Midway Reflections

Midway through our course exploring the artwork of Africa, the Oceania and the Americas my main considerations are largely the same as they were at the beginning of the course, though the biggest shock to me is the way the art reverberates throughout the entire communities they represent. This was made most clear to me in observing the videos of the Zuni dances and the other Native American art work examples, though this reflection became clear that it applied to all the various types of art work that we have studied thus far. These communities have woven the artwork into their lives and it is an intrinsic part of who they are as a people. I don't know that there are many types of art work we have in this day and age that would compare, though there could be some arguments for digital arts, etc.

As for the other elements of the course, it is very eye opening and interesting to watch the concepts others argue when we are asked to take a stance on a topic. I find the other arguments well made, and they help me see other view points and at times will help change my mind, this is one reason why I really enjoy the online learning environment. I've found online that most students are very respectful of other's opinions and also work very hard to clearly express their own opinions and stances. In doing so, they make their arguments clearly and respectfully, which I greatly appreciate.

As for the most interesting areas we have studied - I greatly enjoyed the concept that there were so many different groups in such relatively close quarters in Africa - especially according to the maps that were shown in the text. It is fascinating to see how different the communities can be even though they were quite close physically. I am also always very interested to see things that are distinctly Native American, as it is "closer to home". It is fascinating to see how things were such a relatively short time ago (in relation to some other subjects - I am currently also studying Earth Sciences that talks in terms of billions of years, instead of hundreds like our Native American history does).

Blog Repost: 9 Perfect Parks for Exploring Native American History and Art

At PocketRangerBlog.com there is a great post that features nine different parks around the United States where you can view different types of Native American art that represents not only various types of artwork, but also represents the history of different communities, areas and facets of life they experienced. I love how the title of the blog post about "Perfect Parks for Exploring Native American History" doesn't even focus on the art aspect, but points out the primarily historical aspect of this type of artwork.

This is an important focus that people sometimes make, they will see the history, or the art, but not both. This is like when I spent some time living in the desert. I saw the desert, the dry and desolate, but not the beauty. There is a beauty, and artistry inherent in the history that is told through these things shown in these parks shown in this PocketRangerBlog post, just like there is an inherent beauty that I eventually came to realize and appreciate from living in the desert. Just because it isn't the first thing you see, doesn't mean it is less important or valuable from a societal standpoint.

The image below is from Seminole Canyon State Park, one of the nine listed among the Perfect Parks for Exploring Native American History on the PocketRangerBlog entry. This park is located in Val Verde County, Texas and is courtesy of www.legendsofamerica.com

From Bush Grass to Open Waves: Images of Oceania

This week we are comparing two different types of art work, one from the area of Australia and one from the Island lands of Melanesia or Polynesia. First, I’d like to focus on this piece from 1880, created by William Barak called “Corroboree”. Barak was a man who became a spokesperson on Aboriginal affairs in Victoria, according to the Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art. He worked often within the mediums of ochre and charcoal. Within this piece notice that while he depicts things like boomerangs that are curved in nature with curved lines as he would have to in order to depict them naturally, he then takes the liberty of depicting the legs of the men in the top row and distinct right angles. These right angles and very straight lines are rather unnatural and somewhat indicative of the influence of nature surrounding them and influencing them. Also notice the heavy influence of the many straight lines used inside each form for the purpose of detail. Even if a form’s main shaped is curved, like the snakes are, they are bisected many times by straight lines. This is one distinct way how their landscape and the straightness of what they saw around them every day in the form of grasses, etc. influenced their work.

These statues of Polynesian idols from the Puuhonua o Honauau National Historical Park in Hawaii are a great example of the rounded lines prevalent in Polynesian art forms. These rounded lines are a reflection of the nature seen around the island lands of Melanesian and Polynesia. These rounded lines are an example of the waves seen in the ocean, and the rounded lines you might see in many sea creatures you might find that these communities of people would use for food or materials for living.