LACMA Visit

    Visiting the museum was a great experience. There was so much to look at in the short time I had. My favorite style to view was expressionism and realism.  The most unusual pieces I chose were by German Expressionists named George Bellows and Magnus Zeller. The shapes were sharp and the painting gave me the impression of emptiness in the subject by Bellows  His painting depicted vibrantly colored portraits of women with black eyes. I suppose it was quite avant garde in the early twentieth century. Magnus', The Orator appeared theatrical. The faces of the people in the entire painting had the same hard angled lines with varying expressions; it was like they were wearing masks.
   Another painting I viewed was Frida Kahlo who was married to the artist Diego Rivera. He painted her portrait. I have a book of her work at home and it is like a pictorial autobiography. There are many paintings depicting her painful physical ailments due to a car accident in such great detail.  Also, I chose American artist, George Bellows. The oil painting of Emma is his wife. Beautiful detail and color attracted me to this picture.
   


  
  

LACMA Pictures

Frida Kahlo by Diego Rivera

The Orator, 1920 by Magnus Zeller, Germany

Emma in the Purple Dress, 1919 /1920 by George Bellows

The Young Mechanic, 1848

Portrait of a Girl, 1919-1920 by Max Pechsteinm, 

Germany

Identity Collage

   My life has been shaped by the people in this collage most.. A picture of my parents is on top of the page in the middle.  My ethnic background is mostly German, Scott-Irish and a bit of French, too. I feel my humor and attention to detail was most  influenced in my family of origin. To the left of this picture is my mother and her three siblings.  While growing up they were so much a part of my life. My family celebrated many holidays together and I always enjoyed visiting the cousins anytime for fun in the pool or a game of hide and seek. Below this picture is my sister, Terri and her husband Michael. I am one of five children; however, Terri is the one who I stuck with most. She influenced  me by her nurturing style and her friendship. The picture in the middle is my husband, John, my daughter, Veronica and myself years ago. The picture to the right of that is us plus two. When I married my husband who is Mexican, I fully embraced the cultural diversity I was marrying into. Also, I have become more informed about cultural differences, and I can accept what is different more readily. I am open to diversity so much more than my family members.  I have been positively affected by the family gatherings, music and food shared. I enjoy traditional folklore music; moreover, the danceable music such as Cumbia, Bachita, Reggaeton,and Salsa is more inspiring to me to dance to.The Mexican food dishes are a part our familys' life. We don't eat a lot of traditional dishes,yet  I make homemade beans and spanish rice regalury and chiles and tortillas are a staple item in my kitchen.   On the bottom left side of my collage I have a picture of my nieces and my husband and I at our engagement party.  I thought I would insert this picture because it symbolized the beginning of cultural diversity in my life. Last, on the bottom right I have a picture of my children presently. They are my everything. They are unique individuals who understand diversity and acceptance. 

Collage Picture

Guillermo Gomez-Pena

I am making another post on my artist because I can not figure out how to add to my existing draft. Arrggghh

   Guillermo is quite unusual.  He is a a poetic performer who makes a bold statement about his heritage - roots of Mexico that are emblazoned within.  He speaks with a thick accent and really grasps the audiences attention by his presence. His soft yet striking eyes and his masculine thick mustache demand one's attention. He is multi-talented and has had many successes. First, he received many awards for his stage performances globally. Secondly, he has written five books and he also has an experimental radio works web page. Please view:   Radio Page
   He is identified as a pop(popular) culture,ethno-techno and cyber-punk performer. I  understand how he is categorized as a pop culture artist. I guess the other descriptive categories persuade a viewer that he is a politically propelled activist, too. Which he is. Not all of his work entails political preferences.  Guillermo infuses English and Spanish, fact and fiction ,social realities and pop culture into his vast artistic avenues. He is definitely interesting to follow!  
   Additionally, Guillermo founded the organization, La Pocha Nostra. This is a company of performers that he founded  in 1993 in Los Angeles and then moved in 1995 to San Francisco where he has lived since.  The company that consists of other artistic actors create their Chicano cyber-punk performances and ethno-techno art on stage. Gomez-Pena reaches across borders nationally to connect to people. He acknowledges race and gender in his collaborations.  I viewed several of his performances on YouTube and I must say  it is profound artistic expression. 

   The books he has written are the following:  Dangerous Border Crossers, Codex Spanlensis, Mexican Beasts, Living Santos,The New World Border and Warrior for Gringotrolka.  Included in these books are his chronicles, essays and scripts of his large scale projects.  

   This artist says quite a bit about identity. I was reminded not to be so closed minded after researching my artist. At first glance, I was subjected to this person's interpretations / point of views and said to myself...what is this stuff?   But after reading more and watching some videos I now say it is interesting, educating,visually complex, weird, unusual, and sometimes shocking.  

Identity Project: Guillermo Gomez-Pena

 I really don't know how to react to this.  Guillermo performs on stage to audiences alone and with his La Pocha Noche company.  He was born in Mexico City in 1955 and he came to the U.S. in 1978. His work includes journalism, art, poetry, performance and politics. He has been exploring intercultural issues for more than twenty years and has received numerous fellowships and prizes.  He tranforms a stage that connects himself  to his ethnic identity.
   Guillermo's work has been presented at over seven hundred venues across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Austrialia, Europe,Columbia, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Brazil, Argentina and the Soviet Union.