Week Nine - Art Making/Material Exploration Drawings - Exploring Line

1. What was it like using your hand as subject matter for a drawing?

It was interesting to really look at it and see the different contours of bones and veins under the skin.  It was kind of hard for me to capture my hand precisely because I have a skin disorder which discolors all of my joints.  I didn’t really know how to portray that in my drawings.  I did the backs of my hands, because it didn’t specify in the direction whether we had to do the palm or the back and I found it interesting to see how the hand just casually lay on the table.   My fingers were kind of arched but lay close together.  Which I tried to incorporate into my drawing (even if I didn’t do a good job at it!)

2. What media did you select - pencil or charcoal? Why?

I chose a pencil, because I thought that it would be easier to manage with my non dominant hand.  I also learned from our previous art projects that charcoal is very messy and easily smudged.  I also thought that I would have better control over the shades in the picture with using a pencil instead of charcoal.  When I used the charcoal (for a previous project) it was hard for me to get the shades that I wanted in the right places.  So, I used the pencil so that I would have better control and because it was more easily handled. 

3. How did it feel to create a drawing with your non-dominant hand?

It was very weird and hard to create the drawing with my left hand.  I felt like I didn’t have as much control over what I was drawing.  It was awkward and difficult to even just hold the pencil in a way I could draw with it.  My hand was very shaky and not very steady.  It was also really hard to shade; I couldn’t get the shading to be light enough.  I guess my hand just pushed down too hard, but I couldn’t help it.  Plus all my line were jaggedly drawn and my nails look terrible!

4. Compare and contrast your final drawings. Do you think they are successful studies?

They probably are not very successful studies to anyone who is a professional artist.  To me, I’m pretty impressed with myself.  However, I feel like I couldn’t get the width of my fingers just right so they are a little skinny.  My favorite part are my nails, I feel as though I did a really good job on them.  However, the hands over all kind of look witch like to me, which I guess is appropriate for the time of year J, but not very accurate for how my hands really look. 

5. Would you consider using your non-dominant hand to create artwork in the future?

No!  The lines were so terribly crocked and wobbly.  I couldn’t add all the detail I wanted because I didn’t have good enough control over my hand.  If it was a piece of art that needed specific details, my left hand would not be the one doing the drawing.  However, if it was an abstract drawing or painting I would probably be more aped to use both hands because it wasn’t as crucial to make it look perfect with detailing.  

Week 9 Video Review

1. Explain why you selected each of the FOUR videos you choose from the selection listed above.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

Velázquez: I chose this video because I am a Spanish concentration and though that it would have some interesting Spanish history. I was especially excited to see that it would be taking about El Prado which I have actually visited while I studied abroad in Spain in 2009. Velázquez created his works in real time, trying to capture the real moment in which he painted it. In his entire life he only had one friend, the King and one love his wife. His true passion was in painting. Spanish painters rarely painted mythological paintings, but he created it them anyways. The king allowed his to paint at his free will and if the King wanted a specific painting done it was made in friendship not by mandatory obligation. He worked very slowly and would often leave works unfinished for long periods of time and returning back to it later and again stopping again. Many of his works are based on early ages and artists. Velázquez doesn’t take sides even when depicting a war seen, he merely takes a human side and depicts what he saw as happening at that specific time. Velázquez also painted a lot of equestrious paintings. In one of these paintings he portrays Prince Baltazar Carlos on horseback and you can see his childlike vulnerability and the stillness and fading of the background. He was a very abstract painter, often in the background with blended nonspecific colors in the background. He was called a realist but often considered and idealist because he thought outside of reality. He didn’t pose those in which he painted but used his memory and I site of the area to recreate the background. He often used light to add detail to his paintings whether it was fading in or out. Baroque opposites are some of his most famous works, often of jesters painted for the king. He expressed the beauty underneath individuals with disabilities by adding soft and strong color, as well as details and lack of details. He did this so that the viewer wasn’t looking at the character but inside. He paints what he sees, the truth and doesn’t “pretty-fy” a picture. He created very few religious paintings, always sparing the use of color. His message was simple and all of his religious works were for money. This video relates to our book because it talks about the different styles of art and different techniques that we have learned about.  For example equestrian works and how Velázquez used different types of abstract ideals.  It also described how he created works in the Baroque Era, which our text book actually has examples of.  I thought that the video moved kind of slow. There were long periods of just paintings with no description or label so that we could follow what they were talking about. I also wish that it had close caption because I often read along to help me focus better and know what the titles of the paintings really are so I’m not guessing. I did enjoy learning about Velázquez history and his various works of art. 

La Primavera: 
I choose this video because I knew that la primavera meant spring in Spanish.  What I didn’t realize was that is also meant spring in Italian.  However, it should have clicked that Botticeli was Italian because I knew of the Birth of Venus.  Many people aren’t sure what the painting represents and they just like it, but others find it offensive.  Primavera is Italian for spring, and each figure is draw slightly smaller than life size.  You can see all the figures are from classical mythology, Venus, and her son Cupid aiming at the three graces, the male figure is Mercury, and the group on the right is Zephyr, Chloris (spelling?), and Flora.  (However Zephyr and Flora are the same person)  The background of this painting is a variety of different species of plants and flowers.  He was taking a risk by creating such a pagan painting, but he was most likely hired to create such a work because many artists didn’t have a choice in what they painted.  He was apprenticed by Fra Filippo Lippi where he learned how to depict the female body and movement through drapery techniques.  The painting can be viewed with relating to religious paintings by the arch over Venus’s head giving her the same respect as the Virgin Mary and Venus has her own son Cupid who relates to the Christ Child.  It is assumed that La Primavera was a gift for the marriage of Lorenzo’a nephew and his bride.  The found it in an inventory of their town house in Florence, and was hanging over their bed.  However, there is a dark side to this painting as well.  The figures on the right side of the painting represent Zephyr who is raped and is turned into Flora and then marries Chloris.  The theme was supposed to represent that even in adversity there can always be a happy marriage.  This was suppose to ease the anxieties of new brides.  He used an older media egg tempura because it gave the painting a different effect and translucency.  To fully understand the painting you have to understand that it has aesthetical and intellectually exquisiteness.  The flowers in the painting were made to add background and detail to the work, but the flowers also are connected with those in different seasons and marriage.  When the last Medici died the painting became the property of Florence where it was displayed.  The curiosity with the painting grew with the expansion of mass production of art.  The many different aspects of the painting are still up for interpretation because of its seductive tones, and offensiveness to some viewers.  This relates to our text because it gives us a better understanding and artistic style of one of the artists that is featured in our book.  In our text it talks about the Birth of Venus during the Renaissance in Italy, and the movie went into detail about La Primavera by the same artist.  I thought this video was very interesting!  I loved all the different interpretations and possible meanings.  I also learned about the time period in which it was created.  It was a very informative and interesting video; definitely one of my favorites so far!

Albrecht Durer: Image of a Master
I chose this video because I recognized the name from reading about him in previous chapters.  I also remembered him being mention in one of the chapters we just read, so I thought it would be interesting to learn more about him.  Durer brought art out of the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance.  He apprenticed with his father, and was making amazing portraits at a very young age.  He was especially fond of drawing hands.  He has an amazing eye for the process of aging.  He later worked with Michael Wolgemut who he later painted his picture years after starting working with him.  Durer was very talented with creating portraits, and was very interested with the process of aging.  Durer is thought to be the first real landscape artist, and he was influenced by the Venetian artists.  As he learns more about perspective and perfect form his paintings and woodcuts change and evolve.  When Durer mass printed his work to support Martin Luther he was providing visual expression for the Protestant Reformation.  Durer was always modifying and refining his art to improve it.  He was always learning and understanding new techniques and styles.  This relates to our book because we have studied Durer in early chapters and he was quoted in chapter 16 he is quoted saying “You, therefore if you desire to compose a fine figure, must take the head from some, chest, arm, leg, hand, and foot from others…For from many beautiful things something good may be gathered, even as honey is gathered from many flowers.”  Durer was a major influence in German Renaissance and this video provides us with a better understanding of who he was as an artist as well as his specific gift for portraits and fascination with aging.  This video was very educational but not quite as interesting as the previous video.  It did give me a better understanding of his past and how he grew up and was influenced by his father.  Over all it was an ok video.

The Drawings of Michelangelo

            I chose this video because I like Michelangelo.  I find him to be a very talented and intelligent man.  I have enjoyed viewing his different pieces that we have looked at in the book and wanted to learn more about him.  Michelangelo’s sketches were something that he would be highly upset if people we viewing them today.  Many of his drawings were destroyed by him because they showed the imperfections and the questionings of if liked the way something looked.  Michelangelo was apprenticed with Ghirlandaio but he refuses the influence of him in his work.   However, you can see similarities between the two styles when comparing them.  Michelangelo taught himself how to sculpt and the “Pieta” is one of his famous works as a sculpture and the only one that is signed.  He had a great understanding of the human body and depicts it with remarkable perfection especially in the statue of “David”.  While examining his drawings the show an emphasis on the solar plexus of the human body.  The figures are shown in an almost impossible torque and an unnatural emphasis on the structure.  He began work on the Sistine Chapel in 1508 however, it later became a funerary chapel and the Medici family tomb.  He believed that Christian faith was a strong push towards his desire for art.  He created crucifixion drawings while dealing with his own death.  He was creating drawings relating to his own feelings of hope and dread while coming upon the end of his life.  This relates to our text because it is talking about Michelangelo and his style of work.  We have looked at and learned about David in chapter 16, as well as his influence on the Renaissance.  Michelangelo was an extremely talented artist and this video provided a more in depth understanding of his work ethic and history.  I enjoyed this video and found it to be very informative and interesting.  I enjoyed learning about how he grew up learning and studying to be an artist.  This was my second favorite video that I viewed this time around.  

Week 8: Video Review

Cairo Museum:
I choose this video because the name interested me.  I thought that that it would be cool to see the inside of the museum and see the different types of art that was inside.  I had never heard of the museum before this video, but wow is it cool!  The museum has 160,000 artifacts including some from King Tut, however only half can be displayed at a time.  It was interesting that the discovery of the mummies was by accident, of a goat herder.  There use to be tomb robbers that would steal the riches from the tombs.  It was so interesting to see inside inside of the High Priests tomb and the detail and artwork about his life.  There was also a statue of him found in 1999, thought to be one of the best statues found today.  Egypt's great archaeological sights have been offering up their greatest treasures to the museum.  There are different types of preservation techniques to help conserve the different pieces.  This video related to our readings because it showed us examples of hierarchy, order and stability in Ancient Egypt.  I enjoyed this video; i thought it gave great examples of the artwork discusses in the book.

The Measure of All Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure:
I choose this video because in today's society people are still fascinated by the human body.  I wanted to learn more about what the ancient Greeks thought and discovered about the human body and if it was any different than our views today.  The ancient Greeks were fascinated with the human body and the perfection of it.  The artists tried to capture not only the form of the person but their soul and what they were feeling.  They were trying to tap into our feelings and inner emotion through their sculptures.  Their obsession with the human body dates back more than 5,000 years ago and has inspired many of our modern artists. Many of the ancient statues are woman and are pregnant or represent someone who has already given birth, which connects the statues to fertility.  In the 6th century the Greeks moved away from the formalism style into realism.  They created the human body in movement, in 3d and in individualized art and person.  All Greek statues were at one time painted, very often in bright shocking colors.  There have been many discoveries of pottery that depict Greek life.  The revolution in the art was when the sculptures changed from the gods and goddesses to everyday human life and people.  Some art was also used to tell a story or convey a point.  This relates to the text by discussing reasons why the first statues may have been made to suggest fertility.  Also, the video talks about Alexander the Great and how Greek culture spread throughout the world and was the most popular culture in the Mediterranean.  This video related directly to our reading by describing and providing examples of different statues and pottery from this time period.  I think I saw in the video Andokides Painter which was an amphora discussed in the book.  I liked this video, but it wasn't as interesting as the one before it.  i did think it expanded my knowledge on how the realism movement evolved and how archaeologists are continually finding and discovering new pieces. 

A World Inscribed:  Illuminated Manuscript
I choose this video mostly out of curiosity.  I didn't really know what it was talking about or what it was going to be about besides writings.  Most people in the Middle Ages were illiterate and mostly only churchman knew how to read and write.  Monasteries were where many were educated and where many books were made to spread the word of God.  Each book was made by hand and thus took a long time to make.  The monks were scribes so that people could learn from their writings after their death.  The monks rarely got breaks from writing; they only got breaks for praying, eating and worshiping.  They often wrote in dark in candle light which was straining on the eyes and writing errors were not accepted at all.  As the culture changed many more people learned how to read to help them with their businesses.  Universities opened and the demand for books increased, and students could rent un-bound books.  The book trade increased over time, different genres were in demand besides just the Bible, but also romances and histories.  However, with the invention of the printing press with in 50 years the demand for scribes was diminished.  Yet the work, personality and devotion of these unknown artists still survive.  This relates to our readings because it is discussing some of the aspects that directly influenced the rise of Christianity.  This video was my least favorite of the videos I watched.  It had a lot of information, but it just didn't interest me.

Week 7 - Video Review

Prairie Style – Frank Lloyd Wright while constructing single family homes thought it should reflect its landscape and its era.  He layered horizontal lines that seem as if they grow out of the land.  One of his first prairie sites was built in 1904.  He wanted to build houses that were natural and create a home that had similar lines as the prairie.  He rethinks the set up of the house and opened up the floor plan and lowered the ceilings to force your eye to look down.  He created houses so that the sun rise started at the front door, spread across all the windows on the side and then set in the back by the kitchen.  He added detail and changed the construction of the house.  His goal was environmental harmony.  This video relates to the text because it helps us to continue our understanding of “organic” architecture.  It also showed us just how popular of an architecture he was and even though many architects didn’t get there fame from building family houses he definitely did.  I enjoyed this film.  I thought it was great to see examples of different houses and see how he uses different vertical lines in his homes.  I enjoyed expanding my knowledge on the uniqueness of Frank Lloyd Wright’s homes. 

Architecture: The science of Design – Sky scrapers are built from various metal components built together to support the ceilings, floors and walls.  They are made up of two parts the superstructure which is everything above ground and the underground substructure.  The underground structure can sometimes reach depths of 60 meters and must be strong enough to hold all its dead weight and living weight.  The wind however is the most concerning aspect of building a tall building.  Whirlwinds make the building move and sway, in high winds tall buildings can sway up to a meter.  However the sway could cause damage to the building if it is not constructed properly.  It was funny to hear how an all smart house was financially unavailable for most people and still today it is unattainable for the general population.  Concrete was used back in the Greek and Roman civilizations.  It consists of a mixture of sand, pebbles, or stones mixed with water and limestone.  Hydration is the chemical reaction between Portland cement and water.  Reinforced concrete is used to improve its strength.  This relates to our reading because it explains the different uses of concrete.  It talks about how the Greeks and Romans used cement and how we have improved and strengthened it over time.  It also talked about how to use the different types of cement properly.  I didn’t enjoy this video as much because there were a lot of terms I had trouble following.  Also, this topic just doesn’t interest me as much.  It was good to get a better understanding of the way skyscrapers are tested and how cement is used. 

Classical Architecture – For over 2000 years people have used the classical themes of the Greeks and Romans in their architecture.  The classical buildings are harmonious, balanced, orderly and have the columns.  The Pantheon was used as a model to create a dome for a cathedral.  People were using the old architecture styles to new building types.  The classical theme was all about proportion and intrinsic beauty, as well as symmetry.  The order and the proportion are the basis of classical architecture.  There are three different orders which are the Doric, the Ionic and the Corinth styles.  Then later came about the Tuscan and Composite styles of Rome.  Each order has a pedestal, a column, and a capital.  This relates to our reading because it describes the Roman and Greek architecture styles.  It also goes into detail on the different orders and how each one was different.  You also saw how the different architectural styles were carried over from early years to later years.  I did not like this video because it was hard for me to understand the speakers.  Some of the other videos had a closed caption option which I would turn on to follow them easier.  The speakers seemed to be muffled and the volume often went up and then down. 

Frank Gehry: Architecture as Art – It began with drawings and sweeping forms, that turned into a constantly evolving process.  In 1954 he became an accomplice to many famous architectures of that time.  He began with residential housing, but soon created architecture free from normal architectural forms.   Gehry projects harmony of functional architecture and sculptural forms in a very different and unique way.  Gehry tries to make buildings that interact with people and how they respond to it.  He wants his buildings to evoke feeling, an emotional response and movement.  Gehry was influenced through Japanese architecture and pop culture, creating it aesthetically pleasing.  With the advances in technology Gehry was able to perfect his designs and calculations using modern technology.  Each of his pieces keep in mind the space, light, location and people.  He creates his buildings different from the traditional views of architecture and the 90 degree angle from the ground, he creates functional and inspirational works of art.  This relates to our text because it talks about a new style of architecture.  It describes how he creates architecture to be more than just a building but to be an experience that evokes feelings and emotion.  It discusses how modern technology enhances architecture and how architecture is changing to become more modern and aesthetically pleasing.  I enjoyed this video because I found it interesting how much thought he puts into each piece.  I enjoyed seeing different examples and how each outcome is different and unique.  I was originally going to chose I.M. Pei and the Mathematics of Architecture (because I felt like math was a strong subject for me that I could relate too), but when I clicked on the video it said that “This title is not part of your account”.  So, I went to my second choice which was Frank Gehry: Architecture as Art because the title interested me.  I wanted to learn how to look at architecture and really see it for art, instead of just a building.  Also, the other two video titles sounded too much like science and history which didn’t interest me at all.

Installation Art Blog

Step 3 Questions:

1. What is installation art?

Installation art is art that is installed or placed somewhere, it could be anywhere.  Sometimes the installation is made specifically for a location and sometimes it isn’t.  The installation can be inside or outside and use any type medium for design.  Most of the time the installation isn’t permanent and is taken down or destroyed with time.

2. What materials are used installation art?     

Any type of materials can be used for installation art. Sometimes it is just cloth, sometimes it is natural elements like ice, any other times ordinary items like a bed, or a shovel. 

3. Why make installation art? 

You create installation art to allow the viewer to interact with the art.  They can walk around it and experience art in a new way.  They become engaged in the art experience and can be a part of the work of art.  Sometimes installations are created to get the viewer to just think of art differently and get a person to think outside of what you typically think of as art.

4. Which artist/installation did I find most interesting

I like Yayoi Kusama is my favorite installation artist that I have seen so far.  I just loved how she used the symbol of the dot on everything.  She would put it on the walls, ceilings, floors and everything that was in the room.  It was just so mesmerizing and captured my attention. 

Step 4 Questions:

1. From the material reviewed, is there an inspiration piece that I feel a connection with?

No, I wouldn’t say that there was a specific inspiration.  I was just thinking about where and what I might want to do when my idea came to me.  I feel that children spend too much time inside playing video games and eating junk food.  I thought that it would then be a good contrast between all these items used inside without any positive aspect on their health and a gym where you typically go to exercise.

2. What theme do I want to explore in my installation? Refer to your textbook if you need to review Themes of Art.

The theme of my installation is mass media battling against oneself.   Mass media is always promoting new technologies and fast foods.  To keep yourself healthy and in shape you have to be able to say no to these temptations and it can be a constant battle between the two. 

3. What materials will I use? 

I will use different types of leisure activities that keep us in the house and inactive.  I will also use different containers of junk foods and fast foods that are not good for us when over used.

4. Where will this installation be located and why?

It will be located inside of an empty gym.  I want it in an empty gym for it to prove a point, that people aren’t using this gym to exercise because they are too busy at home using the items located on the gym floor. 

Description and Analysis: 

My installation is located inside of a gym in the center of the gym floor.  The gym is empty, no one is using it to work out and no one is practicing any sports.  Many people walk through the gym, but merely to get to another room in the building.  In the center of the gym floor are many items that occupy our time and can prevent us from being motivated to exercise.  There are many technology related items, such as cell phones, gaming systems and a computer case.  There are also things that aren’t healthy for us and slow us down, like pop and candy.  The installation is in the center of the floor because often times these things are at the center of our lives, and our health is often pushed to the sidelines.  In my installation the art principles I see the most vividly are unity and balance.  They are all things that are different and spread around the floor randomly, but yet they are all still related to each other.  There are also a variety of elements used such as space, color and texture.  There are so many things to look at that your eye doesn’t just focus on one area.

What are your thoughts on the planning and creation of a site specific installation?
I enjoyed thinking of a specific location I wanted to house my installation.  I think that it gives it more meaning because you are then thinking where your installation might work and be understood best.  I liked having the freedom of creating where and what I wanted to be displayed.  

Reviewing Peer Responses to Artwork

1. Hyperlink the Blogs you reviewed into your Blog

http://nicoleannalora.blogspot.com/

http://mallola01.blogspot.com/2011/09/art-gallery-visit.html


2. When looking at Project #1: (Elements and Principles), did you agree with the element or principle the artist listed with the images? Did you see other elements and principles in the images?
In Laurens project I agreed with all of her pictures.  Of course you can always see different elements and principles in different photos.  For example, her photo for rhythm could have very easily fit into the category of shape and vice versa.  For Nicole’s project I agreed with most of her photos and descriptions.  However, one seemed a little odd to me.  For emphasis she took a picture of a couple of wooden boards, to me it represented texture or even line.  The more I looked at it I began to think she chose emphasis because of the varying in shades of the wood.  My favorite picture from her post was variety, I thought it was a very unique and fun photo!


3. When looking at Project #2: Were there any images in the Peer Blogs the same as your own? If yes, what were they? Where the reasons the image was selected the same or different as your own?
No, I didn’t think that any images would be the same as mine because I went to a very small local artist gallery.  Both blogs incorporated some of the similar mediums such as photography and acrylics. 


4. Were there any images that your Peers selected that pique your interest now? If yes, what are they and what is your connection with them? What would you want to know about them?
In Laurens blog Junk by Tony Oursler made an impression on me. I was wondering why this creature had four eyes yet only one mouth. It was shaped similarly to an x and had five different things going on. I wonder what the artist was thinking while creating it and wonder if it was supposed to represent and alien of sorts. The Old Mill by Vincent van Gogh also made a connection with me. When I was younger I use to go out to my families land and visit different farmers. This picture brought me back to those days and the memories that took place on that old farm.  The photo from Nicole’s blog of the three ducks waddling away really made an impression on me too! I couldn’t believe how crisp of a picture it is and you can sense the feeling of the air blowing underneath their wings. I would want to know where the photo was taken. 


5. What do you think about the process of reading your peers reflection? Do you find this to be a valuable in your learning?
Yes, I would say it was a learning experience.  It was neat seeing what other people’s views of the elements and principles of art are.  I enjoyed viewing their photos, while comparing and contrasting them to my own slideshow.  It is also reassuring to know that some other class mates have some of the same ideas and problems as I do with art.  I am not sure if it was as valuable in my learning as it was fun.  It was hard to really relate to the gallery visit for one of the blogs because the pictures weren’t directly under the blog and you had to kind of guess which ones they were from the photobucket slide show. 


6. Check your Blog and read comments posted by your Peers. Do you find their comments helpful?
I only had one comment so far and it is definitely reassuring.  While doing these art projects I often wonder if I am capturing the right aspect of the meaning of art.  Reading that someone else enjoyed the photos I had shared and could relate to the experience I had at the gallery merely by reading my blog and viewing my pictures made me feel like I did a good job.

Video Review Week 6

Through the Eyes of a Sculptor

            I learned that marble is the product of limestone, which is baked in the earth and then squeezed together when the Earths plates crashed together.  Sculptors normally sculpt only a part of the figure such as the hands, face, or feet.  Most artists rarely sculpt an entire monument.  It was interesting that you get lime stone from a quarry and can cut it with a chain saw.  Also, when shipping marble they have bridges to keep the sculpture strong and then shave off the bridges when it is installed.  The video relates to the reading by showing up the process of creating a sculpture.  First the artist draws it, then creates it in clay, then plasters it, and then lastly it is made into marble.  After clay sculpture the artist creates a silicone mold, then safely poor and caste a plaster model.  Next, the artist went to Italy to quarry his own stone.  I also learned that the sound makes a good piece of marble, depending on how deep the marble is.  I liked this video, I think it was a great example of the entire process of what it takes to make a marble statue.  I think that it helped me understand the methods used and that it isn’t just one person that makes a statue it is often a series of professionals and specialists. 

Glass and Ceramics

I learned that glass is heated once and is then reheated a second time to help it form.  It  can also be molded cold with HCL.  Stain glass windows are the oldest forms of glass and the technique used was a lead technique.  The first made small models 1/10 the size, then a cartoon life size one and numbered and then cut out the glass.  Once all the pieces were cut they then put it back together.  Glass is transparent and double glass helps save electricity by helping to insulate a building.  Also, glass has to be aesthetically pleasing.  Glass is replacing stone and protects us from various temperatures and from harm.   This relates to the book because it explained the process of heating, reheating, shaping and painting of the glass. 
Ceramics are made with a clay base.  Depending on the heat that clay is fired at depends on the quality of the ceramics; this range is from china to bricks.  Firing gives the product its final characteristics; glazing water proofs the product and makes it shiny via dipping/spraying.   Ceramics can be made for surgical purposes example hip prosthesis.  This related to the books by showing me all the various techniques and uses for ceramics.  I didn’t enjoy this video as much mostly because it just seemed juvenile.  I didn’t like the graphics and how it really slowed down and broke down each step.  It did really explain the craft of glass and ceramics I just didn’t enjoy the manner in which they used to represent it. 

Installation Art

Installation Art is something in the round.  The objects that they use for the installation take up a whole space and often change the space.  An artist create works on grand scales for a specific locations.  These installations draw people in and force them to interact with the work, space and artist.  The idea of installation art sprung up through different types of art such as pop art, conceptual art and performance art.  Duchamp a French man began this idea by bringing in a bicycle part and garden tool to be displayed in a gallery, argueing that it was art.  An installation could include a variety of pieces not just one, reinvent the medium, use symbolism, and just be in relation to the world.  Another example is video installation; it can be one big video in a room, or multiple smaller pictures in different sizes.  It is creating a relationship between the images, space and viewer that creates meaning.  This requires massive logistical setup and is required to give a lot of physical and conceptual space to the artist.  This relates to our text book because it explains that installation is art in the moment.  It takes us inside some installations and explains to us some of the details and why certain things were placed or taken out.  I really enjoyed this video because it gave me a better understanding what installation art was.  It provided me with some examples of different art work that has been displayed in galleries and provided me with some ideas for my own installation.

Art Gallery Visit

A.) Which artworks make an impact or impression on me? Why?
I Beg Allah by Hillel Goral and Brooke Reynolds was an 11 X 14 frame matted with a 10 X 12 photo in each of the 2 frames, with three approximately 10 X 4 white canvass with writing on them in between.  They were taken in 2006 and 2007.  This artwork made an impression on me because I found it to be so in touch with the Middle Eastern society.  You could feel the dangers of violence and it destruction on civilizations.  It gives you a sense of awareness of the fear than people feel on a daily basis.  

Art is Dead Series by Chuck Tingley was a hand cut stencil, spray paint and acrylic on canvas.  It was 36 X 36 and made in 2011.  This artwork made an impact on be because it was of our President Barak Obama.  The look on Mr. Obama’s face was optimistic.  The texture on the canvas just gave it such a realistic feel.  It seemed as if Mr. Obama was looking out into the distance, into the future and could tell things would get better.  I got this feeling that things would turn around and that he could always take a stand for the red, white and blue (which appeared to be shining through the background). 

Destruction by Kendra Pastor in 2010 was stencil, acrylic paint and spray paint and it was made on a serving tray.  This piece of art made an impression on me because it made me feel like the serving tray represented us serving our city and tearing it down.  The colors and angles clashed against each other and made the piece chaotic.  It seemed as if the city was teetering back and forth and could never get on the straight and narrow.

B.) Which artworks do I feel a connection with? Why?
The Untitled photograph below taken by Mark Donolley was an 11 X 14 picture matted in a 16 X 20 frame (no date provided).  I felt an immediate connection with this picture because of the orange (what I perceived as cancer ribbon) on the chalk board.  My best friend lived with us for 5 years while she had leukemia.  An orange ribbon is the representation of leukemia awareness/support.  The words on the chalk board, I shall live to see another day is exactly what she is doing.  The crumbling debris of the room represents a cancer patient’s world, it crumbles around them.  Everything they once knew is different, yet they overcome it to survive. 

Sweet Dreams by Saggo was acrylic and ink on canvas, 2011 (the size is unknown).  I feel a connection to this painting because most people look at tattoos as bad.  However, I think that they are a just another form of expression and one of our freedoms.  By putting tattoos on the statue of liberty to me it is just representing another freedom that we have as Americans.  It showed individuality and difference. 

An Untitled work by Zoe Hollowman was made on canvas with acrylic paints, in 2011.  I feel a connection with this because I feel like it’s a mother and son who are possibly living on the streets.  I feel like it is a direct correlation to our times today.  The picture portrays a poor family, out on the streets and the mother looks like she is possibly on a job hunt.  My family was in jeopardy of losing their jobs and that stress is unbelievable.  I can see the turmoil and stress on both the woman’s and child’s face. 

C.) Which artworks would I like to know more about? Why?
The three American Flags by A. Coppor made me want to know more about them.  They were each approximately 22 X 28 canvas and spray paint and acrylic paint were used, 2011.  Each picture was different; different colors, different stokes, different angles.  I would want to know why the artist put the flag in the middle upside down and in black and white.  Yet, the top flag had thick paints strokes where as the bottom flag stripes were kind of blotted and faint. 

This Untitled work by Charlie Ertel was made in 2011, and it didn’t specify the media used.  However, it was 11 X 14 matted with a 16 X 20 frame.  I think the media used was marker and ink.  I would want to learn more about what happened on 10-26-01, and why the statue of liberty was arrested.  What did she do that our liberty was being taken?  It seems as if she was beaten up and that her freedom of speech was taken. 

Drum by Charlie Ertel 2011, was acrylic paint on canvas (the size is unknown).  I would want to know where this young man is.  What is it that he is drumming for?  Is it a war? Is it a parade?  Is the red behind him representing bloodshed and the black representing hard times or depression?  Just a more general question would be who is the young man and what is culture or nationality?  

My Graphic Design Logo - Week 5

1. Discuss what you thought about creating your logo.
I thought that at first it was going to be easy.  I would just draw something up and be done with it.  However, as I started thinking some of my original thoughts just didn’t work out and I didn’t like them. I just kept sketching and thinking until I came up with better ideas. It is interesting for me to look at what I started with and look at my end product.  I even kind of wonder how I got there.  I was just sketching some things out and that’s what happened.  I enjoyed making my logo even though drawing/sketching is not one of my talents.  It was challenging for me and I tried my best critique it with a critical eye until I liked the way it looked. 


2. Describe the process: creative thinking skills and ideas you used in the logo creation.
I started off answering the questions that were on the material that you posted on line; What is the subject matter?  Who is the audience?  What is the purpose?  I answered those questions and started thinking about what it is that makes me, me.  I wrote down some words and thought that maybe I could make into a picture frame, where ME the subject matter is in the inside and the words that describe me made the frame, but I didn’t like how it was looking.  So next I thought what if I hid ME in the flowers in nature.  I kinds liked it, but it wasn’t exactly what I wanted.   As I looked at the flower pedals I thought maybe I could write the words as the petals and as I was doing that I saw that I could make ME out of the shapes of the petals, but I thought it would be too overwhelming to make a whole flower like that.  So, I looked at my sketches some more and decided that it kind of resembled a butterfly if I took away all the other petals.  I tried and tried to figure out how it would work best.  Then I liked the idea of just using a half of a butterfly and put the world behind it.  I tried to use some of the tips the material you gave us suggested, like looking at things from a different angle, or making something that is usually small big or vice versa, or the specific use of colors.  Then it just all came together, I liked the world behind it and just focused on the final product. 


3. What was the most important discovery you made in the creation of your logo?
That being an artist cannot be my day job! Just kidding J I think what I learned that was most important is that it’s ok to change your mind and go in a different direction.  I was so worried that it wouldn’t come out right and that my lack of artist abilities would impede the process.  But, as I just started thinking it just all came together.  I needed to learned that it was ok to let your mind wander and think and discover its creative side again.  It was also ok to think outside the box, that art isn’t cookie cutter and being creative is what makes art so interesting to view. 


4. What is the most important information you learned from watching the videos, PowerPoint, and reading material  for this project? What is your opinion of the videos?
Its hard to pick just one thing that was the most important.  I learned a lot of interesting things while reviewing the material provided.  I learned the difference between an icon and a symbol.  An icon is an image that represents something based on resemblance and a symbol represents by association, it can depict an idea or abstract.  I also learned that contrast was good and that you need to think of the visual path , hierarchy and symmetrical and asymmetrical balance when creating.  I enjoyed the Graphic Design What’s in a logo video because it showed us the process of actually creating a logo.  I didn’t really like the Bottled Up video because it was talking more about the bottle and making it work better than the actual logo of the brand, I didn’t find it as useful when I was creating my own logo.