Course Reflection

Looking back at my first post on this blog as well as in the discussion forums, it makes me think of all the work that was accomplished since then. I didn't know what to expect when I signed up for the course, so I can't say I was disappointed by anything. It was a lot more work than I had been anticipating to say the least. Not that any of it was terribly difficult, just that it was a very time consuming class, which made it a little tedious for me for the first 3/4 because I was taking a chemistry class at a community college at the same time, as well as working as a waitress in the evenings.

I think that my appreciation for art has grown infinitely. I'm still skeptical about some things that seem like a child could have created it and it's considered to be some artistic masterpiece worth hundreds of dollars.. but I suppose some things will never change. I really did enjoy the chances to go to different galleries and see what I had been reading about in person. I usually dragged my mom with me on these ventures and she enjoyed the visits as well. My definition of art is probably still the same. I don't think you can pin down something so subjective as art in one simple definition.  But for the sake of answering this question... I'd say it is something that expresses the thoughts, feelings, imaginations, dreams, skills, and creativity of the artist in a unique way that may or may not be aesthetically pleasing to everyone in the public. 

I didn't have a favorite artist when I started this class. Now, I have new appreciation for several. ( I should have put Van Gogh and Pollock in the original post because I did actually like them more than most at the time)    

          > Vincent Van Gogh

          > Jackson Pollock

          > Edvard Munch

          > Gary Simmons 

          > Sayaka Ganz 

          > Marcia Baldwin 

After completing an entirely online based course I can say that while it was challenging at times, I liked it, and I feel that I learned a lot because I had to teach myself. I figured out how to use the programs relatively easily and was able to complete everything even when I wasn't sure I would. Overall, I had a positive experience with taking AED 200 during the summer term.

Self-Portrait

My inspiration pieces don't really resemble much that my final piece ended up as. The rose I took the colors from, and the relaxed vibe is what I took from the others, as well as the simplicity of the images. I sort of already had the image in my head before I went to the gallery so I had to find pieces that fit into my plan. So I suppose I worked backwards. 

 Untitled 
Artist: Steve Hanks

                                                            Title: In Her Thoughts
                                                            Artist: Steve Hanks

 Title: To Search Within

Artist: Steve Hanks

                                                                       Untitled
                                                                       Artist: Reynolds

 ME!

        I chose to use paint and colored pencil. I drew the outline of me and the roses with pencil first. Then I used acrylic paints to create an abstract background that resembles water. I chose to use these materials because I knew that I wanted to paint, but I can't do fine details well so I knew I'd have to draw. The challenge was in deciding if I wanted the entire thing to be abstract or not, and where I was going to put the roses. (which needed to be apart of the piece)

       There is symmetry in the colors with it being dark and bright on the opposite sides of the picture which forces you to look at everything. There are two spirals with are at diagonals from each other which also add to the balancing of the colors and the image as a whole. The figure, and the roses seem to be floating up out of the watery backdrop and they really stand out because they are made out of a completely different material.

I think that it's really difficult to find a way to represent yourself, all of yourself, in one way. I think that this does a fairly good job of it. The nods at water, and having the roses in image show some things that are very meaningful to me. My eyes are drawn rather big because those are one of my favorite features. I usually wear black shirts as well, which is why I drew myself in one. I think that I exude an air of confidence as well as calmness and friendliness in this image. Which is what I try to be as much as possible. Overall, I like my final product. I really enjoy painting so it was nice to finally just do what ever I wished with it.

Writing a Critique

I reviewed several different exhibits...

              > Wild Women Exhibtion by Devon Mussachi

              > Near the Water's Edge by Thomas Poppenberg

              > Water All Around by Richard Cruz

              > The Ink of Love Bleeds Inspiration by Shannon Pierre 

The exhibit I chose to actually critique was Near the Water's Edge. I was really torn between all of these and I almost chose the first one, but I really connected with some of the pieces in the exhibit, and I'm impartial to anything that has to do with, or resembles water. 

I'll be honest, I really didn't have too much trouble writing the piece. I wanted to pick an exhibit that I didn't like or that I had issues with so that way there was more to write about, but I decided that I helping my peers instead of cutting them down was the better way to go about this assignment.  I think that reviewing each others work is really beneficial but the concern is that we won't be entirely truthful because there is fear of hurting someone's feelings. 

I would definitely be interested to see what others thought of my project. That's the beauty of an online class is that we are mostly anonymous and unknown to the rest of the class so we can write things about a project and not fear seeing that person the next day in class. 

I would say that I wrote a 7.5 article. I'm not one to say that I did a flawless piece, but I also know that I wasn't bad and I addressed all that needed to be. Overall, I really liked the project and having a chance to see what some of my classmates came up with. 

Art Criticism Video Reviews

1.) Videos:

 Greenberg on Pollock: An Interview by T.J. Clark

                Key Points: 1947 Jackson Pollock painted his first splatter-drip piece, he believed his paintings to be a transition from the easel to a mural. 

                                  : There is a lot of difficulty characterizing his art. 

The Critics: Stories from Inside the Pages

                 Key Points: A good critic will both be giving the fresh ideas as well as suggesting fresh ones, or ways at looking at things. They get the public to think about the media we are exposed to.

                                    :   Takes you from a neutral position to taking a side, or taking an interest in a media form. 

                                    : Critics can help improve the media. 

                                    : A review is an informed opinion, a critique is more analytical. Reviewers assume that the audience doesn't know anything about the subject. Critics assume that their audience is more familiar with the subject. 

                                    :

2.) They were both related to the project, the second one was more directly related because it defined more of what a critic does and the good they can do for the mass media. The first was more of an opinion piece about a specific artist.

3.) The first video on Pollock was a bit of a bit of a let down for me. I really admire Jackson Pollock as an artist, and I didn't really find the video engaging, or interesting at all. The audio was really poor and hard to understand as well. The Critics video was really well done. It was a little sporadic but very interesting and I have a new respect for critics. I admittedly think that some critics are too harsh or not intelligent but this video showed me that they are hard working people too. 

Creating a Gallery

I had a lot of difficulty at first picking a theme for the gallery. I kept changing my ideas and not finding enough material to make it work. I'm not entirely sure how I ended up deciding on doing the 5 elements as a theme, but I felt right to do and I'm happy with my choice. 

Some of the elements were easier to find images for than others. I had an easy time finding the combined elements images, and earth ended up being the most tricky because there was so much that could be used for it.

Overall, I think that the project came out well, and I have a new found respect for curators. There is a lot of planning and thinking that goes into making these exhibits.

Art Exhibition Video Reviews

1.) Videos:

      The Lowdown on Lowbrow

       Key Points: Lowbrow is art someone doesn't really know how to categorize. It's reactionary to highbrow. Dark humor, witty.

                         : It relates to the masses because of the wide range of topics and categories covered in this art. Ex. Hot rods, naked women, popular culture.

                         : Influences from Pop art, Rock and psychedelic posters, consumerism, "atomic age" after WII, comic books, B-movies, cartoons

      Displaying Modern Art

       Key Points:  Art at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC (MoMA) used to be displayed in chronological order and on plain white walls with flexible lighting.

                         : Now at MoMA, art comes off the walls, the space is noisy and includes the viewer in the experience.

                         : Tate Modern displays modern art in 4 sections. Each section has an overriding theme/ principle. Landscape/matter/environment, still-life/object/real-life, history/memory/society, and nude/action/body are the themes.

                         : At Tate Modern, art is displayed in juxtaposed ways and each room is an odd and abrupt transition in each room. 

      Bones of Contention

      Key Points: In 1976, Iowa passed the first law in the US that protected Indian burial sites. 

                         : Native American bones have been collected for study and stored in museums for years. There is debate other whether to return the bones to the ancestor's or not. 

                         : In Native American Museum, natives are the ones that design the space and how the artifacts are displayed. 

       An Acquiring Mind

       Key Points:  Philippe de Montebello was the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for 31 years.

                          : Before a piece is bought and put on display, it must go through a betting process. The curators must convince the director that a piece is worth acquiring. 

 

2.) The videos were all very different. The last one actually went into the buying process for pieces, while the second one discussed how displays are created and organized in museums. The first video didn't really discuss art curating, but it did talk about the controversy of what is deemed acceptable for display. The third video also discussed controversy but in a different regard and it further shows that running a museum is not as simple as it appears.

3.) I thoroughly enjoyed the Lowdown on Lowbrow video. It was witty, and engaging, and I had never heard about this genre of art before which made it even more interesting. The Displaying Modern Art video was dull comparatively to the first one. The speakers were low and uninterested in what they were saying, but I did think that what was actually discussed about how modern art is and has been displayed to be intriguing. For me, I also like to organize by broad categories and then simplify in each category. So in that regard, I'm more of a Tate Modern display. The Bones of Contention video was sad. I have a tremendous respect for the natives and my heart breaks for what had happened to them. That being said, it was more about the battle between holding the bones in the name of science or to return them to their ancestors than it was about curating. The last video, An Acquiring Mind, wasn't bad. I thought that Philippe was amusing and his accomplishments as director of the Met is extraordinary. It showed the side of museums before the displays can even be created.

Second Art Gallery Visit

This time I went to the Art League of Long Island where there was an exhibition called Partial Portrait. It was a joint exhibition of the artists Lance Corey, Malcolm Blair, and jeweler Deborah Dudley Max. The theme is hard to pin down. It's basically the thoughts and feelings of the artists as well as inspired pieces from Pollock, Picasso, Matisse, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism.
            website for the venue: http://artleagueli.org/ 
            full story of the exhibit: http://artleagueli.org/node/591


THE GALLERY
The gallery is two floors and is relatively spacious. The design is a square; simple to navigate. The second floor is open in the center so that way viewers can look down to the first floor, and there are a lot of windows which makes the space appear a slightly larger as well. The walls were a plain white, and the first floor was decently lit, while the second floor was a bit dim. There is a glass barrier around the open center of the top floor so that way visitors don't fall, but can still see through to the floor beneath.

Pictures of Gallery

Lower Level

Each of the pieces were very unique. There were some done out of wood, some were Pop Art inspired, while others were painted. There was a mix of abstract art as well as expressionism as well. The pieces were spaced sort of close to each other but it wasn't over crowded or awkward to look at. They all seemed to go together though in a way that you really can't accurately put into words. The labels were simple. The name of the artist on, with the name of the piece under it which was usually no more than 2-3 words which I found interesting.
    This is titled Senior Woes, and it is a piece by Lance Corey. It is a wood work and paint piece. It depicts what looks like two people in conversation with eachother. This picture is very simple yet also very powerful, There is balance between the light spaces and the dark spaces, and the attention is almost instantly drawn to the figure on the left's  face. I can feel the stress and emotion coming from the figures and it makes me want to know what they are discussing. I think that the artist wanted us to feel passion for the elderly and to not be so quick as to think that everyone's life is perfect.

    The piece, also by Lance Corey, is the Prisoner. It is paint that has been heavy handedly smeared in different colors in a certain way on a large canvas. The drama of the red and blue is lightened up by the strip of white. It is a vert abstract piece but the name makes you start to think. When I first saw it I immediately thought of the flag because of the red, white, and blue, and then after reading the name thought that maybe the artist is saying we are prisoner's of our own country and thoughts of patriotism. We should be more accepting of other countries, and cultures.                                              
    This last piece also Lance Corey is called Lullabye. It is a long rectangluar wood work that has lighly painted floral designs in pastel colors. The lines are smooth and gentle, and the eye travels up and down the piece. The darkest spot in the center draws the most attention since all the colors are muted. There isn't much variety but it doesn't need it. The piece made me feel calm and peaceful, and I thought that the name for it was perfect. It reminded me of flowers and dreams and peacefulness, which i think was the artist's goal.

                                                      

 I liked having to look at all the components of a gallery. The space is just as important as the exhibition itself. I really like having to go to galleries. It's forcing us to be more involved in the community and to open our minds to other ideas. It also allows us to put what we have been learning into practice.

Here's Another Review!

1.) I chose to watch "Uncertainty" because it was the first name on the list that jumped out at me so I went with my gut reaction in that particular selection. The second video I watched was the "Sculpture of Spaces". I don't have a particular reason as to why I chose this one, I just thought that the name was intriguing enough so I figured I'd give it a try.

2.) Videos:
Uncertainty: Modernity and art
         Key Points: Modern art keeps responding to modern life.
                           : Modern art is the break of traditional art of the past.
                           : Reality is the balance of many different view points, and challenging feelings of doubt of life, and who we are.
                           : Cubism says there' a different way to approach truth that isn't perfectly smooth and rounded. The world is "fractured".
                           : Abstract art asks questions and creates experiments, but is open-ended and doesn't solve any of the questions that it asks.
                           : Pop art represents a change in thinking from the 50's to the 60's. We can look at things ironically and not everything has to be moral. Art can in fact be random and still be meaningful.
                           : Art now mirrors what we are, at the level that we are already at. In the past it reflected aspirations, and images of idealized society and self.

Isamu Noguchi: Sculpture of Spaces
           Key Points: Noguchi creates sculpture gardens in order to humanize space and sculpture and time. 
                               :  He's committed to creating something useful for people with his art.  
                                : Nothing in nature is perfect, but it is perfect in its imperfections.

3.) The first video was really helpful with understanding the way modern art grew into what it is, and exploring some of the trends and concepts. The second one didn't really have much to do with anything in particular with the chapter discussions, but it did show modernity in sculpture of the one artist's creation.  

4.) "Uncertainty" was a very good video. The sound quality was well done, and the speaker was entertaining to listen to and kept my attention. I really liked the subject matter as well. The "Sculpture" video was very slow moving with many awkward pauses and transitions. It was more about the man's life than particular trends or sculptures.

Video Reviews!! Video Reviews!!

1.) I chose to watch the videos "Dada and Surrealism" and "Expressionism". I personally really liked surrealism when I read about it in the book because of it's influences by Freud. I have a love and respect for all things psychology and Sigmund Freud's theories are the start of it all so I wanted to learn more about it. The fact that Dada is in it as well wasn't really what drew me into it, but I figured it would be interesting as well. I chose the Expressionism video because the first artist mentioned in the description is Edvard Munch, who is one of my favorite artists so I wanted to watch the video to see what they had to say on his works.

2.) Videos:
Dada and Surrealism
             Key Points:  Dada is the art of nonsense, absurdity, creativity, silliness, and spontaneity. It's anti-art, anti-society, anti-class structure, anti-everything. A state of mind.
                               : Kurt Schwitters, German artist, used collage. He took scraps from the wreckages of WWI and refused to be defined as Dada or any particular type of artist. He encouraged modernity. 
                               : Hanna Höch was the only woman in the Dada Berlin group. She used art to attack society. 
                               : George Grosz chose to paint the collective mechanical concept he felt that mankind had become. He painted a wide range of social structures. His works were burned by the Nazi's when he left Berlin in 1933. 
                                :  Joan Miro's paintings offer viewers different ways of looking at the world, and at the painting itself. Played an important role in Surrealist ideas. 
                                : Salvador Dali tries to explore the darkest regions of the human subconscious. 
                                : Man Ray paints a collection of familar objects in an unfamiliar way, and challenges our views on reality in juxtaposition with eachother.
Expressionism
             Key Points: Edvard Munch's images tend to follow the theme of the problematic relationship between man and woman and sexuality. He uses colors to further create the emotion and expressions in the images.He painted extreme states of mind, and often pessimistic.
                              : Franz Marc used color to exaggerate emotion, not to simply describe a scene. He chose animals to paint because he hated the way man was depicted as the conqueror of all things and is above nature. Cubism is used as a way to heighten realism and sentiment.
                              : The other artists discussed alter their styles of art as the course of WWI takes place. Many are cryptic, and it's not easy to decipher what the meanings are behind each image. WWII stirrings also lead to dark images of impending war.

3.) The videos were useful in that they explored the artistic movements through specific art works and artists of the time.

4.) The Dada and Surrealism video wasn't bad, but the speaker's voice was very dull and unengaging. It wasn't what I thought it was going to be at all either, I had high expectations and was rather let down by what was actually discussed. The Expressionism video also had the same boring dull speaker, and followed the same general concept as the first video.

Masks

Inspiration pieces:

Description: Plain white mask with black spirals. 

Analysis: The size and placement of the spirals balance each other creating a harmonious and simple design.

 Description: Three similarly designed masks with different base colors and colored feathers on top. 
Analysis: The filigree is symmetrical on all the pieces creating balance while the feathers on top draw the eyes upward. The contrasts of color and sparkle make the masks 'pop' and are more interesting to look at. 

Description: White and silver mask with intricate filigree topped with a large plume of white feathers. 
Analysis: Most of the attention is drawn to the top of the mask due to the largeness of the feathers. This is balanced by the intricacy of the designs and also the wideness of the mask itself.  

Sketches: 

Outcome: 

There is balance with the colors of black and red and white. The spirals keep bringing the eye around the entire mask while the white feather makes the eyes jump to the upper left side. 

I wanted to keep the mask simple and still interesting. I love the use of reds and blacks together, but I didn't want it to take on a dark or creepy tone so I left the background white and added the white feather in order to keep it light. I wasn't sure if I would have enough space to paint the spirals to that's why I didn't cut the mask into any particular shape. I wanted to be sure I could decorate it how I wanted it to. Now that it's done, I would have cut it, and maybe added some sparkles around it as well but overall I like it.

Hand Drawings

1.) Having to use my hand as subject matter was a bit like being back in elementary school. I remember doing this exact project of drawing each hand with the opposite hand back when I was a little girl. It was nice to not have to think about a project all that much since it was very straightforward. 

2.) I chose pencil because I can erase with it, which I knew I'd need to do. 

3.) It was kind of uncomfortable drawing with my left hand (I'm right handed) and my hand was really shaky while holding the pencil. It's weird though because I do use my left hand a bit in everyday life but not in small motor skills which drawing most definitely is.

4.) I cheated a bit with the left handed drawing because I knew that I would have trouble, so I traced the outline of my hand first instead of free handed drawing like I did with my dominant hand. So the picture with my dominant hand actually looks worse than the other one, but more attention and time was given to it which might have been why it looks worse in retrospect haha

5.) I didn't mind using my left hand for this particular project because it was simple, and I would consider using it for other projects too in the future as long as they didn't require a lot of detail and carefully done work. 

My Left Hand.. as Drawn by my Right Hand

My Right Hand.. as Drawn by my Left Hand

MORE Reviews...this time about African and Buddhist Art!!

1.) I chose the videos on African art and Buddhism because they seemed the most interesting to me from the list. I had already watched two videos about specific pieces of art so I wanted to watch something that was broader, but more focused on a certain region or concept.

2.) Videos: 

African Art

            Key Points: Art is still an important part of daily life in sub-Saharan African villages, especially in rituals and ceremonies.

                              : Masks and costumes are highly stylized and embellished for ceremonies. The oldest of African art is found in dry regions on the rock walls of caves. 

                              : Most African art is conceptual, and flows from the mind of the artist freely.

Buddhism

            Key Points: The key to Buddhist teachings is to learn to let go of all desires that feed the ego and obstruct enlightenment. 

                              : The monks would look to Buddha as a saint. The rest of the followers saw him as a savior. 

                              :  The ornate carvings of the teachings of Buddha slowly started to stop showing the Buddha himself, but having him shown as symbols of trees which makes him more of a spiritual being.

3.) The chapter discussed many different beliefs and cultures so it was nice to have a more focused look at a few of them by watching the videos.

4.) The videos were short which was nice for a change, but the sound quality was not quite as good as some of the other videos I've seen, and they progressed along rather slowly and it was difficult to hold complete interest in the videos despite them being short.

Oh Man... Video Reviews Again!

1.) I chose the videos on the Primavera and Night Watch because they were the first two names that jumped out at me, so I figured those would be what I would review.

2.) Videos: 

     La Primavera 

            Key Points: There are many interpretations of the famous painting by Botticelli

                              : All the figures in the painting are from classical mythology. 

                              : The painting pleases the mind and eye in aesthetic and intellectual ways. It's large size contributes to its grandeur. 

                              : It was commissioned as a wedding gift to a young couple who had an arranged "loveless" marriage. It was placed in their chamber room.

                              : Even though the painting is presided over by Venus, goddess of love, there is the representation of rape and sexual violence from the wind god to the goddess of flora.

      

       Night Watch

            Key Points: The painting has been slashed with a knife, had acid thrown on it, and drenched in water. It has become a sort of pilgrimage for the Dutch people. 

                             : It's over 11 feet high and 14 feet wide. 

                             : The militia guild, "musketeers" commissioned many portraits during this time, and were more ceremonial in purpose. Remembrant decided to paint them with more drama, and in a "revolutionary' feel. He wanted action not posing, and the front men appear to be walking right off the canvas.

 

3.)  The videos opened up the world of the Renaissance further than in just reading it in the text, but through the eyes of the painters. It's really beneficial to see the many sides of the topics.

4.) The films were both really interesting. They went into detail on two very different, and famous paintings, and I liked seeing the many perspectives and themes and ideas that were portrayed in each one.

And Yet Another Video Review

1.)  I chose to watch the Greek Art video because I really like Greek mythology, and the temples and statues are very intriguing and beautiful that are dedicated to the gods and goddesses. I was curious to learn more about the beauty ideal and change in culture of the ancient Greeks. The second video I chose was about the Plague in Tuscany. I decided that it seemed very unlike all of the other videos and focused more on the incompleteness of pieces rather than the finished product. I also thought it was interesting because it was a darker and sadder time, while the other videos talked about times of prosperity.

2.) Videos:

More Human than Human 

        Key Points:  People are obsessed with the human form, but none of the forms that we are exposed to everyday (ads, sculpture, paintings, models, magazines etc) are what "real" human beings look like. Exaggeration, and unrealistic features.

                        : Instinct to exaggerate the human form. But "culture is king", and dictates how we depict the body. As culture changes, what artists choose to exaggerate also changes. 

                        : Egyptians suppressed the instinct in order to maintain the firm belief in consistency, stability, and order. So their style of art didn't change for centuries.  

                        : Although Greeks strove for realistic figures, these were too "boring" so exaggerated body movements and muscle tone, as well as the look of a relaxed athlete that's ready for action were used in the sculptures. 

The Measure of All Things: Greek Art and the Human Figure

          Key Points: Ancient Greeks were obsessed with the human body, and the ability to create a sense of movement in their art, as well as portraying human emotion.

                           : There were no records of Greek paintings, it was found on their pottery.

                           : They were able to capture the most natural stance of the human body. Leg bent, shoulders slumped slightly, hip raised, other leg straight. 

                           : Portrayed ideal beauty through realism that was also exaggerated to show divine power of gods/goddesses.

Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany

          Key Points: Early 1300's there was an outbreak of bubonic plague in China. It spread along the trade routes to Europe by flea infected rats.

                          : In Tuscany, there was an environmental, economic, demographic, and agricultural crisis. (banks collapsed, famine, rapid population growth). The plague hit harder for them because they were already in a weakened state. 

                          : Between 1/2 and a 1/3 of the population in Europe died.

                         : Blame was placed on the Jews for "poisoning the "Christians". 

                         : In art.. images were darker and showed Hell, people were made flatter, and lots of emotion is used to show doubt, sadness and fear, and pain. There is also escapism in order to try show hope.

3.) The videos relate to the readings because this week we learned about ancient civilizations and their impact on art, as well as the rise of Christianity, and the videos were all a sub-section of these topics. 

4.) I have to say that I actually really liked all of the videos that I watched this week. Normally I'm not the biggest fan of at least one of them, but all of them were interesting, speakers were well-spoken and informative, and the subjects were engaging. I think that they really help with understanding the way art has been evolving since the time of the ancients. 

Architecture Video Reviews

1.) Prairie Style Video:

       Key Points: Frank Lloyd Wright developed wide, open, horizontal floor plans for housing that emphasized the harmony between client, architecture, and the environment.

                        : Homes should be part of the landscape, and reflect the time, and place, and landscape of the area. 

Architecture: Science and Design Video:

       Key Points: Very tall skyscrapers can sway up to 3 meters in a strong wind. 

                         :  Smart houses, are still very expensive, but are becoming more attainable for the elderly, and sick. 

                         : Concrete is found in all forms of architecture. 

                         : Reinforced concrete allows for it to be made into almost any structure.  

Classical Architecture Video: 

       Key Points: Indigo Jones was the architect that brought the Classical Style to England. 

                         : It's not limited to just important government buildings, but residential buildings are also being designed with the classical style. (English Terrace)

                         : Post-Modern style combines classical with modern architecture. 

Sustainable Development and Architecture Video: 

      Key Points: It's important to think of ourselves as part of a bigger picture in order to not use resources absentmindedly.

                       : Buildings can be designed to work more efficiently with less energy consumption and waste production. 

                       : Integrated systems that use sunlight, gardens, fresh air, underfloor heating and cooling, and renewable resources are some of the ways sustainable living is achieved. 

                       : Most of the carbon emissions come from cities, so city life as we know it might not be a practical way to live for the future. Buildings need to adapt to have more than one purpose.

2.) The videos expand on the different sections of the text. This helps because then we can see and hear the information, and not just simply read it which might not make as lasting of an impression as watching a video does.

3.) I liked the prairie style video because it was something I hadn't heard of directly and was light-hearted and a bit more faster in pace. The Design video was very informative, though very apparent in it being old which makes me wonder if it's almost outdated. The architecture video was sort of a medium between the first two. It was informative but in a way that was more engaging to listen to and watch. The Sustainable video was really interesting and I thought that it talked about a lot of great aspects about 'green living', but the subtitles were very distracting because of all the foreign speakers on the video.

4.) I chose the Sustainable Architecture video because I am very interested in the preservation of the planet. I think that it is extremely important to take care of the Earth in order to ensure that future generations will get to have the same chances and opportunities (if not more) than we did. I took an Environmental Science class back in high school and loved it. We had done a section on sustainable living that I found really interesting, and I though that the video could teach more more about the subject.

Installation Art Project

What is Installation Art? 

              - According to the text, it's a form of art that the entire room, or a space, is treated as the entire work of art which is to be entered and experienced. It's usually in a specific location and usually for a short period of time. 

What Materials are used?

              - Literally just about anything and everything that the artist wishes to use.

 

Why Make it? 

              - It's an experience. It is a new way for art to become connected with the public, and vice versa. Honestly the same question could be asked about any form of art.. why make it? Because it fulfills some subconscious and conscious need in people to express themselves, ask questions, seek answers, find acceptance, and to be apart of something that's bigger than themselves, even if it's just for a few minutes. 

 

Which did I find interesting?

               - In the book it mentioned the "gates" installation piece that was designed by Christo and Jeanne- Claude. It was 7,503 orange sheets on frames that were spread all through out Central Park in NYC. By default I have to say that I find it interesting because I was actually there on one of the 16 days it was to be set up. I remember thinking that it was a lot of hype over what seemed really simple, but I see now that I was apart of history, and helping support years to come of artistic achievements. 

For the project I honestly was at such a loss as to what to do, how to do it, and what exactly I was supposed to do. I ended up choosing the topic of self, and my materials used were literally just the everyday things that I use such as my laptop, ipod, lab book, art text book, calculator, a cool drink, my drink this not that book (because I'm very into health and nutrition), and sunglasses. My location is outside in my backyard on one of the lounge chairs and the table next to it. I sit in that spot almost everyday with these items littered around me. I figured that that was a good idea for an installation... "A day in the Life". (I know it's not very original of a name) My day every day is generally, school work, school, work, and more school work. (i'm taking two summer classes, and one is at the local community college that I have to drive 30-40 mins to each day..in retrospect I should have put my car keys in this too.)

SO... here is my piece.

Name: A Day in the Life

Location: My backyard in East Northport, NY 11731

 

Peer Reviewing

I think that peer reviews are an unappreciated, yet very effective learning process. It helps an individual open their eyes to things that they might not have, and receive praise and recognition (which can be beneficial in and of itself),  but in a way that feels less threatening since it's done by those considered to be 'equals'. That being said, I think that the process of peer reviewing the art projects we had (although this one wasn't as difficult as editing a paper for English class haha), was a great assignment. It's always interesting to see what other ideas peers have come up with for the same project topics, while also trying to say constructive and positive things about it.

 I looked at Richard Cruz and Kelly Caruso's blogs 

Richard Cruz:  http://cruzrs01blog1.blogspot.com/

Kelly Caruso: http://carukl84.blogspot.com/ 

1.) The first project we did was to capture the principles and elements of art in photos. Both I felt truly did an amazing job. The pictures were very unique and you could tell that there was a lot of consideration taken in selecting them. There were several that could double in several of the categories. Richard's pictures for color and unity definitely could have been interchangeable, as well as the pictures Kelly used for line and shape. I thought it was interesting that Kelly and I had a very similar picture of looking up at cylindrical buildings. Her's was for form, and mine had been for movement. 

2.) None of the images used in the second project (art gallery visit) were the same in either of the blogs or my own. Kelly went to a gallery in Rochester, while Richard went to the Albright-Knox in Buffalo. I'm from Long Island so I went to a gallery near me. I found that even though I didn't feel any sort of connection with the images that spoke to Richard, I could completely understand why he felt as he did because his reviews and explanations were so passionate. Some of the pieces Kelly chose I feel that I would have selected myself too which I thought was really cool. 

3.) To piggy-back on the comment about Kelly's picks, I definitely was interested in two of the images in particular. (the glass sculpture, and the Billboard Painting in Louisiana) The billboard painting sparks so many mixed emotions. It's a little foreboding, creepy even, but strangely beautiful. While the glass sculpture is just an amazement in and of itself. I think it's simple and powerful and unique. 

4.) My opening statement actually answers the question about what I thought of the process :)

5.) I was actually really excited to see I had comments. I want to know what people think of what I have to say and the work I've done. It's very encouraging.

Video Reviews: Glass & Ceramics, Installation Art, and Sculpture

1.) Glass & Ceramics Video
 key points: 
                  :Glass is made from sand, silica mix, and heat. It's not a true solid, but a viscous liquid that hardens when cooled.
                  : Stained glass is a 'puzzle' of colored glass put together in frames. 
                  : Windows (glass) are good for protection against hot/cold temperatures and for transmission of sound waves. 
                  : Ceramics is made with a clay base, water, and heat. 
                  : The quality of ceramics is based on the raw materials, and temperature fired at. Ex. Fine China is fired at 1400 Celsius, bricks and clay tile is fired at 1100 Celsius. 
                  : Dry pressing is used for making simple shapes in large amounts (plates) and uses dry powder instead of the liquid clay 'slip'.
                  : Ceramics applications are spreading. Used as hip replacement joints, mufflers in cars, radar components.
     
     Installation Art Video
Key points:
                  : Several ways to define it... an art work that takes over and defines a space. Art that is all around a viewer and creates an attitude/atmosphere. The product of interaction and the environment in a designated space."Art of the moment"
                  : Installation art is designed to force the viewer to interact with the environment. 
                  : Site Specific Art is installation that is made for that specific area only. Ex. Spiral Jetty, Salt Lake, Utah.
                  : Usually not bought and sold like other 'traditional' artwork, but is broken down to make space available for new installations.
   
    Sculpture Video
Key points:    
                  : Stone is the chosen canvas for a sculptor. 
                  : According to Michelangelo, the statue is already inside the marble. The artist just has to cut away the excess to set the statue free.
                  : Sculptors must carve with feeling, emotion, and sensitivity in order to make the piece come alive. Visualize the final outcome first, and draw it out.
                  : To check the quality of a piece of marble, make sure there are no cracks, and the sound it makes when it's hit must be a certain sound.
                  : Clay is the original, then plaster is the between stage, and marble is the final. 
                  : There is no waste at a limestone quarry because the calcium carbonate that is the main component, can be used in many areas such as food, powders, and paint.

2.) These videos relate to the readings and in my opinion, seem to go more in depth than the text. (especially for the glass and installation art sections)

3.) I though that the Installation Art video's sound quality was very poor. It was very hard to hear the speakers, and the background music was overpoweringly loud in comparison. Overall though it gave me a much better understanding of what installation art is about in a way that simply reading it in the textbook can't provide. 
The glass and ceramics video was also helpful, and I liked that it wasn't too long. It's really interesting to see all the applications, in other areas than art, that the mediums are used in. 
The  sculptor video wasn't quite as informative as the others were, but it was extremely interesting to hear about the quarries and all the months of planning and painstaking work that goes into creating a sculpture.