JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT: GAGOSIAN GALLERY

ART SHOW:

Jean-Michel Basquiat
Gagosian Gallery- 555 W. 24th Street
February 7, 2013 - April 6, 2013

This extensive exhibit is a perfect introduction to Basquiat's brief and prolific career (and life: he died at age 27.)  Featuring over 50 works spanning about 6 rooms of gallery space, the art features his signature of graffiti, oil paints and collage.  The words scrawled across his works often act as poetry or puns- great fun for emergent readers (and their parents.)  There's hero adoration here, from jazz riffs on Charlie Parker/ Ornothology to tributes to boxing champ, Cassius Clay.  Additionally, there's much political content to be dissected.  This body of work is as fresh now as ever, proving Basquiat's legendary art-star status.

photos by Michou Mahtani

QUESTIONS TO ASK:

1. Select one of the paintings, and use the words to write a poem or song inspired by the painting.
2. Explore the symbolism of the "crown" that Basquiat uses.  Can you think of a symbol to represent our current culture?
3. Basquiat's tag was SAMO which stood for "Same old, same old."  Pick a tag name for yourself and your friends with hidden meaning.
4. Look at the subjects that Basquiat chose to portray as heroes.  Think of a hero in your own life that you could characterize in your own work of art.
5. What do you think the term "visual poetry" means and how does it relate to these works?
6. Basquiat said that the words he crosses out are the ones to pay attention to.  Look at some examples of this and see if you think that works the way he intended.

LINKS TO GET INTO IT:

Gagosian video of the entire exhibition.

Review of the show from the NY Times.

Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child Trailer.  Watch the whole film on Netflix Instant.


EXTENSIONS:

For Parents: Watch Julian Schnabel's fantastic 1996 biopic, Basquiat, which covers the artist's meteoric rise as an artist and stars Jeffrey Wright (and a great performance by David Bowie as Andy Warhol.)  On Netflix Instant.

For Kids: This fun website was a go-along to the past Brooklyn Museum show of Basquiat where you can make your own graffiti inspired works online.