Two artists have agreed to sit down and discuss their work on the "Michael Hunter Tonight Show." Each artist will let us into their minds and carry out the background and knowledge that went into their piece. First, here is a brief introduction of each artist.
George Brecht, born George Ellis MacDiarmid, is a conceptual artist who has done a piece involving three chairs. His work often involves his audience to do all the thinking on their own. Today he will describe to us his intentions for this piece and will let us in on how he came about doing this.
Our next guest goes by the name Betye Saar. She is an American artist who has earned her degree in design at the University of California in Los Angeles. She also has her graduate studies in education and printmaking at Pasadena City College and California State University, Long Beach. She has devoted most of her work studying the African-American Culture and creating assemblages based on certain cultures and stereotypes.
We now welcome both of our guests for the day!
Michael: Evening George! Evening Betye!
George: Evening Michael! It is a pleasure being on the show.
Betye: Evening Michael! It is also a pleasure.
Michael: Oh, the pleasure is all mine. Thank you for your time and coming on the show to discuss your work. Now, Betye I would like to start with you. You do all kinds of pieces related to african-american culture. What inspired you to do this piece of "Black Girl's Window?" In this piece we see a dark, silhouette figure pressing her face against the window pane with her hands also pressed against the pane. We are able to see her eyes but nothing else. Tiny stars and moons decorate her hands and are place in a row above her head. Also above her head we see three rows and three columns with different images in them. Again, there's the stars and the moon. In the middle there is a skeleton. I mean all different images with different meanings. Can you break it down for us betye?
Betye: Well first of all I would like to say that you look absolutely fabulous in that baby blue suit and tie.
Michael: Thank you Betye. When I heard you were coming on the show I knew i had to look my best.
Betye: Well you look amazing!
Michael: Thank you
Betye: Anyway, when I created this piece in a reminisence of my experience. Growing up in the L.A. Watts projects, I have seen through my eyes the horrors of this world. My idea of this piece is to have my audience feel a way of traveling from one level of conciousness to another, like the physical looking into the spiritual. I once......
George: Well when I look at it all I see is an african-american girl looking out her window. No facial features or anything. How would you describe her emotion? Or does she not have any emotion? And just how does any of that stuff on top relate to her?
Betye: Well George if I could talk for more than two seconds I would explain it to you. I once read that "art is a window, a way of sharing." A window frames the passage of our vision, inward as well as outward. It is a perplexing concept of who is looking in and who is looking out? Her eyes looking outside of the window glitter with destiny. She wants out of this box and into the world.
George: If she wants into the world why doesn't she just open the window and climb out?
Betye: You know what George? Its not that simple. On the top of her are nine little boxes in rows of three marked by the crescent, the star and the sun. But look George, in the middle box where you see the skeleton. Death is in the center.Everything evolves around death. The girl knows this and is terrified of what the world will bring her. Love, your loved ones, the earth, etc all revolved around death. Everything and everyone will eventually die one day. Even your old self.
George: That's good Betye, but there is just to much for an audience to interpret in that. How will a viewer know unless they get your over-analyzed, profound speech about your childhood and your views on life?
Betye: That seems to be my point George. I want the audience to think for themselves. Maybe they can relate to this piece and find out that they are not the only ones in this world who have this feeling. I'm sorry people can at least be creative with their thoughts on my piece, unlike your boring three chair event.
Michael: Whoa! Whoa! Easy Betye. George can you talk about this piece for us please. Maybe without boring our other guest here.
George: Only three chairs were intended for my project. The three colors I chose, were the most dominant colors, in my opinion. With the proper placement of the chairs, I wanted my audience to feel welcome to the white chair, shy away from the black chair, and not even notice the yellow chair. Each chair was used in every show, but I would switch their spots after each showing. The only chair that seemed to be tampered with by the audience, was the chair sitting outside, the yellow chair. Most people seem to be intimidated by the chair in the spotlight. They would gaze at it like it was some type of throne. Not one chair was different, besides the color. They were all the same, and each chair that was in the spotlight was profoundly stared at. The audience seemed so timid to touch it, like it was too "holy" to touch. The other two chairs, however, were barely noticed. Each chair that was placed in the bathroom was not even glanced at.
Betye: Alright George, where is the logic in this event? That's the problem with you conceptuals. You are so boring and bland. You have no logic or purpose to you project. You just do the first thing that pops into your head.
George: That's the general idea Betye. My ideas are simple and lead to others. Philosophy and specifics are not always needed. Sure it might be boring but not everyone can be as interesting as you with your complex for and detailed plans in your work. I am more of a mystic person, not bound by logic and the shackles of the world. My thoughts actually build upon other thoughts and lead to new experience.
Michael: Ok. That about does it. We'll end early today before Betye ends up taking off one of those heals. George. Betye. Thank you so much for your time tonight. Catch my show next week when we have Shaq and Kobe trying to make up their differences with their thoughts. Maybe it will be as intense as today. Goodnight folks!
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