amvis Eric DeVries
The videos from American Visions I thought showed the essential art to the time period. After the second world war, America was on an economically good situation. New technologies springing up and everyone enjoying the benefits of a won war. I thought that this was a very superficial time for america, certainly a materialistic period. Art then was changing itself as well with new styles. One of those being Jackson Pollock. I think Pollock had something really strong going for him. Straying away from representational art, his work was very exposed, slinging paint across the canvas. The work became about the process and the relationship between the artist and the materials as you can clearly see how it is done but the deliberate placement of colors still gives the work a movement, rythmn and mood. I really am intrigued by art that tries to make you re-think what art is itself. Jasper Johns created a piece that was a painting of an American flag with wax as well, and it made one wonder "is this a flag?, is it a painting? symbol or artwork?" It does however get into your mind and it toys with it some. Andy Warhol commented on the view of America as consuming things they like in mass amounts with is silk screenings of Marilyn and soup cans, ironicly HIS art was valued and in want as well.
The next decade marked a very active time for America and Art. Everything comming out was designed to be bright and happy. People were focused on enjoying their happy-safe American lives. Then America gets tangled into Vietnam and suddenly the nation is split on different views. I think that America was acting more quickly than they were thinking as we sometimes do. One of the concepts from the art of this time i liked was the utter dissonance made by Bruce Nauman. His piece were metal animals hung from a barren carosil type transporter, drags some metal from the animals in a circle through the room while creating the most disturbing noise. Visually and auditorily this piece can drive people crazy. I really like the artist/viewer relationship, it is so strong through Nauman forcing this feeling on us of horror, disgust, and anguish. Jeff Koons on the other hand drives me crazy in a whole new way by making very cheesey and material art like the kitten in the sock. He claims to come up with all the ideas to the work and highers other artists to accomplish it for him. His motives to me are very confusing. If he is trying to make the viewers hate him, i would say that it is at least successful in that regard but if he is sincere then i regret ever knowing about it. America seems though, the best place to bring new kinds of art to the world. Here is where the opportunity is to be as crazy as you want and it will be accepted.
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