Carrie Mae Weems’ art focuses a lot on the bridge between history and identity. In the interview, she explains how she likes to incorporate her personal history, African American culture, and her understanding of how they both combine in order to make her pieces. Weems’ pieces embody what it is like to be a black person in America. She combines this shared experience with her own as a way to create a reinterpretation of what it means to be black in America. Her art gives people the ability to reflect on social and political issues that are affecting the nation as well as change individuals perspectives on topics they mind not understand without viewing her art. The quotes I chose from this reading symbolize the importance of this interconnection.
“What I’m interested in is the complexity of history and how it continues to impact our lives in ways that we are unaware of.”
With this quote, Weems provides more context to her art work. She explains how many people are unaware of their origins and often live in the bubble of the present rather than looking at life as a whole. To truly live in the present is to acknowledge the past and understand why you are where you are. Not many people reflect enough on the long line of history that led them to where they are today. I resonated with this quote, because I rarely reflect on things that have happened in my past or the past before me. It is something that is worth doing and can help you find the clarity you are looking for. It allows an individual to appreciate the things that came before them and acknowledge how those things have affected their present.
“I am not trying to make art that people will just look at; I want them to engage.”
Weems uses art as a tool to tell stories, experiences, and history. She wants to have a deeper connection with the individuals that view her art, because the topics she discusses are complex and resonate with many people on an intimate level. In this quote she is letting it be known that her art has deeper meanings. Weems is inviting people to explore her work in ways they otherwise wouldn’t. She wants them to generate new perspectives and interpretations by investigating her pieces rather than glancing and never giving them much thought. I personally enjoyed this quote, because it is an example of how art can be more than just an image, painting, or drawing. It is a thought provoking practice that should be handled with care and curiosity. I often find myself glancing at works and never giving them much thought, but this quote felt humbling to read.
Another interview I found was with Valerie A. Smith, her art is mainly based on surrealism. Her art is similar to mine as well as her process of creating. When making pieces, Smith starts with her concept. She usually chooses a topic that inspires her. A lot of her work has to do with personal experiences, and she draws symbolism from these moments to make her work. Next, she figures out what materials to use. She usually makes works with found objects and repurposes them as elements of storytelling. Then she begins creating her work, while staying focused on the ways the piece can be emotionally engaging for viewers. Lastly, she experiments with her compositions and then refines the piece until she is happy with it. This process is similar to mine, except I mainly make digital art and paintings. This interview allowed me to see my work in another way as well as gave me a reminder to stay present while I’m making art. It also helped me learn how to talk about my work and how to explain the concept in a simple way for everyone to understand.
Source: Paradiso, Adriana. “Spotlight Interview with Surrealist Artist Valerie A. Smith.” ArtWeb Blog, 29 Jan. 2021, blog.artweb.com/interviews/surrealist-artist-valerie-a-smith/.
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