Frida Kahlo

so im currently writing a term paper on the symbology of Frida Kahlo in her art...wow. all i have to say is that Frida is the woman of my dreams. she was a very stong stubborn woman who had horrible things happen to her. She had Polio at a young age which left her left leg degenerated, she got into a terrible bus accident that put her into a body cast for 6months, and had almost 35 back and torso surgeries from that accident. Also was deemed infertile after the accident. wow. and she still painted. she didnt have this dream to paint glorious things, she just painted what she was thinking, and that was it. she didnt want to paint perfect little flowers, she wanted to paint her spinal cord, and her in a hospital bed, because either that was were she was, or how she was feeling. amazing. the paint that this woman experienced was incredible. married to a horrible man, but loving him anyways, they made a historically excentric couple. frida's life makes me think of how great my life is. I may not have the amazing talent or creativeness of frida, but i think i have her life force. no matter what happens she still pulls through,a nd survives. Going through and thinking about all the new changes in my life coming up and just the things going through my head, I am so glad that I have a life force like that. I am glad that I am a strong person to handle anything that is thrown at me. I know after writing this paper, i will have more of a handle on my life, my thoughts, and where i am going. I guess I am glad that i had to change my topic at the last minute...i am actually glad that I have to write this god forsaken paper. even though i havnt really started...o well. heres to frida.

i am graduating soon. it's really weird, and 5 years in the making. i dont know what to do with myself. I know I am moving to N.C. and I am so excited to be someplace warm for most of the year. I will get a bangin tan, and have the weather be sunny everyday. so excited. but finding a job and a place to live with mike seems difficult. trying not to think about these things too much right now. gotta concentrate on gradauting and spending a little time with the fam b4 i leave. my new nephew spencer is adorable. wish i had an electric version to post. no such luck. havnt downloaded them yet.

Jackson Pollock “No. 18” circa 1950

"When I am in my painting, I'm not aware of what I'm doing. It is only after a sort of "get acquainted" period that I see what I have been about. I have no fears about making changes, destroying the image, etc., because the painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through. It is only when I lose contact with the painting that the result is a mess. Otherwise there is pure harmony, an easy give and take, and the painting comes out well."
-Pollock

Jackson Pollock is an artist known for his abstract impressionism. This being said he is particularly known for his “drip period.” Instead of using an easel for his work, he would lay his canvas on the ground, and drip and spatter paint onto the canvas in a organized matter. He is to have been said that, he doesn’t really know what he is doing, other than concentrating very hard. It isn’t until he pulls away does he know what his painting looks like. Pollock believed that his paintings had a life of their own, and that he was just the tool to get it out. Pollock is known for breaking the ice of style and technique. This freeform style was not something that was taught at art schools of the time. He broke the ice by way of technique because anyone can do it. Children can create art like this; however, the genius of Pollock shines through. He sticks to a color palette, and he very evenly spreads his spatters. Not only does he do these things that are unique to spatter, but he also does not have any sort of focal point. There is nothing that your mind sticks to when you look at a Pollock. A “All-Over” style of painting, there are no points of emphasis, or any identifiable parts within the canvas. He abandons the traditional idea of composition in relations among the whole. He also has been known to make a huge expanse of spatter canvas, but would trim to what he wants. After he is finished, he decides what makes it to the finished product.
Pollock used a spatter technique which was never used in this way before his time. He was a alcoholic and a smoker which aided in his creative process. His intense passion for his art is apparent if you have ever see a picture of him working. His intense motions of spatter are what make it so difficult to produce a painting like this. He drips, spatters, throws and lightly applies paint with unconventional tools, like sticks, but also he has been known to apply glass, sand and other texturizing elements and smeared them all around to create a look.
This particular painting for Pollock is not the most famous. No. 18 is a painting by Pollock that was not his greatest, or his worst, but looking at the lesser known works, gives a viewer a more appreciation when they do finally see the masterpiece. I believe in starting in the middle when it comes to viewing art, and this for my first piece in my exhibition is a great example of that. The Life of this particular work is ambiguous. He had worked on so many of these paintings at the time that specific information is rare. However, this painting is in the permanent collection of the Guggenheim Museum of Art in New York City.
Pollock was a troubled man. An addict in the best sense of the word, he was an alcoholic, and was known for his eccentric ways. His career unfortunately was short and sweet. He rose to respect by his drip period, but also was criticized. He was known by the New York Times as “Jackson the Dripper.” His praise and criticism were mixed at the time, but his impact is permanent. Artists since have received inspiration for their own work through Jacksons. He started a trend of abstract art that transcends to this present day. His career was cut short by a car accident in the mid to late 50’s. A tragedy to the art world, however, his works still live on.
Pollock’s art lives on through records. He currently holds the top position for the most expensive painting sold at auction or private sale, 148 million dollars to be exact. Unconventional, expensive, his juxtaposition of elaboration and simplicity is the legacy he left us with, which is a great success to me.

Jasper Johns “Flag” circa ’54-’55

“I make what it pleases me to make.. ..I have no ideas about what the paintings imply about the world. I don’t think that’s a painter’s business. He just paints paintings without a conscious reason. I intuitively paint flags.”
-Johns

Jasper Johns is an ever changing artist that have changed with the times. His trailblazing ways of Pop art was what started his career. He began painting flags and he didn’t know why. All he knew was that he had a dream of the American Flag and that drew the inspiration for his art. He was titled a Pop Artist by the people; however he doesn’t consider himself one. He just creates what he wants at the time, and if they happen to follow popular sociological aspects, then they will.
Johns describes him as a Neo-Dada artist. Neo-Dada is a form of art with ambiguous roots. It is a term created by the artists that have used popular culture images, nouveau realism, modern materials, and absurdist materials. These artists consist of American masters such as; Andy Warhol. This way of art is as unconventional as you could get.
This painting in particular is one of American reverence. Created in the post-pre war eras, of World War Two, and the Korean War, this is a time in history when Americans were proud and excited to be American. In this time, this painting caused a uproar of excitement. Popular culture depicted in art at the time when it is present is a sure way to get your work noticed, and he did. This is only one painting in a number of flag works. Johns works with paint, collage, encaustic and other forms of media that are not what you would call art supplies. This particular painting is on a plank of wood, with a collage of newspapers under the paint and encaustic. He uses a form of sculpture with his paintings to create a somewhat three-dimensional form.
This work, “The Flag” is on display in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. His art like the other artists in my exhibition is displayed all over the world. Johns career expanded that much. He is a front runner for Modern Art masters. His work is a classic form of American art, and I am sure he is proud of what he has given to America. He helped start the foundation of graphic art in this country, and right now graphic art is very important.
Jasper Johns is an important artist in this country. His contribution to Pop Art, Graphic Art and Contemporary Art is prevalent in our art history and his flags in particular. Another eccentric artist, his belief that his art is its own life form is proof of his passion. He is his own definition of art.

Andy Warhol “Marylin” circa 1967

“In the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”
-Warhol

How can I do an exhibition of Beat Art without Andy Warhol? Andy Warhol is a artist of mass proportions. Multi-talented, and intelligent, this man created a whole classification of art. Pop Art is a classification that combines popular culture and art. Warhol became famous for his depiction of a Campbell’s Soup can, and had a life full of fame and art.
Warhol started his career as a media illustrator working for such publications as Harpers Bazaar. He first became famous for his soup can; however, that was just the tip of the iceberg. His favorite medium to work with was screen printing, and because of this he created a new innovation of commodity of Art. He made art for the masses, and his art is still continuously on shirts and shoulder bags. Warhol’s print of Marilyn Monroe in 1967, five years after her death brought about a lot of coverage. The big deal at the time was that it was 5 years after her untimely death, and Andy brought it all back to the world by creating this piece. Pop art was young in these days, and Andy was one of the only artists producing it. Pop art has developed into what we would call now, Graphic Art. Pop art is prevalent with vivid colors and sharp lines, which Warhol depicted perfectly.
Warhol in his will left his entire estate to financially back a foundation for the visual arts. Appropriately titled, The Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts, this foundation is currently the largest grant generator in the country. His legacy that he has left us with is lasting and still affects us in terms of art.
Andy’s eccentricities and passion for his work is what makes this period in art history rewarding. I don’t think any other artist has paved the way more than Warhol. His art is still popular, and he started a whole type of art himself. If that’s not inspirational than I don’t know what is. Business was art to him, and as an artist it was important to him to make money off of his work, which could be criticized, but his passion for business made him a great artist, and made him a household name. He said it himself, “Business is the highest form of art.”

Roy Lichtenstein “Crying Girl” circa 1963

“Pop Art is actually industrial painting; it is what the whole world will soon become.”
-Lichtenstein

Roy Lichtenstein is a artist known all over the world based on his distinctive style. One of the most famous Pop art artists, he has created along with Warhol, a type of art called Pop Art. Lichtenstein is a artist whose passion comes from a different angle. Having no art education excluding college, he was free to explore art as a hobby and create his own recognizable style.
Lichtenstein created “Crying Girl” with Magna paint. Magna paint is the first kind of acrylic paint. This is important because this was the first time that this type of paint was in high art. His “comic book” style of painting is what makes him recognizable. This piece actually was a character in a DC comic book. There is some criticism of the originality of his paintings; however, nothing illegal came out of his work. Lichtenstein believed that his work wasn’t about the media, it wasn’t about pop culture, and it wasn’t about himself. He said that his art was just that, art. He drew inspiration from everything. What he watched on TV, and even down to what his son told him to do. His son bet him that he couldn’t paint a picture better than Disney’s Mickey Mouse, and then he came out with “Mickey” (1961). He too believed that his work didn’t have anything to do with him other than using him as a tool to be made.
Roy became a professor of art at various colleges in the Northeast of the United States, even coming to SUNY Oswego only to leave because of the weather. He explored his art with the passion of an artist with a message, but he didn’t have one. He felt that his art was a picture to hang on the wall, and we as America loved having him on our wall. His paintings are all over the world; however, “Crying Girl” is hanging in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. This piece at the time gets out there the display of a different kind at the time. Everyone had seen Warhol’s Pop Art, but a new artist came out and his name was Lichtenstein. He added variety to this type of art at the time, an through his teaching, he has influenced future generations of artist. His career was full of modesty. He didn’t consort with celebrities like Warhol, he stayed at home with his wife and kids, for an artist of this period, he stayed humble.
The affect of this piece is one of greatness for this countries art. It looks like something that has been cut out of magazine, but somebody made that. Lichtenstein also left his estate to the people to form a foundation. The Roy Lichtenstein Foundation is also a large foundation to help support artists and their works much like Warhol’s. His life and works are immortalized with his contribution to Pop Art with his foundation.
“Crying Girl” was a step in the right direction for Pop Art. It helped pave the way for other artists to continue spreading the variety of art, and he is a great example of a Beatnik. Not caring what anybody else though but himself.

Jay Defeo “The Jewel” circa 1959

"Over the years, I have worked either from the subjective world of my imagination, finding the image through my response to and manipulation of the materials I work with, or worked from the objective world of reality, discovering the image among the relationship of forms in common objects that I use for models. The process becomes a play between my control over the materials and an open and permissive attitude toward technique, allowing it to mold the image as it will. Hopefully, even the most literal works transcend the definition of objects from which they are derived. I enjoy the paradox of developing something quite organic while using inorganic models."
-Defeo

Jay Defeo is my favorite artist. She has the most passion I have ever seen in an artist. I enjoy her works mostly because she reminds me of my own art work, and my attitudes towards it. She isn’t very well known, but her work is very famous. She is probably one of the artists that her work is more famous than she is. Her work is very important.
Passion is something that people have; different passions for different things. If you are passionate about what you do, you will always be happy. Jay is an artist with the passion of greatness. This painting “The Jewel” is a starting painting to inspire her future masterpiece. In order to have her masterpiece into the world, she had to get the Jewel out of her.
Defeo’s style is unconventional out of the ordinary. She uses everything; nothing is un-usable for art to her. She took photos of her own false teeth in her later years, and they are on display at a very famous museum. She had a collection of erasers which she made into a sculpture. Her eccentricities in her art made her art so important. They are important because she was one of the first to use everything. Collage was something she did as well, and once again she used everything. The Jewel is painted with oil paint and plaster. Just like Johns, she also uses objects and mediums to create a three-dimensional element to her work. The impact to the world with this piece is that it helped her design and create her masterpiece “The Rose.”

Jay Defeo “The Rose” circa 1958-1966

"['The Rose'] passed through several stages, each one of them valid. There was a kind of archaic version at six months; then followed a very developed geometric version which gradually transformed itself into a much more organic expression. Curiously, this stage got thoroughly out of hand at one point baroque), and I managed to pull it all the way back to the final 'classic' 'Rose.' I suspect that even if I had had the space to spread out these ideas on separate canvases, the work would have proceeded on a single format alone, in as much as I felt the painting had to experience its own life-span in time."
-Defeo

“The Rose” is a masterpiece of extreme proportions. Jay Defeo describes the process of the 8 years it took for her to create this as physically and mentally draining. It took three years for her to pick up art again. She didn’t paint for decades after The Rose was finished. Hanging in the Whitney Museum in New York City as a part of their permanent collection, she was asked to send this piece over before it was fully finished so she could be honored for her work in the art world, and she declined because her work was not finished. This is why her work is more famous than her. She didn’t care what people thought about her art, she didn’t like being famous for her work, she stopped creating anything for 3 years. That’s saying something. This is the reason for her only being known for this piece. If you are truly an admirer of her work, then you would know about many other great pieces she has created, but this is the masterpiece.
The Rose is a painting/sculpture that weighs over a ton. Exactly 2,300 pounds and double the height of its artist, it is a massive piece titled, “The Rose.” The title is important because it is a very feminine ideal attached to a very massive large and heavy work of art. A woman creating a piece this large was such a huge undertaking; and 8 years of it to boot. The impact of this piece on the art world is incredible. It shows the passion of art that artists have. It demonstrates that if you love something so much and you have the drive to do it then you can. It transcends from the art world, and into the real world. I as a regular person can look at this painting and think that anything is possible. The drive to make it, makes me have the drive myself.