Free Tibet Art & Actvism (03/22/10) Critique

Emily Nielsen, Maiko Yamazaki and I researched and created an art and activism project concerning China's occupation of Tibet. Until Emily approached me concerning this issue, I had no idea that this human rights issue existed. How, in a world of instant news media, where I constantly scan MSN, Google, The Charlotte Observer online and in print, and watch the news, both local and world, could I have never heard of this issue?

Tibet is a beautiful old world country, that on the surface reminds me of the USA in it's infancy. It reminds me of the cowboys and Indians era of our country.






I had heard of the Dalai Lama, but I never knew of his role. I had never heard that this guy was trying to save his country, heritage, religion, culture, etc. I did not know about the constant struggle for basic human rights.





It's inconceivable that another country would kill one of our religious leaders. I have no doubt that if this were to happen there would be payback. In Tibet, there is no payback. China does not allow the media free communication, so most Chinese people do not know anything about the Tibet human rights issue.





Citizens of Tibet do not have any basic human rights. Children and adults can disappear at anytime. To practice their religion could mean that they will face prison, torture and/or death.






I was very impressed by the way our project was received by the Concepts students. They were very inquisitive about the Tibetan plight and showed great concern. I'm sure it opened the minds of some of my co-students as it opened mine. If I could change this project in anyway, I would use a larger venue, so more people could view it at the same time. I would keep it in a dark foreboding area, with dark walls and perhaps add more red material representing the robes of the thousands of dead monks and nuns. I would add more prayer flags, and give out fliers showing how individuals can help.

For more information on the Free Tibet movement go to freetibet.org

3/3/10 Daily Notes - Maya Lin

Maya Lin designed the Vietnam Memorial Wall and to be honest I didn't like the concept when it was first proposed. I recall that it was to be just a wall. I thought it was a stupid idea, but I have come to see what it has meant to people through the years. Not only was my mind changed but also most of Americans changed their ideas. I have heard of many people that take paper and pencils with them so they can make rubbings of their loved one's names. I agree with Lin that it would not have the same meaning if the names were in alphabetic order versus the day the soldiers died. I also agree with her that the monument should carry the name of each soldier that died for his country in Vietnam.

I appreciate and like most of Lin's art work. The Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama was beautiful thoughtful and accessible to all people. People like to touch most of her art work, so it is interactive.

In the traffic approach to the Charlotte Coliseum, she planted 10 enormous holly bushes in a sinuous wave form. They were to appear to be rolling downhill, one after another, following a path suggested by small grassy banks and mounds. I never liked this art work and still think it was a waste of tax payers money. Most people didn't even know it was there.

DJ Martinez & Wenda Gu 3/15/10

Daniel Joseph Martinez (p374) creator, Do You Earn Minimum Wage & I Can't Imagine Ever Wanting To Be White like to evoke discussion concerning racism, privilege and poverty, etc. He chooses to "expose insidious concentrations of social, political and economic power". Perhaps he is creating art in his Do You Earn Minimum Wage sign, but am I showing artist talent when I place a sign at the end of my street, exposing my excess of stuff, by saying "Yard Sale" hand written in magic marker on card board. He is attempting to open discussions for social change. He is successful in that respect and I appreciate his advertising approach. I suppose it is art in an advertising sort of way. He stimulates emotions and anger. In some of his works he appears to be split open and his picture is taken.

1. What is his inspiration for each of his creations?
His is influenced by his upbringing as a Chicano in a neighborhood sandwiched between an all white and an all black neighborhood. He is also inspired by all that is wrong with our country and feels the need to correct it by bringing it to light.
2. Does he hate white people?
I'm still not sure if Martinez hates white people. He sees injustice and advertises it, stands back and waits for people to react. He not only touches on race, but poverty/riches, privilege/deprivation, censure, abuse, ostracism or any other wrong that he sees.
3. Is all his art racially or economically motivated?
Yes, yes. He creates art that involves "real-life issues and propels real-life actions."

Wenda Gu (p294) Oedipus Refound, The Enigma of Blood, Temple of Heaven and Beyond Joy and Sin. Gu is so controversial that his monumental installation was violently destroyed by a Russian artist at the "Interpol" exhibition (Stockholm, 1996). His work celebrates the physical origins of life an promotes universal accord. He seeks unity through art. He is a master of classical Chinese but has purged his art of national tradition. His works promote global accord. I find the Oedipus Refound Series where he used used tampons and sanitary napkins from 60 women from various countries to be disgusting. He also used placentas and semen and blood of a virgin. In Temple of heaven he used human hair from all around the world to create his work. Impregnation Piece will be his strangest work of art yet. He will impregnate women from each continent, and those children will be art. They will have children an so on, making the Impregnation Piece eternal.
1. What are his mediums? blood (including used sanitary napkins and tampons), hair, placenta.
2. How well is Beyond Joy and Sin received? All of his work including Beyond Joy and Sin are extremely controversial.
3. Temple of Heaven, what does it say? it really doesn't say anything. It is gibberish in numerous languages. Is it really human hair? Yes, it is comprised of human hair from around the world.