Palmer Museum of Art

The painting Affirmative Action, 1987 by Jerry Kearns depicts a hardworking woman with a city backdrop. She is painted in black and white, which contrasts with the bright yellow and red city in the back. This piece was created in America in the late 1980’s during a time industrialization and cultural transition from traditional society to a more modern day society not unlike ours today. Music and television became more mainstream and traditional household and workplace roles disintegrated. This piece, Affirmative Action, illustrates the empowerment of women. Previously, women served as housewives to cook, clean and raise children, but in the late 1900’s their roles began to change. They were not only able to hold the same jobs as men, but many wanted to. Women of the late 1900’s strived for gender equality in society and the workplace and the path to achieving this equal treatment was not easy.

         The painting shows a hardworking woman shoveling with a stern, look on her face yet she is wearing a dress and high heels. This image shows the determination of women to break free of traditional values and customs of society. Personally, I think this painting relates not only to the affirmative action and goals of women in the past, but to our present day society as well. America remains slightly male dominant. Our country has never had a female president and even in the common workplace, women are sometimes (not always of course, I am just saying there is a hint of sexism still out there today) viewed as inferior to men. For instance, when I tell people I want to be an accountant, sometimes I get funny looks because accounting was traditionally a man’s job.

         It is definitely appropriate that the image of this woman working in a dress is juxtaposed against the colorful city. The audience is given a direct comparison and can easily understand what the artist, Jerry Kearns, is trying to articulate through his work. He is an American contemporary artist who is very engaged with social issues. The use of the huge canvas and comic book looking artwork of the Affirmative Action painting encompasses many of his personal artistic styles seen throughout his other works of art. Also, his use of a huge canvas for the painting shows that this issue is of significant importance.

         I have been to many art museums before, in Philadelphia, Washington, Italy and Spain, but his was my first time at the Palmer Museum of Art and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is actually one of my favorites so far. I loved the huge variety of different types of art from all different time periods ranging from very old sculptures to modern day paintings. It was difficult to choose just one piece to write about; I walked around for a while first, just exploring my different options. This painting of the woman struck me because I myself am a hardworking woman. It reminded me of myself, the history of my country and made me feel grateful about where I am today and everything I have accomplished thus far.