Art Review: The Appeal By Erica Daborn

Elizabeth Gower is a Melbourne based collage artist. She uses printed packaging and other familiar household detritus as her source material to create works of intricate geometric patterns. Her small and delicate new work, Cycles and Matrix, invites closer inspection in the Sutton Gallery’s simple unpretentious space. One is mesmerized by the repetitions and multiplicity of the layering of discarded junk materials, transforming the chaotic waste material of the 21st Century into ordered beauty.

I assume that people usually see art such as murals like this one without thinking what it really stands for and the purpose it has. In this mural people could see it as a mural with animals and the statue of liberty; nothing more and nothing less. I mean basically it is pretty much that but the way it is displayed on the wall it tends to go with the flow. What I mean by this is that each detail in the mural connects with each other in terms of portraying the message straight forward. Okay well the scene begins on the right side where it displays butterflies flying around a person most likely a Native American woman. Then the bigger picture opens up on the feathers the lady is wearing on her head. The bigger picture starts with historic extinct animals such as the wooly mammoths roaming on the land and Pterodactyls flying on the sky with a clear direction to where they are going. Then the eagle appears on the left side flying towards the Statue of Liberty where the clouds transition to the Statue of Liberty’s hair. The statue is faced towards the left side with a big yellow ball behind her head which is most likely the moon. Then the Statue of Liberty’s hair transitions into waves where right next to it are whales swimming in the

The Painting I chose is called “Mixtec Culture.” And it was painted by Diego Rivera in 1942, Mexico. It’s a Fresco style painting, which is “a wall painting technique that has been used for large scale murals since ancient times” (Getlein 159). This entire painting is an homage to the culture of Mexico, specifically the Mixtec people, and that’s what I love about it. The Mixtec people were renowned for their artwork so it’s fitting that Rivera depicts a peaceful community of artists such as mask and jewelry makers. This painting celebrates the artistic culture of the Mixtec people and that theme is directly linked to the political influences of the time, “Mexican government commissioned artists to create murals about Mexico itself- the glories

I selected this painting because the colour contrast of the pink dress against the dark background caught my eye. I also found the expression of the young woman to be interesting.

One painting that caught my attention was the Oak Valley Plantation, Vacherie, Louisiana. Last month while I was on vacation in New Orleans, I visited an old authentic Creole plantation in the same area of the plantation in the painting. I was told by my sisters who visited the place that it was oak trees unique formation that made

I really enjoy the bold lines and bright colors in this piece. It appears very balanced while taking up the entire canvas. The figures in the painting are bulky and well defined. If you look at the painting, at every aspect of it, you can imagine the story Diego was trying to tell. In my mind, the priest is carrying the white calla lilies representing the Savior’s light. The bundles of red flowers laying all around may be representative of bloodshed or simply the hardships of the people. The light is coming to save them all. The three kneeling girls in the front are imploring aid from the Savior. The bright colors are used to counter the times where everything was bleak for them.

The last work of art I came across was Isla by Yoan Capote. This 2016 painting is a multi medium that consists of oil, nails, and fishhooks on linen mounted on a panel. The dimension of the painting was not given on the plague but is fairly large like the first painting.The subject of the painting is of the ocean itself, nothing else. Isla is located in the modern gallery because the artist Yoan Capote did this piece in modern times. The selection of the piece fits into the gallery perfectly because I believe the modern works of art are more simplified and engages the viewer to really see what is going on. Also, the year the painting was produced goes hand and hand with the other artworks surrounding it because all the pieces in the gallery

The symbolism between the Painter and the Mural is a salient contrast within Vonnegut’s story. This contrast is an intentional comparison used to highlight the ultimate behavior of humanity amongst a form of population control as inhumane as gas chambers. The painter acts as symbolism of humanity’s rejection. The mural acts as the glorification of the control. The Painter gives off a careless attitude and a slight rejection towards the population control in the story. In response to the orderly’s comments the painter scorns, “You think I'm proud of this daub? You think this is my idea of what life really looks like” (Vonnegut). This reveals the painter’s attitude towards population control. Furthermore, it solidifies the fact that the painter represents humanity’s rejection. In direct relation, of course, is the mural. The mural itself, is a representation of all the important people of the hospital staff. Moreover, the mural acts as a glorification and acceptance of the population control. Together, the painter is seen filling the faces of these people, simultaneously rejecting that the mural, “[l]ooks just like heaven or something” (Vonnegut). What the contrast reveals in a deeper sense is humanity (the painter) continuing to accept the inhumane population control (painting the mural) regardless of their rejection. It worthy to note that the acceptance of population control varies from each human being. That is

At the extreme right, a woman is falling and has not yet hit the ground. Further left, a woman is picking herself up after falling. The horse in the center is fatally wounded and will soon die. To the far left, the child in his mother’s arms has already died, and so has the warrior whose head rests at the bottom of the mural. But again, the strong right to left movement arises from the direction in which the subjects are looking.

This mural portrays a woman centerfold with exposed breasts which are intensely shaded , which make it look like they are protruding towards the viewer. She is wearing a revolutionary cap, and is raising her arms in an act of breaking free from the chains that once enslaved her. She looks towards the heavens with a rather pained expression as if she is releasing inner anguish regarding the war. In one hand she carries a torch with freedom's flame in the other hand she has a white flower as well. A very muscular hand protrudes from her body in an act of victory over the war on fascism.

The artwork I have chosen from the book was the painting by Rogier van der Wayden called the Crucifixion with the Virgin and St. John the evangelist (c. 1400-1464). The work is done with oil painting on wooden oak panels. This painting is very meaningful and descriptive, while also telling a story. It portrays a very complex image of the crucifixion of Jesus Crist on the cross, and his mother, Virgin Mary and disciple John suffering his loss. This painting is divided into two panels, dividing the two scenes. I believe this type of painting would be presented in a church or museum setting, because of the bright and bold coloring. This work overall is resembling a very important time in history, and also has a lot more deep and hidden analysis

The reason this piece got this name is because in this drawing there are images of huge black bulls, equines and stags are shown. Of all the animals shown in this drawing, the most predominate of all are the equines. I know you are probably wondering what an equine is, right? Well let me tell you, Equine is a horse or other member of the horse family. You will find that running alongside of the equines there are stags, cattle, bison, felines, a bird, a bear, a rhinoceros, and a human. When I look at this drawing I see courage and strength. In so many ways this piece of art is a power statement. It shows the animals of all kinds. You have the predatory animals alongside the small more docile animals. It gives you the sense that no matter what there is always a place in this world for you. You would be amazed to know that one of the bulls on this drawing is the largest animal discovered so far in cave drawings. Measuring at an astonishing 17 feet long. I was really surprised because that is more than three times my height,

This painting shows how close and codependent humans and nature were. How well humans worked together with one another and their world. How peaceful those that are close to nature are, which is why it (nature) must be celebrated and appreciated.

The most prominent quality of Elizabeth Bishop’s, “One Art,” remains the concise organization and rhyme scheme of the poem, which amazingly keeps the audience informed at all times what the theme. Her choice of a villanelle constantly reminds the audience that “the art of losing” always seem easy until one loses something so much more than an inanimate object and at the point, it does become a “disaster.” Written in 1976, the poem is very modern and uses an impeccable rhyme scheme, diction, and imagery to convey the hints of misery and frantic the speaker feels.

The picture immediately stood out from the rest somewhat having an uncanny modern feel to it. The piece is a 3 panel painting, also known as a triptych, The Garden of Earthly Delights, oil on oak panels, 220 cm × 389 cm with each section showing images of religion, damnation and over all madness. I was instantly intrigued by what my eyes were taking in and then shortly after learning about how there is so much mystery and uncertainty to the work only heightened this feeling. I was hoping that looking the work up on my own time would be able to answer at least some of my many questions; this was not the case. Solid factual information on the pieces is extremely limited including the date of completion, the persons who commissioned it, the purpose for it being commissioned, and most of all the meaning and message the piece was meant to inflict.