You’ve been Crit Carded- 10 minute penalty

            Cart cards are tools that teachers and student can use to understand, evaluate, and interpret art. Credit for these handy cards goes to Tom Anderson. I chose to interpret one of my favorite sculptures according to one of the crit cards.

PIETA by Michelangelo- (obvious choice for someone like me)

            It is difficult for me to say what this work means because I know what the artist intended. I think that it not only captures that moment when Mary held her Son after He was taken down from the cross. The anguish that any mother would feel while holding her lifeless child is strewn across Mary’s Face. Mary is LARGER than Jesus because her size is supposed to indicate Mary as mother of the God and the Church (welcoming and universal).  As a character in the piece I could only imaging feeling tremendous consolation being held as a child. However, I could imagine the agony of holding one’s lifeless child, let alone God. I would title this piece “Unyielding.” Not to get too philosophical/ theological, BUT, in that moment (Holy Saturday- the day after Jesus died) the whole world was truly in despair- because they were without their savior. They were not sure of anything. But during that time, Christ descended into hell to kick ass and take names. Not even deal could stop Him.

Point of contention:

          

  There is a place in the crit cards that asks to ascribe worth to a piece. How is it possible that anyone could ascribe worth to another’s art? Indications of worth are truly subjective and although subjection may be all right for art education, ascribing worth in art therapy could be detrimental to the client.