Julianna Goitiandia Tookey Digital Photography 1 16 January 2011 Carrie Mae Weems A kitchen table is just an ordinary thing. It is something that we

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1 Julianna Goitiandia Tookey Digital Photography 1 16 January 2011 Carrie Mae Weems A kitchen table is just an ordinary thing. It is something that we do not think much of, and yet, so many things happen around this insignificant kitchen table. All the good things and all the bad things of our lives occur by this kitchen table. We talk about our thoughts and feelings here, not knowing that this table is keeping all our secrets for us. In Carrie Mae Weems Kitchen Table Series, she shows that, as meaningless as it may be, the kitchen table will always tell a story. Sometimes we cannot see how important the little things are, but our lives are short and we need to be thankful for everything that we are given. The work of Carrie Mae Weems always tells a powerful story and it hopefully always will. She is an intelligent black woman who was not afraid to capture the meaning of modern life. She believes that her responsibility as an artist is to work, to sing for [her] supper, to make art, beautiful and powerful, that adds and reveals; to beautify the mess of a messy world, to heal the sick and feed the helpless; to shout bravely from the roof-tops and storm barricaded doors and voice the specifics of our historic moment. She has been drawn to learning about black history and family relationships. Weems photography is an example of the human condition as it is and how it has been for as long as history dictates. The Kitchen Table Series told a story about how life is hard and even though it might seem like we cannot get through it, there is always some way to help us move on. The lives of the people in this modern world are full of sadness, but that also brings humor. Weems expresses our use of humor to overcome sadness and shows that we are strong enough to handle the emotions we possess. I chose Carrie Mae Weems Kitchen Table Series because I liked how her work shows how things really are versus what people see on the outside. She sees what most people would ignore and gives us a new and different outlook on what life really is and what it really means. Weems wanted to know about how our society feels and thinks, and with this, she brought real feelings, thoughts, and complications out of real people and into her photography. I felt glad and privileged to see the world through her eyes. Mrs. Weems gave birth to an only child named Faith C. Weems and was later married to Jeff Hoone. Her art is and was inspired by the things that she sees. She teaches that the little things are what should be the most important to our society. I suspect that her art will live on even after she has passed. All the powerful things portrayed in Weems photography will one day show us that we can t hide from how we feel. We need to face our fears and push through with no regrets. Life will only be whatever we make it out to be.

2 Untitled #14 Kitchen Table Series 1990 Untitled #8 Kitchen Table Series 1990 Untitled #20 Kitchen Table Series 1990

3 Bibliography for Carrie Mae Weems essay pictures, autobiography, quotes biography Constructing History By Carrie Mae Weems work My Photographs In the beginning, We laughed together,

4 We learned together, And we grew together.

5 We shared knowledge, And we shared tears.

6 We shared happiness. But best of all,

7 For the rest of eternity. And it will continue on,