Prestigious painter, sculptor Alison Saar donates art to college
L.A. artist's pieces featured at Atkinson Gallery
Amanda Jacobs
Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: Entertainment
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Saar, a nationally recognized African American artist, will bring her sculptures, drawings and prints to City College's Atkinson Gallery. She will also donate five one-foot tall sculptures to support the art department. And local artists believe her pieces encompass broad historical meaning, allowing the viewer to look beyond the work itself.
"Being a woman and being biracial, I think I have a tendency to be seen specifically through lenses by other people and it's interesting for me to establish my own ideas and point of view about those things," Saar said.
Growing up around a family of artists in Los Angeles, Saar has the ability to draw inspiration from found elements, her personal history and American culture. Born to an African American mother and white father, Saar has been able to connect with both sides of her culture.
Her mother Betye is also a nationally known artist who Atkinson Gallery director Dane Goodman described as "truly one of the first most famous female artists nationally recognized in America."
"Some would say it was a disadvantage to rebel against our parents to become artists," said Saar. "But it's what we've been since we were young."
Saar said she's been inspired by the art her parents made, their ability to create a family and their success in both endeavors.
"She and her family represent the new face of American art," Goodman said.
Goodman invited Saar to judge the annual Small Images exhibit at the Atkinson two years ago. It was then when he asked her to have an exhibit in the gallery but have not had time to do so since now.
The pieces shown in the gallery will play into her family history and her culture. "Bat Boyz," "Sweeping Beauty" and "Blue Plate Special" are all pieces playing into her concern and perspective of cultural issues.
Goodman said the piece "Bat Boyz," a number of carved faces on the end of baseball bats, could represent an African American war club or the Negro baseball leagues from the 1950s.
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