Carpenter Art Room: Mr. Slay's 5th Graders Tour Artrain's Infinite Mirror

Mr. Slay's 5th Grade students visited the University of Michigan North Campus and went to the James Duderstat Center to see Artrain's presentation of Infinite Mirror.

Infinite Mirror: Images of American Identity, is a rich, reflective exhibition of works by 39 artists representing the vast cultural blend of modern American society.

American artists of African, Arab, European, Asian, Latino and Native American descent explore their heritage in this vivid and diverse exhibition using a wide variety of media. Infinite Mirror examines issues and themes of race, gender, religion, history, politics and family. Included are such internationally renowned artists as Tomie Arai, Elizabeth Catlett, Luis Jimenez, Indira Freitas Johnson and Faith Ringgold. The artists examine patriotism, communication, the struggle for acceptance, what it truly means to be an American in the 21st century and more. Humor, heartache, anger, apprehension—all emotions are evoked by these works, raising questions about race, class, gender and age.

Four main themes run through Infinite Mirror: Self-Selection, Pride, Assimilation and Protest, providing audiences with the opportunity to re-examine both the story and storytellers of the quintessential “American dream.”

Self-Selection reflects how we choose to present and project ourselves to the world. Largely based in portraiture, the variety of techniques and twists on this age-old art form convey a multitude of values, desires and anxieties.

Michelle Marilo, Unfolding the Dream, 2006.

Paul Keene, Generations, 1996.

Jennifer Greene's Photographs.

In Pride, artists explore an appreciation of one’s origins, character, values and personal accomplishments. Some works convey confidence and defiance in the face of inequality or degradation, while many others warmly exude joy, love and strength. These artists celebrate their lives as U.S. citizens while acknowledging the histories and traditions of their familial roots. Leamon Green Jr. renders this balance in his mixed media work Big Man Advisor, depicting a seated man flanked with a Benin sculpture to his left and a Roman or Greek statue to his right, paying tribute to both his African and European heritage.

Leamon Green Jr., Big Man Advisor, 2006.

Leamon Green Jr., Little Big Girl, 2006.

Many artists in Infinite Mirror weigh in on the two-way transaction of Assimilation, the third theme, by investigating the degree to which new cultural contributions are accepted, mined, or rejected by society. Conversely, several of the artists examine the degree to which they have retained their original cultures and the ways in which they have evolved and emerged in their changing environments.

Indira Frietas Johnson, Challenge of Karma VI.

Indira Frietas Johnson's Sculpture.

Elizabeth Catlett, Blues.

Luis Jiminez, Self Portrait, 1996.

Protest, the final theme, explores the American tradition of questioning the ideals of U.S. politics and social culture. In Richard Ray Whitman’s Do Indians Go to Santa Fe When They Die? the artist's work is questioning the treatment of Native Americans in the past and present.

Richard Ray, Do Indians Go to Santa Fe When They Die?.

The diverse group assembled for Infinite Mirror illuminates some of America’s shadowy corners while remaining in the spirit of idealism.

Thank you to our tour guides- Alexa and Mary Clare. And to Allison and Rachel. We had a great time and thank you for the added bonus of the walking tour of U of M's North Campus Public Art.