Self Portrait

1.  Online I visited The Art Institute of Chicago.  I found several self-portraits there and selected three that especially inspired or intrigued me.  I chose "Self Portrait Drawing at a Window" by Rembrandt, 1648, because I loved the attention to detail and shading that gave a 3D effect to the work.  The second selection was "Self-Portrait" by Van Gogh, 1887.  This inspired me due to the use of color and specific hues combined to create the work.  Finally, I chose "Self Portrait in a Fur Cap" by Joseph Wright of Derby, 1765/68, because of the smoothness, texture, and real-life quality of the work.  

2.  The media I chose to create my self portrait was digital/computer.  I used a game program called The Sims to create not only a facial representation of myself, but also a full body, wardrobe, and characteristics/traits.  I was inspired by Rembrandt's 3D effect, Van Gogh's use of color, and Wright's texture and smoothness, but decided to do something a little different and represent these aspects in digital form.

3.  It was VERY hard to get the Sim to look like me.  In the program I used, you are given a set of heads, eyes, ears, bodies, hair, etc. to choose from.  You can then go into depth and tweak minor details of the body part selected afterward.  For example, if I selected a certain mouth, I can go into the program and tweak the depth, width, thickness, shape, scale, curve, color, etc. of the mouth.  Another challenge was accepting that a computer generated person was NOT going to look 100% or even 90% like me.  However, I made it work by looking at a picture of myself while tweaking the Sim's facial parts and making sure the the eyes, mouth, ears, nose, cheekbones, jaw, etc. were all shaped as closely as possible to mine.

4.  I think the piece represents me because it has an impish smile like mine (I've been told), bright blue eyes, makeup the way I do mine, hair the same color as mine, etc.  I was even able to give the Sim traits like mine such as family-oriented, musical, good sense of humor, etc.  

5.  I used a lot of contoured lines in this work.  I had to tweak the cheekbones, jawline, eyelids, mouth curve, etc. using contoured lines.  I also applied color to the work, combine different hues to make up the skintone, eyes, clothing, makeup, etc.  The work itself has movement because the Sim can literally move.

6.  I loved working on this project because I had fun interpreting it in a non-literal fashion.  I considered painting or sketching with charcoal, but wanted to challenge myself to think out-of-the-box a little and create something more modern.

7.  I believe that my final artwork is a great representation of myself.  It may not look exactly like me, but I feel that it exemplifies who I am as a person, and looks somewhat like myself.

Art Criticism

1. Which projects did you review?

 I reviewed all of the class' projects in order to make an informed decision about which project I wanted to work with.  I viewed Jennifer Jeffers' "Seeing People in Many Art Forms," "The Depths of the Imagination: Surrealism Through the Ages" by Natalie Korchowsky, and "Anthropology in Art" by Sheldon Anderson. 






2. Why did you select the Exhibit you critiqued?


I selected "Seeing People in Many Art Forms" because I found myself really drawn to the artworks included i the exhibit.  I loved the abstract representations off the human form, and thought that I would like to have some of the works displayed in my own home.  I also enjoyed the use of color among the works.

3. What challenges did you face in writing the critique article and how did you overcome them?

I always have a hard time with bracketing.  It was hard for me to draw references and similarities between the works and the outside world.  Also, I found it hard to add the critique into the article because I did not wish to offend the "curator."  I overcame both of these issues by researching for bracketing and carefully phrasing my critique.

4. How do you feel about critiquing your peers work?

As I mentioned before, I feel bad when critiquing my peers' work.  I never want to cut someone down or say something that would offend.  I know how hard I worked on my project, and how hard they must have worked on theirs, so I feel awkward critiquing it. 

5. Would you like to read the critique your peers wrote about your Art Curation Project?

I would love to read the critique from my peers' because I believe that constructive criticism helps you to move forward and improve.

6. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your finished article and why?


I would rate my finished article a 9 because there is always room for improvement.

7. Did you enjoy working on this project?

I enjoyed working on this project because I really liked to see how my peers interpreted the assignment and constructed their projects.

Mod 15 Video Review

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

The video Greenberg on Pollock taught me that Pollock wanted to paint movable pictures that would move between the easel and the mural; something that was new to the time.  Pollock began focusing on moving toward the edges and corners of the canvas rather than just focusing on the middle.  Beginning with this, Pollock began to move away from the concepts of containment and order.  Greenberg believes that some of Pollock’s paintings failed because they failed to appeal to the eye.  He believes that the only demand on art is for it to be good.   Contemporaries and the public never saw Pollock’s works as paintings, but more of a step in between.  This made him notorious rather than famous.

The video Greenberg on Art Criticism taught me that Greenberg believes that abstract art has been the best kind of art over the last few decades.  He believes that this was spurred by a huge “culture boo” that occurred after WWII.  Greenberg also believes that there’s a crisis of taste amongst people, and has been since Van Gogh.  Greenberg believes that good art critics, like the ones of the past, simply know value when they see it and have good intuition and judgment; an eye for aesthetics.  Greenberg thinks that one, individual artist proves themselves in a movement, but a whole, global movement does not prove itself.          

2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Criticism project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not.

Both videos relate to the creation of my Art Criticism project because both are interviews featuring an art critic.  Greenberg delves into what his beliefs are about art criticism in both videos.  He repeatedly references the importance of aesthetics, and that the only demand on art is for it to be good and aesthetically pleasing.  Both videos help me to understand Greenberg’s own philosophies regarding criticism and allow me to see how he conducted his reviews.

3. What is your opinion of the films? Do they add depth to understanding of art criticism?

I believe that these films added depth to my understanding of art criticism because they reinforced my idea that criticism sometimes has to rely on intuition.  Criticism needs to look at if the work is aesthetically pleasing and forget all of the political ideals behind it. 

Art Exhibition: Elemental Photography

I created an exhibit that consisted completely of nature photography.  It was a hard decision for me to solely include photographs and no other form of media because I love art of all styles.  However, photography is my one, true art-love and I believed that it deserved to be showcased.  I enjoy nature photography, so I decided to make my exhibit with the theme of photographs of the elements: earth, water, fire, air, and combined elements.  Therefore, my exhibit showcased 5 different galleries, with four artworks in each gallery. 
Choosing what photographs to include, and where from, was the hardest part of this project.  In the end however, I decided to go with photographs entirely from National Geographic's website.  These photos included pictures that were in the magazine, online photo contests, and travel photos from professionals and amateurs alike.  After taking a look at the NatGeo site, I made the executive decision that I would only use pictures from that site because they were too beautiful and numerous to branch out. 
Selecting the images took a few days, about 2 hour sessions each time, to decide what to include.  Even on the day of submitting the project, I was still swapping out and exchanging a few photographs.  However, this was an extremely fun process that I enjoyed immensely.  Putting the PowerPoint together was also fun because I got to play with the fonts and select my own backgrounds and layout for the exhibit.  I decided to break the PP up into the 5 sections, and have each section colo-coded to match the element that was being exhibited.  For example all Earth description slides would be green, water blue, fire red-orange, and air grey-white.  The photograph would come first with title, author, date, and site; and next a description slide with my interpretation and description of the artwork.
Overall creating this project was time-consuming, but really fun! 

Video Review - Mod. 13/14

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

An Acquiring Mind:

The first hurdle of getting an artwork into The Met is presenting it to the director of the museum.  Philippe wants quality, and always attempts to remain objective and keep his personal tastes out of his decisions.  Identifying outstanding works to go to the director of The Met is the job of over 100 curators and assistants.  Requests for purchase must first go through “The Dry Run” in which the person proposing the piece has 5 minutes to sell it to the Director before it goes to the Board of Trustees.  The Met has numerous conservators that are experts in their perspective fields and are able to re-create ancient and modern techniques in works that need restoration.  Some conservators even use x-rays to examine the objects in need of restoration.  Many of the artworks become even more stunning and beautiful when the history and restoration of them are revealed.

      

Native American Archaeology:

Archaeologists all over American have been studying Native American remains for years.  Countless remains can be found in museums across the country, with individuals using them to find out more about the human race.  However, some individuals find this to be disturbing and disrespectful.  Many Native Americans believe that the archaeologists are tainting the sacred burial grounds and remains of their people.  They do not view it as helping science; they view it as harming their ancestors.  Laws have been put into place that these remains must be returned to the Native Americans, stopping archaeologists from continuing their research.    

Displaying Modern Art:

Tate Modern created a new way of displaying modern art, and is now characteristic of modern art museums.  The art was categorized by art movement, and shown in chronological order so that the public could see how one movement flowed into the next and inspired similarities and differences.  Artists quickly began to push the boundaries of this categorization, so the way in which art was displayed needed to change.  The art was displayed in 4 sections, a thematic approach: landscape, still-life, history, and the nude.  These themes transformed even further becoming Landscape/Matter/Environment, Still Life/ Object/ Real Life, History/ Memory/ Society, and Nude/ Action/ Body.  Some critics were displeased however, by the abrupt transitions from room to room in the museum.        

West Coast Pop Art:

Lowbrow is usually in reference to an artist with no taste.  However, Lowbrow artists look at themselves as being for the people, having heart, being rebellious, and having balls.  People can actually recognize the imagery they’re seeing because it references pop culture, car culture, and folk art.  Art galleries are usually unwilling to display this type of art, but Laguna Art Museum was the first to showcase these artists in a culture show.  It took some time, but eventually female artists began being introduced into the Lowbrow culture.  Punk rock culture really embraced Lowbrow because many of the bands wanted to have Lowbrow artworks on their album covers.  Lowbrow is becoming increasingly popular around the world.            

2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Exhibition project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not. 

Two out of the four videos pertain to our Art Exhibition project.  An Acquiring mind relates to this project as it reviews how artworks in The Met have been displayed over the years.  It also explains the process that an artwork must go through, and how many curators it must be approved by, to be worthy of display in The Met.  The Displaying Modern Art video also pertains to our project as it discusses different methods of categorizing and displaying art.  Both of these videos allow us to understand what goes into setting up an exhibit.  The Bones of Contention video is more of a history of what has happened to Native American remains in archaeology.  The Lowbrow video is also more of a history and description of the Lowbrow art culture.  These videos do not have much to do with curating an art exhibit, but they do give us insight into different forms of art.

3. What is your opinion of the films? Do they add depth to understanding of the art concepts you practiced while creating your curation project?

I believe that these films will help me in creating my art curation project.  I have now been introduced to the curation process as well as to different methods of categorizing and displaying art.  I believe that these videos will help me to look for specific aspects of art when I am creating my exhibit.  

Module 12 Video Review

1.  I chose to view the Andy Warhol video because I have always been amused and fascinated by his artwork and zany personality.  I wanted to explore his work more and learn about him as an artist a bit more, so I decided to watch the video.  I chose to watch the Sculpture of Spaces video because I was intrigued by the idea of using the earth as one’s canvas.  I wanted to see these works and see how they were created, so I chose to watch this video. 

2.  Andy Warhol would recreate famous images of famous people such as Marilyn Monroe or Elizabeth Taylor or Campbell’s Soup.  Warhol would destroy the original image by reproducing it and making it even more superficial.  Warhol moved into an apartment with tin-foil covered walls that came to be used as his studio as well as a hangout for artist parties.  He turned to photography and became obsessed with celebrity and making people famous.  He published his own magazine and made a movie with Elizabeth Taylor.  He returned to making silkscreen paintings and people would pay him money to be the subject of one of his paintings in order to become famous.  Warhol also became a journalist in his later years.

Isamu Noguchi walked away from sculpture and went to Japan where his idea was formed and inspired.  He wished to create works in spaces where people could meet and come together to enjoy them.  Noguchi began to create sculpture gardens in New York that were inspired by his childhood in Japan and the intricate gardens found there.  Noguchi was commissioned to re-design Miami’s Bayfront Park, but was faced with adversity by city officials who did not wish to fund his vision and unique style of sculpting.  Nevertheless, Noguchi won out and the park was created in his vision.  He went on to explore other mediums for his parks, including slides and water, and began to include these features in his designs.  One specific work that he created that was very important was his sculptural work in Jerusalem which were acclaimed for their sensitivity to the religion and natural features of the area.  It was said that Noguchi visited Jerusalem and just completely understood its importance and relevance and beauty, and created something that fit perfectly with that image.          

3.  The video on Andy Warhol relates to the book because there was an artist’s profile page about him in the book, as well as several of his works.  Where the book only touches on the work of Warhol, and focuses more on his personality, this video focuses more on his work.  The video goes more in depth and surveys the life-work of this famous, celebrity artist.  The Sculpture of Spaces video also relates to earlier readings in the text where we read about earthworks.  The video is similar to the Warhol video in that it goes more into depth and focuses on one particular earthwork artist and his work.  In this video we get a thorough look into the life and work of artist Isamu Noguchi.    

4.  I believe that watching these videos is important because it allows us to learn more about the world around us, as well as about specific artists, artworks, and art styles.  It adds depth to our knowledge of art, but also to our knowledge of life in general.  The videos open our eyes to history and various cultures and customs and ways of life that we may not have learned about otherwise. 

Art Gallery Visit # 2

Definition of the Gallery Space and Exhibit:

The title of the exhibition that I visited at the Burchfield Penney Art Center was McCallum Tarry: Intersections.  The works in this exhibit were created by a husband and wife team named Bradley McCallum and Jacqueline Tarry.  The theme of this exhibition is a mixture of a few different subjects.  The Civil Rights movement of the United States, homeless youths in America, mothers with their children, and public use of public space are all included in this mixture.  The exhibit is bathed in a warm, yet bright light.  All of the light in this space comes from natural light coming in through high windows, and light fixtures planted in the ceiling.  The exhibit is rather large, so there were several different colors used on the walls.  Stark white, deep crimson, and wallpaper were used.  The wallpaper was composed of hues of silver, gold, crimson velvet, and peach.  The gallery itself has many different nooks and crannies.  However, the space, in general, is fairly circular in shape and one may walk through each room /exhibit of the gallery by following that circular pattern.  There is also a second gallery space on the second floor of the gallery that may be accessed by stairs found in the main gallery space.  The architecture of the gallery space is very interesting.  There are many free-standing blocks of walls that are used to house the artworks, along with the normal walls that frame the space. 

The artworks of the McCallum Tarry exhibition are organized in groups, as the exhibition is broken up into mini-exhibitions.  The pictures and paintings are clustered, some in triangular shapes, some rectangular.  They seem to be grouped by meaning, such as portraits of civil rights activists, images from the civil rights movement, images of the homeless, etc.  Many of the artworks are similar, as they are behind a silk-screen to create a blurry sort of view.  Also, many are in black and white, or are portraits of famous or everyday people.  Some of the artworks are oil on canvas, some are photographs on canvas, some are portraits, some are plaques, and some are video documentations.  Some of the artworks do not have frames.  Others have a mixture of oval, square, and rectangular shapes.  Some look rustic and beaten up while others look brand new.  Most of the artworks themselves are located a few inches from each other.  However, the varying mini-exhibitions within the exhibition are separated by walls, or by a few yards.  The labeling of the exhibit was somewhat confusing.  There was only one label for a series of paintings or portraits, and it was difficult to find where one mini-exhibit left off and another began.  I would have much preferred each mini-exhibit within the exhibit to be clearly designated and marked. 

Art Criticism:

Image One:

Describe:  The image we see here is one of a funeral.  It is not just any funeral, but a funeral for a KKK member.  The casket is covered in flowers, and surrounded on both sides by individuals in traditional KKK garb (whit hooded cloaks).  Five unmasked individuals acting as pallbearers, a young man in a tuxedo, and a priest walk toward the viewer.       

Analyze: This image is balanced symmetrically, as the focal point of the casket and priest are surrounded on either side by members of the KKK.  Shape can be found in the forms of the people present, the flowers, casket, and mausoleum.  Space can be seen between the living and the deceased; the priest and young man, and the casket and pallbearers.  Repetition can be seen in the numerous cloaked figures and an emphasis is placed on those not cloaked.    

Bracket: Religious iconography can be seen in this picture with the priest’s robes and bible. 

Interpret:  There are two different ways in which a viewer might interpret this work of art.  When viewed in context, looking at the theme of the exhibit as a whole, the viewer may believe that it was created to showcase the terrors and horrors associated with the fight for Civil Rights.  Specifically, the KKK and the atrocities they committed against African-Americans and their supporters.  Placed with the other artworks, collectively, we view this piece as part of a greater whole, a piece of the history and events of the time.  Singly, if this picture were viewed alone, one may wonder, as I did, at the humanity of the work.  How could a group so inhumane attend a service that is such an integral part of humanity; and with a priest, no less!  This viewer may believe that the artist was attempting to convey that even though the KKK committed atrocities, they are still human beings who hold their own beliefs.   

Image Two:

Describe: The images we see here are of 3 homeless youths from Seattle.  The first youth is female and has a Gothic/punk style of clothing, makeup, and piercings.  She stands with her hands in the pockets of her hoodie.  The second youth is dressed in a turtle neck, long sleeve shirt, overalls, red bandanna  and has gauges in his ears.  He stands in a defensive posture, arms crossed across his chest.  The third youth is dressed in black pants, a Bob Marley tee-shirt, necklace, and watch.  He stands in a relaxed pose, one hand in his pocket and one on his side.    

Analyze: Emphasis is the main principle found in this work of art.  In each photograph, a person stands alone in a background of darkness; there is nothing to take away from the image of that individual.  Color and light are also elements that can be seen in these photographs.  The individuals are bathed in light (a contrast with the black background) and their clothes, hair, and skin tones present various different colors in the work.  Form can be seen in the individuals’ bodies, as texture can be seen in their hair, skin, and clothes. 

Bracket: Iconography can be found in the image of musician Bob Marley, the red bandana that suggests gang relations, and the symbol for anarchy and the all-seeing-eye on the girl’s tee-shirt. 

Interpret: Endurance, the name of this mini-exhibit features 26 homeless youths who have lost someone close to them from living on the streets.  The individuals were photographed, gave an audio testimony, and stood still in front of a video camera for an hour each.  I believe that these individuals were photographed in a shadowy, dark background to show the oppression that they face, and the impending trials they will face with a life on the streets.  However, I believe that each were photographed singly, with nothing else behind them in the picture, to give them a voice and a presence; to allow them to be invisible no longer. 

Image Three:

Describe: The image we see here is one of chaos.  Police in riot gear shove through a large group of civilians, gathered for some sort of protest.  A fence separates the police from the civilians, but is opened with police streaming into the crowd.  A few bystanders take photographs of the scene in front of them.

Analyze: In this work of art, line can be seen in the form of the fence, the symbolic separation of good and evil.  Form is also very prevalent in this work; it can be found in the shapes of the people – their helmets and face shields especially.  Repetition and rhythm can be seen in the masses of people and their suggested movement. 

Bracket: Iconography can be found in the Police officer’s badges and riot helmets, and the fence that separates the “good” from the “bad” (whichever that is). 

Interpret: This image was a part of a mini-exhibit which showed the effects of the Civil Rights movement in Japan.  I believe that this picture was meant to show the audience that oppression can happen anywhere, and to all races.  It was also used to show the chaotic element of protest and the fight for civil rights. 

Summary:

I enjoyed going to the art gallery to explore the space and layout and architecture rather than simply the artworks.  It was interesting to look at the use of space and realize why things might be placed in a certain way, or why extra elements (such as extra walls) might have been added. Looking at the space as a whole opened my eyes to how artists, especially installation artists, may wish to utilize specific elements of the space in their works of art.