Diana Al-Hadid at Weatherspoon Art Museum

The above bronze sculpture, by Diana Al-Hadid, is currently on exhibit at the Weatherspoon Art Museum on the campus of UNCG. The photo features Syrian-born, Ohio-raised Al-Hadid's statue of a Florida coed having been melted.

Yesterday, New York art critic and curator Gregory Volk spoke about Al-Hadid's art at the Weatherspoon. This was a culminating event after his meeting with UNCG art faculty and students earlier in the day. Volk says that Al-Hadid's work is mobile in time; looking as if it were unearthed three hundred years ago while at the same time the drippy bronze looking as if it is left over from a post-future catastrophe. Volk says Al-Hadid brings motion to static work. The art represents her state of in-between-ness, between the Middle East and mid-West; with a sense of freedom and a sense of woundesness. He says her art merits repeated viewing; something deeper and more meaningful emerges each time.* The 32-year-old Al-Hadid is in Utah at the moment; however, she was here in February at the opening of the exhibit.

Because Greensboro is a community with many institutions of higher education, we have access to many events free and open to the public. If you get a chance, stop by the Weatherspoon and see what you think about the Al-Hadid exhibit. Some people find it inspiring; some find it depressing.  Go and form your own opinion.  We have the feeling that the next time we see Al-Hadid's work, it will not be at a free museum in our own back yard!

*all loosely quoted.

Comments

[Birdman]

And all the time I thought it was the 'wicked witch of the West'.
"I'm melting, I'm melting..."

[Janis & David]

Funny, birdman. To children, it might remind them of an Easter chocolate rabbit melting on the dashboard!

[Oakland Daily Photo]

I'm thinking melting chocolate. I can see the idea of transition and between-ness. Fascinating presentation.

[Barb]

Makes me think of the wicked witch of the west; "I'm melting". It looks like chocolate.