The Exhibition
Enough Killing
Theme of exhibit: Throughout history humans have killed each other. Gun safety and the realities of how many people are killed and the fact that we need to take responsibility for what is happening to not only people as a whole, but in particular to people of color.
The Artwork
Spot lighting is used throughout this space. The space itself is dim, with lights only shining on each piece of art along the neutral grey walls and the main piece in the middle of the room. The lighting on the main piece creates a shadow effect on the floor and helps to illuminate the brass and copper metal of the bullets that make up the piece. This really helps to showcase this artwork how it was intended to be seen. The walls appear to be basic drywall construction, the spotlights are mounted along a large metal frame across the ceiling. When you first approach the room where is exhibit is located, there is large wording saying Enough Killing! in black letters on a white door. In front of this is a work of art that is made to look like an all white video camera. When you enter the open door, there is a set of pieces that are all white. First, is supposed to be a ticket machine, like those in delis, where you would take a number and wait. Behind this is two more of the "video cameras" facing in at a "guillotine". Along the walls are numerous other framed prints and canvas artworks. In the center of the room is the main piece, by Robert Longo (b. 1953) titled Death Star, 1993. Made of 18,000 brass and copper bullets; steel armature, diameter of sphere: 36 inches; steel armature: 98 x 120 inches.as you walk through you are drawn to each area of the exhibit individually, focusing on one thing at a time.
The Gallery
The artworks in the Burchfield Penney Art Center are organized much differently than those in the Albright Knox Art Gallery. They are organized into divided areas of focus with very cool architecture throughout, such as, rounded walls and protruding walls that add definition and a fun way to display. each area has similarly themed piece of art, or art of a particular artist. The artworks differ by having many different materials used, artifacts, paintings, sculptures, fabrics and more. Each piece of artwork is displayed or framed in a way that helps to best showcase it, whether the room be brighter or darker, the frame simple or very fancy and detailed. All of the artworks are labeled with the artist, title, date and a description of the media used to create it and how the gallery received it. Some things are in display cases and they have numerous things listed and labeled all together. There are pieces throughout that are untitled as well. Each piece of art is displayed with enough space between each piece to allow you to appreciate them individually, but close enough that you understand which are displayed in conjunction with one another throughout a particular theme that is noted in the area.
Art Criticism
Charles M. Kurtz 1855-1909
Here Lies The Past 1878
oil on canvas
Burchfield Penney Art Center, Charles M. Kurtz Trust 1991
This piece is fairly small, about 2" with the frame included
In this painting you will see a skull on the upper left, face to face with a large black rat. Below the skull is a large opened book with a deep red, cloth bookmark and intricately detailed large scrolled letter P and S. There is another, smaller book to the right and a box just below the face of the rat. The frame of this piece is intricate and gold, with many 3D layers that appear to make the painting look like it is in the distance.
Value was used in this painting, there is a black background, that the rat almost disappears or hides in. The book and the skull are light in color so they stand out more, which brings me to emphasis. Your eyes are drawn to the skull and the book first and then you notice the rat. Color is used, in the colors of the book and bookmark, causing that to pop out at you. Line and shape, making the shape and pages of the books detailed and noticeable.
I get a very strong pirate feeling overall feeling from this painting. Here lies the past, the title makes me think pirate as well as the skull and rat.
Overall, I believe the artist was trying to say that we all have a long past, like the books, with many stories and details, we all have skeletons in our closets as well as dark times and memories, which is where the rat comes in. Our lives, our stories, are full of so many details, and it should be seen as valuable no matter how much negative it may hold, which is where I feel the grand gold frame with its many layers of depth to it, is the same as our lives.
Edith Lunt Small 1931-2017
The Entry of Christ Into Manhattan, 1982
acrylic on board
Burchfield Penney Art Center, Gift of the Artist 2015
Medium sized
In this painting you see a street view of the absolute chaos that is Manhattan in New York City. There are people everywhere, both good and evil, all consumed by money and life. There are people performing, people protesting, a man running naked, people stealing from others, a bus packed full of animals, little small men dressed like Santa Claus all over and there is what appears to be the devil watching happily as all of this goes on. There is so much going on it is hard to take it all in, honestly, which is true of New York City, but in the distance you can see a bright white and yellow light coming down with angels and a white horse carrying Jesus on his back and landing right in the middle of all of this chaos.
The use of color is very clear here, there are so many different colors, all symbolic in their own ways. The use of line and shape to create the buildings, cars, people and more. Contrast, where the bright yellow and white lighting is coming down into this otherwise darker colored painting. Proportion, making the buildings appear to be so big in proportion to the people, allowing you to be easily aware that this is supposed to be New York City.
The woman in the front portion of the painting who is surrounded by a red color, has red around her eyes, a black outfit, and appears calm and seems to be enjoying the chaos, is supposed to represent evil, or the devil in this case. The white and yellow light coming down from the sky, is representative of angels and Jesus coming down from heaven to help save these people from the evil that is taking over.
I think the artist was trying to say that Manhattan was filled with people, being overcome by greed and the evils of the world, and that Christ needed to be brought into their lives to bring hope and change to save them from themselves.
Jonathan Rogers
Maybe This Time It's The Angel Of Death from the Little Dancer series 1990-2006
oil on canvas
Courtesy of the artist
Medium sized
In this painting you can see mostly everything is the color red. There is a small portion of a red floral wall to the left, there a little boy blends in, in an effort to hide. There is a staircase in the center with a black railing extends to the right side against another small portion of red floral wall. Floating down the staircase, away from the boy, is a white lighted angel.
Color and contrast is used, emphasizing the red color of the space, and the bright white and yellow of the angel. Lines and shape making up the staircase and the walls.
I feel like the angel is a clear representative of just that. I also feel that the red and black that this little boy is hiding is a a representation that his life is dark and scary.
The title of the piece is Maybe This Time It's The Angel Of Death, tries to make you question whether or not this angel is a good angel or something different. I believe that this little boy is suffering in his life, whether he lives in fear or sadness, he does not appear to be happy. This angel coming into his house at night seems to be there to watch over him somehow, but because of the title and the way hes hiding, it is as if he hopes she is there this time to take his life to relieve his pain and suffering.
I really enjoyed my experience at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Looking at the exhibitions through the perspective I did, by paying attention to the space as a whole, noticing how they use the lighting and colors of the walls to help create the exhibit what it is meant to be allowed me to have a whole new appreciation for it.
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