curatorial project

1. “ T o T h y O w n S e l f , B e T r u e . ”
Museum Entrance
C U R A T O R +
C R E D I T S
I n a s o c i e t y c o n s ume d w i t h P h o t o s h o p
a n d me d i a ma n i p u l a t i o n , i t i s e a s y f o r
o n e t o l o s e s e l f - ima g e . T e l e v i s i o n ,
ma g a z i n e s , a n d t h e I n t e r n e t s h o w h o w
p e o p l e a r e s u p p o s e d t o l o o k a n d g i v e
s o c i e t y a n i m a g e o f t h e “ p e r f e c t ”
ma l e o r f ema l e . Mu l t i p l e f o rms o f
me d i a p o s s e s s t h e mi n d s o f ma n y
t e e n s a n d h e l p t o c r e a t e a
g e n e r a t i o n f u l l o f i n s e c u r e h uma n
b e i n g s . S o c i e t y i s l o s i n g c o n f i d e n c e
a n d p u t t i n g f a i t h i n t o f a l s e
a d v e r t i s eme n t .
R e a d m o r e … »
C l i c k o n a r r o w s t R O O M 2 o v i s i t r o o m s R O O M 1
R O O M 3

2. Room 1
M U S E U M
L O B B Y
C l i c k
o n
i m a g e s
t o s e e
l a r g e r

3. Room 2
M U S E U M
L O B B Y
C l i c k
o n
i m a g e s
t o s e e
l a r g e r

4. Room 3
M U S E U M
L O B B Y
C l i c k
o n
i m a g e s
t o s e e
l a r g e r

5. “ T o T h y O w n S e l f , B e T r u e . ”
In a society consumed with Photoshop
and media manipulation, it is easy for
one to lose self-image. Television,
magazines, and the Internet show how
people are supposed to look and give
society an image of the “perfect” male
or female. Multiple forms of media
possess the minds of many teens and
help to create a generation full of
insecure human beings. Society is
losing confidence and putting faith into
false advertisement.
This false advertisement has photo
shopped celebrities and images on
busses, posters, and billboards. These
advertisements are distorted images
that have been altered to the point
where the beauty in simplicity no
longer exists. Models are cropped to
be 20 lbs. less than their actual weight,
and older male and females are being
altered to look younger than their
realistic age. Society trusts this false
advertisement and feels inspired to
change who they truly are.
Many individuals are subjected to this
controlled society in high school and
grade school. Most schools try to give
students the opportunity to be
themselves, but they put limitations on
their creativity by giving regulations on
certain ways to act or dress. Due to
this, many children move toward
adolescence with confusion of who
they truly want to be. Individuals begin
to lose their self-image and self-meaning
at a young age.
In the art world today, artists new and
old are creating artwork related to this
common issue. These artists break free
from this controlled society in their
artwork. Andy Warhol is one of the
major artists that paved way for other
artists to enter the advertising art world.
Artists like Cindy Sherman, Marina
Abramovic, Chuck Close, and Martin
Grohs, create artwork showing the
reality of individuals in society. These
artists are depicting the beauty in their
subject matter as they truly are. They
are not photo shopping their subjects
to be super skinny or have flawless
features. These artists are emphasizing
on the simplicity of one being who they
are. Pop art and modern artists have
their own funky and unique styles to
show who they really are and not who
they are trying to be. For example,
Cindy Sherman creates an infinite
amount of self-portraits. Her images are
altered, but only to show her as the
R e t u r n t o
L o b b y
different personalities she portrays. In
Sherman’s Untitled Film Stills she has
one portrait of herself dressed up as a
clown. In these clown images
sometimes she is smiling, but in other
images she is serious; which helps the
audience focus more on the artist
personality and inspire them to
embrace their own unique
personalities.
When I think of these pop art and
modern artists I think of an old quote by
Shakespeare: “To thy own self, be
true”. This quote is the theme for this
curatorial project. Society needs to be
inspired by pop art artist to be who
they are and not lose sense of
meaning. Andy Warhol once said “I’m
afraid that if you look at a thing long
enough, it loses all meaning”. This
quote relates toward the way society
looks upon individuals. The more media
consumes this society with false images
of what actions or fashion is right or
wrong, the more we begin to lose
ourselves and who we truly are. These
artists are showing their inner
personality and the beauty in being
themselves. Pop art and modern artists
are filling society with confidence and
a sense of security.

6. C i n d y S h e r m a n
M a c C o l l e c t i o n
L o o k # 1
Artist: Cindy Sherman
Date: September 29, 2011
Media: Photograph
Mac cosmetics decided to have Sherman
model for their fall collection. Sherman’s
work particularly explores the way women
are portrayed in society. Sherman uses
makeup as a tool for transformation,
similar to all women in society. Makeup is
a way for females to hid the flaws or spots
of insecurity. Sherman not only shows
herself transformed with makeup but
creates a different persona with each
portrait.
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 s g v D k R
R e t u r n t o
R o o m

7. C i n d y S h e r m a n
M a c C o l l e c t i o n
L o o k # 2
Artist: Cindy Sherman
Date: September 29, 2011
Media: Photograph
Besides campaigning for Mac
Cosmetics, Sherman has
campaigned for Balenciaga and
Marc Jacobs. With each one of her
collections, Sherman continues to
keep herself as the main subject
matter. This American artist is known
to be the queen of cosmetic
disguise. Mac’s goal for this
collaboration was to motivate
consumers to be their inner artist
and create risk taking styles.
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 A c x E m l
R e t u r n t o
R o o m

8. C i n d y S h e r m a n
M a c C o l l e c t i o n
L o o k # 3
Artist: Cindy Sherman
Date: September 29, 2011
Media: Photograph
Sherman portrays the power of
transformation in all her portraits.
Sherman’s goal for her collaboration with
Mac was to persuade customers to be
bold when expressing themselves. Mac
and Sherman both team up to inspire
cosmetic consumers and the rest of
society to be fearless in all that they do,
rather artistically or not.
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 B x n K j g
R e t u r n t o
R o o m

9. U n t i t l e d # 4 0 2
Artist: Cindy Sherman
Date: 2000
Media: Photograph
Size: 36 x 24in
Sherman’s portraits become narratives.
Many of the characters in her Untitled Film
Stills relate to her close family members.
Some images were hard for Sherman to
work on due to recent deaths in the
family. The different roles Sherman plays
relate to the families of the viewers as well
which is an amazing quality in her work.
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 w E V g T v
R e t u r n t o
R o o m

10. H o l d i n g t h e
L a m b
Artist: Marina Abramovic
Date: 2010
Media: Photograph
Size:160 x 200cm
Belgrade, Serbia born artist Marina
Abramovic pushes the boundaries in all
her performance art. Abramovic’s art
displays self-control and will power. The
portrait of Abramovic holding a lamb over
her head with a dramatic background
represents her connection with nature and
her surrounding environment. Abramovic
represents life and nature in her work. This
portrait also shows Abramovic’s inner
strength as she holds the animal over her
head. She expresses her independence
and her sustenance.
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 v Q B 4 M o
R e t u r n t o
R o o m

11. T h e F a m i l y X I
Artist: Marina Abramovic
Date: 2008
Media: Photograph
Size:180 x 225cm
Known as the art world diva, Marina has
been international with her artwork for the
past 30 years. A lot of her work portrays her
physical, emotional, and mental strength.
The Family XI has a personal meaning to
Abramovic. Growing up during the war,
her parents were always in uniform and
had weapons near by at all times. This
photograph is startling to audiences but
once the photograph is viewed with the
series of images it is easy to understand
Marina’s story.
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 v F P L w S
R e t u r n t o
R o o m

12. A r t i s t P o r t r a i t
w i t h a R o s e
Artist: Marina Abramovic
Date: 2013
Media: Photograph
Size: 70 x 70cm
Marina is interested in the simplicity of
earth and nature and portrays it in her
artwork. The photograph she has with a
rose shows how Marina is simple and
secure with nature. Abramovic is also
interested in death as well and stressed
her age in some of her work. Marina is
showing herself as a healthy flower and still
creating performance art.
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 6 7 e 4 2 9
R e t u r n t o
R o o m

13. V o g u e I t a l y
C o v e r
Artist: Marina Abramovic
Date: 2010
Media: Photograph
Marina Abramovic’s body has always
been the center of all her work. Most of
her work is rather her clothed, naked,
tense, relaxed, or in a violated state. A lot
of Marina’s work challenges the limits of
the body and many consider her art
Feminist. Abramovic’s is very comfortable
with her body and continues to transform
her knowledge about sexuality into her
work. This particular images was issued in
Vogue Italy. Marina was interviewed on
her work and how risky and provocative
her work is.
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 B z M l U I
R e t u r n t o
R o o m

14. A m e n
Artist: Martin Grohs
Date: 2014
Media: New Media, Photoshop
Size: 60x40cm
Martin Grohs is a creative director and
illustrator from Leipzig, Germany. Amen
was been created to show how
concerned society is with their smart
phones and new technology. The world if
changing constantly and Grohs shows in
this image how our generation pays such
little mind to all the changes. Amen was
created to inspire this generation, and
upcoming generations that the world is
changing and we should look up and
realize it.
h t t p : / / o n . b e . n e t / 1 u m h M t 0
R e t u r n t o
R o o m

15. Big Nude
Artist: Chuck Close
Date: 1967
Media: oil on canvas
Size:. 117 x 253in
Chuck close has been very private
about exhibiting his nude paintings.
The Big Nude is the first reclining
figurative painting and only one he
has ever released. Close chose
models who were not exceptionally
beautiful because his intent was to
paint realistically. Close wanted his
painting to have flaws such as tan
lines, open pores, and stretch marks.
This is Close first and last full body
scale painting.
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 y E K D j y
R e t u r n t o
R o o m

16. Fanny
Artist: Chuck Close
Date: 1985
Media: oil on canvas
Size: 102 x 84in
Fanny is a finger-painting portrait of
Close’s wife’s late grandmother. This
is Close most masterly display of a
technique he practiced himself.
From a distance the painting seems
cracked but as you look closer you
can see the fingerprints of the artist
which creates an abstract beauty.
Close has created another portrait
with flaw filled features that only
make the image more realistic.
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 B j j t x 1
R e t u r n t o
R o o m

17. Phil
Artist: Chuck Close
Date: 1969
Media: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 108 x 84in
Close reinvents painting with his realistic
portraits. This artist is famous for his risk
taking and precise images. Close admits
that most of his painting state clear
decisions that he has made as an artist.
Even with his physical limitations he
continues to depict amazing portraits of
personal relatives and other well known
artists. Phil is actually a portrait of the
musician Philip Glass. The two met in Paris
in 1964. Philip’s music and Close’s work
have relation due to both being unique
and different than anyone else’s.
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 D c F S R h
R e t u r n t o
R o o m

18. K r i s t i n a C u m b a
I am a developing artist still finding my medium. I
receive my inspiration from risk taking work like the artists
in this museum. The theme for this museum is personal to
me because I have once battled with losing my self-meaning.
As a transition from two opposite majors in
college, I was once unsure with who I wanted to be. I
was focused on being the person who would impress
others and lost contact with who I really am destined to
be. I am an artists with a God given talent. I have been
blessed with a creative mind that I believe should be put
to use. I am meant to be the artist that I am. Along with
the rest of the artist in this museum, I believe in one being
who they truly are because at the end of it all, no one
else knows you better than yourself.
R e t u r n t o
L o b b y
I M A G E C R E D I T S
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 s g v D k R
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 A c x E m l
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 B x n K j g
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 w E V g T v
h t t p : / / o n . b e . n e t / 1 u m h M t 0
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 B j j t x 1
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 y E K D j y
h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 1 D c F S R h
C I T A T I O N S
http://bit.ly/167e429
http://bit.ly/1vQB4Mo
http://bit.ly/1vFPLwS
http://bit.ly/1BzMlUI

19. C I T A T I O N S
• Goto, Yumi. "Fashion Forward: Cindy Sherman for MAC Cosmetics." LightBox. N.p., 24
Aug. 2011. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
• Gallun, Lucy. "MY FAVORITE CINDY SHERMAN." InsideOut. N.p., 5 Mar. 2012. Web. 11
Dec. 2014.
• Breese, Josephine. "Marina Abramovic." Thisistomorrow. N.p., 29 Oct. 2010. Web. 11
Dec. 2014.
• Ebony, David. "Art In America." Marina Abramovic: An Interview. N.p., 5 May 2009. Web.
11 Dec. 2014.
• D'Annunzio, Grazia. "Marina Abramovic." - Vogue.it. N.p., 16 July 2010. Web. 11 Dec.
2014.
• Grohs, Martin. "AMEN '14." On Digital Art Served. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
• CLaporte. "Chuck Close." : Big Nude (1967-1968). N.p., 28 Nov. 2011. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
• Yoo, Alice. "Chuck Close Unbelievable Fingerpainting Portrait." Mymodernmet.com.
N.p., 5 July 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
• "Chuck Close - Discover His Biography & 188 Works on Artsy." Chuck Close - Discover His
Biography & 188 Works on Artsy. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
• "Close Encounter." Close Encounter. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
R e t u r n t o
C u r a t o r
V i r t u a l m u s e u m s w e r e i n t r o d u c e d b y e d u c a t o r s a t K e i t h V a l l e y M i d d l e S c h o o l . O r i g i n a l
t e m p l a t e b y D r . C h r i s t y K e e l e r m o d i f i e d b y W i l l i a m C r o m a r .
T h i s w o r k i s l i c e n s e d u n d e r a C r e a t i v e C o m m o n s A t t r i b u t i o n - N o n c o m m e r c i a l - S h a r e A l i k e 3 . 0
U n i t e d S t a t e s L i c e n s e .