Women Artists of the American West by Roxanne - Essay Example

Art work Introduction Roxanne Swentzell is one talented artist that has risen from interests generated from her familywho was also skilled potters and sculptors. She uses clay to make her portraits that symbolize the full human spirits. An article on Women Artists of the American West, stated that, Roxanne does these to remind people that their environment is still part and parcel of them. She does so by sculptures of both males and females but more of the females. These help her empower the girl child or the womanhood (Ressler and Susan 195). The idea that women are in most artistic work, it aims at explaining more on the balance of power from her cultural view. Theme and Curator Statement The artwork by Roxanne gives full focus on the human beings and their daily interaction with the environment. The term environment here refers to the general surrounding. As in people besides the other person, are they the work one does, house chores, defined by gender or political aspects. Human on the other aspect refers to any person. Young or old, a child, woman or even boys. She tries to express her feelings through them and the effects of the environment to their lives. Or even the impact of their lives on the environment. Humans react differently to their environment. Roxanne has strived to bring out the aspect of their feelings. She has balanced the emotional dimensions of the children, shyness, and love to children and how they interact with each other from the general perspective (Swentzell, Roxanne, & Gussie 44). Artworks that Support the Theme In her artwork of making babies for Indian women, she has designed a Pueblo woman. The woman has a port on her head and babies are emanating from it. Others carried on her laps, some standing on her shoulder while she seats on the ground. The one standing is eager to know who these others are coming from the pot. The sculpture is symbolic. The port represents the birth process. Pueblo is African in nature. From the cultural view, African women should bore and rare to a big number of children and manage it the best way possible. It is disbelief that children are sources of wealth and symbol of a wealthy family. The pot is symbolizing the woman’s uterus: an organ in which conception takes place. Before been expelled through the birth canal, that is the neck of the pot to the point where the children are seen peeping. These depict that an African woman is expected to be very healthy and fertile. In turn, it will enable her conceive as many children as possible. The man, on the other hand, will deal with the task of rearing, educating them. The artist of this work is Roxanne, she did this art in 1962 and saw it best symbol it with, Making Babies for Indian Market, 2004. The work was presented via Brooklyn Museum, to act as a Gift in memory of Helen Thomas Kennedy, 2004 (Bernstein& Bruce 44). Artwork Two The broken hearts, and bowls, now what? Was an art design put up in 1996 by Roxanne? The collection made in Georgia Loloma. In these, she focused on the idea of wanting to keep alive the old traditional crafts and plants. In as much as the bowls and hearts break with time, they may be termed as old. It will not be of benefit to put them away. The hearts and pots symbolize the crafts and plants that need revival. She believes that old is gold. Third Artwork She does these by teaching the Americans who come to her for studies. Tse-ping was brought out in 1991 at heard museum, phoenix in Arizona. There is a man standing with others sited. In front of them, is a bowl filled with seeds. These show the visits brought by the Americans and their own Indians. They are helped to preserve their culture. The seeds are symbols of what culture comprises. However, the much westernization has drawn people from their true self, and they need to reconsider their roots. Even the young are seen coming from such pieces of advice to help at least them maintain their morals that have remained after been brainwashed by the western cultures. The young were given three fields to work on them. The bowl symbolizes the area. The people are seated in a circular manner waiting for rules and support on how to do some cultivation. In order to grow and preserve the old plant or plants used in the olden days. In other terms, they were seeking for knowledge from the elderly. He is believed to impact excellent morals to everyone who listens and follows the piece of advice (Hirschfelder, Arlene & Paulette 254). Fourth Artwork The best way I can try to manage myself in order to live happily. These took presentations in an art museum, in 1994. An art walk by Roxanne. The idea of the young visit the old person to know more about how to maintain their environment, she outlines this artwork as, trying to help the young people focus their energy on more important things. The sculpture for these is someone attempting to fix a thread in the needle. It symbolizes that he is ready to do some sewing of maybe a torn cloth or material. The idea tends to separate the young people from drinking or wasting themselves. Instead, they should have a motive or purpose in their lives and work towards achieving helpful things in their lives. The fact that Roxanne dance and partakes in traditional ceremonies helps to keep her close to the norms and cultures she was brought up. These further expounds on the importance of hanging on to values and tradition. At no one time will they make someone stay. Fifth Artwork Her artwork uses clay figures. It reminds her of the Indians. These show appreciation for the tradition in which she was brought up. These demonstrate that, Roxanne has not separated herself from the cultural view (Lee, Eric &Canaan). Conclusion She truly has associated her artwork with humans and their interaction with the environment, also termed as the overall surrounding. For humans, the clay work has helped her bring out the Indians. These are the center of focus. In some instances, some Americans are also brought out a case where, Tse-ping shows a man standing with others sited. In front of them, is a bowl filled with seeds. These show the visits brought by the Americans and their own Indians. They are helped to preserve their culture. The seeds are symbols of what culture comprises. In as much as westernization is seen to draw people from their real self, they need to reconsider their roots. Even the young are seen coming from such pieces of advice to help at least them maintain their morals that have remained after been brainwashed by the western cultures. Humans react differently to their environment. Roxanne has strived to bring out the aspect of their feelings. She has balanced the emotional aspects of everyone and how they interact with each other from the general perspective. The sense of wanting to curb westernization described by the high move shown by, the best way I can put myself in order to live safely and happily. These were presented to an art museum, in 1994. Roxanne composed it. They wanted to know more about the maintenance of their environment. The feeling is so emotional in a way to motivate them on how to bring or prevent the change from affecting their livelihood. She outlines this artwork as, trying to help the young people focus their energy on more important things. The sculpture for these is someone attempting to fix a thread in the needle. It symbolizes that he is ready to do some sewing of maybe a torn cloth or material. It is from these that it shows a real interaction with the environment. The young were given three fields to work on them. The bowl symbolizes the area and these people seated in a circular manner. They are waiting for the set rules and support in order to come up with a successful future. These are bound to happen in the area of toiling so as to grow and preserve the old plant or plants used in the olden days. In other terms, they were seeking for knowledge from the elderly. He is believed to impact excellent morals to everyone who listens and follows the piece of advice. These helps create a point of focus so as not to waste much time in drinking and partying. Therefore, the work of Roxanne gives full concentrate on the human beings and their daily interaction with the environment. And has full support from her artistic works as brought out. Work Cited Bernstein, Bruce. Die Indianer Nordamerikas: [kunst, Traditionen Und Weisheit Der Amerikanischen Ureinwohner]. Hamburg: National Geographic Deutschland, 2009. Print. Busby, Mark, and William Ferris. The Southwest. Westport, Conn. [u.a.: Greenwood Press, 2004. Print. Hirschfelder, Arlene B, and Paulette F. Molin. The Extraordinary Book of Native American Lists. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, Inc, 2012. Print. Lee, Eric M. C, and Rima Canaan. The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma: Selected Works. Norman, Okla: Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 2004. Print. Ressler, Susan R. Women Artists of the American West. Jefferson (N. C.: McFarland, 2003. Print. Swentzell, Roxanne, and Gussie Fauntleroy. Roxanne Swentzell: Extra Ordinary People. Santa Fe, N.M.: New Mexico Magazine, 2002. Print. Read More