Karina Rodriguez 

        

Figure 1. Terrance Osborne, The Front Line, 2020. Paint, 42 x 31 in. New Orleans, Louisiana. 

        

Figure 2. Christopher Roger, Heroes, 2020. Paint. West Sixth Street, Austin, Texas. 

In this season the corona virus has been the cause of deaths, depression, anxiety, and isolation and much more. Since this disease does not seem to go away as fast as people hoped some have taken the initiative and have used this chaotic situation as inspiration; some people have turned their attention to the arts as a way of expressing what they feel. Artists like Terrance Osborne and Christopher Roger have been inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic and instead of panicking like others they decided to use their artwork  as an outlook to give thanks to the many medical workers that have been trying to find a solution since day one.  

The Front Line by Terrance Osborne and Heroes by Christopher Roger use colors, direction and movement, and symbolism to emphasize the hope and strength women in the medical field are bringing out in a time where things seem impossible due to the corona virus. 

While COVID-19 has been spreading fear among others there are artists like Terrance Osborne who remind people that this is not the end. From just looking at the Front Line by Terrance Osborne poster board one can depict Osborne’s attempt to make it resemble the one and only, “Rosie the Riveter”. In Osborne’s painting there is a woman from the healthcare department who has a face full of confidence and is ready to provide care. As a way to highlight the woman’s strength Osborne “includes a band aid on the woman’s arm as a reminder that those on the front line are human, and they are also susceptible to the disease.” The band aid on her arm represents one of the battle scars she has received throughout her time of being exposed to the virus. Even though the disease is taking lives the woman in the painting is dedicated to her job and would rather embrace the scars the virus gives instead of just letting it walk all over her. The Front Line by Terrance Osborne has empowered women in fields that are dealing with the virus and shows that they will be strong for people so that others do not have to be afraid of the world. 

Christopher Roger is a local Austin, Texas resident who has amazed the public with his incredible mural, Heroes which shows his appreciation of the medical workers. While observing the mural one starts to notice the people who have a double life of being a medical worker and superhero. Roger’s mural being in the public eyes is a way to “remind people there is a lot of life”. By doing so Roger makes the characters in his piece have powers to show people that they cannot fallback because there is a group of medical staff who are fighting their and others lives. Both heroes in the piece are shown to be facing opposite sides showing that they both equally have to capability of handling the problems that the world is having; it shows how woman do not need to be seen as weak but should be valued for the work they do and the power of their strong minded never giving up power. The Heroes artwork by Christopher Roger opened the eyes of many who have the chance to walk past it because it serves as a reminder that all workers who are confronted by the virus everyday should be honored no matter who they are because they are giving others courage and changing the perspective of women in the field. 

Terrance Osborne The Front Line restoration of the poster “Rosie the Riveter” shows a mixture of vibrant colors. The woman in the painting is wearing a bright blue suit and is standing in front of a shining yellow sun. By trying to draw the attention of viewers Osborne showed how his art “…painted in bright colors have great prominence.” When blur is being shown in art it is most commonly associated with calmness or peace and since the woman in the art piece is wearing a bright blue shirt it just gives viewers hope that this virus does not have to win. The brightness that the sun is projecting connects with her voice of motivation to others saying things like “Rosie the Riveter” said, “We can do it”; people can overcome the struggles that the coronavirus gives others. Women have always been perceived as weak to people but Osborne was able to change that thought by representing a woman as the face of healthcare and show how she will not let anyone, not even the coronavirus bring her down. Osborne’s use of color was a way of showing a woman’s strength in a situation like COVID-19 that needs people who are not afraid to endure what’s to come. 

When it comes to Christopher Roger’s approach to the corona virus chaos he gives out thanks to the people who have been sacrificing their lives; people in the health field. In Roger’s artwork the color that he frequently uses is blue and even though blue has been thought represented as sad Roger’s changes that theory. Roger’s use of blue is used to “…create awe, and thus to distance the spectator from what is represented, it is the color most fitting that aspect of the divinity from which we are most removed.” The murals blue is very illuminating and since it is the prominent color in the piece it gives out a feeling of higher power. In a time where everything feels out of place the blue that is on the earth is there to show people should depart from their natural element and focus on the good in the world like the blue God-like heroes or in other words the health workers. The woman on the left who is next to her male co-worker is painted in blue to show that they are both equally working day and night to create stability in the world. Christopher Roger’s work of art made the people in the medical field have greater power and that their gender does not dignify their ability to surpass the corona virus pandemic. 

In the Heroes artwork that Christopher Roger’s created, he found a way to bring the piece to life and provide more than just a visual interaction with its audience. Roger’s has managed to use the woman in his piece “movement in relationship to her immediate environment, including the area immediately around the body as well as the entire geography of the room.” The movement of the shooting lightning bolts that are coming out of the female superhero shows her giving recoveries to people who are infected. The bolts that are leading to the upper right edge are trying to reach out to the viewers to make them see the female hero/medical worker saving lives and bringing back peace to those who are afraid of the outcome. The position of her body is a way for her to project her influence to the world by showing others that they can be powerful too and that this problem their facing will not last forever; people do not need to be afraid of what the world has become but instead embrace it and try to make something great out of it. Christopher Roger has proven that Heroes is more than just plastered paint but it is an act of motivation for people who feel lost during this pandemic to just keep moving forward.

The Front Line by Terrance Osborne made a painting that created a new definition of how women in the medical field should be honored for what they have been doing. Osborne’s piece has touched so many people because it focused on both the lining and movement of the women to highlight her strong will. In the art piece Osborne has used “…posture, gesture and …movement to understand the thoughts and feelings inherent in works of art”. The lining of the woman’s arm and the way it is positioned shows how strong she is to put herself in front of the battle and how she will not let others be destroyed by corona virus. As for the lines on her shirts it does not only show the movement of her body but as well as her hard work and ability to stay hopeful. The directional lines are all tied with the movement of her body as a way to show her strength blossoming and to make others believe in what she can do. With every line stroke and movement of Terrance Osborne’s Front Line art piece it shows how the body language of the woman made her appear in a different light where she is stronger and feels like she can do anything. 

Many art have been symbolic objects to justify the meaning of the piece as a whole. Osborne’s artwork has objects surrounding the women to show her value in the piece and how she is the center of or all. Over time women have been given an image of being the “undeveloped not voluptuous types, with sweet not coy expressions, modest not inviting gestures and dainty not aggressive poses”. As a way for Osborne to oppose this stereotype he uses the beaming sun which is most commonly viewed as warm, peaceful, and healing to show how capable the woman is towards drastic situations. Osborne also shows the woman being clothed in scrubs and giving out her rough face; she is not the fragile flower that people think she is but she is a woman of power who makes all types of sacrifices to save others. Front Line by Terrance Osborne is meant for people to overlook the bad that is happening in the world and just focus on how one can live like the woman he drew; with a sense of balance or calmness in this situation. 

Heroes by Christopher Roger has used symbolism to showcase women’s powerful instincts and motivational spirit in this chaotic time. It has been difficult over the years for women to be seen as equals to their male counterparts because of the perception “…public roles available to men, women carved out their own niches as servants…” Roger’s Heroes artwork really makes women step away from what they have been told to be and form them into the strong people that others have been trying to keep away. In the painting the woman is shown to possess the power of weather and with earth by her side she has control over the next season; with her powers she can change the outcome of something that seems disastrous. She tries to show that the corona virus does not have power over her; even though she gets compared to her male coworkers she still has something to bring to the table and will prove people who do not believe wrong. Christopher Roger’s Heroes mural has been shown to others to make them see that both men and women in the health field are seen as equals and have the strength to get through this issue. 

As you can see, both painting, Front Line by Terrance Osborne and Heroes by Christopher Roger incorporated women’s strength in the COVID-19 situation by using colors, direction and movement, and symbolism. Terrance Osborne and Christopher Roger created exposure for women so that people can see that they have nothing to worry about because there are people like her who are fighting for a better world everyday. Osborne and Roger’s also used their artistic talents to show that women can be just as great as men and people should not let past judgments define them. Front Line and Heroes are art pieces that have been given to educate the outside world of what women can do as well as give thanks to those who are facing the corona virus up close and not backing down. 

 

Annotated Bibliography

Barasch, Moshe. “Modern Theories of Art.” Theories of Art: From Winckelmann to Baudelaire, no. 2 (2000): 316-218.

1. This text takes a deeper dive into what color means in art by showing the symbolic meaning of it. One of the first things people notice in an art piece is the colors being shown because color can go a long way in how people decide to take in their interpretation of the artworks message.
2. Color is more than just a beautiful expression of art it also serves as a connection to the world. It has the power to change the meaning of an art piece and influence people to believe it. 

Goldman,  Ellen. As Others See Us: Body Movement and the Art of Successful Communication. New York: Psychology Press, 2004. 

1. This book shows how the movement of the body in an artwork speaks a type of language and identifies how the person is feeling in the piece without actually using words.
2. Goldman makes it seem like the body is separate from the mouth by showing how one can emphasize a powerful statement or thought from the way they decide to position themselves.

Halprin, Daría. The Expressive Body in Life, Art, and Therapy: Working with Movement, Metaphor and Meaning. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2002.

1. Daria Halprin explains the movement shown in art and how it is a form of expression where it creates a dialogue with the audience. 
2. Halprin shows the movement in art creating a different behavior defining the person or thing in the piece in a new light. 

Honour, Hugh, and John Fleming. A World History of Art. London: Laurence King, 2005.

1. This text explains how colors bring life to paintings and can influence the viewer perception of the artwork. The life that the colors brings can be seen as positive or negative response to what is happening in the world.
2. Color comes in many forms and depending on the shade of where it is positioned in an artwork it can allow the audience to envision a way of thinking that they never imagined was possible. 

Hook, Bailey Van. Angels of Art: Women and Art in American Society, 1876-1914. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1996.

1. In this text, Hook explains how women already have a worldly perception of being pure and delicate but in reality they use these qualities to bring out their strength. 
2. Women as Hook said that their image was inevitable to the public because of the countless times it was being presented. This just shows if there was an ounce of strong woman representation in art then their beauty might be seen from more than the outside. 

 

KVUE. “Local artist honors Austin health care workers with superhero murals.” Accessed May 18, 2020. https://www.kvue.com/article/life/heartwarming/christopher-rogers-health-care-workers-superheroes-austin-street-art-murals/269-b7d9cdbd-69a3-4758-bd8a-b405e4e3d6f8

1. This article talks about the mural that a young artist named Christopher Roger tainted to show how thankful he is for all the efforts that people working in the medical field are putting to cure others.
2. Christopher Roger’s Heroes mural made the medical workers be perceived differently by showing them as superheroes instead and be defenders of the world like they are with the corona virus situation.

Lawrence, Cynthia. Women and Art in Early Modern Europe: Patrons, Collectors, and Connoisseurs. Pennsylvania: Penn State University Press, 1997. 

1. Lawrence’s book speaks more about the stereotypes that women are given and how the opinions of others have influenced the way they are looked at in the artistic realm.
2. The book unravels the women’s identity to the eyes of the public by stating that people already have their judgments of what a women is; she is beautiful, kind, pure, delicate, and she will be portrayed like this even in the arts.

 

WWLTV. “New Orleans artist honors medical workers with ‘Front Line,’ homage to Rosie the Riveter.” Accessed May 18, 2020. https://www.wwltv.com/article/entertainment/arts/new-orleans-artist-honors-medical-workers-with-front-line-homage-to-rosie-the-riveter/289-ef91aaa5-316b-4ca9-8f6f-57f72949a24b

1. This article explains how Terrance Osborne’s poster got noticed for showing appreciation towards the medical staff and even tried to donate some posters to local hospitals.
2. Terrance Osborne’s Front Line poster expresses that even though lives are being put at risk at the moment, it is time to show strength and not the corona virus be the end of the world.