If you want to understand American photographer Nan Goldin, you need to be comfortable with embracing both darkness and light. You have to be ready to descend into the underworld and to rise like a phoenix from ashes. There is the pain of abuse in her work, like her self-portraittitled: Nan one month after being battered,1984, which shows her bruised and battered aftermath of a toxic relationship. And there is also the carefree “let them eat cake” joy in her snapshot Picnic on the Esplanade, Boston, 1973.
In the age of social media, everyone has the ability to create visual art if they have access to a smartphone. Apple Inc. has made the advancement of its camera technology the priority, attracting photographers and film directors to experiment with the iPhone camera’s capabilities instead of opting for the usual expensive DSLR equipment. In this vein, the iPhone camera breaks down the barrier of cost and access to materials for the process of creating high-quality visual art. As a mentor once told me, “It isn’t what you have, It’s how you use it."
I have never seen a 12-month calendar that only contains black, positive faces. But, there are annual calendars for sale in stores like Walmart and Target filled with the “perfect photos.” You know a Caucasian mom and dad, a son, a daughter, and a little dog—huddled together, cheesing hard behind a white picket fence. These types of calendars have been around for as long as I can remember, with primarily white families as the focal point, supposedly displaying a perfect life and the “American Dream.” But now in 2020, it’s a different day. And, I’m proud to say my desk calendar displays an “African-American Woman’s Dream,” which can be found in the Glow Photo series 2020 calendar. It’s filled with candid shots of African-American women of beautiful brown shades, and all different shapes, and sizes.
Adam Caldwell paints the harsh realities of the world and portrays them as if you are in a dream. Artist Adam Caldwell’s work is based on his reactions to social issues such as war and consumerism. When viewing his art you will see several layers unfold. Caldwell’s work incorporates images from American advertisements & popular culture and rituals from around the world. While also exhibiting an almost dreamlike quality in its execution, the images in his paintings merge together to create a story and draw the viewer into the world that he’s created.
We did it. We actually made it to 2020. We’re officially past Bladerunner’s cyberpunk-dystopian vision of 2019 and into the next decade, eager for what excitements and problems it will bring. And, it appears that the first problem which our world is encountering this decade is rising hazardous air quality levels around the globe. An easy one, right?
It is always interesting to see who history chooses to do something important. Whether it be invention, leadership, or artistic work, history has a way of dropping the responsibility to change the world into the laps of certain individuals who have a voice.
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