There is often a divide among those who look at and talk about art between an Intentionalist approach to understanding art, and an Interpretive one. It is often very important to those who take an Intentionalist stance to know something about the biography of the artist - who they are, what experiences they have had in their lives, what their cultural background is and how this affects their intentions. Others prefer to view the work of art without knowing these things and bring their own cultural associations and ideals to it. Look at the artwork by Willie Cole below.
1. First, bring your own interpretations to the artwork; what things do you associate with this radial form? What other forms do the iron burn marks remind you of? Why would he have used mattress padding instead of a more traditional medium like canvas? How do you interpret the meaning of this work?
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| Willie Cole, Sunflower, 1994 1994. Iron scorches and lacquer on canvas over mattress padding, 80 1/2 x 78” |
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1) The artwork reminds me of african art some what and it looks like a dead sunflower made of moth wings or something else just as delicate. The canvas being made of mattres material gives implications of familiarity of an event, like ironing your clothes and burning them.
ReplyDelete2) It changes it a bit in the sense that he did not dictate the subject matter, more like he let his materials decide what his subject or piece would be about.
_mike Olive_
1. It is reminiscent of a burned sunflower, but if you take away the pointed tips of the iron, it would like quite a bit like a knight's shield. The lighter areas act as the light shining off of the metal, while the darker, more burned sections represent the parts that could have been damaged in battle. The use of mattress padding could have been an experiment in texture, though I have to wonder if there is a correlation or commentary on household products.
ReplyDelete2. It doesn't necessarily change my thought on the work, though I think it's fascinating how exactly he decides to approach the piece and what the result will look like.
-Melissa Humen
1.This piece reminds me of the Mayan calendar, but also the pattern in the center takes my mind to a drawing of Giacomo Balla "Dog on a Leash" which looks like the movement of the leash in different times.The tones and material gives the idea that time have change the composition but also it seems well preserved on a way even though it looks old.
ReplyDelete2.It does change my view of the work on a way. It's like he was not expecting his overall product but he knew that thanks to the patterns of shapes and tones the piece was coming out as a one whole.
-Ramirez*
I can associate the sun or a flower with this radial form because of the outward expansion from the center. The iron burn marks make some of the piece darker, which affects the contrast of the piece. I think he would use mattress padding may be to give the piece a different look than an ordinary medium. The mattress padding has a different texture than canvas. This work looks aged because of the burn marks.
ReplyDeleteReading the interview leads me to believe that Cole was attempting to make something that represents historically significant events, such as the slave trade, like the article stated. He used the mattress pad because it is readily available.
-Alisha Mazzocchi
1) I really love this piece because of the process it required. Burning a mattress with an iron is not only dangerous, but a mistake. normally when burns are made from an iron youve destroyed your shirt, wasted money, now youre late for work and youre probably embarrased with your neglignece. However, Cole meticulously repeats this process of 'mistakes' to create a structure of symmetry with an antique feel to it. He layers hazard upon hazard to create a very captivating ad complex piece.
ReplyDeleteThe other part i admire about this medium choice is the danger. while people can manipulate paint and color and shade we can only control burning to a certain extent. So while Cole cannot precisely control the exact shade of the burn he builds a careful piece that implies organization or 'mistakes' (which cant be controlled)
2)His explantation of the piece has me admire it even more!! i really appreciate the historical inspiration of his tools and results. More importantly, i find it inspiring when he says he lets his tools communicate with him. he isnt just representing the iron in his work but these burns are expressions of the iron. It is as if HE is the tool for the iron, the iron uses HIM to talk.
Brilliant.
~Allison L
1.)The artwork symbolizes signs of strength and struggle, I can understand why some one may refer this piece to a type of culture and it may be representing that exact idea, but that is not the first thought that came to my mind. I see hate and maybe a hard life from the pressure and arrangement of Cole's work. Mattress padding was a brilliant idea in my opinion because it is in almost a natural setting, you can picture some one accidently burning there clothes or laying the iron down on the mattress and forgetting about it over time. It is much more genuine and catches the irons marks much better than an actual canvas would. The meaning of the work is an accomplishment and growth maybe from the past that may have been burnt into his mind or a significant event that should represent the past.
ReplyDelete2.)After reading the article the piece made much more sense. Cole is trying to inform people and give an eye opener with his piece. It is representing history and the hard times people went through like slavery, war, or other significant dates in history. Overall after reading the article my view has not changed if anything it has strengthened the piece to me and has informed me about the overall piece as well as Cole's ideas.
-Bri Bezzek