Harmony Hammond

Harmony Hammond is a very prominent feminist as well as an artist. Much of her work revolves around a combination of sculpture and painting. The majority if not all of her pieces are very intricate and well-made. They all seem to have very good craftsmanship. Her choice of materials is pretty unique in that she goes out into wreckages of old farm houses and finds scraps that she then uses in her works. One could see her pieces as having a certain archaeological feel to them in that their appearance beckons to a different time and place than most are accustomed to.

Harmony Hammond, Suture 2002

This is an excellent example of Harmony's style that she commonly creates in her pieces. both of the panels have their own texture and color which allows for this piece to be read pretty openly. You can see the piece of roofing material she used in the piece. Not only do the colors in the rust compliment the colors on the two panels but they also allude to a very rural setting that is common in her pieces. 

Harmony Hammond, Floor Piece V 1977

This floor piece is a really good example of Harmony's technical skills. Not only do I believe that she had full creative control in the design of this, but also that she did an excellent job of coordinating composition to create a good looking piece. This brings me to my last topic about harmony. This piece lacks something that the majority of her pieces have, which is a message. I really appreciate the fact that this piece isn't making a stand on an issue that divides people. Harmony tends to take moral stands in her work when I think her art is more appealing without the hidden messages. 

Here is where I get on my soap box. As I said before, I think that too many artists abuse their role as an artists to protest issues that open them up to criticism. Too often does this concept of expressing personal innuendos through art turn people away from art completely. I think that artists should strive to use creativity to advance art forward instead of making another one-sided painting that divides people.