Comments on: New Responses to Kara Walker http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2007/02/26/new-responses-to-kara-walker/ Walker Art Center Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:10:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Robert Dollard http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2007/02/26/new-responses-to-kara-walker/#comment-61681 Robert Dollard Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:42:33 +0000 http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2007/02/26/new-responses-to-kara-walker/#comment-61681 Seldom has art set upon me in this manner: Van Gogh's "Crab on its Back", Goya's "Saturn" being two paintings that come readily to mind. Deep subjects that dare the viewer to look, and challenge the mind to explore. But this, this is more. In her works Kara Walker invites us in; the subjects, of which there are many, requires each viewer to find a place amongst the silhouettes of their own psyche. Indeed, I at first timidly stepped in front of one projected backdrop before chuckling and boldly striking a pose (silly, yet profound). Was I only a shadow passing over or moving through her work? Given voice 'because of', or was this only me that I had been invited to see within this frame? "Whose chains are these?" I kept asking myself again and again. Kara Walker made me uneasy; made me feel, think, and examine more than just her work. I brought my own baggage to the show, and yet Kara somehow managed to rummage through it and hold up what I had in tow. Seldom has art set upon me in this manner: Van Gogh's "Crab on its Back", Goya's "Saturn" being two paintings that come readily to mind. Deep subjects that dare the viewer to look, and challenge the mind to explore.

But this, this is more.

In her works Kara Walker invites us in; the subjects, of which there are many, requires each viewer to find a place amongst the silhouettes of their own psyche.

Indeed, I at first timidly stepped in front of one projected backdrop before chuckling and boldly striking a pose (silly, yet profound). Was I only a shadow passing over or moving through her work? Given voice 'because of', or was this only me that I had been invited to see within this frame?

"Whose chains are these?" I kept asking myself again and again.

Kara Walker made me uneasy; made me feel, think, and examine more than just her work. I brought my own baggage to the show, and yet Kara somehow managed to rummage through it and hold up what I had in tow.

]]> By: Susanne Reed http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2007/02/26/new-responses-to-kara-walker/#comment-61090 Susanne Reed Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:48:37 +0000 http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2007/02/26/new-responses-to-kara-walker/#comment-61090 I love your work. It speaks to me. You have made tangible what is contained by our collective unconcious. Thank you. I love your work. It speaks to me. You have made tangible what is contained by our collective unconcious. Thank you.

]]> By: Lisa Brick http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2007/02/26/new-responses-to-kara-walker/#comment-46319 Lisa Brick Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:19:52 +0000 http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2007/02/26/new-responses-to-kara-walker/#comment-46319 I spent a few hours at the Whitney the other night absorbing Kara's work. Initially, at the viewing, I was aware that I did not know what I was looking at. In the night I awoke with an understanding of the work, at least for myself. Kara literally and figuratively illuminates the shadow side of being human. She acts as Medusa, allowing us to see who we are being in our individual and collective shadows - unconscious of the deep belief systems we hold which enslave us personally and collectively - in the eternal now. Our children watch on as we nurture and mate with our oppressor selves, thus perpetuating enslavement and oppression through the generations. But unlike the story of Medusa, slain by the "hero" who is too cowardly to look her in the eye and learn what it is that turns men to stone, we have the opportunity to see ourselves brutally clearly, and transform ourselves from both oppressors and oppressed to liberated souls liberating others, finally free to create reality through the archetypes of love, harmony, beauty, freedom, clarity, strength, flexibility and peace. The choice is ours - we can individually choose freedom, acknowledging our fear and pain, and choosing to live out of allowing all beings their processes, in love and appreciation for the sacred, or continue to perpetuate what continues to be the status quo, passed down to us through history. I spent a few hours at the Whitney the other night absorbing Kara’s work. Initially, at the viewing, I was aware that I did not know what I was looking at. In the night I awoke with an understanding of the work, at least for myself. Kara literally and figuratively illuminates the shadow side of being human. She acts as Medusa, allowing us to see who we are being in our individual and collective shadows - unconscious of the deep belief systems we hold which enslave us personally and collectively - in the eternal now. Our children watch on as we nurture and mate with our oppressor selves, thus perpetuating enslavement and oppression through the generations. But unlike the story of Medusa, slain by the “hero” who is too cowardly to look her in the eye and learn what it is that turns men to stone, we have the opportunity to see ourselves brutally clearly, and transform ourselves from both oppressors and oppressed to liberated souls liberating others, finally free to create reality through the archetypes of love, harmony, beauty, freedom, clarity, strength, flexibility and peace. The choice is ours - we can individually choose freedom, acknowledging our fear and pain, and choosing to live out of allowing all beings their processes, in love and appreciation for the sacred, or continue to perpetuate what continues to be the status quo, passed down to us through history.

]]> By: Paul Schmelzer http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2007/02/26/new-responses-to-kara-walker/#comment-18324 Paul Schmelzer Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:24:09 +0000 http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2007/02/26/new-responses-to-kara-walker/#comment-18324 Anyone's welcome to participate, on-staff or off. Submit yours, and I'm sure it'll end up online too. Anyone’s welcome to participate, on-staff or off. Submit yours, and I’m sure it’ll end up online too.

]]> By: anon http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2007/02/26/new-responses-to-kara-walker/#comment-18258 anon Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:20:09 +0000 http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2007/02/26/new-responses-to-kara-walker/#comment-18258 Conflict of interest? The post author included 2 of her own responses. Conflict of interest? The post author included 2 of her own responses.

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