Constructing an Identity

What is identity? According to Webster's dictionary it is “the distinguishing character or
personality of an individual.” What makes you different? Or better yet, what makes you,
you? We all come in different shapes, sizes, colors, ages, and genders. For the most part our
bodies do all work the same though, so what makes you unique? We all have the same 24 hours
in a day, it is what we can do with those 24 hours that makes you special. We all aspire to work
for a better tomorrow, but who you were yesterday will always exist, it is our identity. When
looking at the pieces from Montclair Art Museum I wanted to try to mold my own reality for
each one. I wanted to note the identity that i saw when looking at these works of art myself,
apart from what the artists intended.

A piece by Deborah Roberts names We heard the thunder, no. 5, from 2017 was another
very interesting piece of art. This look like a collage, or a puzzle that is trying to be put
together with puzzle pieces from other puzzles. The one puzzle piece here that stands
out to me the most is the the face of the little girl. We don't get to see her whole face,
because we don't know her full identity. She most likely does not even know her own
identity. She looks like she has gone through a traumatic experience, an experience
that has left her broken and confused. I thought a collage fit the message being
told here beautifully. This was a very impactful piece.  

A piece by Faharru Pecou, from 2010, entitled "Rock Well" Champ really did an amazing job catching my attention. In this piece we see a black man painting his own self portrait. The underlying message here is that, we can be whoever we want to be. All we have to do is believe. The painter in this picture has some of his own heroes looking back at him,on of them being Muhammed Ali. The biggest hero however looking back at him is himself. Rock Well himself is a hero, he a champion, and he is his own biggest inspiration. There is so much to see and admire in this painting, it was truly one of my favorites.

This piece by Nan Goldin, entitled Misty and Joey at Hornstrasse, Berlin from (1992) reminded
me of the conversation we had in class regarding RuPaul. Judging by the name of this paint we
know what one of the people in the picture is a lady in drag. Using my best judgment I would
say that Joey is  the one wearing the blue wig and that Misty is the blonde in the back. This piece
captures individuality in an amazing way. Is Joey a different person when he is not in drag? Is
he only himself when he is in drag. Why does it look like Misty is trying to hide behind Joey?
This piece does raise many questions.One thing is clear about this picture though,and that is
that Joey is the star.

This piece by Dawoud Bey entitled Smokey from (2001) really spoke to me. Looking in smokey’s
eyes I can see a dark tale being told. One of bleakness and anguish, feelings like these have lead
smokey to a dark state. Smokey is a black man in America, the home of the marginalized and
disenfranchised black man. In this piece I see Smokey breaking the law, bringing a open liquor
container into a park. A crime in some states that is punishable by time in prison. The United
states makes up about 5% of the world population, but about 25% of the world's population for
people incarcerated. Statistics show that in America 1 in 3 black men will serve time in prison at
some point in their lifetime. Many people believe that the contemporary incarceration system is
just a relic of slavery. In this piece I see a black man breaking the law, which is the worst thing a
black man could be doing in this country. However, when I look at the smokey’s eyes, i honestly
do not think that he cares. I saw a dark message when I looked at this piece, might not be the same
for others. The piece however, did capture a dark reality to me about the identities of black men in
America. Notice I said identities and not just identity, this is because I feel that black men like
other marnories are many times not judged by their individuality rather by racial stereotypes.

The most impactful piece at least for me was one by Dulce Pinzon entitled “Bernabe Mendez
(Spiderman) from 2007. This piece is very powerful and speaks volumes to me because my
parents were at one time undocumented immigrants that here to do the jobs no one else
wanted to do for close to no pay. My parents are superheros in my eyes, just like Bernabe is a
superhero to anyone beholding this piece. Bernabe is hard working, persevering, and from the
looks of it also fearless. This country would be nothing without people like him.