Posted on by luname59

The Difference Between the Stories in Photographs and Paintings

Visual art takes upon a multitude of different mediums, photography and painting just being two of them. But what makes them different from each other, besides the way both pieces are made?

One of the most important aspects of art that this blog wants to focus on is the stories through visual arts. Photography and painting have the power to tell stories. Though photographs can easily be manipulated, raw photos show reality. In other words, photographs can capture a person as they live and breathe; while they are living through their stories. Paintings, while they can tell stories, they are interpretations. That does not mean paintings of one’s stories are not as important as photographs. Paintings can just be as powerful, as they can depict how one feels during times of hardship and suffering.

Great examples of photography and telling stories are Dorothea Lange’s Migrant Mother and Frida Khalo’s Without Hope.

The stories behind these two works of art are vastly different from each other but are both real and important. For Migrant Mother, it wholly encapsulates the lives people were left with during the Great Depression. As misfortune sweeps the nation, people are left with nothing in poverty, anxious about how to go on, which is shown on the mother’s face. By her side are her children, hiding their faces. This photograph seizes the dire atmosphere of the Great Depression and tells not only one story, but millions.

Without Hope tells Frida’s personal story and derives from her interpretation of her struggles. In her life, Frida dealt with health issues like polio, miscarriages, and a horrific accident that left her immobilized. Because of these struggles, Frida underwent multiple surgeries, which forced her to go on diets and left her unable to fix her unfortunate situation. The desolate scenery in the artwork and the horrible mass being fed to her is symbolic of how Frida sees her situation.

But these are not the only works that tell such stories. Paintings and photographs that tell meaningful and personal stories have become some of the world’s greatest works. Andrew Wyeth’s Christina’s World has become a well-known American classic. Today, visual art and especially photographs have become more important than before. In times where our nation is split over numerous political issues, both national and worldwide, it is crucial to tell the stories of those who have suffered and lost, as well as those who have fought for a change. Remember to support local artists, as they are the ones telling these stories as time goes on.

Posted on by luname59

LGBTQ+ Representation in Visual Arts

The LGBTQ+ community has been seen as controversial for decades, centuries even, and the view on the community has forced members to hide their true colors. Despite that, that has not stopped artists from keeping their identity hidden within their works.

Through the centuries of homophobia, many artists who were part of the LGBTQ+ community were explicit in their work about their identities. One famous artist includes the late Keith Haring. In works such as Self Portrait with Juan and Safe Sex, these works displayed the intimacy of two men. Many of Keith Haring’s other works like Crack is Wack help to raise awareness of social and political issues. In his later years, Haring’s works advocated for AIDS, which he himself had been diagnosed with in 1988. Haring’s messages in his art were explicit and did not sugar-coat these issues, as well as his own personality.

For the LGBTQ+ community of today, a fantastic artist to find is Julia Kaye, a transgender woman. In her comics that she posts to Instagram and Twitter, she depicts her transition into become the person she is today, as well as illustrating living as a transgender woman.

These two artists, as well of the dozens of artists in the LGBTQ+ community from past and present, are incredibly important in providing representation and awareness to the ever-expanding community. “I realized I had a rare opportunity to raise up trans issues to a large audience that might not have otherwise sought out that sort of content…I could hopefully provide relatable content for other trans folks as well as people questioning their gender identity.” Julia Kaye says in a 2017 Hornet article on the matter of representation. 

As the LGBTQ+ community grows and becomes more accepted, especially after the law passed in 2015 allowing same-sex couples to marry, the opportunity for artists of different sexualities to be heard and become more normalized grows as well. And while these artists are doing their part by voicing their stories and stories of others, it is also up to their audience to give them the support they need. Support the works of Julia Kaye and LGBTQ+ artists like her and become educated on the community.

Posted on by luname59

Why is Storytelling in Art Important?

Recently with the help of media, visual arts are now being more noticed than before. Along with galleries that showcase paintings and photographs; comics, cartoons, and animations online and on television help display art at a faster rate to a larger audience.

More often than not, artists use their work and platform to tell stories. There is a large range on stories that can be told; from important events like Francisco Goya’s The Second of May and The Third of May, to personal stories like Frida Khalo’s Henry Ford Hospital. As times change, artists do not. Young artists today still use their platform to tell stories of hardship, whether their own or of others. In fact, Rowan University’s own art gallery features an exhibit where the artist uses her art to tell stories of “violence, masculinity, “bling,” visibility and invisibility within the post-colonial context of her native Jamaica and within black youth culture globally”.

But why is this important? Representation in media has become more prominent in current times. Ebony’s exhibit at Rowan University Art Gallery is a huge example, as it provides representation to black youth. Popular cartoon, Steven Universe created by Rebecca Sugar, brings representation to those of LGBTQ+ communities as it has a lesbian couple on the show. Representation in media, and especially in visual arts, helps issues and minority groups get noticed and serves as a voice to those groups. In times where issues like racism and homophobia are being discussed more often, it is important to find the artists that are telling their stories and to support them, so here are some artists to look into.

Start by checking out Ebony G. Patterson’s exhibit at the Rowan University Art Gallery. Even if her work does not relate to you or your experiences, becoming aware of the stories she is telling is incredibly important and you may want to educate yourself on issues you had not been aware of before.

The Center for Art and Social Engagement is doing an exhibit called Estoy Por Aquí / I Am Here starting March 14 on “the challenges and contexts of women working in the informal economy of central El Salvador and the political and social upheaval that has fed a multigenerational cycle of emigration and fractured families”. A completely different issue than the previous exhibit, but just as important to become aware of.

The Noyes Gallery at the Noyes Art Garage of Stockton University is also currently holding two exhibits; Paintings by Christopher Fabor Muhammad and Small Worlds: Kawads, Mandalas & Portals by Lou Storey. While both exhibitions appear different from each other, they relate in which they reflect their artists’ upbringings, hardships, and personal life.

By looking into these artists and their exhibitions, I hope that gives more of an incentive to go out and find more artists that strive to represent their communities, and remember to support them when you can.

Christopher Fabor Muhammad. Innocence Valley. 2001. Oil on Canvas. Noyes Gallery, Noyes Art Garage of Stockton University.
Posted on by luname59 · 1 Comment

Introduction

Welcome to the blog of South Jersey Art and Their Stories, run by Melissa Luna. What this blog is set to achieve is to showcase art in local South Jersey Art Galleries and to tell the stories of their creators. In showcasing artworks and their stories and inspirations, I hope to possibly influence my own audience to get involved in storytelling through visual arts as well. I hope to interview young artists in the local area who tell their own personal stories through their work. I especially hope to find young artists of color or with an LGBTQ+ background in the area. Within the coming weeks, I will be visiting art galleries and events in South Jersey.