Commons Art Galery

The art world has a very distinct way of letting the artist express themselves. Throughout the span of this semester my image of an artist has expanded way beyond belief, even my view of the phrase artistic expression. I have noticed how each artist use their art to express themselves, from using themselves in the art, what they love, and even their sexuality. It seems that most artist who are very open about their sexuality tend to express themselves a bit more in their work than other artist. I believe that these artist have a sense of freedom when it comes to expressing themselves. This brings me into my visit at the commons gallery at Virginia Commonwealth University.

            The exhibition was by an artist by the name of George T. Gregory, Jr. as I entered the exhibition I was struck by an array of colors that stood out at each artwork. At first glance I thought many of the pieces were merely colorful designs on different textures or canvases. As I arrived to analyze the first piece I stopped to look at what was a naked blue man, this didn’t shock me because I am used to seeing naked people in the art realm. As I proceed to the next piece I could not tell exactly what it was because I was facing the wrong side, when I moved to view it correctly I was a disturbed at what I was looking at, it was a picture made of carpet with a man masturbating while inserting a dildo into his anus. I begin to think what have I bumped into today, of all days I had to pick this one. Now I am not judging this artist for his sexual orientation but the extent of the content. While being disturbed by this one piece I just gaze through each of all the artworks presented, there were many creative things that stood out to me such as a piece that was done full of pin tacks which were dipped into paint on the ends to create a portrait.

This was my first gallery that I have ever viewed besides at a museum but I would be interested to find a artist that really interest me and actually go to a big time exhibition and see what there is to offer. My overall story is I think with art you should be open to anything because one can not really define what art is.  

Barney, a well known artist whose background serves him well. A jock, model, intelligent scholar who attended Yale, and a high dollar artist. It seems that Barney’s has dipped in dabbed himself into a little bit of everything, could this partially be the reason for his renowned success?  At first Barney’s work disturbed me, it reminded me of this character from a movie in my childhood days called “little monsters.” As I began to research more of Barney’s work I began to take liking to the creativity of the work. I wonder what drove him to the art world, coming from such a diverse background.

I really don’t have too much to say about Lopez, there isn’t much info about her on the web and the book really doesn’t give me to much to care for either. Lopez’s work is very dull to me its really not interesting it lacks concept and creativity, but who am I to say what is good or not its just my opinion. Their was one picture I came across on some ones page that looked like C3Po’s head mixed with a used condom, I dont know it looked different.