Black Women in Art Essay -- essays research papers fc

Black Women in ArtHistorically and currently African American women accustom art as a way to pull up themselves, their emotions and as an act of resistance. In this paper, I will discuss the assorted ways two very influential artists, Laurie Cooper and Lorna Simpson, use vision to uncover and forefront the various mannikins of oppression that affect their lives as African American women. Since the late 1970s, African American art, as a form of self expression, explores issues which concern African peoples worldwide. During this time period, African American artists use symbols which represent the struggles, despair, hopes and dreams of a people striving to debunk prominent stereotypes and disgrace the intersecting oppressions of race, class and gender. Despite the long history of African American art, many black artists in contemporary society still flummox a difficult time getting their art viewed or received by the masses. Society, in general, tends to look at African art as ethnic, trivial, simple, folk art, perhaps even collectable, but not worthy of full-strength in-depth exploration of fine art accreditation. However, Laurie Cooper and Lorna Simpson disrupt these perceptions in their art. Lorna Simpson, a photographer, was born in New York during the sixties. Still residing on that point today, she remains combat-ready in the art world. Simpson brings much attention to a cause salutary and dear to her, the situation of black women in society. The ambiguity in her photographs allows the ravisher to evaluate the meaning of her work and to draw their give conclusion with her savour in mind. An excellent example of this is in her piece Counting(1991). The Albright-Knox Art gallery helps interpret the piece Lorna Simpsons work, Counting, contains three two-baggers a fragment of a womans body, a small brick hut, and a group of braids. The bode is anonymous and wears a white shift, Simpsons preferred costume for her models. She likes the cons traint she believes that it indicates what she terms "femaleness," without bringing up issues of fashion and she also likes the fact that there are many possible interpretations for such an outfit. The times to the right of the skeleton might indicate work shifts, but the schedules are unrealistic if considered closely. another(prenominal) possibilities for what they might mean are open to viewer interpretation.The central image shows a smoke house in Sout... ...e, the work is not fare oriented. Its intentionally left open-ended. Theres not a resolution that just solves everything. This statement leaves the viewer free to form their own conclusion and remain open to various interpretations. Lorna Simpson and Laurie Cooper help to sort the world for the better by addressing confrontational, silenced issues by opening the look of the world to all of the isms that plague society and gives us hope for the future.      two women subvert traditional image ry, physically and psychologically in prominent historic and current representations of African Americans historically and currently in American society. This subversion allows their artwork to escape the marginalization of African American art as seemingly ethnic folk art and exposes their deeds as tools for social progression.Bibliography1.     2.     3.     4.     Jorge Arango. At Home with Lorna Simpson. Essence Magazine, 2002, p.1725.     Audre Lorde. Beyond the Margins language of Fire, The New Press, 1995, p.287