Gordon Parks Photographs

Fellow readers.....I forgot to tell you about this last week but my English class took a field trip to the Ulrich Musuem on WSU's Campus. It was a lot of fun!! Don't you remember as a kid going on field trips, and the bus was crammed, and so loud from singing 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall?? Well, this field trip was not quite like that.....we didn't have a bus or the tunes to sing. Instead, we had thousands of pieces of art work all in one convenient location at WSU. While at the Ulrich Musuem, our class was asked to look and study two particular photographs taken by the famous Gordon Parks. Gordon Parks was famous for his photos that represented the struggles of African-Americans dealing with the social issue of segration. Everyone agreed, after studying the two photos, that they both depicted the struggles of African-Americans during the '50s. But as more opinions were shared, the more each individual saw something different in the photographs. It made me smile to think how his photographs and all the art there could move people in such a way that it was different for everyone who viewed the art. This is what is so special about art---it moves people in such a way that is always different and left up for interpretation to the individual. Sure, historians can tell you what a piece of art work is about but I think it is ultimately important what the viewer takes away from viewing art work or any visual art....So check out the Ulrich Museum sometime on WSU's campus! The best part is that is free to WSU students! The exhibits are always changing, too!! You don't want to miss what is going on at the Ulrich Museum.....Bye for now.........