Merengue En Boca Chica
"Merengue en Boca Chica," reveals a bright and moving piece of work that makes native Puerto Rican music come to mind. In the painting there is a group of three Hispanic males playing various instruments. These three figures are painted in such a way that they appear to be moving to the rhythm of the music. Their posture suggests rhythmic movements, as their arms are moving to play these instruments. Their legs are apart while their heads seem to be still while concentrating on their individual parts in the music. Their hands and overall body language shows content and satisfied performance of their indigenous music. In addition to the three men, there is one woman who seems to be relaxing in front of them as if listening to the music. She is dressed in a bathing suit with her feet elevated on a chair and footrest. Her left hand is slapping her thigh gently to the rhythms she hears while she enjoys the surroundings of nature. The setting for this painting is a "pueblo," or a small village surrounded by palm trees. The presence of what looks like sa
Briefly, the tambora is a two-sided drum that originates in the Dominican Republic, as does the guira, which is a cylindrical instrument that is played by rubbing a hair pick on its rough side. The guitar is a Spanish instrument, and the cajon is a wooden box from Cuba that is slapped and hit in order to create sounds used in Rumba music in Cuba. So, one can se there is a variety of cultures represented simply by the choice of instruments the artist chooses to paint. However, the setting may still be In Puerto Rico, where many culture intertwine musically. I chose this painting primarily because of the colors that attracted my attention. After gazing at the painting even more, I was taken back to a time of vacation as a young teenager when I visited Puerto Rico, and played music with my older family members. This was a way of life for my family members here in New York, but in Puerto Rico, there were instruments I had never played before. It was so enlightening then; when I saw "Merengue en Boca chica," I was transported to my past. Without doubt, it is obvious that I really like the colors in this painting. I really enjoy abstract art and any artwork that deals with the extreme use of color and imagination. This painting makes me feel the enjoyment and fulfillment I get from performing in various musical settings like gospel, jazz, Latin, and funk bands. These emotions relate to a type of euphoric feeling where time is halted and people are sort of invisible. Overall, the feelings I get from looking at this painting are pleasantly supercharged. Honestly though, nothing about this painting has changed in my perception of it from the first time. From the very beginning, I knew what I was looking at. It is not too complex or detailed of a painting. Visually, it does not need to be "figured out." At the museum, "Merengue en Boca Chica" was one of those paintings that people seemed to pass by or stop at for only a brief moment. There I was sitting in front of it for about three hours, and only about six people actually stopped. It was the cultural content, and the rich subject matter that made me sit end enjoy this painting. Rafael Ferrer is one artist whom I had never heard of, but who has opened my eyes and heart to a new dimension of creativity.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Rafael Ferrer, Boca Chica, Puerto Rican, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Ferrer American, Cuban Spanish, boca chica, puerto rico, en boca, en boca chica, merengue en boca, merengue en, Rico Merengue, left hand, palm trees, Six Questions, , left hand corner, rafael ferrer, hand corner, dominican republic, subject matter, lower left hand, originates dominican republic,
Approximate Word count = 1690
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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