Andy Warhol: Images of an Image
1. I chose this video because I wanted to learn more about Andy Warhol, the guy behind the famous campbells soup painting.
2. Andy Warhol liked repetition in his artwork: This is seen in many of his works such as the Campbell soup and the Ten Lizes. He saw his silk screen images as a way to make money. He photographed and filmed hsi friends, and started adding paint to his silk screen images. Andy Warhol was also a narcisistic artist, producing dozens of self-portraits. His art journalism has been compared to Manet (cultural revolution in China, Race Riots, etc.).
3. Warhol's work is of modern art, which the book discusses. This video helps see the depth of a modern artist's work.
Abstract Expressionsim and Pop: Art of the '50s and '60s
1. I chose this video because I wanted to learn more about Abstract Expressionsim and Pop Art
2. Abstract Expressionism was born from bringing together the ideas of American art and European avant-garde art, but was later rejected for its nonfigurative and seemingly egocentric character in favor of the ultra-objective phenomenon known as Pop Art.. The film compares Abstract Art vs. Figurative Art,
3. I like how this video compared the different forms of art and made a little more clear distinctions between the different kinds of these modern arts than the book.
Uncertainty: Modernity and Art
1. I chose this video randomly because I didn't know much about the other titles of the remaining videos so I clicked on this one!
2. Talks about how modern art communicates chaos, anxiety, and, most importantly, uncertainty. The video describes modern art as documenting the metamorphis of mankind, and that something broke hundreds of years ago and there is no certain "code" we should live by that previous cultures thought, but rather uncertainty. I found this aspect very fascinating. Unlike many forms of previous art, modern art does not depict any god or higher intelligence, but rather it comes to no conclusions. Pop art describes civilization relaxing.
3. This video went more in depth than the book and gave me a greater understanding of modern art.
The Art of Henry Moore
1. I chose this video randomly because I didn't know much about the other titles of the remaining videos so I clicked on this one!
2. This video talks about Henry Moore, a mid-20th century modern artist. He thought people placed too much emphasis on his coalmining background. He believed that sculpture was a mix of visual and tctile experience, and that art is not an escape from life but rather an expression of the significance of life. He drew for his own enjoyment, and also used drawings to plan out his sculputres.
3. I think that this video goes in depth into the mind of a 20th century modern artist. It helps tie in the concepts that the book teaches about modern art.
4. For all of the vidoes, I think that it adds a little extra in depth understanding of each concept and goes further into the mind of a particular artist (like Henry Moore) so that I can better see the examples they give to reinforce what I read in the textbook.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Art Gallery Visit #2
Step 1: The Exhibition
Questions about the exhibit:
1. What is the title of the exhibit?
Full Color Depression: First Kodachromes from America's Heartland
2. What is the theme of the exhibition?
Depression, images of people /places during the depression. Team from FSA took over 175,000 black and white photos. Some of those were taken in kodachrome (we don't know exactly how many), but only 1,615 of the kodachrome photos taken survived.
Step 2: The Gallery
Questions about the physical space:
1. What type of lighting is used?
Spot lighting to illuminate all the artwork on the walls and banners hanging from the ceiling.
2. What colors are used on the walls?
White
3. What materials are used in the interior artchitecture of the space?
Invisible string to hang the banners with the artwork in the center of the room. Neutral grey/brown marbeled floor. Walls-crowning and baseboards all same shade of white. Security camera, spot light encasing and speakers all white as well.
4. How is the movement of the viewer through the gallery space?
First thing you notice is the banners hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room. Then the slideshow on the television mounted on the wall and around the room from there.
Step 3: The Artwork
Questions about the artwork:
1. How are the artworks organized?
Some single column, some doubled up. The TV with the slideshow playing on it was on its own wall with the description/information about the exhibit on its own wall.
2. How are the artrworks similar?
All were photos of older buildings/people in the early 40's.
3. How are the artworks different?
Some look bleak and dreary, others the colors in them just pop.
4. How are the artworks framed?
All have same matte black 1/4 inch frame (except banners-no frames). Even the TV is black, giving the impression of a thin black frame around the photos on the slideshow.
5. How are the artworks identified and labeled?
Small white cards next to the piece (the group of cards on the wall next to doorway identified the banners).
6. What is the proximity of the artwork to each other?
About 16 inches apart horizontally, or 6 inches apart for the ones that are stacked 2 in a vertical row.
Step 4: Art Criticism Exercise
Select three of the artworks from the show and use the Art Criticism worksheet to desribe, analyze, bracket and interpret the work using the 5-step Art Criticism Process described.
Description: Photo by Marian Post Wolcott. Shacks Condemned by Board of Health, formerly (?) occupied by migrant workers and pickers, 1941. Digital file from original slide.
Old rundown shacks that were used to house migrant workers. Probably lived in deplorable conditions (since they were condemned). This (living in sub-standard living conditions) was probably something you saw every day during the depression. This is very realistic because individuals actually lived in these shacks.
The photograph is very striking. I was drawn to it at first because the color of the sky was such a vibrant blue and it just popped and caught my eye. When I looked at the photograph and read the title of it, the contrast of the bright cheery blue sky against the rundown shacks is striking, casting eachother in shadow making them look gloomy and uninviting.
(Next two steps same for all 3 pieces) This actually was everyday life. The artist was documenting how people lived during the Depression. It reminds me of when my grandfather would tell me stories of "back in the day". You think some of the things they exaggerate (walking to school up hill barefoot in snow both ways), but seeing this made me think about how most of these "stories" were their everyday norm.
I think the artist intended for this piece of art to be a true account/documentation of the lives of people during the Depression. My reaction was probably exactly what they intended: a mixture of shock, horror, sorrow, sadness and incredulity that people were expected to live like this. No matter how long ago these photos were taken, I think anyone who would have looked at them whether it be from back then or fifty years from now would have some of those emotions, but they probably get stronger and stronger as time passes because most people (especially people going to art galleries to view this art work) don't know or will never know the hardships these people lived thru.
The top photograph is by Jack Delano. It is a photograph in the roundhouse at a chicago and Northwetern Railroad yard in Chicago, Ill., December 1942 (Digital file from original transparency).
The bottom photograph is two employees at the roundhouse at Proviso yard, C & NW RR, Chicago, Ill., December 1942 (Digital file from original transparency).
Both works are realistic. The artist's goal is to portray the realities of the Depression and both photographs do a great job doing so. The darkness of both photographs definitely makes them appear gloomy and, well, kind of depressing, which was probably the goal of the artist in the first place. The darkness and shadows casted in both photographs helps make the photos appear realistic like the artist intended.
Step 5: Document Your Visit
See photos above
Answer this question: What did you think of visiting the Gallery and purposefully looking at the exhibition from a different perspective - the physical space, the architecture, theme, etc.?
I never really paid any attention to the physical space, architecture, theme, etc. but looking at these aspects made me see that it appears that the objective of the gallery is to not distract the viewers by using any ornate decorations or anything that might distract the attention away from the artwork that is being displayed. They want all the attention of the viewer to be on the artwork and keeping everything the same color and using simple architecture within the room the exhibit was shown in helps do that very well. I have been to other galleries such as the MFA in Boston when I lived there and I recall some of the rooms were elaborately decorated as works of art themselves, and I feel like there was just so much to look at at once that it kind of distracted the viewer from focusing on one artwork at a time.
Questions about the exhibit:
1. What is the title of the exhibit?
Full Color Depression: First Kodachromes from America's Heartland
2. What is the theme of the exhibition?
Depression, images of people /places during the depression. Team from FSA took over 175,000 black and white photos. Some of those were taken in kodachrome (we don't know exactly how many), but only 1,615 of the kodachrome photos taken survived.
Step 2: The Gallery
Questions about the physical space:
1. What type of lighting is used?
Spot lighting to illuminate all the artwork on the walls and banners hanging from the ceiling.
2. What colors are used on the walls?
White
3. What materials are used in the interior artchitecture of the space?
Invisible string to hang the banners with the artwork in the center of the room. Neutral grey/brown marbeled floor. Walls-crowning and baseboards all same shade of white. Security camera, spot light encasing and speakers all white as well.
4. How is the movement of the viewer through the gallery space?
First thing you notice is the banners hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room. Then the slideshow on the television mounted on the wall and around the room from there.
Step 3: The Artwork
Questions about the artwork:
1. How are the artworks organized?
Some single column, some doubled up. The TV with the slideshow playing on it was on its own wall with the description/information about the exhibit on its own wall.
2. How are the artrworks similar?
All were photos of older buildings/people in the early 40's.
3. How are the artworks different?
Some look bleak and dreary, others the colors in them just pop.
4. How are the artworks framed?
All have same matte black 1/4 inch frame (except banners-no frames). Even the TV is black, giving the impression of a thin black frame around the photos on the slideshow.
5. How are the artworks identified and labeled?
Small white cards next to the piece (the group of cards on the wall next to doorway identified the banners).
6. What is the proximity of the artwork to each other?
About 16 inches apart horizontally, or 6 inches apart for the ones that are stacked 2 in a vertical row.
Step 4: Art Criticism Exercise
Select three of the artworks from the show and use the Art Criticism worksheet to desribe, analyze, bracket and interpret the work using the 5-step Art Criticism Process described.
Description: Photo by Marian Post Wolcott. Shacks Condemned by Board of Health, formerly (?) occupied by migrant workers and pickers, 1941. Digital file from original slide.
Old rundown shacks that were used to house migrant workers. Probably lived in deplorable conditions (since they were condemned). This (living in sub-standard living conditions) was probably something you saw every day during the depression. This is very realistic because individuals actually lived in these shacks.
The photograph is very striking. I was drawn to it at first because the color of the sky was such a vibrant blue and it just popped and caught my eye. When I looked at the photograph and read the title of it, the contrast of the bright cheery blue sky against the rundown shacks is striking, casting eachother in shadow making them look gloomy and uninviting.
(Next two steps same for all 3 pieces) This actually was everyday life. The artist was documenting how people lived during the Depression. It reminds me of when my grandfather would tell me stories of "back in the day". You think some of the things they exaggerate (walking to school up hill barefoot in snow both ways), but seeing this made me think about how most of these "stories" were their everyday norm.
I think the artist intended for this piece of art to be a true account/documentation of the lives of people during the Depression. My reaction was probably exactly what they intended: a mixture of shock, horror, sorrow, sadness and incredulity that people were expected to live like this. No matter how long ago these photos were taken, I think anyone who would have looked at them whether it be from back then or fifty years from now would have some of those emotions, but they probably get stronger and stronger as time passes because most people (especially people going to art galleries to view this art work) don't know or will never know the hardships these people lived thru.
The top photograph is by Jack Delano. It is a photograph in the roundhouse at a chicago and Northwetern Railroad yard in Chicago, Ill., December 1942 (Digital file from original transparency).
The bottom photograph is two employees at the roundhouse at Proviso yard, C & NW RR, Chicago, Ill., December 1942 (Digital file from original transparency).
Both works are realistic. The artist's goal is to portray the realities of the Depression and both photographs do a great job doing so. The darkness of both photographs definitely makes them appear gloomy and, well, kind of depressing, which was probably the goal of the artist in the first place. The darkness and shadows casted in both photographs helps make the photos appear realistic like the artist intended.
Step 5: Document Your Visit
See photos above
Answer this question: What did you think of visiting the Gallery and purposefully looking at the exhibition from a different perspective - the physical space, the architecture, theme, etc.?
I never really paid any attention to the physical space, architecture, theme, etc. but looking at these aspects made me see that it appears that the objective of the gallery is to not distract the viewers by using any ornate decorations or anything that might distract the attention away from the artwork that is being displayed. They want all the attention of the viewer to be on the artwork and keeping everything the same color and using simple architecture within the room the exhibit was shown in helps do that very well. I have been to other galleries such as the MFA in Boston when I lived there and I recall some of the rooms were elaborately decorated as works of art themselves, and I feel like there was just so much to look at at once that it kind of distracted the viewer from focusing on one artwork at a time.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Mask Making
My Mask -->
My Sketches -->
Inspirational Masks:
Question 1 and 2: I selected the first piece because I thought that it was very abstract and different: there was use of a lot of different colors, textures and I loved how there were pieces flying this way and that from the mask.
The second piece I selected because I thought it was interesting in its simplicity. It is a carved mask and very sparsely painted. Unlike the first one, this one portrays a sense of realism in the animal. The colors are very neutral, not overly bright, making the mask more realistic as well.
The third piece I selected because I love how simple it is color-wise, but when you look at the detail to the pieces that are coming out of it, even though they are the same color they add the three-dimensional aspect to it and make it come alive. The sharp lines draw the eye to the detailed 3-d pieces.
Question 4: I took some inspiration from each of the masks: I didn’t want a full face mask, I thought a half face mask would be interesting because it hides enough of the face so that the person who is wearing it would possibly be difficult to recognize. I always found something romantic about the idea of being able to see part of the person’s face but not enough to recognize them per se. I took the abstract coloring from the first mask and used geometric shapes on my mask. I also combined it partly with the simplicity I found in the second mask by not making my entire mask filled with crazy colors and leaving parts of it untouched by color so that it wasn’t too busy. I took parts of the third mask for inspiration and cut out eyelashes for my mask as well to emphasize the eyes of the mask. I also added a quasi beak-like nose to the mask so that it covered more of the face. I feel like these 3-dimensional aspects add a little to the mask and make it a little more interesting.
Question 5: I liked the outcome of my mask: I thought at first to create more of an elegant masquerade-type mask, because I love the shape of that mask, and in the end I incorporated that shape into my mask but made it more abstract and what I think interesting rather than creating the elegant formal mask I had first had in mind. If I had time I would have thought it would be interesting to create a papier mache mask.
The second piece I selected because I thought it was interesting in its simplicity. It is a carved mask and very sparsely painted. Unlike the first one, this one portrays a sense of realism in the animal. The colors are very neutral, not overly bright, making the mask more realistic as well.
The third piece I selected because I love how simple it is color-wise, but when you look at the detail to the pieces that are coming out of it, even though they are the same color they add the three-dimensional aspect to it and make it come alive. The sharp lines draw the eye to the detailed 3-d pieces.
Question 4: I took some inspiration from each of the masks: I didn’t want a full face mask, I thought a half face mask would be interesting because it hides enough of the face so that the person who is wearing it would possibly be difficult to recognize. I always found something romantic about the idea of being able to see part of the person’s face but not enough to recognize them per se. I took the abstract coloring from the first mask and used geometric shapes on my mask. I also combined it partly with the simplicity I found in the second mask by not making my entire mask filled with crazy colors and leaving parts of it untouched by color so that it wasn’t too busy. I took parts of the third mask for inspiration and cut out eyelashes for my mask as well to emphasize the eyes of the mask. I also added a quasi beak-like nose to the mask so that it covered more of the face. I feel like these 3-dimensional aspects add a little to the mask and make it a little more interesting.
Question 5: I liked the outcome of my mask: I thought at first to create more of an elegant masquerade-type mask, because I love the shape of that mask, and in the end I incorporated that shape into my mask but made it more abstract and what I think interesting rather than creating the elegant formal mask I had first had in mind. If I had time I would have thought it would be interesting to create a papier mache mask.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Week 10 Video Review
Islamic Art at the V&A 1. I selected this video because I wanted to have at least one of the Islamic Art videos and was wondering what the "V&A" was (Victoria and Albert Museum, for the record).
2. -Art is not a part of Islamic religious rituals.
-The Qur'an is their religous text and one form of their art is reproducing it using elaborate manuscripts.
-There are a lot of intricately crafted carpets and textiles in Islamic Art, unlike art in many other cultures/religions.
-The artists of Islamic art are hard to trace.
-Other important artwork includes ceramics and architecture
3. The video discussed Islamic art and the type of architecture that they used for their Mosques. It helped reinforce when the book talked about how some cultures' artwork was not the same as the prominent artwork that is found in other cultures. European art focused more on paintings and sculptures and architecture where Islamic art focused more on what the Europeans thought of as "lesser" decorative arts.
4. See end of posting
Buddhism
1. I selected this video because I wanted to learn more about the different religions
2. Buddhism looks to destroy all desires and all things that feed the ego. These things are all obsticles that must be overcome to reach enlightenment.
-The elaborate Bodi Tree is used to symbolically represent Buddah in Buddhist art.
-Buddhism has evolved and actually shares a lot in common with Hinduism.
3. This video discussed Buddhism a little more in depth and gave me a greater knowledge of what their beliefs are. Seeing all the great monuments dedicated to Buddah was very interesting. They give off a different feeling than that of a huge ornate cathedral.
Hinduism
1. I selected this video because I wanted to learn more about the different religions
2. -Cremation is an importent aspect of Hinduism: it is believed that cremation provides the deceased with direct access to heaven
-Their gods and goddesses are very similar to the Saints that can be found in Catholocism: Each of them has a purpose and represents something that is important.
-Their palaces are extremely decorated (I felt, almost to the point of it being overdone).
3. I never really thought of Hinduism gods and goddesses as being similar to the Catholic Saints. The video pointed this out and I think it helps me understand/relate to the religion better. The book talks briefly about Hinduism and this video definitely gave me a stronger understanding of the religion because I could tie it into something that I know.
Chinese Art: Treasures of the National Palace Museum
1. I selected this video because I wanted to see what the National Palace Museum was like because all museums are so different.
2. -The collection of pieces featured span over 5,000 years of history. The collection was very diverse and showed artwork from pottery, carvings, cabinets, ink drawings, and much more..
-Many of the works of art here you have to go and see at the museum
3. I found many of these works of art very intersting because of how different each of the works was from one another. The video had such an array of different items and forms of art that it kept my interest in each piece. The book can only have so many pictures, and seeing such a diverse collection helped me see that Chinese art is not so focused on a few forms of artistic craft (like I found European art to be), but many different forms of art.
4. I thought the films were all interesting. I think that they went more in depth than the book and helped me take a deeper look at each of these cultures/religions and better understand not only the concept of the religion (in the case of Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism), but I could better understand why they portrayed their artwork the way they did. I was also able to make a connection with Hinduism by relating it to Catholocism and it made me think how similar some aspects of religions can be to eachother.
2. -Art is not a part of Islamic religious rituals.
-The Qur'an is their religous text and one form of their art is reproducing it using elaborate manuscripts.
-There are a lot of intricately crafted carpets and textiles in Islamic Art, unlike art in many other cultures/religions.
-The artists of Islamic art are hard to trace.
-Other important artwork includes ceramics and architecture
3. The video discussed Islamic art and the type of architecture that they used for their Mosques. It helped reinforce when the book talked about how some cultures' artwork was not the same as the prominent artwork that is found in other cultures. European art focused more on paintings and sculptures and architecture where Islamic art focused more on what the Europeans thought of as "lesser" decorative arts.
4. See end of posting
Buddhism
1. I selected this video because I wanted to learn more about the different religions
2. Buddhism looks to destroy all desires and all things that feed the ego. These things are all obsticles that must be overcome to reach enlightenment.
-The elaborate Bodi Tree is used to symbolically represent Buddah in Buddhist art.
-Buddhism has evolved and actually shares a lot in common with Hinduism.
3. This video discussed Buddhism a little more in depth and gave me a greater knowledge of what their beliefs are. Seeing all the great monuments dedicated to Buddah was very interesting. They give off a different feeling than that of a huge ornate cathedral.
Hinduism
1. I selected this video because I wanted to learn more about the different religions
2. -Cremation is an importent aspect of Hinduism: it is believed that cremation provides the deceased with direct access to heaven
-Their gods and goddesses are very similar to the Saints that can be found in Catholocism: Each of them has a purpose and represents something that is important.
-Their palaces are extremely decorated (I felt, almost to the point of it being overdone).
3. I never really thought of Hinduism gods and goddesses as being similar to the Catholic Saints. The video pointed this out and I think it helps me understand/relate to the religion better. The book talks briefly about Hinduism and this video definitely gave me a stronger understanding of the religion because I could tie it into something that I know.
Chinese Art: Treasures of the National Palace Museum
1. I selected this video because I wanted to see what the National Palace Museum was like because all museums are so different.
2. -The collection of pieces featured span over 5,000 years of history. The collection was very diverse and showed artwork from pottery, carvings, cabinets, ink drawings, and much more..
-Many of the works of art here you have to go and see at the museum
3. I found many of these works of art very intersting because of how different each of the works was from one another. The video had such an array of different items and forms of art that it kept my interest in each piece. The book can only have so many pictures, and seeing such a diverse collection helped me see that Chinese art is not so focused on a few forms of artistic craft (like I found European art to be), but many different forms of art.
4. I thought the films were all interesting. I think that they went more in depth than the book and helped me take a deeper look at each of these cultures/religions and better understand not only the concept of the religion (in the case of Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism), but I could better understand why they portrayed their artwork the way they did. I was also able to make a connection with Hinduism by relating it to Catholocism and it made me think how similar some aspects of religions can be to eachother.
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