Maren Hassinger

I love presentations because I am a visual learner. And to have an artist explain her process and then go on to study art was immensely beneficial.

When this assignment was posted, I knew I wanted to write about her piece Pink Bag filled with Breath and Love notes. In class I asked her if she would opt to use a more environmentally friendly material if she were to remake the piece and she had said no, because the plastic bags were clear. And I’m sure she has other reasons to prefer those plastic bags, but I have to say, I disagree with her. The piece, without a doubt is beautiful, both aesthetically and symbolically, but art is a creative expression of oneself (and also those plastic bags are terrible for the environment.) In my opinion as someone who has never sculpted before, I would think to use pink paper bags instead or maybe, at the least, recycled plastic bags. I realize that I have never sculpted before, and I am well aware that Hassinger is much more qualified to make decisions like these, but I still feel that next time it would be better to use another material.


I know I sound like I am complaining about her, but overall, I really did love her presentation. I thought that she was a wonderful woman and I loved how she had us do a bit of yoga before we started and I especially loved her other pieces like Pink Trash or her exhibition “Monuments”, but I had to get this off my chest. Because, after the class had ended I thought about this for a while and I know that for the same reasons I think she should use and alternative material, she can also argue that those plastic bags are necessary.


Obviously her presentation was relevant to our class because she is a female artist, and the topics her artwork covers is very pertinent to what we are learning. She had numerous pieces that were about women and love which, of course is our entire class! She is an embodiment of how hardwork and perseverance can create something groundbreaking.

Being that we are starting discussions on sculptors in class, it made me think of Maren’s lecture a bit more. Many men and women back in the 1800’s (the time period in which we are discussing in class) have used sculpting as a way to relay a message whether it be about slavery, feminism, etc. Although Maren mentioned in her lecture that her sculptures are not necessarily about feminism (at least that was not her intention), she did convey that she realizes her art largely resembles a sense of unity.

Whether it be through her intertwined resources to make a beautiful and unique object or through the idea of many wonderful men and women working together to help her create her tedious masterpieces. Her works are very unique and inspiring based on what I heard from her in her lecture. One other thing that stood out to me that it took many years for her art to start being purchased in well – known museums. This never discouraged her and is still proud of her hard work.

Maren Hassinger

To start off, being a business major myself, by no means do I feel that I have any great knowledge or judgement of art myself. I simply and truly appreciate the pieces of work I see around me or am introduced to because I know that my mind does not function to see nor reflect on being able to use my creativity to that extent. I look up to any artist that can think outside of the box to create perception and dimension with everyday objects within their exhibitions.
That being said, one of the pieces of work that Maren Hassinger shared with us through her presentation really stood out to me. Her use of blowing up cheap, regular pink plastic bags and adhering them to the wall to create magnitudes and dimensions within a room was something that I found unique and innovative. Another interesting thought was how she mentioned that she picked up trash from a park and replaced it with pink trash so that it would naturally pop out on the greenery. On a mild artist’s perspective that I can perhaps dig within myself, I understand where she puzzled that together in her mind, based off of the contrast of color. A question that did pop up into my head that I didn’t get a clear understanding of is that why would she want to do that? I did not understand the point she was trying to put across by simply replacing regular trash with pink trash. I did not find a clear message to reason it.
Overall however, the presentation was interesting, and I am happy we had the opportunity to be introduced to an amazing artist, such as Maren Hassinger, who further shared her innovative and uniquely themed exhibitions and experiences with us. Her use of Pink for the stance of seeing everything through a lens was one of her best creations according to me.

Maren Hassinger

Maren Hassinger is an African American artist. She is known for her sculpture and public art using natural and industrial materials.  During her presentation, I have see so many her artwork related to peace, love and the power of women.  These topics are so excited.  The most impressed artwork is about the topic of "Pink".  Maren uses so many pink plastic bags to build the a pink wall around the room.  The "pink" represents the love and peace.  As the picture shows, the all pink color makes people feel happy and peace, and the love notes included all the topic.
                    

Pink, 2008/2018, pink bag filled with breath and love notes, Dimensions variable

Maren Hassinger

Being able to hear and interact with a well known artist like Maren Hassinger was the peak of my week. At first I was very skeptical of the ice breaker she began her presentation with but after listening I began to realize who she truly is as an artist. Not only was she inspiring but extremely proud of her work. In connection to this course Maren is a prime example of the impact women in art can have on the world. Her creative pieces spoke for themselves, but without hearing from Maren herself you wouldn't understand the depth. For instance, she spoke about one specific piece that grabbed my attention. This piece was referred to as "The Spirit of Things at Art + Practice". As an outsider looking in this piece reminded me of pink plastic bags blown up and propped on a wall. However, if you listened closely you would have realized that it was much more than that.

For most of her career, Maren has explored the relationship between the industrial and natural world in a practice that is both meditative and critical. This specific piece stemmed from the idea of people whom have African descent. In addition to their connection with ancestors that were part of slave trade and the issues they faced today because of it. Not only does Maren's pieces shine light to ongoing issues today, but also speaks for those who can't.

        "Marin Hassinger's solo exhibition at Art + Practice, The Spirit of Things, in Los Angeles"

Maren Hassinger

There seems to be a unified response to Maren's portfolio of pieces. While they exude an aesthetically pleasing visage, it fails to step beyond that limitation. Art, intrinsically, is subjective, so she's entitled to providing her own narrative and significance on her pieces instead of appealing to our need for an enigmatic and alluring depth in her art.

However, it's not difficult to perceive the lack of intricate meaning. When confronted by our professor on the mutinous aspects associated with her Wrenched News piece, she simply responds with assuring the piece, and all her other pieces, as not being a political statement.

You're to tell a classroom of revolutionary students that an art piece containing hundreds of twisted strips from a quasi-fascist right-wing news source, New York Times, as not being a directly subversive protest art?

The connotation behind all of her pieces emanate leftist politics. She exhibited Malcolm X's quotes on a subway station platform, for thousands of New Yorkers to see every day. Her sculpted wire wreath was perceived as a physically discomforting piece in a park, yet it provided shelter and comfort to a homeless Harlem resident for a night. Most, if not all of her pieces scream revolutionary, and has the potential to be inspiring artwork. But instead, she instills a contemporary Georgia O'Keeffe mentality on not embracing the actual depth riddled in her art. 

Though, while the students attending her presentation all had similar reception, none publicly gave critique in fear of being publicly pariah'd in the classroom, amidst the presence of a greatly renown artist. The peak of controversy in the presentation was having the monotonous discussion of if she can consider using an alternative to detrimental plastic bags because of the massive hindrance it would apparently contribute to climate change. In the stead of providing an actual shift in her artwork's narrative, we all safely write our overtly-harsh critiques that should've been outspoken in the comfort behind a computer screen. Hassinger cannot consider these opinions if no one gives it to her.

MAREN HASSINGER

Maren Hassinger, Blanket of Branches. 1986.

Being able to interact with an artist first hand was an amazing experience, it was very inspiring to see Maren Hassinger share her art with us and allow us to have an open space for discussion. However my personal opinion is that I was left with a lot of questions, Hassinger had very creative pieces and throughout the years has presented with many sculptors but with no meaning behind them. Through her presentations she showed us art that had much connection with occurring events, despite the fact that one is entitled to its own opinion, and plenty of it had deeper meaning.

When  the floor was open to questionnaires it was quite awkward because when confronted about the symbolism behind her art she bluntly said her art was “just as is”. Respectfully, I believe art is an inspiration and it is what drives an artist. In no way am I insinuating that her art is irrelevant nor am I telling Hassinger how to identify it, but I was left unstable when I tried relating to her art. It was different to see an artist portray their creations without a meaning, yet I applaud Hassinger for her sculptures / creations it was very unique on how natural it was built. I can see her passion shown through the sculptures.  While they don’t hold any meaning, in my opinion  it is rich in symbolism.If i had the opportunity to speak with Hassinger it would be an honor to discuss the process of her creations and what inspires her to continuously create.