Gina Adams Artist Talk Reflection

 

Introduction 

The one I like the most.

Non-profit, Gina Adam is an artist who insist on manual cutting letter of the treaties which reveal and  remind people the true history and policies happened to the indigenous communities. 

Appreciation

  

Inherited Memory

Main idea

In the lecture, she primely introduced her three main ideas in same form of her cutting artworks:  "Historical Trauma", "Inherited Memory", and "Broken Treaties". 

This kind of expression is unique and cleaver. 

She claimed and highlighted her main points, and also warmed up her audiences like me. After looked at the short words, I understood and deeply remembered what she wanted to express. The importance is that I had a preliminary contact and understanding of the complex cutting artworks she would show next.

 

ArtWorks

The works as like as two peas are exquisite beyond compare. For, example, the cutting below has letters made with 48 different patterns cloth, and each letter is the same size as the standard printed material, and the paste is neat applied iron and other unexpected equipment. In addition, all her works did not copy all the contents of the treaties, but carefully selected after reading. I can't imagine how boring the production process is. I can't imagine how long I can stick to it without making mistakes. I admired her when she told me that one of my works cost her nine months. 

             I bet if you didn't listen to her explanation, it's hard for anyone to be willing to read what's written in these works, or even think it's printed matter. As she said, some letters are clear, but others have to be close to see. She said that she deliberately used light colored cloth to make the already astringent and difficult regulations more difficult to read. What she wants to express is that no one will take the initiative to call us the real experience of indigenous communities in history books and school history classes. It reminds a quote of McLuhan: "History as she is harped. Rite words in rote order". The history taught in schools are chose with political favors which the dark side of the history are covered. Gina broke down the  cover and led people learned the truth of broken treaties and the hidden darkness. The history is no like what we learned, she made me thought. 

The Extension of Her Arts

                In the lecture, she mentioned that the materials make people could look at the artworks in many perspective such as looking the shadows of letter.  In the indoor exhibition, the sheets are hung in the air and do not lean against the wall, so people can go around it and see the shadow cast by the light through the cloth. These letter shadows are easier to read than the original work, because the letters part has thicker cloth and lightless. It's implying the shadows on the indigenous communities by the broken treaties. 

              She also pasted her letter cutting on glassy windows, and it creates shadows on the outside pool. I prefer his one and the one I put at the beginning. Both inside and outside people will be attracted to have a look. With the indoor lights at night and the sparkling water surface, the works are more vivid and close to life.