Glenn Ligon--Conceptual Artist-at the Whitney Museum

Glenn Ligon works in multiple media, including painting, neon, video, photography, and digital media. Mr. Ligon's work is informed by his experiences as an African American and as a Gay man living in the United States. The Whitney Museum here in New York City will be presenting a mid-career retrospective of his work; starting March 10th, 2011. With his work in the permanent collections of the Tate Modern in London, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington,DC and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Mr. Ligon continues to push the envelope of racism and its context within the realm of this country. Mr. Ligon uses the text of famous authors to convey the social climate of the times. The title of his retrospective is, "Negro Sunshine" taken from a Gertrude Stein novella titled,"Melanctha", which describes a mixed race woman. One of Mr. Ligon's work resides in the private quarters of the White House,"Black Like Me #2" on loan from the Hirshorn to the Obamas. Do see this wonderful work at the Whitney in New York.

Sidenote: Approaching the Whitney Museum in bright neon signage is "negro sunshine" in lower case lettering. The exhibit is a journalistic overview of a mid career retrospective of Mr. Ligon----I found the exhibit to have it's good points and also it's "What's the fuck's going on here?" for example, the Robert Maplethorpe photographers of nude black men, and I forget the name of this famous book, but, this is something i've seen time and time again---this work was exhibited in a room alone and a museum docent sprouting rehearsed dialogue to her patrons on Mr. Maplethorpe and how Mr. Ligon collected quotes from famous and not so famous individuals to corespond with the nude black photos. Hmmm...not much of a stretch. I thought the most remarkable quartet of art--was in the next to last room...somewhat hidden...words were printed on black paper to denote that the viewer should create whatever scenario to complete the picture. This was by far the most incredible work presented by the artist.

Lorna Simpson-Artist

Lorna Simpson is an extraordinary artist. Whether you think it has a feminist bent or racial overtones towards Black Women. Ms. Simpson continues to explore sexual idenity that relate to the body and communication through relationships. You as the viewer will have to decide.  Her works often pair isolated details of the human figure often accomplanied with text. I saw her work at the 2002 Whitney Biennial and the piece that the curators picked was incredible. The art piece titled, "Easy to Remember" captured the moving lips of Black Men and Women stacked on top of one another. This image forshadowed the muted voices of Black Men and Women in this country. First of all, it was great to see an African-American artist at the Biennial and secondly, Ms. Simpson video piece stood out in the show.

Ms. Simpson has appeared in a number of projects involving differents artist mediums such as; The Black List DVD-which showcases numerous African Americans discussing their occupations and giving advice, groups shows at the Brooklyn Museum and Guerilla Girls.

Kara Walker---Artist

Kara Walker is an African American artist whose work explores race, gender,sexuality, violence and identity has been a longtime favorite of mine. Some of her work evokes a Southern Antebellum South during Slavery and it depictions of African Americans in compromising situations--which were often true. I've had the privilege of following her work through out the years and every time I see something different. The show at the Whitney Museum in New York City chronicled her work, along with diaries full of mind exploding commentary. This insight proved to be vital to me as the viewer, because of some comments were part of the overall working mind of an artist. Kara's video work proved to be insightful and thought provoking. The show at the Whitney Museum entitled, "My Complement,My Enemy, My Oppressor,My Love" was one of the best shows with I believe is on a worldwide tour. Do go see it...