Two weeks ago, my Orientation to Art and Design class visited Midway Contemporary Art. MCA is a "not-for-profit" art gallery based in Minneapolis which often displays the work of emerging and underrepresented artists. With a diverse range of pieces created by international and diverse artists that have yet to have been brought to my attention, Midway Contemporary Art has easily become one of the most intriguing galleries I have ever visited.
Among the collection of works that were displayed during our visit, a piece entitled "Lonesome Boogie Rattler" by Cameron Jamie was one of the only works to immortalize itself in my memory bank - regardless of the fact that I do appreciate every work on display. Jamie's "Lonesome Boogie Rattler" is comprised of ink on paper. The artist utilizes this medium to very near if not entirely its fullest potential. The paper seems to bleed ink from its pores, oozing blackness to create a composition that is both aesthetically beautiful and full of unanswered questions - left to be answered in the thoughts of the viewer. At first I was drawn to the dynamics of the presentation (the inky paper is mounted on a wooden board that stands about four and half feet tall). Something about the way the organic and natural beauty of wood can never be taken from the material no matter how many times or ways it is cut, glued, fractured, burned, sawed, carved, or sculpted always leaves me in awe and wonderment. Eventually my thoughts drifted toward the subject matter. The piece depicts a man...or two men...or just one man with more than one head with an inky, black mass that stains his chest. In this mass, I think, is represented a plethora of emotions (all negative, but my mind ponders negative subject matter more than the glory of a happy composition anyway). Sadness, discontentment, jealousy, rage, depression, contempt...all of these things in a black, chaotic bundle placed where this mans heart should be. He, or they, wear an emotion of aloofness...helpless to their sadness, as if there is no way to escape the pollution of the black inky matter. I don't know whether or not this piece was meant to mask a narrative of a sad and pathetic existence, or if I am over just over analyzing the work, but the story behind the image was what kept me looking. The entire piece is a mess of inky drippings, scattered lines, and thoughtful scribbles. Through the chaos, something beautiful lives and, thanks to Jamie, will be known to many for years to come.
Cameron Jamie, a native of Los Angeles, is a very dynamic and VERY underrepresented artist. Collaborating with street-portrait artists, musicians and many more artists of differing mediums, Jamie has built up a very diverse portfolio. As he is a very talented painter, he does not limit himself to the media. Jamie has created and helped in the creation of many small film projects. His work has been featured in many contemporary art galleries and film festivals and is represented in The Walker Art Center's collection.
Check him out, you won't be disappointed. Well...I'd hope not, at least:
I really love your description of the work. It is obvious that this painting effects you emotionally and it is very nice to read something with so much detail. At first I couldn't remember the piece you were talking about but as soon as you started describing it, I could picture the painting clear as day in my head.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the visit and were so intrigued by Midway!
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent and thoughtful post. You tie your interpretive statements to your description very well, and as Annie said, your description brings the image alive in the reader's mind.
Once again... be sure to add citations or hyperlinks to outside information, such as the biographical information here.