Monday, May 6, 2019

Artfields 2019

  We went to an huge art show last weekend in Lake City, SC, a small town in the midlands that holds an annual juried show for Southeastern artists.  Big prizes (like the first prize of $50,000) draw 400 works, displayed in historic buildings all over town.  The entries seemed to lean heavily toward political and social problems for their inspiration.  I thought I would show you some contenders and see what you think. 
Which one would you pick for the $50,000 prize?  
   

“Whom Do We Save?”




















DescriptionOn June 12, 2016, Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old American security guard, killed 49 people and wounded 53 others in a mass shooting inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, United States. Orlando Police Department officers shot and killed him after a three-hour standoff.

“6/12/16”
  On June 12, 2016, 49 people were murdered and 53 wounded in a shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.  This piece is a memorial to the victims by Forrest Lawson.

Description





A Very Long Goodbye


  The piece is about those afflicted with degenerative brain diseases such as dementia and their loved ones who care for them. The artist Olga Yukhno says, “They have to live through these experiences, sometimes for years, seeing the person disappear every day, become less of themself. It's like living a perpetual funeral, losing them one brain cell at a time.”  Besides the photos there are small notes written by friends and families who have lost a loved one that way.  


   And the winner is ... #2!  “6/12/16”

  The artist is a young man in graduate school who says he is going to use the money to repay his student loans.  

  Do you think the judges picked the right piece?  

14 comments:

  1. No it wasn't very artsy fartsy! I would have picked the first or last one before that one:)

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  2. I prefer art that shows beauty. Just my two cents worth from me, an art history major in college. I love art and will post soon about an oil painting I bought recently.

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  3. Difficult to judge without being there. A lot of art seems to have been inspired by political events these days. I wonder how they will refer to this period in years to come.

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  4. Were these all young artists? Not sure I would have picked any of those.

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  5. I can't see any of these works making either a lasting impression on the world of art, or on the socio-political problems they concern themselves with. But lets hope I'm wrong.

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  6. from your post alone, the A Long Goodbye would've been my choice. And hi! New follower here!

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  7. None appeal to me.
    Then I am not an arty-farty type.
    Cheers
    Colin

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  8. To be honest none of them appeal to me so whether the judge picked the right one or not is a moot point.

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  9. Have to be truthful and say I wouldn't have gone to see it..but that' me!

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  10. Of course with both my mom and Barb A very long goodbye touché close to my heart....

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  11. Woah that feels like a sad art show... I'm trying to only go to upbeat things these days! xx

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  12. Looks like you had a fantastic time at the art show! The pictures are great :)

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  13. Hmmm, it would have been hard to choose one above the other as they were kind of similar. There are so many kinds of art form. I don't think those are the kind you'd buy for your home, but definitely work to make people think. I imagine that's their main aim.

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  14. I guess I'd pick the last one just because I've experienced it personally.

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