FRESNO DESK - The public murals and graffiti of Keith Haring [1959-1990] are, perhaps, being given more public recognition following his untimely death at age 31. This was a tragic loss of a vibrant contribution to our cultural landscape.
His art is being honored with a special showing at two world famous art museums this Summer.
You can visit both of the museums online. Go to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Exhibit absolutely free at
The Haring Exhibit. And don't miss another Keith Haring Exhibit online at the
Whitney Museum of American Art.
As a teacher and artist, I have followed Keith Haring's work from the
time that the graffiti art movement began in the 1970's. In the early
days of his career there was concern as to whether his work was anything
more than a process of defacing public spaces.
However, after a period of time, it was obvious that he was a very creative young man; that his "public art" was interesting not only to museum directors and art critics alike, but to the street people, people who never attend museums, and to children. And,even though his work was childlike and
cartoonish, the images were serious portrayals of the human condition.
Because he resented the elitist position museums and galleries take with
artists, he took control of his own work and made it available to the
people through huge outdoor mural demonstrations and displays. The
reason the whole world responded so positively to his art came from the
beauty of his forms, and the love and enthusiasm he had for what he did.
The political maneuvering by museums as they acquire art and determine
who the real artists are in our society today is very elitist,and I must
add, often humiliating to the artists who need shows and recognition to
succeed.
Haring's efforts to bypass those in power enabled his work to be seen by
people old and young, and by those who had no vested interest in the
social or elitist experience of politically correct "museum" art.
I believe that the value in his work lies in the interaction he had with
the thousands of people who viewed his work, and to those who
participated with him in the process of making his murals.
"For me," Haring said, "... the most effective public sculpture would function as visual and physical entertainment...public art should make people feel comfortable, and brighten their environment..."
Needless to say, I admire his work and what he tried to do.
