Category Archive: ART

Bill Rauhauser: Motor City Alive

If this brilliant Detroit photographer never laid eyes on the exhibit of the legendary French photographer Henri Cartier- Bresson, photography as we know it would be much different. Bill Rauhauser is known for his classic black-and-white photographs that captured the significant beauty and simple elegance of Detroit throughout several decades. Prior to seeing Cartier-Bresson exhibit, Rauhauser had no idea that his hobby of taking photographs could turn into a full blown career.

His photographs over the decades depict the simple moments in Detroit life. Whether it is a photo of a woman gazing off to the side as she enjoys a cigarette on an outside Detroit plaza while wearing a lavish peacoat and string of pearls, or a photo of pedestrians walking across a street with their heads intently focused on what’s in front of them as a young boy accompanies them with a balloon in his hand, Rauhauser’s photographs show us that,  as a society, we often don’t notice simple moments the world presents to us.

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Steve McCurry: Capturing the Deeper Truth

The 21st century has marked some of the most heightened technological advancements. Who would have thought that Facebook would lead to quick international communication? Or that the "selfie" would actually become a part of everyday language? Through social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook have created a world of photography for the everyday person. Though unprofessional and mainly edited using filters, people are constantly communicating through the lens of their iPhone, making human connections that exemplify what relationships can become.

For one man, American photographer Steve McCurry, this is exactly what the evolution of photojournalism is about. Born in 1950, McCurry has documented over 30 years of evolving photography, clinging to people-centered art. The connections, the emotions and the words that are silently projected from his work are eloquently depicted in years of travel and experience.

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Wangechi Mutu: Exploring the Exploited

Her work is complex and has multiple meanings and even some contradictions that hold truth. Her means are peculiar. Rather than a paint brush and a canvas, she uses magazines, pornography and even animal skins to create elaborate collages. Wangechi Mutu’s style is nearly impossible to define. It resembles the work of Pablo Picasso with the way her designs play on abstraction while simultaneously referencing surrealism with her darker themes. Mutu is primarily known for her perspective of women’s bodies, especially African women. She critiques the manner in which society objectifies women by using the very tools that society utilizes to sexualize women in the first place such as magazines and pornography, which are two mediums that are known to objectify women and their bodies.

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Babajide Olatunji: Making His Mark

The great continent of Africa has given us so much,., from being the birthplace of modern man and the catalyst which shaped civilization, the “Motherland” has given so much to the world. The latest gem that Africa has bestowed upon us is hyper-realist painter, Babajide Olatunji. Olatunji’s Tribal Mark Series I-V has become a sought after commodity, especially since the world has begun acquiring African artwork by the droves in recent years.

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Noe Two: The Color of Culture

Once considered an act of vandalism, graffiti is now widely accepted as a form of art. Though the act of graffiti has ancient roots, modern street art began popping up in urban areas during the 1970s as a means of sociopolitical expression. Silenced by the authorities, street artists were punished for their bold, rebellious artwork. Graffitists attempt to reclaim public space with their paintings, capturing the cultural essence of the environment. While some may view this process as menacing or threatening, many have found the artwork compelling and reflective of urban life. For French artist Noe Two, graffiti is not only a form of self expression, but a communal act that has helped him foster relationships with people from  different backgrounds.

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