Weekly Selfie 1 - Kitchen Table Series

Carrie Mae Weems - The Kitchen Table Series

Recreation of " The Kitchen Table Series" 

- Carrie's artwork of " The Kitchen Table Series" inspired me to recreate one of my daily routines such as reading books for school and my own interests. The black and white is another inspiration for me since I like taking black and white photos for my photo album. 

Susan Sontag Quotes

"To photograph is to appropriate the thing photographed. It means putting oneself into a certain relation to the world that feels like knowledge -- and, therefore, like power." 

"What is written about a person or an event is frankly an interpretation, as are handmade visual statements, like paintings and drawings. Photographed images do not seem to be statements about the world so much as pieces of it, miniatures of reality that anyone can make or acquire."

- After reading these quotes, I can see that she discusses how photography shapes our view of the world, suggesting that photos turn reality into knowledge and power. It contrasts print with photos, emphasizing that photos are seen as small versions of reality, not interpretations. It hints at the idea that photography may lead to alienation and a more abstract understanding of the world.

Carrie Mae Weems quotes 

“I think that most work that’s made by Black artists is considered to be about Blackness. Unlike work that’s made by white artists, which is assumed to be universal at its core.”

“I knew that I was making images unlike anything I had seen before, but I didn’t know what that would mean,”I knew what it meant for me, but I didn’t know what it would mean historically.”

- Carrie's quotes show that Black art is often seen as focused on Blackness, unlike white artists' work assumed to be universally relevant. This reveals potential biases based on the artist's race. She also indicates the artist's awareness of their unique creations but uncertainty about the historical significance or interpretation, recognizing personal meaning with uncertainty about historical impact.

Carrie Mae Weems Quotes

"Men put me down as the best woman painter. I think I'm one of the best painters.

"This marginalization, being categorized as "black artist" or "woman artist" rather than simply artist, is something Weems has dealt with her entire career."

- After reading this article, I can see that  the artist is frustrated with being labeled based on gender or race instead of being acknowledged as a skilled painter. The term "best woman painter" implies marginalization, qualifying her achievements by gender. The big issue is categorizing artists by identity markers, limiting recognition without qualifiers. The artist wants acknowledgment for her painting skills without these constraints.