uhclartgallery
Which Way from I am the Negro Woman
Elizabeth Catlett, Which Way from I am the Negro Woman, 1947, lithograph, 14.5 x 10.5 inches
If we were to blow up one image from our collection and display it prominently on campus, it should be “Which Way?” by Elizabeth Catlett.
Catlett’s identity and achievements make her an ideal figure for exhibition on campus. By featuring her work, we would promote the idea of prominent women in society, as Catlett was such a one in the domain of art and education. She bore both American and Mexican nationality, and she was of African descent. Therefore, she is an icon of multiculturalism, and that is a value shared by the university.
The aesthetic qualities of “Which Way?” also contribute to its merit as a publicly-displayed work of art. The image is centered and symmetrical, and this allows a great deal of flexibility as to where it can be posted. Also, these qualities are reminiscent of any logo, and a logo is a single image that stands for something big. Choosing one image to blow up and post on campus is similar to creating and using a logo, because it will represent the whole exhibition. Therefore, this image would make a good logo.
The piece depicts a woman’s head looking in three different directions at the same time. The woman’s near-universal field of vision can be read as omnipotence, and that can be generalized to an individual’s inherent value and potential to overcome any challenges. This characteristic of self-reliance is something that the university would encourage all students, faculty and staff to have.
We should display this image at a central location on campus that gets high traffic. We should put it in the Bayou Building somewhere near the intersection of the main public entrance (in front of the big sculpture outside) and the atrium. This is the main entrance to the main building on campus, and many people who visit for the first time probably walk this path. Placing the piece there, people would see an iconic image when they first enter and feel intrigued by it. Also, the image is titled “Which Way,” and this, coincidentally, is a question that many first-time visitors are probably asking when they enter the building. So, viewers would be able to relate to the image’s titular message and feel comforted.
Which Way from I am the Negro Woman
Elizabeth Catlett, Which Way from I am the Negro Woman, 1947, lithograph, 14.5 x 10.5 inches
If we were to blow up one image from our collection and display it prominently on campus, it should be “Which Way?” by Elizabeth Catlett.
Catlett’s identity and achievements make her an ideal figure for exhibition on campus. By featuring her work, we would promote the idea of prominent women in society, as Catlett was such a one in the domain of art and education. She bore both American and Mexican nationality, and she was of African descent. Therefore, she is an icon of multiculturalism, and that is a value shared by the university.
The aesthetic qualities of “Which Way?” also contribute to its merit as a publicly-displayed work of art. The image is centered and symmetrical, and this allows a great deal of flexibility as to where it can be posted. Also, these qualities are reminiscent of any logo, and a logo is a single image that stands for something big. Choosing one image to blow up and post on campus is similar to creating and using a logo, because it will represent the whole exhibition. Therefore, this image would make a good logo.
The piece depicts a woman’s head looking in three different directions at the same time. The woman’s near-universal field of vision can be read as omnipotence, and that can be generalized to an individual’s inherent value and potential to overcome any challenges. This characteristic of self-reliance is something that the university would encourage all students, faculty and staff to have.
We should display this image at a central location on campus that gets high traffic. We should put it in the Bayou Building somewhere near the intersection of the main public entrance (in front of the big sculpture outside) and the atrium. This is the main entrance to the main building on campus, and many people who visit for the first time probably walk this path. Placing the piece there, people would see an iconic image when they first enter and feel intrigued by it. Also, the image is titled “Which Way,” and this, coincidentally, is a question that many first-time visitors are probably asking when they enter the building. So, viewers would be able to relate to the image’s titular message and feel comforted.