2008 Woodie Awards
Artwork highlights social criticism
Beth S. Elliott
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Campus News
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She presented works by artists including Bettye Saar, Barbara Kruger and Ester Hernandez. Works shown ranged from the 1930s to recent years, all of which addressed social issues throughout history. The selected works were done in a variety of methods, from photography to collages of magazine photos.
"My feeling is that if someone tells a story well, it does not matter what medium it is in, if the work touches people's heart as well as their mind, then they will be moved to respond," Naidus said.
Susan Neff, interim ombudsman, noticed something missing. She asked Naidus why there seemed to be a lack of art between 1945 and 1960.
Naidus explained that during the McCarthyism period these works of art were not showcased because they were considered communistic.
Back then, students were taught that art was only supposed to be about art itself: no pictures, only pictures, colors, shapes and techniques. Naidus said the civil rights movement of the 1960s influenced a strong reaction to this type of censorship.
Another piece shown, "Sun Mad" by Ester Hernandez, depicted a box much like that of the well-known Sun Maid raisins with a few changes in details.
Instead of the smiling brunette with freshly picked grapes, Hernandez features a skeleton wearing the familiar red bonnet. Underneath the words "Sun Mad," the bottom
reads: "Unnaturally grown with insecticides, miticides, herbicides, and fungicides."
Hernandez grew up as a migrant worker. She uses art to illustrate the unfair treatment of workers. In many cases this leads to illness and premature death.
"Many students are not aware of this going on. Corporations dump things on people. They don't think people of color or immigrants matter much," Naidus said
Naidus addresses these issues in her classes. She uses artwork to help students understand what artists were trying to do.
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