Friday, February 17, 2023

Kinfolk Review

 Daniel Guiller

Professor Cacoilo

Studio research 1

16 February 2023


Kinfolk Review



The piece I selected was “Queen of Angels, 2020.” The artwork is a three-dimensional mixed-media collage featuring fabric, photographs, and gold leaf. This artwork caught my attention because of its irregular shape. The piece was created on a vintage scrap ironing board, that the artist, Danielle Scott, used explicitly to show that artwork is not restricted to canvas or paper. The artist then went on to explain that “Queen of Angels” is actually a tribute to another artist; the one who mentored Scott in the past. The significance of the crown of sunflowers is meant to represent a connection to her mentor. What makes this piece exceptional from the rest in this gallery is that this is the only piece that is not coated in resin, because the artist was still undecided if her series would be coated in resin. One could easily see the different layers of materials that Scott stacked in the creation of the artwork. I analyzed the artwork like a photograph because it looks like a portrait of someone, and I think the composition works well in both photography terms and mixed media. 


The second piece I chose was “Peter Thorough” 2022,” another piece crafted on an ironing board. This piece is similar to the other ironing board artwork, but it is coated in acrylic resin instead of being left uncoated. The piece was also crowned, like the previous and the crown signifies sunflowers which the artist is connected to. The materials used are textiles, book paper, gold leaf, wood, and resin. I enjoyed this artwork the most because it was composed like a traditional portrait. The image was a man looking down with a tan background which is actually text from a book or newspaper article. I also viewed this like a photograph and it makes a good connection to the other irregularly shaped ironing board piece. I believe the artwork is meant to represent and depict Scott's ancestors and or loved ones. 

My interpretation is that these works by Scott depict the history and ancestry that she comes from and tells stories about the people in the artworks. It's a way to connect to your ancestors through art. The artwork helped the artist connect to their identity, and the historical significance of her art is present when she speaks about her ancestors. Her research further backs the artwork when you find out she is related to a lot of the people in the images. I believe her combination of research and informative background really helps make her art significant. 

These are three quotes from “The Beauty In Struggle” that I agreed with. “But those shacks squat on the unfree territory. Signs of poverty, disempowerment, and injustice are everywhere in Scott’s work.” This quote is true because the ugliness of history is confronted within the artwork. “The gold-colored sheets, shells, and pearl jewelry affixed by resin all gleam, but the frames are invariably made from the same rough-hewn wood that might have propped up slave quarters.” I agreed with this quote because all of Scott's artwork has excellent unity.  “Scott isn’t merely entertaining or even enlightening us with history. She expects us to be present to the monstrous act of violence that severed a people from their heritage.” Without a doubt, Scott and her artwork confront history and try to expose it for how truly monstrous it was. Her artwork offers us a unique perspective for us to look through history.


The Image of me is a self-portrait I took recently on a photo walk. It is how I see myself so I think it is accurate. It reminds me of Scott's work because I look like a cutout like the ones in the artwork. 



                                                                    Works Cited

McCall, T. (2023, January 11). 'The beauty in struggle': Danielle Scott's 'ancestral call,' at gallery AFERRO, is full of radiant images. NJArts.net. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://www.njarts.net/the-beauty-in-struggle-danielle-scotts-ancestral-call-at-gallery-aferro-is-full-of-radiant-images/


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