On A different Page

On a different Page

            The exhibition of On a different page was very much wonderful to go to. Many of the artworks that were on at the exhibits were basic on books and that was the whole point of the exhibit. To introduce books into their art piece whether it was to come up with your own storybook like artwork or to actually incorporate books and/or book pages into their work. What I enjoyed the most of the exhibit is the message that it’s trying to show and how we create a sort of personal connection with books, which in today’s technology is hard to do. We now don’t bother to pick up a book or a newspaper to read, rather we go on our phones and laptops to read. For me, I rather sit down and read an actually hard covered book and feel a connection, something I don’t get with online reading. I had an understanding of most of the artwork at the exhibition just a couple pieces had me puzzled.

Kate Dodd
Losing Leaves
Sets of 1930's Funk and Wagnall encyclopedia
2017

           When it comes to one of the art pieces that mostly stood out for me was a rather large artwork piece by the artists Kate Dodd. Her artwork piece was called Losing leaves. In her project, she used sets of 1930’s Funk and Wagnall encyclopedia. The art piece was ceiling to floor in height. The art piece contains sheets of the encyclopedia and it was threaded and cut into circles and it was lit up from the inside. While at the bottom, the book cover of the encyclopedia covered the floor. There were about 25 book covers on the floor. To me, I feel the message of this art piece was how we don’t use these books because it’s easy to find information on the internet. Rather the loss of books or how she titles it the loss of leaves. The leaves represent the pages and the losing represent the encyclopedia or the book its self that we no longer use. “Everyday life was changing, and so were the desires and dreams of a new generation, which was eager to articulate its own identity” (Thompson, 8), I took this part from seeing power because as the years past we change. We once used books and now we rely on technology. Who knows what’s next?

David Sandlin
Pur-Ton-O-Fun Co. Scatalog

                 The next art piece came in a series of three. Artist David Sandlin created comic-like drawings. Each of the art pieces are called Pur-Ton-o-Fun Co Vol 2, 3 and I also believe volume 1 was also there. His artwork had the comic effect of it while being somewhat dark and evil to it. His project is supposed to represent the so-called American Dream that everyone wants or craves. All of the pieces all contain the word “sin” and also “Is it good enough” they all seem like they are sad or somewhat trapped in this American dream. The American dream is seen as the lifestyles everyone wants or needs, but either has to have the problem of what they are working for is helping achieve the goal of the dream; like if what they are doing is good enough for that dream. While others who do have, the dream need to maintain that picture-perfect lifestyle. Having the perfect career, having the perfect marriage, house and family. It also displays that it’s that alcohol, sex, lust is a sin and wrong to think of. All of this has to do with cultural capital how society is supposed to behave and act. In Seeing Power Nato Thompson said, “we understand particular cultural references and we are in cahoots with a certain common sensibility that motivates our actions” (85). 

David Sandlin
Pur-Ton-O-Fun Co. Scatalog
(Volume 2)
Silkscreen on paper, 2014

David Sandlin
Pur-Ton-O-Fun Co. Scatalog
(Volume 3)
Silkscreen on paper, 2015

  

Aileen Bassis
Is This My America?
Unique artist book, photos, transfer
prints, lithographs, 2017

Artist Aileen Bassis created Is this my America? Which is a book that contains photographies of what My America is? She wants people to start thinking about what America meets to them or what America use to me to people. At this point, America has gone downhill, in my opinion, what with our new president and all the laws he is trying to change and everything he is doing to possible angry everyone. All the violence that has come to America and the oppression that we have to face. Her picture makes us want to question what has society come to. Just like Nato Thompson said, “The subject of oppression would touch the very heart of the audience and in so doing, encourage a revolutionary culture”. 

The next two art pieces that also stood out to me is by the same artist Aileen Bassis the first one being Muslim in America (Amal) and In my country. Both are the same concept as Is this my America. Except for this time, she asks what do you miss of your homeland? There are pictures of children and people and food. This speaks to me because coming from parents that are immigrants I understand what they miss. A day does go by where my mom does cry at the thought she may not see her mother again or the thought that as they grow older she won’t be able to be there for their death.