Getting to Know You
1 media/15-1310.jpg 2021-04-05T20:24:00-07:00 Curtis Fletcher 3225f3b99ebb95ebd811595627293f68f680673e 38706 3 Elliot PinkneyCompton
1999 plain 2021-05-18T14:50:00-07:00 USC Digital Library 1999 (Artist) Pinkney, Elliott 33.907795,-118.235925 Dunitz, Robin J. Curtis Fletcher 3225f3b99ebb95ebd811595627293f68f680673e
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Getting to know you
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Elliot Pinkney
Compton
1999 plain 2021-05-18T15:56:56-07:00 1999 33.907795,-118.235925 Elliot Pinkey’s Getting to Know You offers a commentary on the parallels between Mexican culture and African culture within late 20th century America. This mural resembles a diptych in the way that it appears to be split in two down the center of the artwork, delineating the African American-focused left from the Mexican American-focused right. With this piece, Pinkney promotes an appreciation for the lives of minorities in the United States, through references to traditional Mexican and African culture such as patterns, images of the flags, and the use of their national colors, in conjunction with America’s traditional red, white, blue, stars and stripes. In addition, on opposite sides of the image, Pinkney juxtaposes an African American portrait inside the outline of Africa on the left, with a clear depiction of the Mexican flag on the right, further connecting this image to both heritages. Lastly, scattered about the piece, there are numerous portraits of African and Mexican American women, men and children with varying, yet profound emotion, allowing the viewer to connect with this piece on a more personal level.
Getting to Know You fits right into a class of late 20th century Los Angeles murals, focused on African American culture and the denunciation of racial injustice and discrimination. Pinkney is a Compton resident with a large portfolio of not only murals, but printwork, sculptures and smaller scale paintings. His work promotes a message of black excellence within both the visual arts world and American society. This mural was painted during a time when oveert racial discrimination had begun to be taboo, yet its presence was still greatly felt by the African American community. Pinkney created Getting to Know You in an effort to directly challenge such ideals, while also celebrating the contributions of African and Mexican culture to American society.
Written by Thea Wallace, c/o ‘24
