2008 Woodie Awards
The Swingin' Sixties Left Behind More Than Hippies
OCMA displays politically inspired art from the '60s.
Lynae Cook
Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: Entertainment
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The collection is organized by various types of art including: Conceptual, Pop and Neoconceptual Practices, to name a few. All of the art in this collection is an artistic reaction to the social, cultural or political movements that were happening at the time.
Many of the artists address gender roles, challenge American ideologies and express their concern for the well-being of the world through a variety of mediums. Ed Ruscha expresses his distaste for corruption through a series of organic serigraphs, using inks made of blackcurrant pie filling, salmon roe, raw eggs, pickles, caviar, baked beans, tomato paste, chocolate syrup, crushed daffodils and axle grease.
An artist whose collection really captures the viewer's eye is Catherine Opie. She explores the world of gay and lesbian "leather communities," depicting the issue of identity conflicts through photographs. Her most prominent photograph in her series is Bo, in which she is in drag attire. "I don't make myself look this way to get attention, I do it because it's an expression of having control over my body" Opie said.
Any art exhibit featuring work from the '60s wouldn't be complete without pop culture icon Andy Warhol. Warhol's "Mao" portrait and his "Electric Chair" piece, blend serious political issues with bright playful colors.
Some of the art is almost painful to view, such as Martha Rosler's graphic video, "Semiotics of the Kitchen," and Chris Burden's "Relic from 'TV Hijack.'" They're all quite relevant, not only for historical purposes, but also in terms of the issues and concerns faced in today's world. The pain of Rosler's video is due to a combination of shock and feelings of compassion.
To experience a point in America's history when the nation was torn apart by politics, check out all the OCMA exhibit has to offer.
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