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CSUDH Habermas UWP

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Created: May 17, 2001
Latest update: May 17, 2001
jeannecurran@habermas.org

This teaching essay started out with Jill Arnold's site, her photographs.

On Thursday, May 17, 2001, LaKisha Miller, Teidre Rankins, and LaNesha Brooks wrote:

Jeanne,

After viewing Jill Arnold's photos I contacted my group to discuss the similiarities between Jill's portraits, and Basquiat's paintings in comparison with Peace vs Conflict. Time and time again when we are in a happy place we tend to feel happy and vice versa for places that make us feel unhappy. When explicating her photos you can pretty much visualize the presence that existed. From childrens' feet skipping, to lovers holding hands walking side by side, even when there are no features to go with the visual aid. This clearly is PEACE. Whether or not we truly know what their daily lives entail, they enjoyed that day. And that is what she meant by what we leave behind being more permanent gifts -"presents to remind us."

Basquait, on the other hand, is an artist. His art depicts the CONFLICT in his past as well as his present. It is difficult to present Peace, if you've never experienced it first as a child. Thereby, Basquiat expressed himself accordingly, seemingly expressing the structurally violent effect his world had on himself, others, and property through his art, as well as physically. This, in turn, became the permanent gift he left behind, (as Jill describes), when the presence is gone. But what a gift to give to a child, to later give to others, (those who loved him and his art). "Presents to remind us."

Now, with that in mind, when you gave us the pleasure to express ourselves in class with art, some didn't want to participate the first time around. And one of the reasons could well have been that they did'nt want to be embarrassed, by what they believed they couldn't do. But Kudos to those who didn't let that stop you. That was the first time throughout the entire semester that I witnessed "UNITY". Strangers expressing themselves with strangers. Before that experience, you would see some of these people regularly on campus, who would walk right past you and not say hello. But that day even without being told what to paint, everyone's picture seemed to portray PEACE. Hence, creating harmony, communication, and new friendships. "Presents to remind us."

LaKisha Miller, Peace and Conflict Class
Teidre Rankins, Theory Class, Peace and Conflict Class
LaNesha Brooks, Theory Class, Peace and Conflict Class

On Thursday, May 17, 2001, jeanne responded:

I am speechless. You have done a masterful job in this piece of expressing what the Peace and Conflict Class has been about. I'm proud of your understanding. I'm especially proud that you worked together all semester.

I am impressed that you broke the essay effectively into paragraphs:

• Jill Arnold's photos that represented peace to you.
• Jean-Michel Basquiat's work that represented conflict to you.
• Our painting activities that represented a way to transform conflict into peace and bring unity.

Nice organization. Nice thread of ideas. I wasn't sure how conscious your play of words was on "presents" and "presence," but I found it very appropriate.

I also liked that you chose to take one of the most recent files, and juxtapose it with files we studied earlier. That shows a good sense of continuity over the course, giving substance to the idea of stable and consistent work over time.

In both your discussion of Jill Arnold's work and Basquiat's work, you gave enough visual clues that we could relate to your reactions, thus permitting us to look for ourselves and see if we agreed or disagreed with your conclusions. We can actually look back to her photos and see how you are interpreting "presents to remind us."

We can't upload Jill Arnold's work. But I would like to suggest that we collect work that we have done that reflects peace and peacemaking that we could show in our own art gallery. For example, Honor Dolly Klett's Oneness:

Oneness

Although we can't link directly to Basquiat's work, we do have a drawing on site designed "after Basquiat:"

Perhaps that drawing, supplemented by some online Basquiat works at the New York Times photo reproductions of the work of Basquiat, would help illustrate the what you saw in his art and life. "His art depicts the CONFLICT in his past as well as his present. It is difficult to present Peace, if you've never experienced it first as a child." Note especially "Hollywood Africans." In the upper left corner you will see: .

See also Mark Harden's Artchive for Basquiat paintings.

I thought it was very astute of you to emphasize that though representing conflict and an unmet need, this paintings are still a gift: "But what a gift to give to a child, to later give to others, (those who loved him and his art). 'Presents to remind us.' "

Finally, I liked the way you linked these presentations on the site to your own activities in class. Good observation that most of the paintings done represented peace. And I'm ever so glad now that we remembered most of the time to come together with enough time to share what they meant to us. Yes, I agree with you. I think the painting experience does promote unity. Nice analysis; nice conclusion.

love and peace, jeanne

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