My name is Christian Reeves. I’m a 29 year old college student
and active duty member of the United States Air Force. I was born and raised in
a small town in Georgia but have found myself traveling all across the world
over the past decade with the military. I currently live in North Dakota with
my 6 year old Golden Doodle named Fisher; Fish for short. I’ve always had a
passion for creating art and understanding new perspectives through the work of
others, which has led me to enroll in this class.
The relationship I have with art has morphed into many
things over the years. I started with traditional methods like acrylic paint
and sketching but found that my technique sucked and the work I created felt boring.
A few years ago I started exploring alternative art outlets and I’ve found what
works for me, mainly through tattooing myself, spray painting on canvas, and recently,
using wood burning tools to make custom designs on leather. My favorite place
to see art would probably be The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City because
of its massive scale and diversity among its pieces. My favorite works are
those that combine simplicity with powerful themes, specifically art created
throughout history during times of war, revolution, or injustice. This style may
not be for everyone but I feel it provides an interesting view that may have
otherwise been lost through traditional record keeping methods.
Glenn Ligon
Untitled (I Am a Man), 1988
I found the story behind Glenn Ligon's Piece to be both heartbreaking and powerful. His painting, which recreated a protest sign used by black sanitation workers during the civil rights movement, shed light on the unfair treatment that people of color suffered in the work place. The statement "I am a man" showed how those affected felt less than and overlooked while also demanding attention through bold text and simplicity.
Feel free to use the link below for more information:
I Am a Man: Sanitation Workers Strike, Memphis, Tennessee, March 28th, 1968, Ernest Withers, 1968
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ReplyDeleteI admire the strong pieces you chose to display, sometimes the more simple pieces have the loudest to say. Designing on leather sounds like it would be a fun pass time and thing to learn!
ReplyDeleteNorth Dakota sounds like a fun place to live, the military can give you great opportunities. Have not experienced many people doing classes so remotely, or not that I have known of, hope the semester goes smoothing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your journey with us! I’m really impressed by your experience as an active duty member of the Air Force and how it ties into your artistic evolution. I can’t wait to learn more about the different places you’ve traveled—seeing the world through the lens of a military perspective must provide such a unique context! I've traveled to over 40 countries as a student, which has given me a lot of flexibility, but I’m sure your experiences have shaped your perspective in ways that are truly special.
ReplyDeleteI also have a Golden Doodle! Her name is Lexi, short for Lexington, because we got her on Lexington Avenue. They really do make the best companions, don’t they?
I’m fascinated to hear more about your tattoo art. What kinds of designs have you tried tattooing on yourself? Have you ever worked on someone else? Tattooing is such an interesting art form; I have tattoos all over my legs and love letting my artists create original designs for me instead of picking from the internet. It feels more personal that way.
Your description of The Metropolitan Museum of Art resonates with me, as I grew up in NYC and have been there countless times. What are your favorite pieces or sections in the Met? I’d love to hear what you find most intriguing!
I agree that Glenn Ligon’s "I Am a Man" is such a captivating piece. The quote, “It's not about me. It's about we,” really encapsulates the message of unity and collective struggle. It reminds us of the importance of acknowledging and addressing injustice in society.
Great to meet you, Christian! I enjoyed reading about your journey. It's clear that you have a deep appreciation for art and I look forward to reading your blog posts this semester. I have never been to North Dakota, but I have always wondered what it is like there, does it get as cold as Alaska? I admire your way of artistic expression through tattoos and using wood-burning tools to make custom designs on leather because it seems like it takes grit and total commitment. I'd love to see some of your work! Good luck this semester!
ReplyDeleteHi, Christian! Thank you so much for your service in our Air Force. I am curious about what small town you are from here in Georgia. We live in Jackson, the location of the hit show "Stranger Things" that so many love. I look forward to getting to know you this semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Christian, your relationship to art sounds fascinating with exploration resulting in many more attuned artforms becoming your outlet rather than the popular ones. It feels like too often that people's view of art is reduced to just the more common forms like painting and drawing and not much is seen beyond that in many ways. It's always great to see more representation of more niche art practices and exploration!
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