Gallery response

 

Art is beautiful and it is a very subjective or opinionated kind of work, so when I was introduced into the art gallery at Njcu I knew what I was in for. When we walked in I was exposed to many pieces. Some of them were very abstract, others were a celebration or deeper message into black history, but the rest I somehow connected with. Especially this one piece of photography that was made into a piece titled Feel My Heat! Fire, Smoke, and Fence. This work is a photograph of a fence with smoke engulfing the fence because of a blazing heat behind it.

     Immediately when I saw this piece I just stared at it for 2 minutes wondering if the fire was in front, or behind the fence or if it was just a photo of a fire with a fence shadow background . I felt connected to this piece and the message I formulated in my head. This picture was taken by a person who is secure about how he or she lives their life. I thought about how a fence symbolizes security. A metaphor for protection, so I felt that this person wants their fence to stay up, to have people stay away from him and when people try to hop over he sets a metaphorical fire for extra protection. Fire is known for its hot and destructive property and the photographer used it as an extra form of protection for his fence so people would not think to get in.

     This piece hit very close to home for me and I think that is why I can relate to it. Recently I was hurt by someone I thought I could trust and I started to build a fence around myself. This person has been creeping back and I want to let her back in but I’m scared to. I overthink a lot and I think the closer I let this person get back to me the more fire I ignite to keep my heart protected for a lil more of fear of giving myself back to her. Though I digress as I really connected with this piece and it was actually one of the first pieces I looked at.

Another piece I noticed and connected with was Underground Map. The underground map was a sculpture made with clothing pins. When I saw this and looked at the title I picture this as the Underground Railroad. I saw all the gray pins as black people who were on it and white pins as the white people who were chasing after them and also assisting them to freedom. The pins piled up on top of each other were the many people that went along this journey and a symbol of them literally sleeping on top of each other and how many that Harriet Tubman was leading to freedom. I also lost soldiers and people who died. To me this piece represented a very important part of black history. It represented black excellence and brilliance and resilience that had to be shown on that very difficult and harrowing journey. Fun Fact in her years of guiding people away from slavery using the Underground Railroad she had to arrange clandestine meetings, scout routes without drawing any attention to herself. She was illiterate, yet learned how to keep various complex amounts of information. I find it amazing that a black woman was able to lead this kind of charge. Harriet Tubman was not only a activist in her time but a revolutionary. Whoever made this piece must be a activist their self. Black history is something that is very important to me because we are a people of excellence and anytime it is documented or demonstrated I am always inspired.