as much about the enviornment. this shows that you cant take anything for granted for it may disappear at any moment.