Romare Bearden: Don't reduce him...

Bearden(1911-1988)is another outstanding painter, whose work I greatly admire. Romare Bearden was black, and he was an American, so, of course, a lot of our critics emphasize how his works revolves around the experience of African Americans. If you research, you'll see this simplistic and racist viewpoint repeatedly. Well, you know, of course...this is America and Mr. Bearden was black! It's curious that with white artists, we aren't so frequently and immedeatley informed by critics of how their work revolves around the European experience (whatever that means...as if any constructed group has a monolithic experience.)

Let's consider what (gasp!) Romare Bearden actually had to say about his own work in 1969: "I am afraid, despite my intentions, that in some instances commentators have tended to overemphasize what they believed to be the soical elements in my work. But while my response to certain human elements is as obvious as it is inevitable, I am also pleased to note that upon reflection many persons have found that they were as much concerned with the aesthetic implications of my painting as with, what may possibly be, my human compassion.So, the idea is, YES, HE WAS BLACK! THANK YOU!, but he was also an artist and he had the concerns of any artist, concerning form, line, composition, and the myriad aesthetic factors that formulate any given piece. All righty then...

So, Romare Bearden was born in North Carolina into a middle class family. In, 1914 his family was part of the Great Migration. They settled in Harlem, and Mr. Bearden was to call New York his home for his whole life. Bearden is reknowned for his collage work; however, he also used watercolor, oil, gouache, photograph, etc. His work really knocks me over; and, it's difficult to characterize. For example, take a peek at Tomorrow I May Be Far Away .

Do you see what I mean? Isn't that an incredibly powerful piece? How would you characterize it? Well, you don't. You just don't. That's one of the things I'm sort of against. Remember? That's why it makes writing about art difficult. Maybe we shoudn't write too much about paintings, but just sort of indicate to our friends whom we like, and whom we recommend they take a look at. So, today I recommend Romare Bearden to you.

And, why should we look at painters? Why is this important? I mean, after all, the Cowboys and Eagles are on! Well, all I can say about art and literature is that making it a part of your daily life, basically improves the quality of your life in general. At least, I've found this to be true, and often in ways that sometimes aren't readily apparent. But, what do I know? Rock on, Kemal Faruquee.