Drawing on Memory, an exhibition by Eden McNutt was on display at Arizona State University’s West Campus’ University Center Building gallery just recently. McNutt’s art revolves around his childhood memories while growing up Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. While growing up, Eden had faced racism and bigotry vicariously through his friends. He and his friends faced racial divides in order to keep their friendship. The art that was displayed at the ground-floor gallery was a reflection of his past and of current situations. Aside from his own work being presented, footage of present day Pittsburg was also being displayed on a loop.
Along different panels, there were about three or four different pieces of his work hanging. Some smaller and some larger …show more content…
His art that is currently being displayed at the Phoenix Art Museum really exemplifies this. The unique mix of reality and that of a dream like world is what really drew me in. The people that are in the paintings show raw emotion and have the characteristics of someone you would see in everyday life. But then Curtis adds in this eerie landscape that makes you think about whether or not it’s reality or a figment of your imagination. One piece in particular, Fairwell, really grabbed my attention because of the realness that is there. There is a family that is saying their goodbyes to what seems like a loved one and is making the voyage that is between life and death. The colors and landscape play into the side of a …show more content…
Whom the family is saying goodbye to is in a train and riding off to who knows where. I made the assumption that the train is a representation of a grave and the family is laying the person to rest. It’s almost as if they don’t want to face reality. Which is why I genuinely enjoyed Philip’s work. He plays into the idea that most people don’t like to face what goes on in their lives head on. Instead, they imagine the situation in a different way that gives them superficial happiness.

Ai Weiwei, a renown activist and artist in China, just had his exhibition, Ai Weiwei: Circle of Animals / Zodiac Heads: Gold, at the Phoenix Art Museum open over this past weekend. Weiwei drew his inspirtation from the Second Opium War that occurred in 1860. During this war, British and French troops had looted Chinese zodiac sculptures along with other ornate things. Seeing as though it was cultural theft, Weiwei decided he’d take upon the task of recreating the gold plated structures. Weiwei began working with the seven remaining originals, imagining the five others that were