University's Fine Arts Museum example essay topic

When evaluating art what does one use as criteria for the exhibit? Currently Washington State University's Fine Arts Museum is taking part in The Native American Fine Arts Invitational. They are hosting an exhibit titled "Art in Two Worlds". This exhibit is "celebrating the creativity and innovation of Native American artists".

(Exhibition Description Online) The artwork enables its audience to "gain insight and expand their understanding of Native American Fine Art". (Deloris Tarzan Ament, April 3, 1989, F. 4) Through different cultures, viewpoints, and various backgrounds, "Art in Two Worlds" does an amazing job of displaying diversity and Native American Heritage. With a wide array of colors, shapes, and designs, the artwork in the museum represents a plethora of individuality. One could interpret this piece in numerous different ways, depending on their personal perspective. The exhibit "Poonka Timertik Inua", also known as the "Punk Walrus Spirit", designed by Larry Beck, portrays a vision that the artist saw while in a junkyard years ago.

Larry Beck graduated from the University of Washington with a Master of Fine Arts Degree. He tells us that he was in Skagit Valley at a junkyard looking for parts to his Toyota when he saw an Eskimo mask made out of aluminum mirrored in the side of a car. He then began making masks because they were interesting to him. There was something about them that intrigued him. While he did not specify what that something was, perhaps the unlimited potential of diversity in facial expressions captured his interest. He knew, however, that he no longer wanted to create traditional, figurative art.

"Contemporary art no longer interested me. It seemed spiritually empty". (Quoted by Larry Beck) Encountering this mask, Beck came up with the idea to use only objects from the environment for his next masterpiece. He had auto parts, dental mirrors, and feathers in his studio back home, so between the parts that he already had and what he had just found, he created this wonderful work of art. If you can imagine, he used half of an automobile tire, auto parts, dental mirrors, paint, old handles, and a lot of creativity to craft what he calls the "Poonka Timertik Inua", basically a really unique looking walrus.

This piece completely deviates from traditional Native American art. In contrast to typical spirited subjects, the viewer of this work perceives a cartoon-like expression based upon the use of largely unusual three-dimensional objects. This piece is unique in that it shows a great deal of diversity and definitely comes from a different background. Most of the pieces in the museum have bright colors, tell a story, and have that so-called "Native American look". While traditional Native American art is so recognizable, there is no one particular look to this genre.

It all has such a unique style, comes from a different culture, and displays a distinct sense of diversity. Native American artists reflect on their "heritage to produce works with seductive line and a sense of combustion that is at once passionate and contained". Contemporary Native American artists are beginning to express old visions in new forms. "It is not so much that they are breaking tradition as they are evolving tradition into new forms". (Deloris Tarzan Ament, April 3, 1989, F. 1) Contemporary artists display their artwork for the world, not just their tribes. Larry Beck is one of these artists.

Becks' piece of work is not on a normal canvas slate and does not portray a particular scene in ones' life, like some others do. Rather his artwork displays immense originality and imagination. The only colors in his design are red, black, and white. It does not have a normal shape to it. After all, the basic design that the piece holds is that of half of an automobile tire. Beck had "broadened the horizons of what's possible for all native artists".

(Deloris Tarzan Ament, April 3, 1989, F. 4) He has successfully mingled traditional Native American ideas with contemporary artwork while maintaining his Eskimo heritage. "Art in Two Worlds" is currently exhibited in hopes of redefining long-established ideas of Native American artwork. The "two worlds" that the title is referring to are that of "acceptable Indian art" and that of the artwork that does not coincide with what is considered "acceptable". Reflecting the reality of our world, the main point that this exhibit is trying to get across is that artwork, like human beings, can be found in many different shapes, colors, styles, and forms. It does not always have to conform to the norm. All of the art displayed in the exhibit is there for a reason.

Beck's work in particular is a unique presentation of his Eskimo heritage. He includes the word "Inua" in most of his pieces because it is Eskimo for spirit. He says that he's "learned that visually, things work out if he has that spirit in there". (Deloris Tarzan Ament, April 3, 1989, F. 1) Most of the artwork shown in Washington State University's Fine Arts Museum is very eccentric and arguable. One may think that a certain piece is depicting something; while at the same time someone else may think that the same piece is telling a story or showing how the artist feels about a subject. The themes of the art pieces are all very different.

There is the traditional artwork that everyone understands and the alternative pieces that take an imagination to comprehend. Perspectives differ, whether we are evaluating art, interacting with others, or creating the masterpiece of our own life. Through our many different cultures, viewpoints, and backgrounds, "Art in Two Worlds" creates an environment where one can go to become more aware not only of Native American Heritage, but also the vast diversity throughout our world. It exposes us to, and offers us the opportunity to reflect on the ethnic, cultural, and expressive diversity of our society.