Venessa German, Bitter Root Gallery Exhibition
Flora Hammond
ARTZ406
Jan. 23, 2015
Functional Considerations
At a glance inside the exhibition, the area is quite open and the audience is able to comfortably study each sculpture at all angles. Venessa German has done a good job of planning the layout of the gallery so that each of her pieces can be seen. The wall pieces look fragile and old, while the pieces on the pedestal have a facade of durability and stability. Venessa is happy to tell her audience that she incorporates discarded and worn items into her works; items that she has come across on strolls through her community. The labels can be read at a comfortable level, with it's modest and simple lettering, and there does not appear to be any dangerous aspects within the exhibit, allowing disabled people to explore it with ease.
Formal Considerations
Venessa want's the viewer to focus more on her work than on the typography, thus the lettering is simple and easy to read. The elements in unity are the materials in the art; the sculptures contain a baby doll painted in tar and discarded items found in the artist's neighborhood. Although there does not appear to be a clear informational hierarchy, it has a visual style of almost 'story-like' quality to it, sharing a characteristic with her animated poetry.
Conceptual Considerations
The challenges from the past continue to haunt today in the black community. There does not appear to be a linear sequence but a fluid arrangement; the visitor is not confided to follow one path to understand the work. This fits well with the art as the history it depicts is full of different routes and turn-arounds.
Visitor Observations
For the young, it is the message that is favored above the work. For the old, it is the work that is favored above the message. Of course one has to take in account that everyone with had a different take on this subject, especially if that said person had developed a bias for the subject. The visitors, however their age, will be able to share their experiences with the art to others as it puts forth a clear message in the work. I cannot think of anything that could be changed in the gallery space.
