Narrator: The artist Betye Saar made this work using an old window frame. It’s called Black Girl’s Window. Each square represents an important part of Saar’s life. Take a look at the top row of squares. Here’s the artist to explain why she made this.
Artist, Betye Saar: I suppose it’s like a diary of my life. I started out with the sky. I really love the sky. I love the moon and the stars and the sun.
Narrator: Now look at the middle row, these squares show important events from her life.
Artist, Betye Saar: The one with the couple dancing. This is a picture of my father and my mother. And, unfortunately, the next picture is of death. My father passed.
Narrator: When Saar was only 5 years old, her father died. He was sick and because of the unfair treatment that Black people experienced during this time, he wasn’t able to get medical care at the hospital in their town.
Artist, Betye Saar: On the bottom part of Black Girl’s Window, it shows my silhouette. And my hands are pressed against the panes of the glass. And one hand is for what my life will be, and the other hand is what my life really was.
Narrator: If you made a work of art about your life, what important events would you show? What pictures and symbols would you use?