Abdi Farrah

Slaveship

Abdi Farrah was one of the two people on Work of Art that I really liked thee whole way through (and the other I didn't like in a couple rounds)and he was the winner.  I really like his work that focuses on religion and African American history or experiences.

Baptism (Flickr.com)

Adrian Molina

Although this blog began (and is primarily) to be a place for me to store my visual inspiration, I have decided to add one of my personal heroes when it comes to social justice type inspiration.  Adrian is a culturist and a conscious hip-hop artist.  I first met Adrian when he was a professor at the University of Wyoming.  Even though he has a law degree (which I don't think he would tell anyone), he was teaching a class titled "Hip-Hop and American Society" through the Chicano Studies program.  This class taught me about underground hip-hop and introduced the idea of art as activism.   His lyrics are powerful and intelligent.  He is not afraid to address serious issues and that is one of the most important qualities I can find in an artist which I would like to translate into my work.

The part about his degree in law was significant (and is inspiring) to me because he was a model of how someone can follow his dreams to remain an artist and make that path work because it is what he was designed to do.  Despite the fact that I am sure he had to deal with a plethora of friends and family telling him to take the path that they see as success, he chose what he knew he was created to do.  I know that I was designed to create art and share important social topics with others.  Thanks for being a model of this.

For more information on Molina's work check out his Facebook page, this interview, his current focus (the Occupy movement), one more occupy article he wrote.

Here is a clip of his most recent project ...This link will not be available to the public for a few more days...so enjoy!


To see some of my socially conscious art, check out art blog "Felicia Follum Art + Desingn" or Facebook page.

Jenny Holzer

Jenny Holzer creates public text artwork. Her pieces address a variety of social issues. I can really relate to her work because of the social commentary aspects. She addresses things that “make the world turn, and in particular, turn for the worse.” She continues on that she focuses on the bad because she believes that “the good things will take care of themselves.” I like that.

I think I need to come up with a good reason as to why I focus on serious issues. I think it might be because I have things to say that can best be said through art. I want to make people aware of what is going on so that they can make a difference.

Jenny’s work also relates to mine in the use of text.

Samantha Hogue

I stumbled upon Mrs. Hogue while researching art therapy.  I think what sticks out to me the most is that this artist creates personal works and uses a variety of mediums and styles to portray a mood, feeling, or idea.  It would also be good practice to create a couple more self-portraits.
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Ashley Hope Carlislie

Ashley is a professor at the Univerisy of Wyoming.  Her sculptures represent who she is and her life experiences.  I do now know much about the above image but I believe that the bottom one came from a time when she was in the hospital or had just hurt her back and she was limited to what she could create.  The cocoon shapes were how she responded to her injury.  I chose these two images (over some of the ones I know more about) because I find them particularly interesting.  I love the repetition of line and shape. 

One of the aspects of Ashley's work that I would like to inspire my own at some point is the use of textures, colors, and shape to create beautiful movement and a subtle story.

Jenny Venn

Jenny Venn is the graphic design instructor at the University of Wyoming.  I have taken 6 classes from her and her classes have really helped me to have a passion for for concept development and research.  One of the projects from her Graphic Design II class is a Social Justice poster series based on historical styles.  This project was one that really helped me know that I don't want to do traditional graphic design work but rather focus on social issues and use my graphic design skills in conjunction with my drawing and other work.  Some of my work inspired by her poster project.

The poster below is a design that Jenny did for the Shepard Symposium on Social Justice.  To see more of her work, check out her blog. 

Jenny's University of Wyoming Profile

Doug Russell

Professor Russell's drawings never cease to amaze me.  There is something new every time you look. Though I really enjoy this unique style, I don't think that I have drawn much from it. I have had him for several classes and have absorbed a lot of technique, especially when it comes to ink and wash and seeing value.

Work from Entangles Worlds series.

To read more about Doug Russel, check out his website and the University site.

Leah Hardy

I had Leah for a couple foundation art classes and have always enjoyed her work.  I like the intimate nature of her metal work as well as the use of manipulated body imagery.  The piece below is interesting because it certainly draws from book arts and shows how many fields one artist can cross into.

Gift (open and closed)

See more of Leah's work on the University of Wyoming site.

Spencer Bohren

This style of shadow box could lend itself well to social issues and concept communication.

See more of Spencer Bohren's work
See my Facebook art page

Glen Ligon

Glen Ligon and some other great African American artists.

Glen Ligon's work provides inspiration for my work for a variety of reasons.  We both tend to use a significant amount of type/text and we both address social and political topics.  I have also been searching for, and brainstorming, venues to display my more political pieces.  I am not sure where all his work is displayed but some of his venues (and similar places) may be just what I am looking for.