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.