Good evening to everyone...... In response to your question I think all over the world artists were making political statements about life ,innovations, and technology. Art movements like Cubism, Fauvism Constructivism, Dadaism and The Harlem Renaissance evolved in response to events like Mussolinis Fascist Party in Italy in the 1920's. Nazi power in the 30's. The Great Depression in the US to name a few. The German Expressionists happened after WW1. The artists united with the workers to try to make a better Germany but during the rise of fascism in the 30's the Nazi regime ridiculed this art and called it "Degenerate Art" As to my own work it has been a much more personal journey but I did challenge the art establishment in America. Not many women were taken seriously as painters and I challenged that. I didn't do what was expected of a woman to do at that time.
People all over the world were using their art to silently protest their oppression and sometimes they were shunned for it. They would pour their emotions, sadness, anger, whatever they were feeling into their art because there was nothing else they could do. They couldn't even discuss with their family their opinions without the possibility of being turned in to the government.
I, as an American citizen, could never really understand what that felt like. America has always seemed to be the ever present promise land where the answer was YES you can do it. You can create the best art, you can become rich and famous from your art. That is why we as a people were always so afraid of communistic ideals. There was never even the slightest possibility of 'making it big' so to speak. Rather than being “owners” of the enterprise, its members are held to be trustees of it and its assets for future generations.
I wonder how many artists become rich from their art? I'm sure there are not many but maybe the thought of "making it big" would be enough for many. Those that make it big are they perhaps the ones that are part of the establishment and people can relate to their work. If something is new and creative will people even recognize it never mind put money behind it. Many artists who were famous when they were alive are not now. Artists who were thought to be mad and crazy are now important figures. Would the powerful people in society want finance artists that were ridiculing them? I don't think so!!
Very interesting point Ms. O Keefe. If you are talking about artist that do artwork then I believe you are correct, but if you mean artist including actors, writers,dancers,muscians, and artist then I would say many got rich off their art and some are still well known, like me.
I know from a fact that African Americans in fact, wrote and sang gospel hymns to try and encourage themselves to believe that one day it will all be over soon. There was a song that happened to be one of my favorites. The lyrics are Soon I will be done with the troubles of this world. I'm going home to live with my Lord. My people has faced many hardships and trials. Our music wasn't meant to be sad and depressing but to bring joy to our lives in a time of sorrow. Even to bring peace to our minds. That's what our music came from.
Gospel music was evolved over time. There was more than one person that created the genre of gospel music. It was basically influenced by the hardships that African Americans faced during slavery.
I believe that many different artists were making statements about these issues, but as for myself, I typically just composed my music based on my own thoughts rather than what was going on around me. Although I did create a music department in the Winterthur, which is a place for all musicians, young old, male female, can come and make music and conversate with other musicians. So I believe this helped to arouse ones feelings on these issues, and im sure musicians started composing music based on those feelings.
Anybody is welcome to the WInterthur. Now wether people conversate with one anothernis their choice, but I'm sure that people of different races did talk to one another.
I agree with you Mr Reinhart, but see I disagree with you where you are saying you had just based your music on your thoughts rather than just what is just going on around you. I believe what goes on around you helps you create your own personality and unique style to your music or what ever a artist may create on their own. I would just think about that if I were you.
Mr. Reinhart, My work is also based on my own thoughts rather than what was going on around me but perhaps we do reflect what is going on around us by simply existing in the time and place we live in. My work is not about wars, social struggles or any political statements but it is unique in the history of art, as is yours, Mr. Reinhart. I think it is wonderful what your are doing at Winterthur.... you are a generous man!
Ms. Okeefe, So you do not believe that any social structures, and political statements ever effected your work? I always thought many artists painted scenes from their life and other things happening in the world. If your work was not based on the government and the world problems, what did you paint about?
Well, Miss Swanson, much of my work was painted in the desert or the 'Badlands' but I didn't think of them as bad I thought they were beautiful. I painted the rocks and mountains for so many years now ,I feel, they have taken a life of their own! I guess it is about my life because that's what i spent my life doing!
Again, it was a very dark time in the Soviet Union. You had to write music that the government wanted to hear. It caused a lot of frustration and conflict. Rebelling artists were arrested and put up for trial, while others feared for themselves and family, worrying about the work they published and possible conflicts. Conflict and unfair treatment in the Soviet Union affected my music. A good example would be my String Quartet in C Minor, Op. 8. I believe you can look it up on a website... I think it is called YouTube (?).
During this time, not many whites and blacks performed together in film. I personally got to preform with Mr.Bojangles, which was one of the first interrascial performances. It has gradually increased over time.
I just love to watch that video of you and Mr Bojangles performing together. See Ms. Temple I thank you for that because you set the bar high for artists in our era. You are a true person who shows hard work does actually pay off in time, and that is why your video will continue to grow.
To answer your question, I believe cooperation was very important because more minds are better than one. But I also believe conflict is very important because it pushes you to work harder. I think I used conflict the most because I wanted to try to be my best and I think I did a fabulous job at it.
To answer your question, I used my conflicts to push me forward. Racism was the biggest conflict in my life and to a shock I over came it. I was the first African American to be in an all white theater. With the theater, I traveled back and fourth from London and the US. I was once in US, trying to return to London and to find that they suspended my passport. but that didn't stop me from acting. later on the renewed it and i was back to acting in London.
I mean to answer your question I used the conflict I had when my dance company Sadler's Wells had gotten destroyed by the wars going on and I had lost everything. I even lost my male dancers because they needed to serve in the military during the war. That eventually made me strive and push harder to work on getting a new home for my dance company and finding new male dancers. Eventually when I found new dancers my style and my technique the way I taught class through out the time has change and some how I started to get influenced by little things around me and I would interpret what I influenced in my dance.
Good evening to everyone...... In response to your question I think all over the world artists were making political statements about life ,innovations, and technology. Art movements like Cubism, Fauvism Constructivism, Dadaism and The Harlem Renaissance evolved in response to events like Mussolinis Fascist Party in Italy in the 1920's. Nazi power in the 30's. The Great Depression in the US to name a few. The German Expressionists happened after WW1. The artists united with the workers to try to make a better Germany but during the rise of fascism in the 30's the Nazi regime ridiculed this art and called it "Degenerate Art"
ReplyDeleteAs to my own work it has been a much more personal journey but I did challenge the art establishment in America. Not many women were taken seriously as painters and I challenged that. I didn't do what was expected of a woman to do at that time.
Did everybody go to the bathroom at the same time, or is it something about me?!
ReplyDeleteNo Ms. O'Keefe it is not you, it seems all the other guests and I are quite late.
DeleteI'm sorry Ms. My mistake.
DeletePeople all over the world were using their art to silently protest their oppression and sometimes they were shunned for it. They would pour their emotions, sadness, anger, whatever they were feeling into their art because there was nothing else they could do. They couldn't even discuss with their family their opinions without the possibility of being turned in to the government.
ReplyDeleteI, as an American citizen, could never really understand what that felt like. America has always seemed to be the ever present promise land where the answer was YES you can do it. You can create the best art, you can become rich and famous from your art. That is why we as a people were always so afraid of communistic ideals. There was never even the slightest possibility of 'making it big' so to speak. Rather than being “owners” of the enterprise, its members are held to be trustees of it and its assets for future generations.
I wonder how many artists become rich from their art? I'm sure there are not many but maybe the thought of "making it big" would be enough for many. Those that make it big are they perhaps the ones that are part of the establishment and people can relate to their work. If something is new and creative will people even recognize it never mind put money behind it. Many artists who were famous when they were alive are not now. Artists who were thought to be mad and crazy are now important figures. Would the powerful people in society want finance artists that were ridiculing them? I don't think so!!
DeleteVery interesting point Ms. O Keefe. If you are talking about artist that do artwork then I believe you are correct, but if you mean artist including actors, writers,dancers,muscians, and artist then I would say many got rich off their art and some are still well known, like me.
DeleteYes but for every rich actor there are hundreds of poor ones and I am sure it is the same in all the arts.
DeleteNo Miss O'Keefe it isn't you. I was just having some trouble coming up with an acceptable response to the question. Apologies.
ReplyDeleteI know from a fact that African Americans in fact, wrote and sang gospel hymns to try and encourage themselves to believe that one day it will all be over soon. There was a song that happened to be one of my favorites. The lyrics are Soon I will be done with the troubles of this world. I'm going home to live with my Lord. My people has faced many hardships and trials. Our music wasn't meant to be sad and depressing but to bring joy to our lives in a time of sorrow. Even to bring peace to our minds. That's what our music came from.
ReplyDeleteDid the gospel songs evolve over time or did one person compose them. ?
ReplyDeleteGospel music was evolved over time. There was more than one person that created the genre of gospel music. It was basically influenced by the hardships that African Americans faced during slavery.
DeleteThank you for your interesting reply, Mr. Waller.
DeleteAnytime Mrs. Keefe
DeleteI believe that many different artists were making statements about these issues, but as for myself, I typically just composed my music based on my own thoughts rather than what was going on around me. Although I did create a music department in the Winterthur, which is a place for all musicians, young old, male female, can come and make music and conversate with other musicians. So I believe this helped to arouse ones feelings on these issues, and im sure musicians started composing music based on those feelings.
ReplyDeleteWinterthur sounds great Mr. Reinhart, but do many different races conversate together or do they stay to their own race?
DeleteAnybody is welcome to the WInterthur. Now wether people conversate with one anothernis their choice, but I'm sure that people of different races did talk to one another.
DeleteI agree with you Mr Reinhart, but see I disagree with you where you are saying you had just based your music on your thoughts rather than just what is just going on around you. I believe what goes on around you helps you create your own personality and unique style to your music or what ever a artist may create on their own. I would just think about that if I were you.
DeleteMr. Reinhart, My work is also based on my own thoughts rather than what was going on around me but perhaps we do reflect what is going on around us by simply existing in the time and place we live in. My work is not about wars, social struggles or any political statements but it is unique in the history of art, as is yours, Mr. Reinhart.
ReplyDeleteI think it is wonderful what your are doing at Winterthur.... you are a generous man!
Thank you Ms. Okeefe, and I agree with you completely.
DeleteMs. Okeefe, So you do not believe that any social structures, and political statements ever effected your work? I always thought many artists painted scenes from their life and other things happening in the world. If your work was not based on the government and the world problems, what did you paint about?
DeleteWell, Miss Swanson, much of my work was painted in the desert or the 'Badlands' but I didn't think of them as bad I thought they were beautiful. I painted the rocks and mountains for so many years now ,I feel, they have taken a life of their own! I guess it is about my life because that's what i spent my life doing!
DeleteAgain, it was a very dark time in the Soviet Union. You had to write music that the government wanted to hear. It caused a lot of frustration and conflict. Rebelling artists were arrested and put up for trial, while others feared for themselves and family, worrying about the work they published and possible conflicts. Conflict and unfair treatment in the Soviet Union affected my music. A good example would be my String Quartet in C Minor, Op. 8. I believe you can look it up on a website... I think it is called YouTube (?).
ReplyDeleteAnd my apologies for joining the conversation so late.
ReplyDeleteDuring this time, not many whites and blacks performed together in film. I personally got to preform with Mr.Bojangles, which was one of the first interrascial performances. It has gradually increased over time.
ReplyDeleteI just love to watch that video of you and Mr Bojangles performing together. See Ms. Temple I thank you for that because you set the bar high for artists in our era. You are a true person who shows hard work does actually pay off in time, and that is why your video will continue to grow.
DeleteOH MY GOODNESS! THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. VALOIS!
DeleteTo answer your question, I believe cooperation was very important because more minds are better than one. But I also believe conflict is very important because it pushes you to work harder. I think I used conflict the most because I wanted to try to be my best and I think I did a fabulous job at it.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to have...a lot of confidence in yourself Ms. Swanson.
DeleteTo answer your question, I used my conflicts to push me forward. Racism was the biggest conflict in my life and to a shock I over came it. I was the first African American to be in an all white theater. With the theater, I traveled back and fourth from London and the US. I was once in US, trying to return to London and to find that they suspended my passport. but that didn't stop me from acting. later on the renewed it and i was back to acting in London.
ReplyDeleteDo you feel that racism held you back as an artist and a person?
DeleteI mean to answer your question I used the conflict I had when my dance company Sadler's Wells had gotten destroyed by the wars going on and I had lost everything. I even lost my male dancers because they needed to serve in the military during the war. That eventually made me strive and push harder to work on getting a new home for my dance company and finding new male dancers. Eventually when I found new dancers my style and my technique the way I taught class through out the time has change and some how I started to get influenced by little things around me and I would interpret what I influenced in my dance.
ReplyDelete