whose art is it

Whose Art Is It?, an essay by Jane Kramer, talked about John Ahearn, an artist living in the South Bronx. Kramer describes John as a white male living in a predominantly African American and Hispanic community. His artworks sparked a great controversy not only in the town but the entire city of New York. His intentions were not to offend anyone but he created such a public outcry against his works that will be look backed upon forever.

John Ahearn was an active part of the community. "South Bronx is known as a place of suffering, poverty, crime, drugs, unemployment, and Aids" (Stimpson 18), but this did not stop Ahearn for making his artworks. His earlier works were plaster portraits of the people that lived there. Some even displayed them in their homes. So he gained acceptance in South Bronx, nobody really minded he was white. The place became home to him.

"On April 1, 1986, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs began to choose… an artist to create a piece in front of a new police station in the 44th Precinct" (Stimpson 19). With his gained popularity in the town, Ahearn was commissioned to make the sculpture. He believed that his sculptures should be looked upon as guardian angels or saints. H

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He wanted the police to acknowledge them, and he wanted the neighbors, seeing them cast in bronze and up on pedestals, to stop and think about who they were and about what he calls their "South Bronx attitude" (Kramer 38). The people believed that, his pieces had stereotypical connotations. They were not outstanding citizens, but were a part of the everyday struggle that Ahearn wanted to portray.

Kramer talks about the multicultural controversy that was upon the community.

In 1992, Ahearn created three bronze figures: Raymond, a Hispanic, with his pit bull Toby; Corey, an African American with a boom box and a basketball; and Daleesha a second African American youngster on a pair of roller skates. He believed that he spoke his mind through his artworks. But not the entire community disagreed with the meaning of the sculptures they know that Ahearn’s intent was not to offend. Some even evoked statements about stereotypical intent and Ahearn being a racist. Since he has lived there, he has done nothing but positive things for South Bronx.

Approximate Word count = 847
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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