Critical Thinking Essay

Jacob Lawrence
Cabinet Makers, 1946
American
Gouache with pencil under-drawing on paper.

Nam June PaikVideo Flag, (1985-1996)
American70 video monitors, 4 laser disc players, computer, timers, electrical devices, wood and metal housing on rubber wheels

If a meteorite were to come racing toward earth and just happen to threaten the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, we would choose to save Jacob Lawrence’s “Cabinet Makers” and Nam June Paik’s “Video Flag.” First, Josh will discuss his reasoning for rescuing “Cabinet Makers” and then I will discuss my ideas towards the “Video Flag.”

There are many reasons why I would save this piece. First, it is simply appealing to the eye. The colors used are red, blue, and orange with black and white. The use of only 5 colors gives the piece unity and variety. The reason it is appeasing is because of the contrast in the complementary colors blue and orange, as well as the contrast between the black and white. Besides the colors though, the strongest reason for my choosing this piece doesn’t come from the piece itself; but from the history of the artist and his representation of America as viewers would want to see it. Lawrence came from the poverty of Harlem. Though his life was not advantaged, he managed to become one of the greatest artists from the Harlem Renaissance and in American history. His works portrayed his struggle and his subject matter came from his personal experiences, the black experience, and from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s and always contained narrative (Getlein, 174). His life exemplifies that America is the “land of opportunity” where anyone can become what they want to be and I think that that is important to American history and culture.

I chose Nam June Paik’s “Video Flag” to save. I chose this piece because of the visual and historical impact it would have on the future. This modern piece consists of the latest advances in technology and art. It utilizes laser disks, automatic switchers, thirteen-inch monitors, and other devices. It has 70 television monitors that make it important and individual. Each T.V. displays an integral part of American society. The screens display split-second news stills, rotating statues of Liberty, endless runs of the binary language of ones and zeros, and a face that morphs through every U.S. president (Hirshhorn). This piece is creative and explains the current state of American Society. The American flag is recognizable throughout the world. To use this image and to creatively add other aspects of American culture on the screens is unlike any previous artwork I have seen. I found its impact to be moving and informative. I believe if I saved this piece, many years down the road, people would recognize what America was. The Flag represents the pride and independence of American people, the new stills will represent the mass media’s influence on our nation, and the use of the flashing binary system will explain the historical creation of computers and digital technology, while the former presidents of the United States faces will represent the American government throughout history. It would be a shame to ever see this piece of work destroyed and that is why I would choose this piece to save above all others at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

In conclusion, we both chose to save pieces that reign from American culture. We both find that preserving art from American history would best benefit those who survived and lived to see these wonderful pieces of art.

Sources:

Getlein, Mark. Living with Art, 8th Edition. McGraw-Hill. 2008
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. http://www.hirshhorn.si.edu/collection/record.asp?Artist=Paik&OnView=1&ViewMode=&Record=1