Students Question: Art or Exploitation?
Kirsten Rusinak
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
One student bluntly inquired about why she thought her physical presence in West Africa and abstract art are more effective mediums for "raising consciousness" than bringing artifacts from the Fulani culture to America.
At the following reception, one student referred to the agreement as "exploiting West Africa." Others told me they intended to get more information out of her.
Had Beck's lecture been more informative and her explanations of her agreement with the Fulani more exact, the evening might have played out less aggressively. Whoever attended the event has a right to his or her interpretation, but when assessing art openings, the bottom line is the art itself, which in execution did not measure up to the approach.
The artist described the works in the exhibition as "abstract forms with West African Influence," but anyone unaware of her approach could not possibly observe such influence aside from the repeated circular patterns derived from everyday objects like plates and baskets.
Overall, Beck's artistic theory, "It's important if you are going to glean from another culture to just glean from it," came across a little weak.
It's worth asking if reactions to Beck's art would have been different had the audience's mindset not been polluted by the cynicism produced by the lecture. One might also consider asking if it is morally possible for someone who has experienced what it's like to live in third world country to want to exploit it.
Interested students should drop by Wriston and decide for themselves. The exhibit runs from Nov. 14 to Dec. 21. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday noon to 4 p.m.
At the following reception, one student referred to the agreement as "exploiting West Africa." Others told me they intended to get more information out of her.
Had Beck's lecture been more informative and her explanations of her agreement with the Fulani more exact, the evening might have played out less aggressively. Whoever attended the event has a right to his or her interpretation, but when assessing art openings, the bottom line is the art itself, which in execution did not measure up to the approach.
The artist described the works in the exhibition as "abstract forms with West African Influence," but anyone unaware of her approach could not possibly observe such influence aside from the repeated circular patterns derived from everyday objects like plates and baskets.
Overall, Beck's artistic theory, "It's important if you are going to glean from another culture to just glean from it," came across a little weak.
It's worth asking if reactions to Beck's art would have been different had the audience's mindset not been polluted by the cynicism produced by the lecture. One might also consider asking if it is morally possible for someone who has experienced what it's like to live in third world country to want to exploit it.
Interested students should drop by Wriston and decide for themselves. The exhibit runs from Nov. 14 to Dec. 21. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday noon to 4 p.m.
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