I've had several ideas for this project, most of which I'm not sure how well they'd work for this project. However, today I did come up with an idea I think would work and I might possibly commit to. I was thinking about possibly doing something about the history of an everyday object like jeans or a coffee cup and collage aout the injustices behind the creation. I could potentially possibly wear it or carry it around on campus or somewhere else to raise awareness, or it could be displayed...but I think it'd be more powerful if I were to a clothing piece that it was actually worn. Sometimes things like notebooks or products flaunting their "green-ness" will say Made with however much percent recycled products, maybe I could do a play on that and have it say I was made with 100% child labor...or something, I'm not sure yet.
If I go with this idea, which I think I probably might I would to do some research and find a company that does use child labor or pays its workers really meagerly and has unsafe conditions. Off the top of my head I'm totally sure of any. I think Nike maybe use to or possibly still does, I don't know if they really did or still do though...I also think I want to do a pair of jeans. I could also incorporate quotes from the workers or from writers or others on the topic.
Questions I would have about persuing this are:
1. Am I able to use labels from particular companies? I would probably target just one and try and get jeans by that company with the label already there, but would it be ok to cut the label from clothes and use it in the piece?
2. I'm not sure how many images on this subject I would be able to concoct on my own...as long as the images have been in the public domain for like 50 years or do not have a copyright they would be fair game correct?
I just came up with a slightly different, but related idea that I think would be more powerful. When I was originally looking up companies for this project, GAP Kids was one that came up as having had a problem with child labor...so I was thinking that since my idea was anti-child labor why not do it on a pair of kid's jeans? Then instead of me wearing it, it could be a kid...which I think would have more of an impact since it's about child labor. If they were for a kid that is about the same age as those typically working in the factories (probably about 10 to 12) that would be best...but if I don't have any of their kid's jeans around the house from when I was younger, I'll check out Goodwill and hopefully they'll have some.
Also, when exactly is our final and were our notebooks taken up?
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Activism Project Notes Part A
For this project, my topic is domestic violence. I have done a little bit of research, so far mostly what I read about was what domestic violence is. I found some statistics and uncovered myths about domestic violence. I think domestic violence is something that is there in our society, but not really talked about much. I think for the most part there is still the common idea that that won't happen to me or he/she couldn't be an abuser.
We had two ideas for our project. One is to have an installation with a series of three mirrors, the first showing the victim, the second showing the perpetrator, and the last someone aware of it that does nothing. The mirrors would have the text and maybe quotes, images, and/or bits of stories. The idea is to raise awareness and put people into it so they can see that anyone can be any one of the three, because there often are sterotypes that are not true and hide the truth perpetuating the problem. There would also be text to tie it all together....maybe faces of domestic violence? I could also see a black curtain like thing above it like they are being uncovered. The other idea was to do a similar idea with posters and/or flyers that could be hung up or passed around campus to reach a larger audience.
Today, we met in class and decided to go with the flyer idea. We are going to make a wanted poster to hang around campus. There are several myths/misconceptions about domestic violence and we are going to try and counter that in our project. Typically, domestic violence is frequently attributed to the "lower class," males, minorities, and especially the uneducated...so in our wanted ad we wanted to portray someone that people may not typically think would be an abuser...therefore we decided to do an upper middle class "educated" white woman to show how domestic violence is not specific to particular groups of people, it can reach across all races, genders, and socioeconomic classes. We wanted to use the wanted ad and mug shot to capture people's attention and lure them in, then we are going to put some statistics below it about domestic violence specific to what we were targeting in our flyer.
We had two ideas for our project. One is to have an installation with a series of three mirrors, the first showing the victim, the second showing the perpetrator, and the last someone aware of it that does nothing. The mirrors would have the text and maybe quotes, images, and/or bits of stories. The idea is to raise awareness and put people into it so they can see that anyone can be any one of the three, because there often are sterotypes that are not true and hide the truth perpetuating the problem. There would also be text to tie it all together....maybe faces of domestic violence? I could also see a black curtain like thing above it like they are being uncovered. The other idea was to do a similar idea with posters and/or flyers that could be hung up or passed around campus to reach a larger audience.
Today, we met in class and decided to go with the flyer idea. We are going to make a wanted poster to hang around campus. There are several myths/misconceptions about domestic violence and we are going to try and counter that in our project. Typically, domestic violence is frequently attributed to the "lower class," males, minorities, and especially the uneducated...so in our wanted ad we wanted to portray someone that people may not typically think would be an abuser...therefore we decided to do an upper middle class "educated" white woman to show how domestic violence is not specific to particular groups of people, it can reach across all races, genders, and socioeconomic classes. We wanted to use the wanted ad and mug shot to capture people's attention and lure them in, then we are going to put some statistics below it about domestic violence specific to what we were targeting in our flyer.
Wenda Gu Reading Notes
1. -Why the unconventional choices of media?
-What would bring someone to want to use bodily fluids and hair in their work?
-Does he use these things to try and shock and offend the viewer?
2. -Gu is trying to achieve unity through his work, because of this he tries to work in a style that can not be traced to a particular artistic tradition.
-His work is about aspects of the "human experience." I guess his choice of media can go along with that.
-Uses stuff from the body because the body is universal and something that trancends language barriers.
-I pretty much understand why he chooses the materials he does, but I think the used pads/tampons is pretty gross and wierd to me. I don't feel like those should be on display.
-Maybe my issue with his work is that I think that some of the stuff he is using in his work should be more private things and not on display for everyone to see, even though it is universal.
-His United Nations piece and concept is intriguing to me.
-I don't really think all that much about their being salons around the world and people in other countries going to get their hair cut and doing a lot of the same things I do.
-I have some issues with his idea for the "art babies," and don't think that it is right or something he should persue. Humans are not the ones that create life and should not put themselves in a position to do so. Also, I think that it the project idea itself crosses a line that should not be crossed and is impacting potential lives that have no say in the process. I hope he doesn't find women to agree to this, but I have a feeling he will. I get that art is an integral part of life, but don't think that lives should be created for the sake of an art project. While it seems that he is maybe trying to "lift up the experience," I think if anything that cheapens the whole process and takes it out of the context it was created and meant for.
3. -He chooses his media to create universality. The human body is universal and something all humans have some level of familiarity with, so he uses products of the body in his work.
-Once again, it goes back to universality and the body being universal. He uses the body as a way of connecting diverse groups of people through a commonality.
-I didn't get the feeling that he was trying to shock and offend people. He was actually wanting to unite people and use the universality of the body to do so. There are different associations with the different life processes and body products in different cultures and that naturally comes up in his work, but over all, he is trying to unite people of the world through commonality and shared human experiences.
4. -Was he able to get women to agree to his "art babies" idea?
-What does he do with his artwork after it is on display?
-How does he go about asking for donations of body products?
-What would bring someone to want to use bodily fluids and hair in their work?
-Does he use these things to try and shock and offend the viewer?
2. -Gu is trying to achieve unity through his work, because of this he tries to work in a style that can not be traced to a particular artistic tradition.
-His work is about aspects of the "human experience." I guess his choice of media can go along with that.
-Uses stuff from the body because the body is universal and something that trancends language barriers.
-I pretty much understand why he chooses the materials he does, but I think the used pads/tampons is pretty gross and wierd to me. I don't feel like those should be on display.
-Maybe my issue with his work is that I think that some of the stuff he is using in his work should be more private things and not on display for everyone to see, even though it is universal.
-His United Nations piece and concept is intriguing to me.
-I don't really think all that much about their being salons around the world and people in other countries going to get their hair cut and doing a lot of the same things I do.
-I have some issues with his idea for the "art babies," and don't think that it is right or something he should persue. Humans are not the ones that create life and should not put themselves in a position to do so. Also, I think that it the project idea itself crosses a line that should not be crossed and is impacting potential lives that have no say in the process. I hope he doesn't find women to agree to this, but I have a feeling he will. I get that art is an integral part of life, but don't think that lives should be created for the sake of an art project. While it seems that he is maybe trying to "lift up the experience," I think if anything that cheapens the whole process and takes it out of the context it was created and meant for.
3. -He chooses his media to create universality. The human body is universal and something all humans have some level of familiarity with, so he uses products of the body in his work.
-Once again, it goes back to universality and the body being universal. He uses the body as a way of connecting diverse groups of people through a commonality.
-I didn't get the feeling that he was trying to shock and offend people. He was actually wanting to unite people and use the universality of the body to do so. There are different associations with the different life processes and body products in different cultures and that naturally comes up in his work, but over all, he is trying to unite people of the world through commonality and shared human experiences.
4. -Was he able to get women to agree to his "art babies" idea?
-What does he do with his artwork after it is on display?
-How does he go about asking for donations of body products?
Monday, April 6, 2009
D.J. Martinez Reading Notes
1. -What is the reason behind his work?
-How do people respond to his work?
-What led him to create this type of work?
2. -He doesn't like being called an artist, he came up with his own job title. Should the name really matter?
-His aim is to "expose insidious concentrations of social, political, and economic power" and he wants people to talk about his work in the hope that it might bring about social change.
-Martinez said, "We are living in a period of extreme crisis. The production of hatred and division is a disease that is killing this country." I think there is some truth in that.
-Maybe having a black president will help heal some of the racism within our country. Although, I think sometimes it's a perpetuating thing, like by calling attention to it and making a big deal about people's race it becomes more prominent and reinforces racism, whereas if it is not made out to be a big deal or attention called to it, its not really given much though.
-That is sad, how people of different races are sometimes seen as outsiders in their own country.
-I think his work at Cornell University sounds interesting, I like the idea of having the people's responses included in the piece. I think it's also interesting how he ended up exposing the racism there. Like it's cool that his work could do that. It shows how powerful art can be.
-He has an interesting way of gauging his success.
-I think if his artwork wasn't so extreme or in-your-face people wouldn't talk so much about it. I think that for the most part there is a desire to make art that is aesthetically pleasing and not too "out there," but maybe that type of art is more effective. If the viewer is offended or shocked, he or she is probably more likely to remember it than if it is just a "pretty" object.
3. -Martinez's work is about power and through his work, he tries to get people to talk about things they otherwise may try not to talk about.
-People tend to respond negatively to his work, but since his work is extreme and tends to offend people it does get them talking about his work.
-I think his race played a large role in him creating this type of work. He is a chicano and the book mentioned about Chicanos like him feeling like outsiders in their own country. I think that is due to the stereotypes and prejudices people have and he picks up on that even though frequently people try to hide it. Then, in his work, he seeks to expose that and band the victims together for the possibility of change. I think his upbringing also played a role in the type of work he creates.
4. -Would he be able to achieve the same success if his work was not so offensive?
-Do the people inviting his to display his work really check his work out prior to inviting him and know what they are in for in doing so?
-Is his work always site-specific?
-How do people respond to his work?
-What led him to create this type of work?
2. -He doesn't like being called an artist, he came up with his own job title. Should the name really matter?
-His aim is to "expose insidious concentrations of social, political, and economic power" and he wants people to talk about his work in the hope that it might bring about social change.
-Martinez said, "We are living in a period of extreme crisis. The production of hatred and division is a disease that is killing this country." I think there is some truth in that.
-Maybe having a black president will help heal some of the racism within our country. Although, I think sometimes it's a perpetuating thing, like by calling attention to it and making a big deal about people's race it becomes more prominent and reinforces racism, whereas if it is not made out to be a big deal or attention called to it, its not really given much though.
-That is sad, how people of different races are sometimes seen as outsiders in their own country.
-I think his work at Cornell University sounds interesting, I like the idea of having the people's responses included in the piece. I think it's also interesting how he ended up exposing the racism there. Like it's cool that his work could do that. It shows how powerful art can be.
-He has an interesting way of gauging his success.
-I think if his artwork wasn't so extreme or in-your-face people wouldn't talk so much about it. I think that for the most part there is a desire to make art that is aesthetically pleasing and not too "out there," but maybe that type of art is more effective. If the viewer is offended or shocked, he or she is probably more likely to remember it than if it is just a "pretty" object.
3. -Martinez's work is about power and through his work, he tries to get people to talk about things they otherwise may try not to talk about.
-People tend to respond negatively to his work, but since his work is extreme and tends to offend people it does get them talking about his work.
-I think his race played a large role in him creating this type of work. He is a chicano and the book mentioned about Chicanos like him feeling like outsiders in their own country. I think that is due to the stereotypes and prejudices people have and he picks up on that even though frequently people try to hide it. Then, in his work, he seeks to expose that and band the victims together for the possibility of change. I think his upbringing also played a role in the type of work he creates.
4. -Would he be able to achieve the same success if his work was not so offensive?
-Do the people inviting his to display his work really check his work out prior to inviting him and know what they are in for in doing so?
-Is his work always site-specific?
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Consumption Project Notes Part B
I was a little nervous presenting my project because I had never done anything like that and wasn't sure how people would respond. I think it was sucessful in portraying that anxiety that goes along with the uncertainty of not knowing what is on something and whether or not it is "contaminated." The first question I remember getting after the slideshow was about whether they were same pens I gave them. Another person mentioned wanting to wash their hands. I think my project was successful, especially since a lot of times with anxiety it is in our heads and there is in fact nothing truly wrong...as was the case with the pens.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Consumption Project Notes Part A
I don't have a definite idea that sticks out for me for this project that I'd like to persue. Similarly, I found several different definitions for consumption that I might like to go with, but not a definite one I want to go with. With my consumption log, I noticed how many different "beauty products" I typically use, and I think that is not just me, but I think many women probably do. The consumption log got me thinking more about consumption and possible ideas for a project during the time I was doing it.
One thing I noticed with the beauty products is that they have a lot of ingredients that you would probably need like a chemistry degree to understand. I think it is kind of bizzarre how we consume many things that we probably don't even know what half the ingredients really are, but yet we willingly do so trusting in the manufacturer and the government. In high school I found an article on what some of the common ingredients in shampoo are or do. I still have this article and if I decide to go this route I can pull it out. My idea with that concept was to make a poster on Photoshop with a shampoo bottle or something and have an image of a magnifying glass over the label with the ingredients that most people probably would not know what they are emphasized and maybe text saying What are you really consuming? or something along those lines. Then, the other part of this would be interactive somehow where the viewer would try and match the ingredient to what its purpose is or a non-scientific term of what it is (like an activity you might find at the Mint Museum of Art that goes along with the piece).
Another thing I noticed, was that many smaller products that you can buy at the store have UPC symbols printed on them. I was thinking that I could use Photoshop to create a space or room where everything is available for consumption and have barcodes on everything, including things that may not be expected to have them. I think some of the reasons behind consumption at such high levels today is mass production,commodification, and easy access. We typically don't think as much now about it. Years ago, if someone wanted some milk, they'd have to go milk their cow that they had to feed and maintain. Now-a-days it's like "O let me run by the store on my way home from work and get x,y, and z." The mass media also sends a constant stream of news, music, fashion, etc.
Another topic I was originally thinking about doing with my project was anxiety. It definetely has the ability to consume. For a while one of the ways it manifested itself for me was the feeling of myself or other things being contaminated and using Germ-X excessively (like the big 40 oz. bottle in about a week). Pretty ridiculous. Also, washing my hands probably more than most. Like I felt like I needed to keep my hands clean. I'm not really sure where I'd go with this. One thought I had today was how overuse of hand sanitizers in our society is leading to the creation or superbacteria. My initial thought was to maybe create massive interpretations of superbacteria strands, like an installation where they huge like floor to cieling so the viewer would seem small being confronted by this massive thing. I'm not sure though. I might want to research it more if I go this route and maybe by learning more it would lead to something more. Another thought would maybe be abstract paintings using the shapes of these super bacteria, I don't know if that would be possible though.
A spin off of that last idea about the abstract paintings, could be to do them using images of the virus that causes what they used to call consumption (tuberculosis?).
Those are some of my ideas. Some input would be good, because I don't really have a clear idea that I plan to persue yet. Thanks!
One thing I noticed with the beauty products is that they have a lot of ingredients that you would probably need like a chemistry degree to understand. I think it is kind of bizzarre how we consume many things that we probably don't even know what half the ingredients really are, but yet we willingly do so trusting in the manufacturer and the government. In high school I found an article on what some of the common ingredients in shampoo are or do. I still have this article and if I decide to go this route I can pull it out. My idea with that concept was to make a poster on Photoshop with a shampoo bottle or something and have an image of a magnifying glass over the label with the ingredients that most people probably would not know what they are emphasized and maybe text saying What are you really consuming? or something along those lines. Then, the other part of this would be interactive somehow where the viewer would try and match the ingredient to what its purpose is or a non-scientific term of what it is (like an activity you might find at the Mint Museum of Art that goes along with the piece).
Another thing I noticed, was that many smaller products that you can buy at the store have UPC symbols printed on them. I was thinking that I could use Photoshop to create a space or room where everything is available for consumption and have barcodes on everything, including things that may not be expected to have them. I think some of the reasons behind consumption at such high levels today is mass production,commodification, and easy access. We typically don't think as much now about it. Years ago, if someone wanted some milk, they'd have to go milk their cow that they had to feed and maintain. Now-a-days it's like "O let me run by the store on my way home from work and get x,y, and z." The mass media also sends a constant stream of news, music, fashion, etc.
Another topic I was originally thinking about doing with my project was anxiety. It definetely has the ability to consume. For a while one of the ways it manifested itself for me was the feeling of myself or other things being contaminated and using Germ-X excessively (like the big 40 oz. bottle in about a week). Pretty ridiculous. Also, washing my hands probably more than most. Like I felt like I needed to keep my hands clean. I'm not really sure where I'd go with this. One thought I had today was how overuse of hand sanitizers in our society is leading to the creation or superbacteria. My initial thought was to maybe create massive interpretations of superbacteria strands, like an installation where they huge like floor to cieling so the viewer would seem small being confronted by this massive thing. I'm not sure though. I might want to research it more if I go this route and maybe by learning more it would lead to something more. Another thought would maybe be abstract paintings using the shapes of these super bacteria, I don't know if that would be possible though.
A spin off of that last idea about the abstract paintings, could be to do them using images of the virus that causes what they used to call consumption (tuberculosis?).
Those are some of my ideas. Some input would be good, because I don't really have a clear idea that I plan to persue yet. Thanks!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Highlights From My Consumption Log
For my consumption log, I decided to record the number of times I wash my hands with soap, the number of times I use Germ-X (and when possible how much), the number of times I go online everyday (not including AIM), miles driven, usage of "beauty products," and number of phone calls/amount of time spent on the phone just with phone calls lasting at least 1 second.
-In one week I washed my hands with soap 42 times.
-In one week I used Germ-X 11 times.
-In one week I went online (not including AIM) 47 times.
-In one week I drove 224 miles.
-In one week I had 37 calls on my phone that lasted at least one second. The total time spent on my phone with these calls was 5 hours 44 minutes and 42 seconds.
-On Wednesday I used 20 different "beauty products."
-On Thursday I used 17 different "beauty products."
-On Friday I used 15 different "beauty products."
-On Saturday I used 19 or 20 different "beauty products."
-On Sunday I used 5 different "beauty products."
-On Monday I used 7 different "beauty products."
-On Tuesday I used 21 different "beauty products."
-In one week I washed my hands with soap 42 times.
-In one week I used Germ-X 11 times.
-In one week I went online (not including AIM) 47 times.
-In one week I drove 224 miles.
-In one week I had 37 calls on my phone that lasted at least one second. The total time spent on my phone with these calls was 5 hours 44 minutes and 42 seconds.
-On Wednesday I used 20 different "beauty products."
-On Thursday I used 17 different "beauty products."
-On Friday I used 15 different "beauty products."
-On Saturday I used 19 or 20 different "beauty products."
-On Sunday I used 5 different "beauty products."
-On Monday I used 7 different "beauty products."
-On Tuesday I used 21 different "beauty products."
Vanessa Beecroft Reading Notes
1. -Why so much flesh?
-Is it meant to be voyeuristic?
-What is the message she is trying to convey?
2. -Her work is considered installation, based on the picture I thought it might be performance art.
-I like her idea, but am not sure about her approach. I think it does get her point across though.
-I think it would be awkward to be one of the viewers at her show. It reminds me of some of the paintings from Survey II like Titian's The Venus of Urbino. I remember Professor Noble talking about how images like that were kind of voyeuristic and I get that feeling from the image of Beercroft's work in the text. I think this is intentional and she may be trying to conjure up those connections.
-This type of scrutinizing/objectification/not so realistic standards of women's bodies is unfortunately all too common within our society. Typically, it is not presented as blatantly, though definetely present. In my Secondary Methods class, we brought in examples of visual culture from magazines and there was definetely these types of concerns present.
-I think the issues she deals with in her artwork are definetely problems that exist within our society that should be addressed.
-Her choice of audience seems aide in the sucess of getting across her message. She chose the audience for her installation, and the text said many were people that maybe frequently go to museums and are in tune with the art world. I think these people would probably be more likely to make the historical connections to earlier artworks with similar themes and maybe even be familiar with the history of the portrayal of women's bodies in art.
-I like that her installation with the girls changed over time. What started off as a beauty ideal, began to change and reality started to show with the passage of time, something not typically seen in a magazine cover or commercial.
3. -Beercroft is trying to make connections to the history or nude women being portrayed in art, as well as to probably try and really show off/exaggerate this idea of beauty that alligns with mainstream society's ideal of what beauty is supposed to look like.
-I'm not sure that her intent is for it to be voyeuristic. She definetely wants the viewer to look at them, and not have them look back. She did seem to want to make art historical connections to the portrayal of the female nude, which that probably goes back to. I'm not sure that she intended their to be sexual undertones, but in the way she set the installation up, the women do become like an object for all these people to look at.
-Her installation that was pictured in the book was about women's beauty and the unrealistic standards of beauty that exist in regards to the female body, and exposing it as unrealistic and non-lasting.
4. -Could she have effectively portrayed her message so strongly using a different medium?
-How would the response to her work vary if she did not personally select who was viewing it?
-Would someone without any background in art history still be able to get her message?
-Is it meant to be voyeuristic?
-What is the message she is trying to convey?
2. -Her work is considered installation, based on the picture I thought it might be performance art.
-I like her idea, but am not sure about her approach. I think it does get her point across though.
-I think it would be awkward to be one of the viewers at her show. It reminds me of some of the paintings from Survey II like Titian's The Venus of Urbino. I remember Professor Noble talking about how images like that were kind of voyeuristic and I get that feeling from the image of Beercroft's work in the text. I think this is intentional and she may be trying to conjure up those connections.
-This type of scrutinizing/objectification/not so realistic standards of women's bodies is unfortunately all too common within our society. Typically, it is not presented as blatantly, though definetely present. In my Secondary Methods class, we brought in examples of visual culture from magazines and there was definetely these types of concerns present.
-I think the issues she deals with in her artwork are definetely problems that exist within our society that should be addressed.
-Her choice of audience seems aide in the sucess of getting across her message. She chose the audience for her installation, and the text said many were people that maybe frequently go to museums and are in tune with the art world. I think these people would probably be more likely to make the historical connections to earlier artworks with similar themes and maybe even be familiar with the history of the portrayal of women's bodies in art.
-I like that her installation with the girls changed over time. What started off as a beauty ideal, began to change and reality started to show with the passage of time, something not typically seen in a magazine cover or commercial.
3. -Beercroft is trying to make connections to the history or nude women being portrayed in art, as well as to probably try and really show off/exaggerate this idea of beauty that alligns with mainstream society's ideal of what beauty is supposed to look like.
-I'm not sure that her intent is for it to be voyeuristic. She definetely wants the viewer to look at them, and not have them look back. She did seem to want to make art historical connections to the portrayal of the female nude, which that probably goes back to. I'm not sure that she intended their to be sexual undertones, but in the way she set the installation up, the women do become like an object for all these people to look at.
-Her installation that was pictured in the book was about women's beauty and the unrealistic standards of beauty that exist in regards to the female body, and exposing it as unrealistic and non-lasting.
4. -Could she have effectively portrayed her message so strongly using a different medium?
-How would the response to her work vary if she did not personally select who was viewing it?
-Would someone without any background in art history still be able to get her message?
Thomas Kinkade Reading Notes
1. -What would his style of painting be considered"
-Why does he chose to paint in a dreamy sort of way?
-How does he chose his scenes?
2. -His work is meant to appeal to the masses and be widely distributed. I think I dislike that about his work.
-I wonder if he really likes painting these scenes or if he does so because he thinks it has such a wide appeal and he knows others will like it. I wonder what he'd paint if he painted what he really wanted to paint, without trying to appeal to the masses.
-I think he can paint very well, but don't like that he is motivated by the commercial side of distributing his artwork. To each his own though, who am I to say that that is any worse than other reasons people may chose to make art. Maybe if people really liked my work so much I'd want to pump it out and go commercial so that all who wanted could have it. Maybe he has good intentions behind going commercially.
-I think his paintings to seem to portray a "better time" that has passed when things were more simple and that may be why they appeal to so many people.
-His paintings do have a rather inviting feel to them.
-I wonder how he went about building such an extensive "empire."
-I like that in his mission he states ways he hopes his art will help others.
-Going back to art history, the availability/accessability of his artwork is probably a good thing so that everyone can own art and it is not just an elitist luxury.
-His work also doesn't require analytical skills, the "common man" can just enjoy it for its aesthetic quality, whether or not that's good I'm not sure, but it's a start at getting people into art.
-His marketing plans seem very well thought out and apparently he has quite a following.
3.-His art is considered contemporary art. I wasn't sure what it would be classified when I looked at it because the subject matter and some of the lighting concerns seemed impressionistic to me, but not enough so that I would think it'd be considered impressionistic. They are definetely landscapes too and have a serene dreamy feel to them.
-It seems like he paints in this dreamy sort of way for the aesthetic appeal, as well as the emotions it conjures up in people. He seems to set out to create ideal, inviting spaces where one could escape and not have any problems or hardships. I think this is also contributes to his wide appeal that helps sell his work, which is something he wants to accomplish.
-Once again, I think this decision is based off of his desire to appeal to the masses by creating ideal, inviting spaces that people feel they can escape to and not have any problems or hardships. The scenes he choses also seem universal enough that many people probably can attatch memories to them or they could have some emotional significance for them.
4. -Did he ever go to art school?
-How did he get started as an artist with commercial affiliations?
-Does he really enjoy what he paints, or does he just do it because he knows people like it and will buy it?
-Why does he chose to paint in a dreamy sort of way?
-How does he chose his scenes?
2. -His work is meant to appeal to the masses and be widely distributed. I think I dislike that about his work.
-I wonder if he really likes painting these scenes or if he does so because he thinks it has such a wide appeal and he knows others will like it. I wonder what he'd paint if he painted what he really wanted to paint, without trying to appeal to the masses.
-I think he can paint very well, but don't like that he is motivated by the commercial side of distributing his artwork. To each his own though, who am I to say that that is any worse than other reasons people may chose to make art. Maybe if people really liked my work so much I'd want to pump it out and go commercial so that all who wanted could have it. Maybe he has good intentions behind going commercially.
-I think his paintings to seem to portray a "better time" that has passed when things were more simple and that may be why they appeal to so many people.
-His paintings do have a rather inviting feel to them.
-I wonder how he went about building such an extensive "empire."
-I like that in his mission he states ways he hopes his art will help others.
-Going back to art history, the availability/accessability of his artwork is probably a good thing so that everyone can own art and it is not just an elitist luxury.
-His work also doesn't require analytical skills, the "common man" can just enjoy it for its aesthetic quality, whether or not that's good I'm not sure, but it's a start at getting people into art.
-His marketing plans seem very well thought out and apparently he has quite a following.
3.-His art is considered contemporary art. I wasn't sure what it would be classified when I looked at it because the subject matter and some of the lighting concerns seemed impressionistic to me, but not enough so that I would think it'd be considered impressionistic. They are definetely landscapes too and have a serene dreamy feel to them.
-It seems like he paints in this dreamy sort of way for the aesthetic appeal, as well as the emotions it conjures up in people. He seems to set out to create ideal, inviting spaces where one could escape and not have any problems or hardships. I think this is also contributes to his wide appeal that helps sell his work, which is something he wants to accomplish.
-Once again, I think this decision is based off of his desire to appeal to the masses by creating ideal, inviting spaces that people feel they can escape to and not have any problems or hardships. The scenes he choses also seem universal enough that many people probably can attatch memories to them or they could have some emotional significance for them.
4. -Did he ever go to art school?
-How did he get started as an artist with commercial affiliations?
-Does he really enjoy what he paints, or does he just do it because he knows people like it and will buy it?
Place Project Notes Part B
I think my choice of media to go with my concept worked. However, for my skills it was not the most appropriate/effective media because drawing is not my strong suit. That aside, I think that my idea worked to portray my idea of "Old Huntersville" vs. "New Huntersville." During the critique, Melanie mentioned about making the facial expression of the farmer more angry and maybe give the cow horns to get across my anger about what they are doing, because it comes across kind of funny right now. I had thought it seemed kind of cutsy, which I think is largely due to my level of drawing ability, but I think if I were to change/add that that maybe it would change the mood of the piece. Professor Rothrock also mentioned studying political cartoons to see how they do things. I did look at some political cartoons before doing this piece, but making it look more n'sync with their style would also improve this piece. Overall, I thought it came out better than I had been expected and think it does portray what I was trying to portray.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Place Project Notes Part A
Places lived:
*Springfield, MA
*Charlotte, NC
*Huntersville, NC
Significant Meaning:
*Chicopee, MA - family
*Key Largo, FL
*beach (therapeutic?)
*house on 115
*my room
*old Huntersville
*cosmetology room
*"the trail"
*the south
*Folly Beach
Originally, for this project, I thought about doing home as my location and taking random snap shots of objects and food from home and maybe zoom in really close so you can't really tell what it is. Then, I thought about doing images that constitute "home," not just the physical home. I was thinking about taking pitures of the trees in my neighborhood, flowers, fences, the members area, down by the trail, maybe pictures from Massachusetts, and of random things from home. Pretty much I was going to try and capture the essence of home without be too literal and more so trying to capture things that remind me of home or make me feel at home. I was thinking of how to display this and was thinking about how to display or present this idea and came up with a few ideas other than just a plain photo collage.
Lately, I've been taking backroads to school frequently and it got me thinking about how much Huntersville has changed. There has been and continue to be a lot of changes to Huntersville that I am not real happy about. We moved to Huntersville about twelve years ago, and back when we moved here there were cows off the exit and it was still pretty small town. There wasn't a whole lot of shopping and restraunts back then. Downtown was tiny and a lot of the businesses were probably moreso local owned in there area. However, all that has changed pretty drastically. The cows are long gone, as is the curving road to get to our neighborhood. In my opinion, there are now too many neighborhoods and Huntersville is over built for my taste, but still they keep on building. Now I'm not opposed to a few grocery stores, a little shopping, and some restruants. I think it has gotten kind of ridiculous though, I do not think we need all they have put in. Recently, they put a new shopping center in next to an existing shopping center, and there is another one not too far down the road! We also have 3 Starbucks! An old car dealership that was downtown is no more and has been cleared out to make way for Discovery Place Kids! I think Huntersville has lost its small town appeal and I don't really like that.
All that got me thinking about doing a piece on Huntersville contrasting the what I consider to be the old Huntersville versus new Huntersville. I was thinking about taking pictures of remnants of old Huntersville, as well as the development and urbanization of new Huntersville. I want to use color to convey my feelings regarding the matter. I am thinking of using vivid color for the images of old Huntersville. Then, to contrast that I am thinking about using sepia for pictures of new Huntersville. I think the sepia setting can seem more dull and monotonous against the vivid colors of the other pictures, and to me I think it could maybe bring a smoggy dirty monotonous feel depending on when I take it. I was thinking of also taking the pictures to represent old Huntersville on a nice sunny day, then maybe doing the ones to represent old Huntersville on an overcast day.
I was thinking of using the pictures I take to create a "billboard." I don't remember exactly how I came up with the idea of creating a billboard. It could be because I feel strongly about this and would like to expose how I feel in a big way, kind of like a way of saying "Stop, we don't need it," and maybe getting people to realize their ruining what made us a small town. I am not going to put it on an actual billboard, but do have one in mind when I am creating it. There is a one road I sometimes take in the morning called Old Stumptown Road (Highway 115) that goes through downtown Huntersville. It is a two lane road and has a random billboard on it before you get to downtown Huntersville. This billboard is the one I have in mind while creating this project. I may try and get a picture of it.
Today, during the group discussion, the idea of using a map of Huntersville either to put the "billboard" on or on the "billboard" with images superimposed was suggested. I may possibly try and work in a map of old Huntersville somehow, but I am not yet sure how I would do that if I were to. I'll have to think about it and see whether or not I want to.
Update:
That comment got me thinking, and it seemed as though a political cartoon might be a better idea for this project. I wasn't sure how I would do a political cartoon, but yesterday I was taking pictures around Huntersville to go with my first idea for this project, and came up with a new idea. I still plan to use the same idea, but instead of doing the "billboard" idea, I'm going to try and do a political cartooon. I did a quick outline of what I plan to do on the back of a box I had in my car (maybe later I'll post it).
*Springfield, MA
*Charlotte, NC
*Huntersville, NC
Significant Meaning:
*Chicopee, MA - family
*Key Largo, FL
*beach (therapeutic?)
*house on 115
*my room
*old Huntersville
*cosmetology room
*"the trail"
*the south
*Folly Beach
Originally, for this project, I thought about doing home as my location and taking random snap shots of objects and food from home and maybe zoom in really close so you can't really tell what it is. Then, I thought about doing images that constitute "home," not just the physical home. I was thinking about taking pitures of the trees in my neighborhood, flowers, fences, the members area, down by the trail, maybe pictures from Massachusetts, and of random things from home. Pretty much I was going to try and capture the essence of home without be too literal and more so trying to capture things that remind me of home or make me feel at home. I was thinking of how to display this and was thinking about how to display or present this idea and came up with a few ideas other than just a plain photo collage.
Lately, I've been taking backroads to school frequently and it got me thinking about how much Huntersville has changed. There has been and continue to be a lot of changes to Huntersville that I am not real happy about. We moved to Huntersville about twelve years ago, and back when we moved here there were cows off the exit and it was still pretty small town. There wasn't a whole lot of shopping and restraunts back then. Downtown was tiny and a lot of the businesses were probably moreso local owned in there area. However, all that has changed pretty drastically. The cows are long gone, as is the curving road to get to our neighborhood. In my opinion, there are now too many neighborhoods and Huntersville is over built for my taste, but still they keep on building. Now I'm not opposed to a few grocery stores, a little shopping, and some restruants. I think it has gotten kind of ridiculous though, I do not think we need all they have put in. Recently, they put a new shopping center in next to an existing shopping center, and there is another one not too far down the road! We also have 3 Starbucks! An old car dealership that was downtown is no more and has been cleared out to make way for Discovery Place Kids! I think Huntersville has lost its small town appeal and I don't really like that.
All that got me thinking about doing a piece on Huntersville contrasting the what I consider to be the old Huntersville versus new Huntersville. I was thinking about taking pictures of remnants of old Huntersville, as well as the development and urbanization of new Huntersville. I want to use color to convey my feelings regarding the matter. I am thinking of using vivid color for the images of old Huntersville. Then, to contrast that I am thinking about using sepia for pictures of new Huntersville. I think the sepia setting can seem more dull and monotonous against the vivid colors of the other pictures, and to me I think it could maybe bring a smoggy dirty monotonous feel depending on when I take it. I was thinking of also taking the pictures to represent old Huntersville on a nice sunny day, then maybe doing the ones to represent old Huntersville on an overcast day.
I was thinking of using the pictures I take to create a "billboard." I don't remember exactly how I came up with the idea of creating a billboard. It could be because I feel strongly about this and would like to expose how I feel in a big way, kind of like a way of saying "Stop, we don't need it," and maybe getting people to realize their ruining what made us a small town. I am not going to put it on an actual billboard, but do have one in mind when I am creating it. There is a one road I sometimes take in the morning called Old Stumptown Road (Highway 115) that goes through downtown Huntersville. It is a two lane road and has a random billboard on it before you get to downtown Huntersville. This billboard is the one I have in mind while creating this project. I may try and get a picture of it.
Today, during the group discussion, the idea of using a map of Huntersville either to put the "billboard" on or on the "billboard" with images superimposed was suggested. I may possibly try and work in a map of old Huntersville somehow, but I am not yet sure how I would do that if I were to. I'll have to think about it and see whether or not I want to.
Update:
That comment got me thinking, and it seemed as though a political cartoon might be a better idea for this project. I wasn't sure how I would do a political cartoon, but yesterday I was taking pictures around Huntersville to go with my first idea for this project, and came up with a new idea. I still plan to use the same idea, but instead of doing the "billboard" idea, I'm going to try and do a political cartooon. I did a quick outline of what I plan to do on the back of a box I had in my car (maybe later I'll post it).
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Victoria Vesna Reading Notes
1. -Why is this art?
-Why does she choose to work the way she does?
-What is the meaning of her work?
2. -I think we do tend to focus on our wants or desires, rather than what we do have. Majority of the time I probably do want something else, rather than just being content with what I do have.
-I have attempted to try and illustrate abstract ideas, such as anxiety. However, I have never thought about using something like how data is collected. I think something like that would require a good bit of research and an understanding of how something like that works. That could be a good source of inspiration when trying to create forms.
-Vesna said, "Technology is killing our time." I think that is an interesting statement that I have haven't directly thought about. I have thought about what it would be like to live in the past and sometimes long for a more simple existence, but am torn because it is hard to imagine life without modern conveniences such as cell phones, the internet, etc. that do not fit into that world.
-I like the idea behind her work, and did not get that from looking at her work.
-I think her concept is very relevent in this day in age. It is very convincing, and kind of makes me wonder how my life would be different if I did shut out some technology.
-Her choice of medium makes sense now after reading some about what she is trying to do in her work. Since she is trying to target the lack of time caused by technology, it makes sense that she would use technology to create this.
- When I was originally looking at her work, I did not like the virtual quality of it and how abstract it is, as well as the aesthetics of it.
-Vesna's work is very complex. I get the concept behind her work, but even knowing that, I still don't really understand two of the images in the book. Maybe if I were to experience it'd make more sense, or if it was in context?
3. -Victoria Vesna's work can be considered art beacuse it has aesthetic qualities about it, as well as a solid concept. It has also been shown in the gallery setting, so someone views it as art. I have an easier time seeing her work as art, after reading about the work.
-She chose to work the way she does because the issue that she is trying to address was created by technology, and therefore using technology to address it seems appropriate.
-Vesna's work is about the impact technology has on our lives. She works off of the idea that the technology that was supposed to make our lives easier and enables us to find things more quickly has actually inhibited us in that we spend more time going through all the information we find and isolate ourselves more.
4. -Is there a less complicated way she could have expressed the same idea?
-How is her work viewed in the gallery setting?
-Could someone experiencing her work first hand "get" her message, or is it something that requires further investigation?
-Why does she choose to work the way she does?
-What is the meaning of her work?
2. -I think we do tend to focus on our wants or desires, rather than what we do have. Majority of the time I probably do want something else, rather than just being content with what I do have.
-I have attempted to try and illustrate abstract ideas, such as anxiety. However, I have never thought about using something like how data is collected. I think something like that would require a good bit of research and an understanding of how something like that works. That could be a good source of inspiration when trying to create forms.
-Vesna said, "Technology is killing our time." I think that is an interesting statement that I have haven't directly thought about. I have thought about what it would be like to live in the past and sometimes long for a more simple existence, but am torn because it is hard to imagine life without modern conveniences such as cell phones, the internet, etc. that do not fit into that world.
-I like the idea behind her work, and did not get that from looking at her work.
-I think her concept is very relevent in this day in age. It is very convincing, and kind of makes me wonder how my life would be different if I did shut out some technology.
-Her choice of medium makes sense now after reading some about what she is trying to do in her work. Since she is trying to target the lack of time caused by technology, it makes sense that she would use technology to create this.
- When I was originally looking at her work, I did not like the virtual quality of it and how abstract it is, as well as the aesthetics of it.
-Vesna's work is very complex. I get the concept behind her work, but even knowing that, I still don't really understand two of the images in the book. Maybe if I were to experience it'd make more sense, or if it was in context?
3. -Victoria Vesna's work can be considered art beacuse it has aesthetic qualities about it, as well as a solid concept. It has also been shown in the gallery setting, so someone views it as art. I have an easier time seeing her work as art, after reading about the work.
-She chose to work the way she does because the issue that she is trying to address was created by technology, and therefore using technology to address it seems appropriate.
-Vesna's work is about the impact technology has on our lives. She works off of the idea that the technology that was supposed to make our lives easier and enables us to find things more quickly has actually inhibited us in that we spend more time going through all the information we find and isolate ourselves more.
4. -Is there a less complicated way she could have expressed the same idea?
-How is her work viewed in the gallery setting?
-Could someone experiencing her work first hand "get" her message, or is it something that requires further investigation?
Monday, February 9, 2009
Skip Schukman Reading Notes
1. -Why does he choose to work outdoors?
- What is the meaning behind his work?
-What is important about his selection of materials?
2. -His background in biology, forest service, and wildlife management may very well have impacted his choice to work outdoors, as well as his choice of materials.
-The idea of buying a "personal relationship with the artist," not the art seems wierd to me.
-It seems as though he is more focused on the process/what goes into creating his work, than on the actual finished product.
-Working in nature would be a cheap way to keep up with the creating art projects after graduating.
-I'm glad he does not use polluting machinery when he creates his work, although I am not so sure about how I feel about his changing the landscape. I know how humans we do it with landscaping and building, but I'm just not sure how I feel about him rearranging it to create art.
-I'm glad he tries to utilize the resources that are already there.
-It is an interesting idea that he tries to create all these different setting with the land and resources around clients' land.
-His ideology reminds me of the Native American's respect for the land, that I would like to have and wish more people would as well.
-I wish more people were so crafty with the land. As a society in general, we have moved away from a more intimate relationship with the land. During childhood, more of this bond exists, but as it gets older I think it seems to fade and becomes kind of frowned upon (unless your a farmer).
3. -I think he works outdoors because it is something he enjoys. He has a background in forestry and wildlife management, so it was probably a natural choice for him.
-His work is about interaction, both his interaction with the land and with his clients. Through his work, he wants to establish an appreciation of the simplicity of the land in his clients, as well as share his value system.
-His selection of materials comes from what is present on the site, or what he brings into the site that typically is recycled from elsewhere. However, he tries to only use what is already at the site.
4. -His method of working is very different from the maintstream, how did he come up with the idea of working the way he does?
-How did he find people to support his creations?
-Where does his inspiration come from in creating the structures?
- What is the meaning behind his work?
-What is important about his selection of materials?
2. -His background in biology, forest service, and wildlife management may very well have impacted his choice to work outdoors, as well as his choice of materials.
-The idea of buying a "personal relationship with the artist," not the art seems wierd to me.
-It seems as though he is more focused on the process/what goes into creating his work, than on the actual finished product.
-Working in nature would be a cheap way to keep up with the creating art projects after graduating.
-I'm glad he does not use polluting machinery when he creates his work, although I am not so sure about how I feel about his changing the landscape. I know how humans we do it with landscaping and building, but I'm just not sure how I feel about him rearranging it to create art.
-I'm glad he tries to utilize the resources that are already there.
-It is an interesting idea that he tries to create all these different setting with the land and resources around clients' land.
-His ideology reminds me of the Native American's respect for the land, that I would like to have and wish more people would as well.
-I wish more people were so crafty with the land. As a society in general, we have moved away from a more intimate relationship with the land. During childhood, more of this bond exists, but as it gets older I think it seems to fade and becomes kind of frowned upon (unless your a farmer).
3. -I think he works outdoors because it is something he enjoys. He has a background in forestry and wildlife management, so it was probably a natural choice for him.
-His work is about interaction, both his interaction with the land and with his clients. Through his work, he wants to establish an appreciation of the simplicity of the land in his clients, as well as share his value system.
-His selection of materials comes from what is present on the site, or what he brings into the site that typically is recycled from elsewhere. However, he tries to only use what is already at the site.
4. -His method of working is very different from the maintstream, how did he come up with the idea of working the way he does?
-How did he find people to support his creations?
-Where does his inspiration come from in creating the structures?
Identity Project Notes Part B
I think my choice of media was successful in giving a shattered feeling. I also feel that using black for silhouettes of the images worked well; had I used color I think that it would not have the same feeling or effect and would have been "too much." Although, I think that maybe some of the silouhette images came out a little too ambiguous and maybe it would have been better to break up the mirror, then put the images on so that they didn't seem so random. I think had someone not known my concept and looked quick, maybe they wouldn't know they were from actual images. I think it would have also been better if I had an abstract but recognizable shape that went along with my concept that I pieced the broken pieces into instead of just a random mish-mash. Additionally, there was technical issues that if I were to persue this idea again I should try and work out. Some of the broken glass pieces continued to break when I was trying to glue them together, and I think if I had some type of board support that I was putting them on that could have been eliminated and the piece could actually hang on the wall as I had intended.Thursday, January 22, 2009
Identity Project Notes Part A
5 "Touch Points"
1. Death of my grandpa
2. Changing high schools
3. Middle school friends
4. Going to college
5. Tramatic event my freshman year *
5 Adjectives to describe touchpoint
1. shattered *
2. distrust
3. reform
4. uncovered
5. trapped
5 Metaphors
1. beautiful struggle
2. painful growth
3. hitting bottom
4. secrets and lies *
5. end of a chapter
For my touchpoint, I chose a tramatic personal event in my life that occurred my first semester of college. This event changed my life and caused me to rethink who I was (person I was vs. person I wanted to be) and where my life was going. This event really took me by surprise and changed my life immensely, and still has an impact on my life a few years later. I chose this touchpoint since it has been such a big part of my life and I still haven't gotten totally over it, so it is still fresh in a way with more to explore. For my adjective, I chose shattered because in a way that is what this event did to my life, it shattered my expectations I had for how my life would go. I feel that I can definetely make artwork based off of this word. I enjoy making things, breaking them, then reassembling them in a new way. For one of my pieces last semester in ceramics, I worked this way. For my metaphor, I chose secrets and lies because I like the way it sounds and it fits in well with my other two choices and can but used with my other choices to create an art work that interests me. Additionally, for a while, secrets and lies surrounded the event I used for my touchpoint, some of which still exists today.
My original idea for this piece was to do a black and white photo collage with triangle cut outs of pictures and solid colored triangles interspersed together at different angles. I also thought that I might maybe want to make it 3-D. Then, today when we met in groups during class, my group members had some really awesome ideas for how I could push this project further and more unique ideas for materials. I wasn't really sure what I was going to use for materials, probably card board and black and white copies of photos. Then, someone in my group suggested that I used foam core board to arrange the photos and then cut it up and rearranged it on another foam core board. Then, someone in my group suggested using a mirror and I really liked that idea. I think the mirror will really capture the idea of being shattered. Additionally, sometimes mirrors can be used to decieve. Not everyone knew what was going on in my life, so in using a mirror, it is kind of like exposing it and reflecting it back. Also, the mirror can reflect my shattered image because that event really changed the image I had of myself and caused me to question who I really was and what was really true. I am planning to copy images from this touch point in my life with tracing paper, then create stencils and ultimately paint a more simplified silhouette of the images on the mirror using black acrylic paint. I think that if I were to use colored images it would not be as effective and like the tone that the dark silhouettes on the glass establishes. To me, that gives a kind of creepy more unsettling and nervous feeling, which is what I want. For a while, some of these memories from this touchpoint were like a dark shadow lurking over my life. I am also thinking about doing a simplified self-portrait as well to intersperse with the other images to reflect the changed image and questioning of myself during this time. Once I have all of the images on the mirror and they dry, I am planning to shatter the mirror with a hammer. Then, I am planning to use the shattered pieces along with wooden dowels to form a new and different whole using a building technique similar to that employed by Roy Strassberg in his Holocaust angel pieces.
1. Death of my grandpa
2. Changing high schools
3. Middle school friends
4. Going to college
5. Tramatic event my freshman year *
5 Adjectives to describe touchpoint
1. shattered *
2. distrust
3. reform
4. uncovered
5. trapped
5 Metaphors
1. beautiful struggle
2. painful growth
3. hitting bottom
4. secrets and lies *
5. end of a chapter
For my touchpoint, I chose a tramatic personal event in my life that occurred my first semester of college. This event changed my life and caused me to rethink who I was (person I was vs. person I wanted to be) and where my life was going. This event really took me by surprise and changed my life immensely, and still has an impact on my life a few years later. I chose this touchpoint since it has been such a big part of my life and I still haven't gotten totally over it, so it is still fresh in a way with more to explore. For my adjective, I chose shattered because in a way that is what this event did to my life, it shattered my expectations I had for how my life would go. I feel that I can definetely make artwork based off of this word. I enjoy making things, breaking them, then reassembling them in a new way. For one of my pieces last semester in ceramics, I worked this way. For my metaphor, I chose secrets and lies because I like the way it sounds and it fits in well with my other two choices and can but used with my other choices to create an art work that interests me. Additionally, for a while, secrets and lies surrounded the event I used for my touchpoint, some of which still exists today.
My original idea for this piece was to do a black and white photo collage with triangle cut outs of pictures and solid colored triangles interspersed together at different angles. I also thought that I might maybe want to make it 3-D. Then, today when we met in groups during class, my group members had some really awesome ideas for how I could push this project further and more unique ideas for materials. I wasn't really sure what I was going to use for materials, probably card board and black and white copies of photos. Then, someone in my group suggested that I used foam core board to arrange the photos and then cut it up and rearranged it on another foam core board. Then, someone in my group suggested using a mirror and I really liked that idea. I think the mirror will really capture the idea of being shattered. Additionally, sometimes mirrors can be used to decieve. Not everyone knew what was going on in my life, so in using a mirror, it is kind of like exposing it and reflecting it back. Also, the mirror can reflect my shattered image because that event really changed the image I had of myself and caused me to question who I really was and what was really true. I am planning to copy images from this touch point in my life with tracing paper, then create stencils and ultimately paint a more simplified silhouette of the images on the mirror using black acrylic paint. I think that if I were to use colored images it would not be as effective and like the tone that the dark silhouettes on the glass establishes. To me, that gives a kind of creepy more unsettling and nervous feeling, which is what I want. For a while, some of these memories from this touchpoint were like a dark shadow lurking over my life. I am also thinking about doing a simplified self-portrait as well to intersperse with the other images to reflect the changed image and questioning of myself during this time. Once I have all of the images on the mirror and they dry, I am planning to shatter the mirror with a hammer. Then, I am planning to use the shattered pieces along with wooden dowels to form a new and different whole using a building technique similar to that employed by Roy Strassberg in his Holocaust angel pieces.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Nan Goldin Reading Notes
1. -What was this artist's intent in chosing the photos/moments she chose to capture?
-Does this artist find or photograph these pictures?
-Are some of them staged or real?
2. -I think the idea of a photographic diary is rather interesting.
0I wonder if she sees someting we don't in the moments she chooses to photograph.
-The pictures are from her life of her and her friends.
-I think it is interesting to see pictures of other people's lives and how they live, although I personally do not like some of her pictures that are in the book. In a way, they are all a more intimate look into the life of her and her friends, but I think some are more taboo than others and don't care to see the more taboo ones. There are some things that happen and that people do that I don't care to see pictures of.
-I do appreciate how she tries to capture the sponaeity of life in her pictures. The pictures I take are often staged or I take multiple shots trying to get the picture just how I'd like it, where as she just shoots it how it is and captures more of the actual moment.
-It would be kind of cool to have someone capturing the events of my life on film that I could look back on, although I wouldn't want it to be so extreme and would like to retain my privacy. I probably wouldn't want to remember all the sad times though.
-I kind of don't/wouldn't feel right looking at some of her pictures. Even though she is choosing to share it, I wouldn't feel right looking at it. I am more conservative.
-It is kind of wierd/interesting that if you were to look at her exhibit, you can kind of see part of a persons life unfold. Almost as if it were a fictional character in a movie, but it's not, it is a real person.
-I like the idea of healing as a topic for artwork in a way, it applies to me although not in the same way.
3. -The artist's intent was to capture the souls of her friends and give back something to them, as well as to document or capture their lives as they were. I think she does a pretty good job of capturing real-life moments.
-The artist does not find these pictures, they are photographs she has actually taken from her own life and the lives of her close friends.
-The photographs are not staged, she took the pictures of actual events happening.
4. -If she did not choose to capture such intimate moments, would her photographs have been as effective at protraying the everyday life of her and her friends?
-How is it that in the spontaneous snapshots, the gesture of a person and their demeanor is more apparent?
-Should anything go in art, or should there be some sort of boundaries?
-Does this artist find or photograph these pictures?
-Are some of them staged or real?
2. -I think the idea of a photographic diary is rather interesting.
0I wonder if she sees someting we don't in the moments she chooses to photograph.
-The pictures are from her life of her and her friends.
-I think it is interesting to see pictures of other people's lives and how they live, although I personally do not like some of her pictures that are in the book. In a way, they are all a more intimate look into the life of her and her friends, but I think some are more taboo than others and don't care to see the more taboo ones. There are some things that happen and that people do that I don't care to see pictures of.
-I do appreciate how she tries to capture the sponaeity of life in her pictures. The pictures I take are often staged or I take multiple shots trying to get the picture just how I'd like it, where as she just shoots it how it is and captures more of the actual moment.
-It would be kind of cool to have someone capturing the events of my life on film that I could look back on, although I wouldn't want it to be so extreme and would like to retain my privacy. I probably wouldn't want to remember all the sad times though.
-I kind of don't/wouldn't feel right looking at some of her pictures. Even though she is choosing to share it, I wouldn't feel right looking at it. I am more conservative.
-It is kind of wierd/interesting that if you were to look at her exhibit, you can kind of see part of a persons life unfold. Almost as if it were a fictional character in a movie, but it's not, it is a real person.
-I like the idea of healing as a topic for artwork in a way, it applies to me although not in the same way.
3. -The artist's intent was to capture the souls of her friends and give back something to them, as well as to document or capture their lives as they were. I think she does a pretty good job of capturing real-life moments.
-The artist does not find these pictures, they are photographs she has actually taken from her own life and the lives of her close friends.
-The photographs are not staged, she took the pictures of actual events happening.
4. -If she did not choose to capture such intimate moments, would her photographs have been as effective at protraying the everyday life of her and her friends?
-How is it that in the spontaneous snapshots, the gesture of a person and their demeanor is more apparent?
-Should anything go in art, or should there be some sort of boundaries?
Willliam Kentridge Reading Notes
1. -What is the significance of this artist's work?
-Why does he employ the stylistic choices he does?
-Is there a significance in his choice to leave the picture looking unfinished?
2. -I wonder if his studying of mime has an influence on the choices he makes in his work. For instance, the use of gray scale.
-I do get a sense of emotion in the selections of his work that is shown. A great deal of this comes through in the actual expression of the figures, but I think his line and color choices
also help to push this idea.
-cruelty --->harsh, unfinished, rough lines?
-Possible metaphor ---> person with the doctor
-It is wierd to think that things like South African apartheid can happen. Maybe the minority operates off the majority's fear or through intimidation?
-Normally, I don't think of video work as being art.
-There are some pretty serious issuses being addressed that I think could be used by those involved to produce some pretty powerful art.
-The images make more sense after reading his background story.
-The artist seems to be telling about his feeling and maybe that of those around him ---> collective identity.
-Through a fictional character, metaphor of an unconcious person in a coma parallel to apartheid and its end?
-Makes me think twice about things going on around me that I don't partake in, but also don't actively try and change.
-His artwork makes more sense when you know the history behind it and what South African apartheid was.
-He has an interesting technique to create his movies. It seems more effecient than making lots of drawings, although it would not work in every situation, for every idea.
-I think charcoal is an effective medium for what he is trying to express. As the book mentions, it does allow for reworking, and additionally, I think it does have the ability to portray more raw and strong emotions.
-I can relate to not really feeling like an artist, but rather as someone who makes art.
-It is nice how he is self-reliant with his films.
-I think he had some good advice for aspiring artists, and agree that it is a good idea to do something I enjoy, rather than what I feel others may desire.
3. -This artist's work deals with the emotions followed after the end of apartheid, more particularly, the guilty conscience of white South Africans like himself that witnessed the horrible deeds committed during the apartheid and the feeling of helplessness associated with it.
-I think there is more than one reason he employs the stylistic choices he does. The grayscale probably creates a more somber feel than color would. Through his choice of charcoal as a medium, he can create more spontaneous and emotional lines. Additionally, I think the charcoal works well for his films because it can be manipulated repeatedly with much ease. Also, by using the process he does, it is more efficient and he can be self-reliant in the creation of his films.
-Yes, there is a significance in his choice to leave the pictures looking unfinished. He likes to have a trace or evidence of what has been in his pictures, although it has been altered and is no more. In doing so, he plays off of the way history operates with the past influencing the future. Additionally, it helps to establish a certain feel, or tone, in his pictures.
4. -How did Kentridge come to employ the technique he uses in making his movies, was it something he witnessed others doing or did he develop it?
-Could he have used a different medium to create the same effects he achieved by using the charcoal?
-Could his artwork have the same meaning for others today?
-Why does he employ the stylistic choices he does?
-Is there a significance in his choice to leave the picture looking unfinished?
2. -I wonder if his studying of mime has an influence on the choices he makes in his work. For instance, the use of gray scale.
-I do get a sense of emotion in the selections of his work that is shown. A great deal of this comes through in the actual expression of the figures, but I think his line and color choices
also help to push this idea.
-cruelty --->harsh, unfinished, rough lines?
-Possible metaphor ---> person with the doctor
-It is wierd to think that things like South African apartheid can happen. Maybe the minority operates off the majority's fear or through intimidation?
-Normally, I don't think of video work as being art.
-There are some pretty serious issuses being addressed that I think could be used by those involved to produce some pretty powerful art.
-The images make more sense after reading his background story.
-The artist seems to be telling about his feeling and maybe that of those around him ---> collective identity.
-Through a fictional character, metaphor of an unconcious person in a coma parallel to apartheid and its end?
-Makes me think twice about things going on around me that I don't partake in, but also don't actively try and change.
-His artwork makes more sense when you know the history behind it and what South African apartheid was.
-He has an interesting technique to create his movies. It seems more effecient than making lots of drawings, although it would not work in every situation, for every idea.
-I think charcoal is an effective medium for what he is trying to express. As the book mentions, it does allow for reworking, and additionally, I think it does have the ability to portray more raw and strong emotions.
-I can relate to not really feeling like an artist, but rather as someone who makes art.
-It is nice how he is self-reliant with his films.
-I think he had some good advice for aspiring artists, and agree that it is a good idea to do something I enjoy, rather than what I feel others may desire.
3. -This artist's work deals with the emotions followed after the end of apartheid, more particularly, the guilty conscience of white South Africans like himself that witnessed the horrible deeds committed during the apartheid and the feeling of helplessness associated with it.
-I think there is more than one reason he employs the stylistic choices he does. The grayscale probably creates a more somber feel than color would. Through his choice of charcoal as a medium, he can create more spontaneous and emotional lines. Additionally, I think the charcoal works well for his films because it can be manipulated repeatedly with much ease. Also, by using the process he does, it is more efficient and he can be self-reliant in the creation of his films.
-Yes, there is a significance in his choice to leave the pictures looking unfinished. He likes to have a trace or evidence of what has been in his pictures, although it has been altered and is no more. In doing so, he plays off of the way history operates with the past influencing the future. Additionally, it helps to establish a certain feel, or tone, in his pictures.
4. -How did Kentridge come to employ the technique he uses in making his movies, was it something he witnessed others doing or did he develop it?
-Could he have used a different medium to create the same effects he achieved by using the charcoal?
-Could his artwork have the same meaning for others today?
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