Imperialism, Progressivism, WWI
This piece of art is from the average work life of a worker. My main inspiration for this piece of artwork was the images and descriptions of the Chicago meatpacking industries. This was during a time where many workers didn't posses any rights to do anything, even something as simple as forming a successful union. I believe that this piece of artwork is important even in today's times is because how many of the rights workers fought for in this time are being challenged. Laws trying to impede workers from starting are being put into consideration, and I believe now more than ever we need art like this.
The Roaring 20's
This piece of art depicts what is a sketchbook and pencil engulfed in flames. I choose to make this to represent what many black artist felt making art during a time of hate and racism. What I feel connects this to modern history in that there still art that depicts what it's like to be an artist during a time of racism (like this piece). Over the past few years there has been racial tension and there will always be art the expresses the struggles and beliefs of people in many ways.
1930's: The Great Depression
The scene in which the art depicts is in a fist person point of view of a boss choosing which of these men shall work for today. The main inspiration of this piece of art comes from the film, The Cinderella Man. The scene in the film portrays Jim Braddock desperately looking for work. I wanted to express how many people and their families during this time were desperate for work and food. I think this connects to modern history as more and more unemployment, homelessness and many issues are on the rise despite the fact that there is no way to help and support these people just like in the 1930's. I also feel this as one of the more personal pieces of art since everyone felt like this at least at one point in their lives.
World War II
hThis piece of art depicts a puzzle. The puzzle pieces WW and 2 look as if there about connect. The main message I tried to express in this art is what most people see ww2 as, something that unified everything when in reality there is much more to it. For example, while we were fighting fascist dictators like Hitler, at the same time we still had racist and hateful beliefs like segregating soldiers that were fighting for us. Another example were the Japanese camps where we stripped the rights of many U.S. citizens over how they looked. While the defeat of Nazi Germany was one of the most important moments in history it also important that we look at ourselves and ask how similar we were to them in beliefs.