Cultural Activity 1

One of the culture activities I went on was the class trip to the library.  Overall I really enjoyed the trip because though there was only one floor, there was a huge range of different pictures, colors, and ideas mounted on the walls. 

The first series I saw when I entered the 5^th floor was that by Raven James.  He took pictures of American landscape with hints of dreamlike imagery.  All of the photos were in black and white and though each was different, when they were all shown together, they really highlighted one another.  I enjoyed the picture “Lacuna” very much.  It was a photo taken from the back of someone’s head with sweat beads flying in the air.  It was a very clear and visually pleasing photo.  I also liked “Sunrise” because it was a very peaceful picture of the sun shining through the trees.  The light wasn’t too intense, but rather calming.  The final work of his that I enjoyed was “Profile.”  There was a deer head thrown into the air with a wide landscape background.  I thought it was sort of a disturbing picture but it definitely got a reaction out of me.  I’m not sure I really understood the picture but I liked how bizarre it was.

The second artist I really enjoyed was Robert Welsh.  He had two pictures of ordinary households up.  I’m not sure whether they were staged or whether they were actual houses but it was a very old, semi-retro feel.  It felt like my grandparents house, which is why I think I liked it.

Katy levy was the third artist I was drawn to.   I adored the picture “Johnny Rays Fridge.”  It was a refrigerator with many personal pictures taped up on it.  It had family pictures and individual ones, both new and old.  I could see the old tape marks and could tell this was actually someone’s old fridge.  This was exactly what the fridge in my house looked like when I was growing up.  This picture really allows all the viewers into “Johnny Ray’s” life.  It is more of a picture, this is someone’s life.  The exhibit provoked some unique reactions, as well as showed many very interesting pictures; I ended up really enjoying this fieldtrip.