Review #2
May 12, 2006
Robert Motherwell’s Les Caves #2
Les Caves #2 is a very large work and extremely interesting, it responses to the viewers interpretation. A large black mass engulfs most of the brown-orange areas around the borders of the canvas. The black mass, at first glance, seems to reference a black cave. With further examining, the bottom right corner of the canvas reveals an animal-like head and face. You are able to distinguish eyes, teeth, and a nose. This observation may confuse the viewer because the previous idea of a cave now appears to be a massive animal. Also, while standing in front of the work the viewer feels very small, insignificant, and uncomfortable in relation to the size of the piece. The work is on display at the Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University.
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Terry Allen’s Rage
Rage is a mixed media work of etching and collage combined. The word rage is displayed in a box form closely related to the popular LOVE image. Rage often stimulates images of anger, harsh lines or shape, and colors such as red. But, this image does not indicate signs of rage. The word RAGE is overlaid with black and gold lace. Viewers usually do not connect lace and rage together, but the work demonstrates an interesting point of view. A person experiencing rage might cover or mask their rage with false feelings of happiness and joy. This is similar to the way in which the artist displayed the word rage by masking it with pretty lace. The work is on display at the Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University.
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Jacob Lawrence’s Black Cowboys
Black Cowboys, is a fairly simple image on board. The work contains, colorful images of two cowboys on horses herding cows. The forms are exaggerated and cartoon-like. Although they are “black” cowboys, the painting includes Mexican designs and patterns. The painting does not show realistic use of space. One cowboy o his horse also appears to be positioned on a cow, through the space within the work. The work seems to be cropped in a way that the two cowboys, two horses, and three cows do not fit the format need for the work.
Although each work is very different, they each seem to share similarities in their choice of confronting and confusing the viewer. The work is on display at the Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University.
