Initially, when I read through this play myself, I was quite confused and a little disturbed. I could not think of a potential motivation the author could have for writing about how a woman gave birth to rabbits. I thought that it was interesting that the characters tried to offer possible explanations as to why this may have occurred, but each time it would get more absurd. I thought that our brief discussion in seminar last week raised an interesting point about what the rabbits were supposed to symbolize, and it was interesting to learn about how pregnancy tests used to be administered. Still, I was unsure of how watching/listening to this play be performed/read would help me to gain a further understanding of the events and characters.

I was pleasantly surprised with how helpful hearing the play out loud, interpreted by actors, was to my understanding of the exchanges between characters. For example, although the play does state that the characters are drinking and are intoxicated, when I was reading through the play, I personally did not see it in such a way that their state of intoxication was apparent. The actors made the drunken states of their characters clearer in their performance, which helped me to understand some reasoning as to why their explanations were absurd. Additionally, I felt that the screams of agony that the actress portraying Mary did allowed me to become more invested in the story than I was while I was reading it in my head. I was interested to learn that the playwright based this story off of a real hoax from 1726. When it was stated that the play was based on “real events”, I was in disbelief, but after the explanation, it is now apparent to me that the play is attempting to address societal issues such as preconceived gender roles, and I think that this was established in an interesting way.

My trip to visit the museum was alright but the weather was not too great. I did end up going with friends since we went to Soho right after so it lightened the mood. I went into this museum with an open mind because it was fascinating that a graffiti artist could create impactful art.

This is actually my second time writing this blog because the first time the website crashed on me and nothing saved so… take two on my phone this time.

The first art piece at the Banksy Museum that caught my attention was one that was seen in Ukraine. This piece showed the reality of the situation in the war. The ordinary appearance of the woman as she is depicted to be in a bathrobe and the addition of the mask and extinguisher reveals the idea that Russia is intruding into the lives of ordinary people. Furthermore, it symbolizes the dangers faced by civilians and the need for safety amidst chaos. The fire extinguisher is an interesting pick for a tool because it can not be used as a weapon and yet it is an active response to the violence. I think it was interesting that Banksy choose to portray a woman rather than the typical man we see on the war scene. Furthermore, Banksy’s choice to create this piece in an area that was destroyed by the war reinforces the idea of street art as a form of protest. It brings global attention to local struggles, making the art itself a part of the dialogue surrounding war and peace.

The second art piece really drew my attention because I think it displays modern-day romance. It depicts two lovers that seemingly are close and yet they are so far. Their metaphorical distance shows the negative effect that technology has on the new generation and the way people interact. In the couple despite their the physical intimacy, they present to be emotionally distant, highlighting how technology can interfere with genuine connections. I think it displays that close proximity does not guarantee emotional intimacy. It pushes the audience to think on how technology might have effected their relationships so much so they might be oblivious to it. It pushes the agenda to “live in the moment” and that is something I really appreciate because I try to live by that. It reveals an element of distraction that phones bring where you can have everything in front of you but be too involved with the phone. In a world where communication is instantaneous and constant, the irony lies in how phones can foster a sense of isolation. This art piece really conveyed a powerful message that definitely targets younger generations.

This piece by Banksy spoke volumes, it connects to the idea that peace is absolutely necessary. It has a greater effect because the soldiers are the ones pushing for peace despite being fully armed. Although this art piece was curated in 2005, it is still just as relevant in as the world is amidst numerous wars where peace is vital. While society may celebrate military figures, the depiction of soldiers in a peaceful light can provoke discomfort, challenging people to reconcile these conflicting ideals. Further their depiction of being fully armed pushes the idea that they are the face of war and not the face of peace. This piece makes viewers think about the impact of war and its desperate need for peace. In our society today this should serve as a call to action to try to gain peace. It was also interesting to note the color choice which is a stark constant. The peace sign in red immediately drew my attention and the soldiers in muted colors made me wonder the significance of soldiers and not regular people. In general, I think this art piece had an important message that should not be taken lightly.

 

♥ Trigger Warnings ♥

BEFORE YOU READ: This post contains mentions of war, violence, and sensitive political controversy. Sensitive topics will be bolded in red.

♥ Thoughts Before Blogging ♥

Honestly, I spent an hour staring at my blank page (with some tears) trying to figure out how I could possibly blog about my experience at this museum without diving deep into super uncomfortable topics. There are many reasons why people find art uncomfortable to speak about or experience, but according to Banksy himself…

I do feel comforted. Not by the topic, but by the fact there is somebody with a greater voice who advocates against everything that harms innocent people.  I am disturbed, but my singular voice is also insignificant. Banksy is listed as one of the most influential people on Times Magazine. He uses his voice when common people cannot and that is what comforts me about his art.

♥ Rats Make Me Crazy ♥

Let’s start tame. When you walk around the museum there is a LOT of rat imagery. Some of my personal favorites include “Rats Along the Seine,” “Gangsta Rat,” and “Out of Bed Rat,” all shown below.

Why was Banksy so obsessed with rats? How is this classified as protest art?

The most important quote to note is “‘…rats are the only wild living animals in cities, and only rats will survive when the human race will have disappeared and died out.’ The similarities between these nocturnal creatures and graffiti artists are clear.

They are the clever, tough, and unwanted vermin of society.”

One of Banksy’s main forms of protest is graffiti art, and as a graffiti artist, he seems to resonate with rats the most. He mentions that if you feel unloved, rats are your role model. Perhaps he feels unloved by politicians due to the fact there is definitely a lot of unrest in the world at the moment.

♠ War, Kids, Future ♠

War. Unrest. Everybody has an opinion on it. Here, I would like to focus more on the position the children are placed (or displaced) in when it comes to war. Banksy focuses on this and topics of innocence throughout his artwork. Here are some examples.

Despite war, innocence is never lost in children. They still find love on top of the hill of guns and missiles, they hug the missle made to kill them. The child with the balloon (symbolic of hope and the future) is reaching at it at a questionable angle; is she letting go of hope and her future, or is she reaching out for it? Children know nothing but love and unfortunately are born in a world with governors who don’t value their lives.

I was met with a sign that said “Exit the Warzone.” My teary-eyed friend said we should. I told him that the worst part of all this is we have the option to leave the warzone. I am heartbroken as I type this, and truly, I believe this is how true art is meant to make me feel. I am meant to feel anger, heartbreak, and desperate for change. These artworks definitely did that for me.

♠ Coppers ♠

Banksy also had strong opinions on policemen and used humor to refer to those negative opinions about the police force.

Banksy does not take policemen’s actions very seriously. He believes sometimes their actions are unwarranted (ex. chasing after a playing stickman), and a less tame idea that can be the intention of making these artworks is the rise in police brutality towards BIPOC. Banksy also alludes to The Wizard of Oz to showcase the unnecessary searching of items when unneeded, he shows Dorothy being searched by a cop, which seems very childish to us as the audience, but is this the reality? The artist seems to believe so.

♥ More About Kids ♥

Banksy loves the idea of innocence and how optimistic and naive children are. It is why he is so angry about involving them in war. Some examples Banksy has about childhood innocence are the heroes they look up to. They look up to policemen, and although Banksy is very opposed to the system they are a part of, he seems to admire that children see policemen as role models. They also look up to nurses and doctors. Children value life, so they value those who save lives.

♥ Conclusion ♥

To conclude, this was one of my favorite museum experiences. I was brought to so many emotions, both negative and positive. I would 100% go again, but I do wish it didn’t cost $26 to walk in. After all, the price of entry is one of those capitalistic ideas that Banksy goes against.

This class continues to grow my appreciation for art, and as someone who does not care much for art I can confidentially say the Banksy exhibit is a must see. The art has such deep meaning, but always with a comical twist, in addition, the art has so many modern references such as, movies like Planet of the Apes and Pulp Fiction. Banksy is anti police, and anti capitalism, I noticed that he wants what’s best for the average person, his art is satirical to many elitists such as his mockery of Andy Warhol.

The first piece that stood out to me was the picture of an ape, with the text saying, “Laugh now, but one day we’ll be in charge.” This was easily my favorite piece especially because the Planet of the Apes series is my favorite movie series ever. I also belief this could be a reference to Darwinism and how apes will continue to evolve, and like in Planet of the Apes, will be in charge. Banksy had a few pieces with apes pictured as advanced beings, and this spoke volumes to how animals that humans used for entertainment, and hold captive may one day have the power to do the same to us.

The next piece that stood out to me was the work of this rat, and there was many other rats pictured. Banksy being the rebellious type, appreciates the nature of rats and how they exist and no one likes them, also how rats are so little and harmless but hold such great power. Banksy is technically a wanted criminal. He has to be stubborn like a rat, so he can still make his art. He is not doing harm to anyone, yet people in power want him hunted, like a rat.

All in all, the Banksy exhibit is definitely my favorite museum of the few I’ve been to, Banksy is just an average guy, not like these artists who make millions and their art has little meaning, it is just sold for the value of the meaning, and he does not encourage his work to be sold as he is strongly against capitalism.

Introduction:

My artistic ability when it comes to drawing, or painting is terrible. Unless I trace over some sort of already completed drawing, I can pretty much draw only well made stick figures and put random colors on a canvas. So, going into the art lab run by the Staten Island Museum, I expected to not really get how the art was drawn and find myself being lost in the room full of art. However Griselda, the person running the oil painting lab there, took us through a beginner crash course of oil paintings and was an amazing teacher as most of us were painting for the first time ever. I would say my experience at the art lab went better than expected as I created my first oil painting and learned a lot about how artists compose them.

Lecture & Painting:

Griselda told us the most challenging aspect of art is shaping the 2D world of a canvas into a 3D one. The artist has the responsibility of creating perspective within the canvas; the background having a lighter color to emphasize its presence and the foreground not overpowering the overall positioning of the art. She gave us a lot of useful tips such as starting with the background to make painting the foreground a lot easier, and also outlining our painting before even beginning. After her lecture on oil paintings, she set up everything to allow us to create our own paintings and we were given objects that we could choose from. I chose the fennel as the object since it was the most interesting to me, and I thought it seemed easy to draw. Just bits of splatters of green for the leaves and branches, and white for the base; however, it was a lot harder than I initially anticipated.

The funnel was placed within the perspective of a window and that’s what I imagined my painting to be. I wanted to have the window be within the perspective of the funnel and then have the funnel be the foreground of my painting. However, doing this as a beginner, was not a great idea. I started with the background of the clear sky, and the trees in the background, but then when I started painting the funnel it just blended in with my painting of the trees. So, within my painting you can’t really tell the difference between the foreground and the background and it just lost all perspective, which didn’t really turn out to be how I envisioned.

 

Picture of Funnel Painting

Conclusion:

It was fun to do my first oil painting at the art lab and it was therapeutic almost as I felt so relaxed after I finished my painting for some reason. It was also interesting to see how others painted the objects they chose; Aleksey’s and Kryistan’s paintings, in particular, did a really nice job of putting everything into perspective and you can clearly tell the objects they were attempting to paint. Looking back, my painting could’ve been a lot better if I just focused on painting the desk and the funnel, but what I pictured was the funnel getting a shining perspective from the window and the sky with the background having trees within it. So, I attempted to do so and although it didn’t come out as I expected, I definitely want to start painting more or just drawing in general. I used to draw a lot but I stopped, I think just before COVID so I want to start getting back into it again. Overall, it was a great experience and I learned a lot from Griselda and everyone there about oil painting, and it was great to sort of see the process for drawing the art and getting hands on with it.

This painting by John Gast was created in the year 1872. His work of art has a substantial historical significance regarding the era of American westward expansion, guided by the concept of “manifest destiny”. The historical context reveals a population guided by their religious faith in justifying entitlement and unequivocal dominance, which is an applicable perspective to any time period. Therefore, this painting was important in its message of an American unity, following colonial times, where people living in North America were truly able to identify as Americans and claim the land as that of their own. This establishment of possession showcases a vital transition in the identities of these former colonial Americans which were now expanding to establish their own unifying character and ultimate country. The angel represents the guidance of God, accompanied by settlers moving west and industrial factors such as trains improving the nation. These inclusions resemble the period of growth experienced by Americans, however at the expense of others like Native American tribes that were removed from their homes. Hence, this piece of art may still resonate with modern society because it reflects the ideals of expansion that are still indirectly prevalent in the current world, as nations seek to improve themselves, however accompanied by the negative sentiments that are directed toward this appeal are also reflected through the communication of this painting in revealing the brutal truth about American treatments and attitudes regarding indigenous populations, relating to present subjects of equality and injustice. Also, the historical context reveals a population guided by their religious faith in justifying entitlement, which is an applicable perspective to any time period. Overall, this painting possesses a significant meaning within the time period that it occurred throughout and partially in the contemporary world.

“Protect Kids, Not Guns” – A Reality Check

by Angie Mekki

This piece by Micah Bazant stands for stricter gun control laws to protect children (and faculty) during school shootings since there is an uprise in them. This was and still is important because whenever school shootings happen, there is an uproar about gun control. Many people believe in the right to bear arms and not to ban guns, other people would argue to ban guns completely. This artist makes the point that regulating guns should not be discussed with a black-or-white approach so long as children and faculty members are still always in danger. This still resonates now because there is even a rise in the number of teenagers and children bearing arms here on our own Staten Island. Yesterday afternoon, five shots were fired across McKee High School and injured a 17-year-old boy. The morning before, a 17-year-old boy snuck a gun loaded with 10 bullets into Curtis High School. Intermediate schools on our island are being flooded with gun threats. This can all be found on the Staten Island Advance. So, this issue is still important and even personal to us today.