Wake Up In Glory / I Am You: Part I

IMG_3457.jpg
Works by Elizabeth Catlett

Works by Elizabeth Catlett

Self-Portrait by Gordon Parks

Self-Portrait by Gordon Parks

I had a chance to see Elizabeth Catlett's Wake Up In Glory and Gordon Parks' I Am You: Part I  in The Burning in Water and Jack Shainman Gallery respectively. Many years ago, I was supposed to see a Ms. Catlett speak but the talk was canceled. It was exciting to see her work all these years later and it feeling so strong and still so relevant. Powerful sculptures of women with subtleties that also express softness. I followed that exhibit with Gordon Parks' work which anyone who knows his work knows it is bold, raw, empowering and often sobering because he captured life in it's most honest form. His early works were mixed with his painterly fashion photography that he did for Vogue. I had an art school professor who adored both of their works. This visit was like a refresher course. There are so many incredible creative people and ventures that I look forward to blogging about but visiting these classics invigorated me.