Gallery Critiques

Student 8 Spring 2000

I. Please summarize the content and theme of the event you attended. If you attended a play, please summarize the plot and main characters. If a recital, please list the pieces and any relevant information you learned about them from the program notes. If a gallery exhibit, please list some sample works included there and some information from the display notes.

At the "women of spirit" performance, there were 4 women singers and a women pianist. They performed several songs that they identified with. The names of the singers were Darcy, Elaine, Stephanie, and Irma La Guerre. (Due to illness Beverly did not sing.) The songs were kind of like a personal outline of each singer's life and background. The theme of the performance was women, females; spirit from the program.

Here is a list of songs:

Una Joce poc o fa-Darcy

Mira-Stephanie

Look to the rainbow-Elaine

Lucky to be me-Elaine

On top of Old Smokey/Temm.

Waltz-Stephanie Not a day goes by/How Could I know-El

It ain't necessarily so-Darcy

He loves and She loves-Elaine

Preciose-Irma

La Guerre Dieter's Prayer-Ensemble

II. Please ANALYZE the materials presented in terms of how they relate to our class materials. Consider the following points in your analysis and respond to as many of them as are relevant: What uses of color, line, shape, texture or rhythm were evident in the work(s)? Do any aspects of the performance or works in the exhibit illustrate functionalism? Realism? Idealism? Art and the Ordered Cosmos? Art as Self-Expression? If so, in what ways does the material illustrate these aesthetic schools of thought? Please list specific features of the performance which support your points.

Rhythm was a very important component in the performance. The rhythm was indication of the mood or tone. When the mood/tone changed, so did the rhythm of the songs. For example, " the Dieter's Prayer" had a happy tone, so the rhythm was fast & upbeat. However, when Darcy and Elaine sang "How could I know" and "Not a day goes by", the was sad and somber, so the rhythm was slow. Functionalism was apparent in this performance I several ways. Irma La Guerre sang the national anthem of Puerto Rico, "Preciose", which is functioning as something besides art. Also, each song served the function of a life testimony and even expression of each singer's feelings. Stephanie sang "On Top of Smokey" and it served as a hint of her southern upbringing. The others sang personal identity songs as well. Realism was presented in the performance. These ladies were being extremely honest in their songs and speeches. An example of this is Elaine's song "He loves & She loves"

III. Finally, please list any other significant features of the performance that may not have been covered above. Were there any special themes or topics that were emphasized in the work(s)?

As I stated before, the theme of the performance was women and soul. I really liked the way they ended the performance speaking of the female soul. I also liked the way the songs were introduced with personal information about the singer explaining why they were singing that particular song. My favorite singer was Darcy. She had the best presentation of songs and an amazing voice. My favorite song was "It Ain't Necessarily So," sung by Darcy.

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