New York University * Tisch School of the Arts * Department of Open Arts
Since 2003 this
course has provided students a chance to participate in
the study of a special timeline of global art, history and politics in
the Western portrait genre
through
activities which focus on each student's individual poetics and cultural footprint.
The course
is written and taught by award-winning multimedia artist, Donna Cameron, a longtime NYU faculty.
P.o.P. NEWS and Art Gallery
This blog feed has select pics from our recent (5 years) onsite
class lectures and P.o.P. journal projects. Scroll down for mask, photography and older (12 years) collage multimedia
projects.
My portrait of my Grandma in the style of "The Migration Series", 1941, by Jacob Lawrence, by Chase Anderson
My final collage is a portrait of a loved one in tough transition: my grandmother.
My grandmother has known much migration in her life. She grew up wealthy, on a ranch in Montana, married an Indian man, was
disinherited and then was deported with her husband back to India, where she lived in a small village. After seven years,
she divorced hime and moved back to Montana. Although she suffers from mental illness, she is
always incredibly bubbly and happy; I would liken her to Winnie the Pooh. She is childlike in her simple approach to life.
She goes to work as a nurse and comes home, watches Avatar, her favorite movie, puts on her gel face mask and goes to bed
before 8. Her life's hardest period of life's "migration" is upon her now. This past December she fell down at a
grocery store and broke both of her arms. In my collage we see her behind bars looking at a bank of words that use to be her
life when she was mobile. Now she is in a wheelchair, recovering and cannot do most things by herself. She cannot work anymore,
she cannot babysit her grandchildren, she cannot drive a car, and she cannot feed herself. She has been forced to retire and
watch the routine of her life as she knew it for the last 30 years disappear. Slowly, she is migrating back to wellness!
Politics of Portraiture is Art and Serendipity! Here, NYU Global student student Nahal Mustafa, in a Politics of Portraiture outdoor session with Professor Cameron,
was given a personal talk by one of the Dokdo Racers about
the importance of Dokdo Isalnd, and the politics between Korea and Japan over its landscape. Their special mascot, the Korean
Bokcheong Lion, performed by happily blending traditional costume and dance into the diverse cutural rhythms of the park. Dokdo Racers hold public
cultural performances in major urban centres to share the Korean culture and attract people to the message of global world
peace through cultural education and understanding. Performances this year in Washington Square Park by this group of
4 Korean university "Racers" is the Bukchung Lion Dance (북청사자놀이), a style
of traditional Korean lion dance originating from Bukchung area in Hamgyong Province performed on the First Full Moon Festival
(정월대보름) to cast away evil spirits and pray for world peace and good health.
Matt, Sophia & Michelle
during the Politics of Portraiture wintersession 2014 @ the class
lecture on Medieval Portrait Studies at the MET, NY.
Politics of Portraiture
Fall 2013
at Soho's Morrison Hotel Galleryto study portrait photography
of contemporary musicians.
"CHOIR BOY", a portrait of diverse adolescents
discovering cross gender issues and politics of human sexuality, was seen during its NYC opening week by summer 2013 Politics of Portraiture students
(from left) Brandon, Lauren, Mary Catherine, Irene and Jelani.
P.o.P. summer 2013, co-lecture about Josef Albers color theory with LIU Senior Arts Professor Cynthia Maris Dantzic.
P.o.P. class of SUMMER 2012 at the TEMPLE
OF DENDUR during Donna
Cameron's "pharaonic burial statuary and ritual objects as elements of portraiture" lecture.
@ MET, NY's Egyptian Wing.
P.o.P. SUMMER 2012 @ an Andy Warhol factory
simulation, among the mirror clouds during Donna Cameron's lecture about seeing, moving and interacting with art.
@Gallery 1054's William John Kennedy's
Portraits of Andy Warhol & Friends photo show.
Portrait of Sophia Politics of Portraiture 7 Jan. 2014 Mask & Essay
I am budding adulthood upheld by the trappings of my youth. I am confused. I amin limbo between maturity and naiveté. I am Id and Superego. My Trader Joe’s facerepresents good choices. Health-conscious and budget-driven choices. My giant PixieStick base makes up most
of me. It represents impulsivity. It represents eyes larger thanmy stomach. It represents childish fancies and no
concern for financial burden. Together,these components make up my state of mind. The fact that the Pixie Stick
is the large,undeniable base makes this Trader Joe’s mask an accurate representation of the maturefaçade
that I present the world.
Portrait of
Matthew Politics of Portraiture January
6, 2014 Mask & Essay
I am a computer generated man. I was created for use in films, commercials and televisionshows. Last
year I spent a semester in Italy, away from the digital world. I learned that therewere other interesting things
in life besides the film industry. I played soccer frequently and traveled to other countries in Europe to watch them
play live. Upon my return to theUnited States in the winter, I snowboarded on the weekends, I continued my digital
life,creating motin graphics for various clients. When I'm not snowboarding or being used inthe media,
I enjoy playing Xbox in my free time.
Robert OhmanPolitics of Portraiture Mask
In The Hero Within, Carol Pearson mentions the idea of God creating man in his own image,
meaning he created someone who creates. With this in mind, I made my mask. Composed almost solely of old scraps of negatives,
from photography and filmmaking, the mask is a collection of things I’ve created, things that would not exist in this
world had I not been here. On one had, the mask represents me because I love photography and movies. I also love the analog
medium of film. On the other had, the mask represents me as a creator, since it’s composed mainly of things that I have
contributed, to whatever degree of significance, to this world. Another interesting aspect is the idea that I have taken things
that I have previously created, and used them in a way that I had never expected to, creating a new and unrelated object entirely.
9/24/13
Julio Saenz MASK
The
dark warrior. It's appearance is complex, both comforting and intimidating. It represents the duality
of my character. A person who pursues sophistication and strength, but recognizes that internally
I am innocent and open. The black color represents wisdom. I was always being told that when
I was younger and it has resonated with me 'til now. I chose the red because I would associate
myself with a romantic style of thinking. Whether it comes from my Hispanic background or
the way I was raised, I have always been conscious of my outlook of life. It comes from to bottom
of the mask and not the the top to represent growth. There is a x on in the middle of the forehead. The x represents a crossroads,
which I believe I am in right now. The crossroad of childhood to adulthood. Of dependence
to independence. I chose blue because it has a symbolic connection to pure qualities. It also is the color of water which
can be in all states of matter and is something that I aspire to be able to do. Smooth as Water, Stern as Ice and free flowing
as mist/air. Inside of the mask is white. It represents a blank slate, innocence and simplicity. Internally I want to find
peace and tranquility and I recognize that it is within me. 9/24/13
SCULPTURE GALLERY
"SELF-PORTRAITS AS ALTRUIST AND INNOCENT, INSPIRED BY A MIDSUMMER
NIGHT DREAM".
"Hey mister, where you headed? Are you in a hurry? Need
a lift to happy hour.
Say oh no. Do you brake for
distilled spirits? I need a break as well...Troubled times, you know I can not lie. I'm off the wagon and I'm hitchin' a ride." -Kaylee Byrd, Spring, 2009
"Self Wanderer"-Anthony DiGiacomo, Spring,
2012
"Seder"
"This is a photo from our Passover Seder.
My father is reading while I do an impression of
the character described.
It represents a still photo (portrait) from a very
theatrical "real life" event."
-Jake Benjamin
Levy, Spring, 2009
"Mason"
"This is Mason, the 2-year-old I have been
babysitting for a year.
This portrait captures
the carefree exuberance only a toddler has,
which
will fade and fade with each passing year of his life." -Ash Fisher, Spring, 2009
"Jon"
"Few things can come between this man and his guitar, even the girl who inspires his songs. It's a daily reminder of his past and a path
towards his future. No portrait of
him is complete without it."
-Karina I. Gonzalez, Spring, 2009
"Ed"
"This
is my next door neighbor. His name is Ed. He is not a drag queen, but a fireman. He asked me to dress him up like a woman so he could go to a leather party with
a college girl. He has two kids, an ex-wife, and a golden retriever. He drives an awfully big truck." -Samy Burch, Spring, 2009
PAINTING & DRAWING GALLERY
"Chloe's Mandala" by Scott Templeton, Fall 2009
A Path Within-Adrienne Cahill, Spring, 2011
"Mom in a Polaroid"
"This
painting is based off of a polaroid of my mother when she was just about my age.
Sunset, beauty, youth, and
the polaroid itself all allude to time and brevity.
My mother is just as beautiful today, and possess a youthful
spirit I hope to hold onto myself."
-Jenna Wexler,
Spring, 2009
"L.E.L"
"This
is a portrait of my mother. She stashes legal pads with her innermost thoughts all over our house, especially the laundry room, since
my father left." - B.M., Spring, 2009
COLLAGE GALLERY
"Andrew"
-Sarah Rudoy, Fall, 2009
"Girl with a The
Girl Viewpoint" -Tristan Viner-Brown, Spring, 2012
"Portrait of Anonymous in Vogue"-Charlie Kolarich, Fall 2011
"Enough"
"I only call her by her full name.
She speaks without words and could swear
there are
dinosaurs on her street
(which are really just heavy machinery).
She is my sense of humor, especially when we yell at teenagers from
my car." -Brad Giovanine, Spring, 2009
WORD GALLERY
Red Lights Are A Gift When I’m
With You
Red lights are a gift when I’m with you.
A delightful pause on the corner of the street to rest my feet and greet your lips
with mine.
“Don’t
walk,” it says, and I don’t plan to.
I just plan to stand with this man who
Knows each pore, each hair, and more,
My beautiful breasts, my ugly
toes, my scattered scars
So fuck the cars--
No.
Thank you, vans and Volkswagen bugs
For causing our pausing on the corner for hugs.
For making me late for the class where I’ll pass the time
Writing and dreaming up poems
like this
About
the red lights that allow us to kiss.
Red lights are a gift when I’m with you.
-Mariel Blatt, Portrait of a Loved One,
Poem, P.o.P. Spring 2011
From
the Fireside
Sometimes
I’d steer us down and back,
We’d speed on lake
Travel west on north
Perhaps
We’d travel
(in silence)-
Examining billboards,
the sails on the avenues,
pondering our fate.
Sometimes
We would be
home:
A building much too large for us
A neighborhood we didn’t belong.
“It
doesn’t look like much…”
we’d explain.
“You should see it later tonight.”
But this is where we’d live.
We’d
take a seat
Among the sweat,
The dirt and grime
that ten years of loud guitars
could bring.
We’d
sit and smoke,
And examine the damage
that ten years of beer
ten years of cigarettes,
tattoos and boots
could
bring.
These were pins you could not lose-
Nights unforgotten.
And
now I sit and smoke…
and stare and think
that those two years
were
the best that life
could
bring
- Mike
Barron, Poem, Portrait of a best friend from Chicago, P.o.P. Spring 2009.