My Neighborhood Cultural Experience

Running Heading: NEIGHBORHOOD CULTURE My Neighborhood Cultural Experience Carol Salinas Kaplan University HU300-09 Abstract I have had a great opportunity to look at some of my town’s most incredible architecture, paintings, murals, and sculptures. Our family has lived here for over six years now and I have had the pleasure to visiting our three local Native American Museums. I have always enjoyed going to them on occasion when I feel like just getting out by myself and having some quite time. My experiences in this class have opened my eyes to a new way of viewing the structures and art around me. I have chosen to discuss a building that I drive by on a daily basis, never really putting much stock into how it came to be or its significance to our town. I will discuss in detail the structure and the design of the facade. I have also chosen a piece of art that has been in my family since the early 1970’s. It is a sentimental painting that I am sure holds more heartfelt value than monetary worth. I see it every day as I walk in my home. It is truly a work of art. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder and most definitely in the eye of the visionary who created such beauty. My Neighborhood Cultural Experience Architecture During my field trip around my little town, I was amazed at all of the wonderful architecture that I had never taken notice of in the past. It was quite pleasing to see the amount of historical structures that are here in Anadarko, Oklahoma. Our town was established back in 1901 and holds quite a bit of Native American Indian Influence. This is relevant by the structures around town. I have chosen to discuss a building that was constructed in 1906 and is referred to as the Whitley Miller Building in the Anadarko downtown historical district (United States, 1990) (Exhibit A). The buildings address as listed in the historical registry is 125-129 W. Broadway, Anadarko, Oklahoma. This particular building is quite ornate in its structuring and was built in the Romanesque Revival style (Waymarking, 2011). It is divided up into three separate and distinct units or bays as they used to be called. The spaces between each unit are pilaster with round arch lintels of buff colored and red colored brick and a stone sill. It is a two-story building that has a stairwell up to the second floor. The stairwell is decorated with spandrels and pilasters. Two of the units display the names of their original occupants back in the day. The names read Max Goldman & Co. and Whitley Miller, which are inset in stone panels. The second floor has four double hung windows above each unit. These windows are accented by a fanlight transom. There is a wall-like barrier at the edge of the stone coping and a corbelled brick cornice on the roofline along with recessed panels. Each unit has its own personality and charm. They are accented with individual awnings, one is red cloth, another is metal, and then made of wood. Although the architects are unknown to me they seemed to have approached the design of this building as a painter or a sculptor would (Janaro & Altshuler, 2009). It is just amazing that something so old can still be in such magnificent condition. My Neighborhood Cultural Experience Art The art piece that I have chosen to discuss today is a painting that was painted in Manila, Philippines in 1962. The signature on this particular painting is not very clear and I cannot distinguish the artists’ name. I have included a picture of the painting (Exhibit B) as well as a close up of the signature (Exhibit C) in case you recognize it. This painting was a gift from my grandparents. They had become friends with many of the locals and befriended the artist. My grandfather saw the painting one day and asked if he could purchase it for his stepson. The artist graciously agreed. My grandfather and grandmother retired from the Air Force in 1972 and returned to the states bringing the painting home to my parents. After the passing of my parents, I have inherited the painting. It has become quite a conversation piece in our living room. The medium for this piece is oil on canvas. This is a representational painting of the Manila Bay at dusk. The use of chiaroscuro throughout this painting adds a sultry, almost lonely feeling to it (Janaro & Altshuler, 2009). You can see a shanty or shack sitting by the water and the boats are in from the days catch. There appears to be no one in sight. Everyone has gone home from a long and grueling day at sea. The water is calm and beautifully lit by the falling sun. The sky is an intense yellow and orange as the rays of the sun are hidden by the clouds. The perspective of this artist as it relates to his painting is amazing. When I look into the painting, I seem to be pulled into the landscape, as if I am sitting on a hill looking across at the beautiful sunset. A sense of calm comes over me. I can put myself right there just as a fisherman or his wife might be sitting outside after a good home cooked meal and relaxing after a tiering day on the water. References: R. P. Janaro & T. C. Altshuler (2009). The Art of Being Human: The  Humanities as a Technique for Living, ninth Edition. (pp. 105-130). New York: Longman. United States Department of the Interior – National Register of Historic places (1990). Retrieved December 17, 2011 from, http://pdfhost. focus. nps. gov/docs/NRHP/Text/82005385. pdf Waymarking. com (2011). Retrieved December 17, 2011, from http://www. waymarking. com/waymarks/WMCY7W_1906_Whitley_Miller_Building_Anadarko_OK