Which art work did you find most meaningful and/or enjoyable? Give a verbal description of the work (include a visual image if you can). You can approach this task either as a CRITICAL or a CREATIVE blog
In 2014 I visited Bundanon Trust with my high school art class. Our intention was to create art over the 3 day camp, experimenting with style and utensils before creating our HSC Visual Art major work. Bundanon Trust was Arthur Boyd’s artist studio and was his house.
I remember going to the gallery room, surrounded by my friends and teachers to eagerly learn of Arthur Boyd’s works. I learnt how his intense use of symbolism to display his Christian beliefs were starkly revealed in many of his works, such as the one above named, “Bridegroom and Gargoyle”. This work features many symbols surrounding ‘Love, marriage and death of a half-caste’. From visiting Boyd’s house, I could see how Boyd was deeply affected by the plight of Aboriginal people in his area. This is established in his work (above), by the contrasting colours and the haunting gargoyles as a symbol to scare aware evil spirits. I believe Boyd has created a hybrid of an Aboriginal person and gargoyle to show how Aboriginal people were outcast as other; possessing un-human qualities. Furthermore, the blue colouring of the skin, distorts the audience perception of the Aboriginal figure, the audience then disassociates and creates distance from the unknown due to unnatural colouring. This is contrasted to elegance of the white face. The evident symbol of purity in a dark and mysterious atmosphere created shows how Boyd is trying to alert his audiences of the division between Western and Aboriginal cultures in this work. In doing so, he is opening a channel for discourse on the treatment of Aboriginal’s in society.
I found this work to be the most meaningful to me, as I visited the studio where this was created. I like Boyd’s ability to get his point across directly, other artists that I have studied usually subvert their meanings with the intention to make their audience think deeply about their works. Whereas, Boyd is provocatively making a statement on the misrepresentation of Aboriginals which is clearly established in his works.
Caitlin McCartney 
It is really great that you have found space to make such useful comments on this work, which was also on our tour round the gallery! You give lots of very useful commentary on the painting. However again, editing needs to be strengthened with your blogs. I think you need help with this. Academic Skills can help…
MG
EDITING NEEDED (AND SOME WORKSHOP FOLLOW-UPS- SEE PURDUE OWL FOR HELP: http://OWL.ENGLISH.PURDUE.EDU/OWL/SECTION/1/
*how Aboriginal people were outcast as other; possessing un-human qualities. = how Aboriginal people were outcast AND WERE SEEN AS possessing un-human qualities. [ your sentence is ungrammatical – read this aloud…. it does not make good sense. Also beware of how to use ; correctly. See ; is not appropriate here- it is usually a replacement for a full-stop when two sentences are closely linked in meaning. So it is a bit like putting a brick in the middle of a sentence and shouldn’t replace the more mild comma!
for further details on Semi-colons see
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/04/ ]
*distorts the audience perception = distorts the audience’s perception [‘s or s’ – Apostrophe- if there is a meaning of ownership ( the boy’s apple/ the boys’ apples) then you need an apostrophe. See http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/621/01/. But don’t use apostrophe s for normal plurals!!!]
*perception of the Aboriginal figure, the audience then disassociates= perception of the Aboriginal figure. The audience then disassociates [http://www.englishforeveryone.org/Topics/Run-On-Sentences.htm]
* to alert his audiences of the division = to alert his audiences to the division
*the treatment of Aboriginal’s in society.= the treatment of Aboriginals in society. = [don’t use ‘s for simple plurals. See ‘s or s’ – Apostrophe- if there is a meaning of ownership ( the boy’s apple/ the boys’ apples) then you need an apostrophe. See http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/621/01/. But don’t use apostrophe s for normal plurals!!!]
LikeLike
You wrote this blog in a highly sophisticated and structured way Caitlin. What made it most interesting was that I learnt of your deeper personal connection to the painting because of your visiting of the studio where it was created. Your interpretation of the meaning in the artwork was refreshing and creative. It was great that you recognised the heaviness of the context of Aboriginal plight and the role it had it shaping the painting by Arthur Boyd. The examples below demonstrate that you have given your interpretations much consideration, by recognising and making sense of the symbolism in the painting.
“I could see how Boyd was deeply affected by the plight of Aboriginal people in his area. This is established in his work (above), by the contrasting colours and the haunting gargoyles as a symbol to scare aware evil spirits.”
“Furthermore, the blue colouring of the skin, distorts the audience perception of the Aboriginal figure, the audience then disassociates and creates distance from the unknown due to unnatural colouring.”
No spelling, punctuation or grammar mistakes have been detected. You have also added a lovely visual dimension to your blog through the inclusion of the painting, which will keep readers engaged and encourage them to view the painting through your eyes.
LikeLike