Research Question
How effective is the imagery and symbolism in Audrey Flack’s Macarena of Miracles?
“Audrey Flack | Macarena of Miracles | The Met.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/482024. Accessed 23 Mar. 2020.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art website provides information about not only the current, upcoming and even the past exhibitions but also contains information about the Met collection, online features, and publications of the various pieces of art. It lists the object details about Macarena of Miracles and its exhibition history. Macarena of Miracles is an oil on canvas painting by an American artist Audrey Fleck painted in 1971.
Baskind, Samantha. “Everybody thought I was Catholic”: Audrey Fleck’s Jewish Identity.” American Art, vol. 23, no. 1, 2009, pp. 104-115.
This journal article studies Audrey Fleck’s works in a Jewish context and corrects the one-dimensional appreciation of her works as feminist representations by showing how is influenced by her Jewish religion and cultural heritage. For instance, she focuses on beauty and feminine portraits such as Mary mother of Jesus. Flack was deeply moved by Luisa Roldan’s Macarena Esperanza sculpture at Basilica de la Macarena, Seville and upon returning to the States started painting Macarena of Miracles, a representation of the sculpture. Macarena of Miracles is reaching for her heart which is holding a rosary. Her despair is illustrated by the large teardrops streaming down her cheeks.. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Flack, Audrey, et al. Breaking the rules: Audrey Flack, a retrospective 1950-1990. Harry N Abrams, 1992.
This book provides an in-depth retrospective analysis of Flack’s career and works. It brings together seven essays each covering a specific period of her career. It also showcases her work in the 130 illustrations including 65 colored ones displayed in the text. Macarena of Miracles especially celebrates feminine attributes through the use of rich imagery and symbolism.
LeRoy, Bridget. “Audrey Flack: Redemption Through Art.” The East Hampton Star, www.easthamptonstar.com/archive/audrey-flack-redemption-through-art.
In their official blog, the Allen Memorial Art Museum, they provide information about their collections. This article about Macarena of Miracles, highlights the high regard the sculpture of Macarena Esperanza, that Macarena of Miracles is illustrated from, is held. It concludes that Flack’s reproduction in Macarena of Miracles proves the catholic belief, that reproduction does not undermine the original object rather it enriches their luster, to be true. For instance, the jewels and golden trinkets in Macarena of Miracles are painted to appear separate from the figure. This is to show that Macarena’s power comes from within her.
Tamir, Haley. “Audrey Flack in Conversation with Samantha Baskind.” Jewish Art Salon, www.jewishartsalon.com/2013/05/audrey-flack-in-conversation-with.html.
This article also underscores the presence of catholic symbolism and imagery in Flack’s works especially the Macarena of Miracles and the representation of women as not weak and excessively emotional but sources of strength. In Macarena of Miracles, Flack identifies with the Virgin Mary’s despair and pain over the loss of a child. But she also finds strength in her endurance.
Works Cited
“Audrey Flack | Macarena of Miracles | The Met.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/482024. Accessed 23 Mar. 2020.
Baskind, Samantha. “Everybody thought I was Catholic”: Audrey Fleck’s Jewish Identity.” American Art, vol. 23, no. 1, 2009, pp. 104-115.
Flack, Audrey, et al. Breaking the rules: Audrey Flack, a retrospective 1950-1990. Harry N Abrams, 1992.
“A picture of Health: Art and Mechanisms of Healing.” The Official Blog of the Allen Memorial Art Museum, 8 Apr. 2014, amamblog.tumblr.com/search/Audrey+Flack.
Tamir, Haley. “Audrey Flack in Conversation with Samantha Baskind.” Jewish Art Salon, www.jewishartsalon.com/2013/05/audrey-flack-in-conversation-with.html. Accessed 23 Mar. 2020.