A Hopeful Vision of America

“Give me your tired, your poor,
your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”
~ from “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus

This month, HAVarts focuses on artists who create works about a welcoming and vibrant America. We delve into the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on art, and showcase the costly price citizens pay for ignorance and hatred.

Peter Max's use of bright, eye-popping colors make his paintings of the Statue of Liberty upbeat and expansive. Childe Hassam, America’s most famous impressionist, created compositions with themes featuring Americana and patriotism. Aaron Douglas created a unique artistic style that addressed social issues around race and segregation in the United States.

Some social media users are circulating the premise that the Statue of Liberty was originally modeled after a Black woman. The images associated with this assertion were created using AI. Hidreley Diao and Bas Uterwijk digitally create portraits of mythical and historical personalities.

And finally, an exceedingly rare, 19th-century portrait, acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was restored to show the Frey children and the enslaved, Afro-Creole teenager Bélizaire. It is one of the very few portraits in the U.S. commissioned by a family of that era that depicts an enslaved person.

The Statue of Liberty

A remarkable story about resilience and tenacity.

Lady Liberty was originally designed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the revolution and the end of slavery. The connection to immigration came later. French abolitionist Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, loved America, and he loved it even more when slavery was abolished. In 1865, he organized a meeting to talk about creating something that would recognize the importance of the liberation of the slaves.

Artificial Intelligence and Art

Lady Liberty, AI image by Hidrėlėy Diao

A unique glimpse of mythical and historical figures.

People are either happy or outraged about the prospect of artificial intelligence (AI) creeping into the rarified universe of “fine art.” As long as AI remains the tool directed at the behest of an artist’s vision, AI is art. Hidreley Diao and Bas Uterwijk use AI to create digital portraits of mythical and historical personalities, including Lady Liberty. 

Peter Max

“United We Stand” acrylic on canvas by Peter Max

EQUALITY, RESPECT, and LOVE were the code words for the 1960s-1970s.

The 60s and 70s were periods of Civil Rights in America. One of the best visual artists that embodies these periods was Peter Max. His paintings of the Statue of Liberty and pieces featuring the American flag are upbeat and optimistic. His use of bright, eye-popping colors make his artwork immediately recognizable.

Childe Hassam

“The Fourth of July,” 1916, oil on canvas by Childe Hassam

For more than half a century, Childe Hassam was one of the most prolific, impressionist, painters from America.

He was popular for painting compositions of patriotic, flag-draped New York City. His work captured a feeling for light, while showing subtleties and nuances with color.

Aaron Douglas

“Aspirations,” 1936, oil by Aaron Douglas

The father of Black American art.

Aaron Douglas was an African-American painter, illustrator, and visual arts educator. As a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance, he painted murals and created illustrations that addressed social issues around race and segregation in the United States. His influences spanned numerous genres, such as jazz music and abstract and geometric art.

Now You See Him. Now You Don’t.

“Belizaire & the Frey Children,” 1837, oil on canvas by Jacques Amans

“Belizaire and the Frey Children” is an extraordinarily rare image of biracial and white children.

The painting was created by Jacques Guillaume Lucien Amans, one of the most prolific and celebrated portrait artists in Louisiana during the 2nd half of the 19th century. Regrettably, the portrait was mutilated to erase the image of Belizaire during the early 20th century. This is a tragic commentary on the status of race relations in America. Fortunately, the painting was restored to it's original condition and is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.

Showcasing Excellence in Latin Culture

On display at the Summerlin Library from August 20 through November 3, 2024 for Hispanic Heritage Month. This show will feature curated pieces from residents of Summerlin, including favorite pieces of neighbors in Cottonwood Terrace who cherish fine arts and education.

The pieces are from Mexican, Guatemalan, and Haitian artists. Noted artists are Antonio Vasquez, Elizabeth Catlett, and Dr. Venetta Whitaker.

An opening reception will be held on Sunday, September 22, 2024 from 1-3 p.m. at the Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Dr., Las Vegas, NV.

The work we are doing is vitally important.

Valparaiso University has intentions to deaccession work by two artists featured in our newsletters. Works by Georgia O’Keeffe and Childe Hassam have been deemed "not conservative." The paintings in question are “Rust Red Hills” by O’Keeffe (1930) and “The Silver Veil and the Golden Gate” by Childe Hassam (1914), an American Impressionist. Could this be a troubling new trend? HAVarts is committed to raising public awareness and appreciation of art. More to follow.

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