Mark Bradford and Rick Lowe: Critical Conversations

extra credit --

This event lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes, but was quite interesting for the most part. Rick Lowe spoke first and gave a powerpoint presentation on various community projects he had contributed to over the years including New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit. Mark Bradford also gave a powerpoint on his work and focused on a particular project called Prospect 1 that he had contributed to by building an arc in the lower ward 9 of New Orleans. Both speakers focused primarily on the actual going into the community and experiences they had rather than the artwork they displayed there, and both speakers had different approaches of taking their profession to the public sphere. Lowe's focus was a practical one, personalizing the project to the area and the people's needs, noting one of his most successful projects as the one in Houston in which he helped transform rows of small shotgun houses into beautiful living conditions for single mothers. Bradford's artwork in the community differed by his outlook. He was very sensitive to the idea that he was entering a place that was not his own and wanted to be careful that he wasn't viewed as stepping down off his high horse to serve the poor with his artwork. He made a point to get to know all the people near his building site on a personal level, knocking on doors and doing what he could through his art connections to raise money for whatever they needed. The most interesting part was the discussion at the end in which both artists sat at the front of the room and talked about their work and its place in the community. One thing I noticed was how everyone used a high level of academic discourse to ask their questions and to discuss art, but Bradford pointedly tried to avoid that and spoke more simply. His succinct and straightforward remarks made his points and overall message clearer than anyone in the room. Though the two artists have very distinct styles, they both shared beautiful artwork, and helped me view public art in a new light.