A subject that I believe would be rewarding to research, of major interest in my current school and something I think any art teach or art historian would want to teach is: 'the perception of African American art in modern society'. A topic such as this would be able to take a look at the breadth of African American are through history, tacking the mindset and social understandings of the art makers while leaving ample room to discuss the subject matter, symbolism and other content of the art they produced. The follow up to that would be the impact it has had on society and how it all may have helped shape history.
I would see the above content areas as maybe a preamble to a much more energized area where research and discussion would show students the wide array of contemporary African American artists making names for themselves in society today. We could discuss their influences, the origins of their subjects and styles, events that may have lead to their art and what sort of issues, struggles and controversies they have encountered while making a name for themselves. I want my art classroom to be very forward thinking while still remaining reverent to the past. And I believe that showcasing current talent on the art scene could be a tremendous motivating factor for most students, especially those who don't believe they could ever have a future doing the creative endeavors they love. Once students see the great impact African American art has had on modern society, I think they will even better feel that gravitational pull that art can have on them.
I have spent a fair amount of time researching some of the key contemporary artists I would present to classes and after a good deal of peer observation, other notable artist have also come to mind. Yet I still feel like I have only scratched the surface in preparation for a topic like this. I am versed in some artists, but not nearly enough. Another thing I want to know is the public reception to many of these artists works. I know things at an academic level and I certainly know my preferences and what art makes me think, or brings me joy. But I need to research more into how society has responded to African American art throughout history. I want to know more about the praise, the misunderstandings, the backlash and the controversies as I see all of that as worthy of exploration.
POTENTIAL PROJECT RESOURCES:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/26/black-artists-under-40-contemporary-painters-sculptors-performance-race-representation-art_n_2725639.html
https://rfc.museum/past-30-americans
https://art21.org
http://kehindewiley.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African-American_visual_artists
http://www.karawalkerstudio.com/
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6 comments:
Matty,
I love the idea, I spent time on the East Africa coast where I was very interested in the art there. Did you know that most of King Tuts gold came from East Africa. I wonder what artistic pieces the gold was in before it became Egyptian artifacts. Did you know that the Moroccan coast had gas street lights in the 14th century Renaissance when Europeans were still living in castles.
I think that this is a fascinating area to research. I know little about African American art myself, so it would be wonderful to see it amplified by your study. I am very curious about the social understandings of the art makers, and think that it is interesting how you point out this specific aspect of the history you intend to research. I visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. last summer. It was just opened in 2018. The exhibits were really something and I wonder how they correspond to the art from similar times. I also wonder if some of the artistic traditions can be linked to countries of origin, but it might be difficult to trace art back that far. Good luck to you on your quest. I will stay tuned.
I like that you have chosen this topic to explore on your blog, I feel that the art of more diverse artists can often be neglects in arts curriculum. As a music educator we face similar challenges of wanting to represent composers of diverse backgrounds, but often lacking the knowledge of these artists due to the majority of our music history background being based in European music. I'm looking forward to seeing what information you can share with us!
Wow I like what you chosen for the topic that you are exploring in your blog. I cant wait to see read more and to find out more on your quest. Good luck and cant wait until your next blog.
Your topic for this project is intriguing. The lack of African American art within classrooms and the way it has been posted throughout the nation is not just. You are seeking topics that can end up making current curriculum developers think twice on the kind of content they want to be instructed. I understand that you are looking at it as a country as a whole. What if you zoom in more and also focus on our city of Milwaukee? Where do we fall with our approach to African American art? Is it accepted or neglected here? Why or why not? Some food for thought.
Matty,
I think representation in the art realm of education is great way for students to understand the challenges they face and how they can overcome said challenges. Your recognition of just "scratching the surface" at this point is only common. With your compassion and motivation for this relevant research topic, you'll definitely be able to find more and more resources for the questions and answers that lie within the subject. Keep it up!
Michael
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