At the museum is a temporary exhibition called "The Other Side of the West: Recreating New Icons of the American West." It features 33 nontraditional Western paintings by 10 contemporary artists. Each painting is a unique representation of the Southwestern art genre that lends itself to an examination of imagery.
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| Lee Brodie |
Imagery is an artist's imaginative expression of experiences, ideas or feelings in an artwork. It can depict physical and non-physical things. Imagery can be your family's conversation starter. As you enter the gallery, select an artwork to view together. For example, find "Celebration, Cinco de Mayo No. 3" by Maria Sharylen. Take some time to observe the painting, and then discuss your impressions. What is your immediate reaction to the work? What words come to mind when you see this piece? Next, describe what you see. What colors did the artist use? What are the people doing? What shapes do you see? Then, look at the painting for its imagery. What idea is artist Maria Sharylen trying to convey? How did she communicate ideas? Do you think she has experienced a Cinco de Mayo celebration? Why or why not? What is Sharylen saying to you with this painting? Remember, these questions require opinions; there are no wrong answers!
Return to your first impression of the painting. Has your impression changed now that you have studied it? Why or why not?
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| Miguel Martinez's Woman from Chipas, Mexico" |
Find Anne Coe's painting titled "Suburban Ranchette" and repeat the same questions for uncovering your first impressions and for describing what you see in the painting. What idea is Coe trying to convey in her painting? What is she communicating about life in the Southwest? Why did she title the painting "Suburban Ranchette?" What title would you give this painting? How did Coe use her imagination in this painting? Was she trying to express an experience, a feeling or an idea? Where do you think she got the idea to paint this picture?
Find Coe's painting "Life Affirming." Repeat the same procedures for registering your first impressions, describing the painting and discussing imagery. Follow up by comparing Coe's two paintings for their use of imagery and style. Which one is more appealing? Why?
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| Ben Wright's "We are Called Blue Star People." |
Here's your homework: If possible, try searching the Internet for more information about Coe, Sharylen or other artists in the exhibition. The brochure that accompanies the exhibition will have some information about the exhibition; the local library is another possible source.
You might want to try this art project: Select a feeling, experience or idea and create an imaginative picture using paints or felt markers. Don't forget to give it a title! Then, repeat the steps used at the museum to critique your own works: Discuss your first impressions, describe the painting's attributes, talk about imagery and review your first impressions. What is it like critiquing your family members' works? What is the same and what is different about this experience compared to critiquing artwork in the museum?
LEE BRODIE is the curator of education at the Museum of Texas Tech, 742-2432 or lee.brodie@ttu.edu.
