Exploring Line

1. What was it like using your hand as subject matter for a drawing?

Using my hand as the subject matter made me look at things in more detail. I never really reallized how much detail just my hand had, I can not image what detail other things have. It was very intereresting drawing my hand, something that is very vital to me everyday.

2. What media did you select - pencil or charcoal? Why?

The media I selected was pencil. I thought pencil it was going to be easier to get the specific details in my hand, but I wish that I would have used charcoal instead because of the smugging from charcoal, it makes it look so much better and very artistic.

3. How did it feel to create a drawing with your non-dominant hand?

Creating a drawing with my right hand. which is my non-dominant hand was very difficult. I could not really even hold the pencil right. The detail in my left hand is not as great as the detail in my right hand. It was a very difficult process to do.

4. Compare and contrast your final drawings. Do you think they are successful studies?

For my final drawings, I believe that my left hand drawing of my right hand was successful, the other one was not so much successful.

5. Would you consider using your non-dominant hand to create artwork in the future?

I would not consider using my non-dominant hand to create artwork for the future. I believe it was not in great detail and it was a little sloppy, which I did not like.



Week 9-- Video Reviews

Explain why you selected each of the FOUR videos you choose from the selection listed above.
The four videos that I chose are “The Drawings of Michelangelo”, “Albrecht Durer: Image of a Master”, “Leonardo da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance” and “ La Primavera (Botticelli)”. I chose the video about Michelangelo because based on the text I found him to be very interesting as well as Leonardo da Vinci. I would love to learn more about them and their works of art. I Chose “Albrecht Durer: Image of a Master” because he was another artist who stood out to me as well. He was an Italian artist and I thought it would be interesting to learn about someone from my ethnicity. “La Primavera (Botticelli)” sounded interesting to me; therefore I wanted to know what it was about.


For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
“The Drawings of Michelangelo”
My art students can benefit greatly from comparing Michelangelo’s preparatory drawings to his finished works, but when viewing them together it is virtually impossible in a museum setting. The drawings that remained from Michelangelo, revealed his perfectionism and his amazing techniques. Michelangelo denied the influence of Ghirlandaio with his work, but there was very much similarity between these two artists and their works of art. Michelangelo taught himself to sculpt. He had a signature piece which was known as The “Pieta”. This was a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture which is housed in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. It was the first of number of works of the same theme by Michelangelo. He had such great knowledge for the human anatomy. “David” was the first colossal marble sculpture to be carved in Italy since antiquity. This is a very well known piece as well. Examining his draw3ings reveals the emphasis on the solar plexus of the human figures. With examining these closer, the figures show the almost impossibility of the torque of the artists’ figure as well as the unnatural emphasis of underlying structure. Michelangelo begins to paint the ceilings of the Sistine chapel in 1508; this was one of his most difficult tasks to accomplish. In 1516, he was called by the Medici pope to design for the family church. He was very religious and therefore his intensely felt Christian faith was his driving force. He created crucifixion drawings, exploring his conflicting feelings of hope and dread. This provided insight into Michelangelo’s tools, techniques, stylistic evolution, and sexuality. He was a very talented and well known artist who has impacted artists from this time until today!

 “Albrecht Durer: Image of a Master”
Albrecht Durer was a great Italian artist from the Northern Renaissance. He was an Italian artist. He was intrigued by the process of aging and reveals his gift for portraiture. He transcends Medieval Gothic art and opens Germany to the Italian Renaissance. The Renaissance forms and ideas were introduced into a Germany still dominated by the Gothic tradition. Durer was considered to be the first true landscape artists, which was influenced by the Venetian artists. His paintings and woodcuts evolved as he researches perspective and searches for perfect form. He gave such a visual expression to the Protestant Revolution in Germany. He did mass printing of his work, which was supported by Martin Luther. The influence of his father, a goldsmith; Anthony Koberger, Durer’s godfather and one of Germany’s finest printers and publishers; painter and illustrator Michael Wolgemun.  

 “Leonardo da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance”
This video shows the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci. He was classified as a fascinating genius. It showed his birth in Tuscany to his final years in Cloux. When he was younger he had such a great desire for understanding. He was a great observer, his artistic sensitivities developed over time. Da Vinci, mastered the persepcitive and proportions of man and animals, he became a good architect and drew from life. His drawings were based off of technical problems and philosophical considerations. When he turned twenty years old, he was accepted into the painter’s guild. His creative imagination served as the display of the Medici court. He was a painter, a sculptor, an architect, an engineer, and a student of anatomy, physiology, botany, architecture, aeronautics, and other disciplines. He studied machines of his day to improve them and to invent more complex ones. Leonardo da Vinci was sent to the court in Milan as a musician by Lorenzo de Medici. He presented himself as a military engineer who is armed with intricate drawings of weapons and machinery. He organized entertainments and shows at the court of Milan and experiments with the mechanical inventions and theatrical machinery. He developed urban projects in the city of Milan. He wanted to understand the essence of a man; therefore he carried out dissections of the human body and he recorded his findings. As a painter, proportion and balance was key to his paintings. He quoted “Beauty and harmony are the divine nature”. When he was fifty years old, he returned to Florence, Italy. The public wanted to see his paintings so bad. “Mona Lisa” was a very famous painting of this time. It was his true masterpiece. Leonardo da Vinci built canals as being an engineer. He moved to the Vatican in 1513. At the age of sixty-seven he died in 1519. He was known as the “Renaissance Man”.

 “La Primavera (Botticelli)”.
This was subject to numerous interpretations about its meaning for centuries. There were nine identifiable figures standing in a lush and fertile meadow. Botticelli apprentices under Fra Filippo Lippi from whom he learned the art of depicting female movement through drapery techniques. “La Primavera” is a secular painting that evokes religious sentiments. Historians speculate that the painting was originally commissioned for the marriage of Lorenzo’s nephew and his young bride. The theme of rape and violence was common in paintings commissioned for the newly married. “La Primavera” shows that adversity ends in a happy marriage, a suitable message for the young married couples. He painted with egg tempura, which was a technique that gives his paintings their peculiar ethereal magic. These paintings were translucent. Critics propose that understanding the painting means finding the key that links all the nine figures together, a task that engages not only the eye, but the mind as well. This was one of his well known talents in his paintings. In 1743 the last Medici died and gives the painting to the city of Florence. There was a growing interest in “La Primavera” with the earliest mass-produced art. Fine art reproduction are in high demand.


 How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos give more depth rather than just the readings from the textbook. You are able to see what really went on rather than trying to picture it during that time period.


What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?
I thought that these videos were very interesting and it really helped me understand these topics a lot more. I felt as if I learned a lot more about these artists and their famous works and the history of them. The videos go in more detail than the text, therefore it was easier to understand and it was better to actually see it rather than just reading it and trying to visualalize it. I feel like watching the videos give a better understanding.

Video Review #3

1. Explain why you selected each of the three videos you choose form the selection listed above.

I chose the video “Beyond the Classical: Byzantine and Later Greek Art” because I always found Greeks to be so interesting, whether it was their art or their culture. It has always appealed to me. Greek art was amazing. It was so symbolic and meaningful. This video really intrigued me and I found it to be very interesting. It made me look a lot deeper into art because of how meaningful Greek art was to them. The video “Catalysts: The Black Death Visits Tuscany” was very interesting. I chose this video because I thought since I am Italian it would be very interesting to learn about Italy. Tuscany is a part of Italy and I never realized all that happened during that time period and how important art was in Tuscany, as well as Siena and Florence. The last video I chose was “A World Inscribed: The Illuminating Manuscript”. This one was very interesting and caught my eye because it discussed the development of the scribe and the printing press. It was a very interesting process. I never knew the process it took to create a scribe, now I am able to see it was very time consuming and tedious.

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

MORE HUMAN THAN HUMAN:

This video discussed how humans were created. I found this video very interesting. There were various key concepts that I picked out of this video. It was interesting how our ancestors first created images which helped to shape the world today for us. Humans did create art, but art also made humans. Images of the human body are so vital to us today; there are no other images that can dominate our lives like these images do; this can be in any form whether it’s the TV, magazines or just general art. I found it fascinating that artists are obsessed with the human body. The human body is known as being “unrealistic”. In 1908, a statue of a woman’s body was created about 25,000 years earlier and was found in Austria. This statue was a relic of our ancient past. It was the clue as to why our modern world is dominated by such unrealistic images of the human body, male or female. The statue was so unrealistic; the body parts that were created were very large, but this could possibly be a symbol of motherhood. The arms and face of the statue were not shown. The statues from Russia and other parts of Europe were formed just like this relic of the woman. People begin to wonder what really went on in these artists heads that made them create the figures that they created in the past. These artists exaggerated parts tied with the family. There were shifts in the climate, which changed how the nomads lived. Water was such a scare source and the nomads began to resort to the Nile River because of the scarcity of water. Egypt now has become a fully settled civilization. The Egyptians were the first civilized people to use humans as art and in their art. The Tomb of Ramses VI had so many images of the human body. These images did not have exaggerated features, the arms, legs and feet were created about the normal size. The nomadic way of showing the body was dead and gone. This civilization cancelled out all the rest. The temple of Karnak is one of the best ways to see how the Egyptian art has really changed over time. This style has lasted 3000 years. Egyptians did not want this image to change; cultural values like order and hierarchy were shown in why the style has not changed. The pyramids were designed with absolute precision, which reflected the obsession with permanence and order. Culture is critical in the type of society we live in and how we depicted the human body. In 1972, an Italian discovered that culture was so crucial. He saw a human arm that was sticking out from the sand in the ocean. He exposed the body of a realistic statue. By doing this, he exposed two ancient statues. They were created by one of the most influential cultures in history, which was Ancient Greece. The Greeks fixated with the body; these bodies were displayed without any shame. Their belief was that their gods took the human form; to make a body was to make the body look more like a god. When the Greeks settled, they created temples; this was a sign of their marking. They wanted their images of the gods to be realistic. Worshipers believed that there were gods in the human form. It is true that man had created an image of the human body that was fully nude and realistic. Since this sculpture was so realistic, realism needed to change to exaggeration. Polyclitus shows his physical potential of an athlete, his body was realized and ready to move. The arrangement of the limb and the direction of the head and chest made them seem so alive. The instincts of the mind of human being have no been revitalized and still fully dominants in our world today.

BEYOND THE CLASSICAL: BYZANTINE AND LATER GREEK ART

I found this video very interesting as well. This video discusses Byzantine and Greek Art. The Greek Orthodox Church had such a great impact on the art and the architecture of the country; therefore Greece stands out as a deeply religious part of the country. Christianity brought about new heroes to art and stories to tell. This period of art and culture in the Byzantine Empire lasted about 800 years. The Greek sculptures were ordered to be destructed by the church. Byzantine art advanced the field of painting. It contained the same two dimensional elements with the modern elements. There was a mixture of the European and the Byzantine styles which were still developing in Greek. Hellenistic art began to develop. Architecture influenced art later, which had the greatest influence. This was caused by the tours that were offered and wealthy men toured Italy and Greece; this made them discover and the Renaissance soon developed. Athens University was one of the buildings that was built to respect ancient Greek architecture and without copying it. Many cultures turned to the Ancient Greek architecture. There was a statue that was a tribute to Athena in Athens University, and all the other art on the walls of the university were tributes to the many other Gods.

CATALYSTS: THE BLACK DEATH VISITS TUSCANY

I found it interesting how they started off the video by saying “richer, safer and more comfortable before, over night every certainty was suddenly gone”. From 1200 until 1350, Europe’s dark ages were coming to and end. New ideas took life in new directions, with city, commerce, and religion. Understanding ourselves was never the same, which stated the Dawn of the Renaissance. The first decades of the 1300s, Siena and Florence were at the height of their power. Commerce and construction were booming, streets powered cathedrals and hospitals were being built, new houses and palaces were up in the country. Masterpieces of paintings, sculptures and literatures were created. There was more gold than ever before and such a tempting array of goods from around the world to spend their money on. Siena went through its fourth expansion of the city walls. These walls were used for defense and safety, but also symbolized how the city made its first impression to people by foot. The walls began to expand. Florence and Siena still remained enemies. In 1296, Florence began the construction of its new cathedral. They wanted to make it bigger, better and rounder than Siena’s. In 1313, Siena expanded their cathedral to a more dramatic illusion, but there were structural problems which made them deliberate what to do, fortuned stopped smiling. Unfortunately, bad weather and harvests took a bad toll on the city and the economy as well. Demographics was a major part of this. The expansion could not be supported and a lack of food began. The Bubonic plague was very deadly, which began to hurt the city. This turned social order upside down, fathers were burring their children. Popular is already in trouble before this plague even hits. In 1348, the plague hit Tuscany. About 1/3 to ½ of the population of Europe have been affected by this terrible plague and died. Before the plague hit, the building of the walls were constant. One temple was built after the plague, which was a thanksgiving to Mary for having driven the plague away. The beginning of the 20^th century, Siena’s population was half of what it use to be. People never understood how the plague spread to so many people and had such an affect on all those people. Old documents claim that you could not escape the plague. There was not a cure for it or what had caused it. A small Jewish population in Europe was under suspicion. The Jews were butchered and burnt. The cities that welcomed travelers feared the outsiders. There was a lot of anger and tension going on. This plague affected the arts as well. The decline of revenues, there were no public commissions for the artists. We now see three different views of the world. The bodies were realistic. Doubting Thomas became popular within art, especially when the people began to doubt God. In the 1200 and 1300’s the most powerful medium was painting. Art became an understanding of a service to man and involved the human feelings, from this emotion began to be seen. The artists were able to show their feelings from this. This began the Renaissance Period. Giotto who was a famous artist of this time was completely involved. Structures and buildings were very obvious. Some techniques that were used during this period are continued to be used today, like institutions and traditions. Innovation made life more comfortable. This period helped shape the modern art and the lifestyles to shape different cultures. Curiosity became a catalyst of the arts, like technology and such. Naturalism became the ultimate goal in Assisi, it changed the way we viewed the world. Heaven and earth were depicted more accurately than ever before.

A WORLD INSCRIBED: THE ILLUMINATING MANUSCRIPT

Many people lived in a small community with a Lord. Very few people knew how to read and write besides the churchmen. Charlemagne in 1800AD tried to learn how to write, this was a long progress. He tried to form letters at leisure moments. Monasteries and cathedral schools until the 13^th century, monks should labor to create books to deepen the understanding of God. They were fighting the devil with pen and ink. The spread of knowledge was slow, but it was copied by hand. The average monetary had only twenty books. The Bishop asked for more books. It was important to retain the knowledge. “Writers may write, so the future may learn”, was taught by a monastery. The Prince of Scribes was Scribe Edwin. There was a scribe the preserved the steps to producing a book. In the winter they worked from dawn til dusk with little breaks to pray. They worked in a scriptoria. In the summer there was silence throughout the process. Abbott acted as a proof reader. Monks felt the need for a prayer; they felt that demons were everywhere. The demon scribes haunted the other scribes. When a book was finished, they felt that it was a time for celebration because of all these difficulties. Writing was a painful task. The monks willingly worked as copyist, every letter, line, and point. Sweeping changes in Europe in the 13^th century, the cities grew and trade flourished. They were ready to carry out business. There were more beaurcarates, lawyers and judges. A liberal arts education was the path for social advancement. Universities sprang up as well as book stores surrounding them. The book production was huge in this world. Students who need the extra money can set themselves up as a scribe. Prayer books were formed for emotion, how to books like agriculture, entertainment books, and history books and romances were all formed. Marginal designs were created in luxury books. Richart and Jeanne who were husband and wife had a book store and when Richart died, Jeanne took this business over. Estaziano’s career developed the printing press. “Hand written books, not one printed he would be ashamed of it.” The printing press replaced the scribe.

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the texts?

The videos relate to the readings in the texts by adding more depth to the readings. It was more of a visual process that let the viewer understands more rather than just words on a paper. The one video about Byzantine and the Greeks definitely added a lot more depth. It went into more detail rather than the text. I feel as if the videos are a better learning process rather than just reading a textbook.

4. What is your opinion on the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

My opinions on the films was that they were all very interesting, some were a little dry at times, but others were very fascinating throughout the whole film. They definitely added a lot more depth to the understanding of the readings and art concepts. It was interesting to visually see it, rather than trying to picture it all in your head. The text book only gives you little pictures, but the movie you are able to see everything in such great detail and if you are unable to understand something from the text, the videos visually show you. I believe the videos make me remember the information better.

Video Review #2

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

Prairie Style:

This video was very interesting to me. It discussed how Frank Lloyd Wright came up with the Prairie Style, which was early in his career. The single valley house, an example was in Chicago, which reflected the time, place and landscape. This type of house used horizontal bands, which is layering of the horizontals. Tomeck House was built in 1904; this house symbolized the harmony between the client and the architecture. The Prairie houses emerged and the experience was supposed to be very unique. When entering the house, it was suppose to be uniqueness. The main contributions were to rethink the position of the house (Victorian House), the open space. The planned house to follow the surrounded and nature was used for privacy, it was not to cover the house completely but to cover somewhat. Changing the exterior, putting in detail, and reorganizing plan of the house; this was meant for forward thinking. Convection and environmental quality described as “organic”. In 1695, Donald Frazer used “slope”, he had low ceilings and everything radiated off the staircase. He wanted to improve the ability to live a d define beauty in its own pragmatic way. He recognized importance of place of the site, and did this with a natural environment. Prairie houses are still put into place today by many Western Architects. To draw a horizontal line, but the space (interior) is now a modern home. In the 50’s and 60’s bungalows were created.

Architecture: The Science of Design

This video discussed many forms of design and the advancements into it. Skyscrapers were commonly used and had a strong structure in the world. These were mainly in downtown areas and they were constantly developed; if there was no more space the people would build up. They discovered new materials like concrete and steel and had two distinct parts: the superstructure and the underground substructure. The wind was a huge threat; the higher the building the more the building would sway. If a building was 100 stories high, it can sway about one meter. There was the wind tunnel micro chromatic research which was wind tunnel testing. The data collectors would calculate the wind of the surrounding areas. If there was a lot of wind, they would build trees to hide the turbulence. Small apartments were known as smart houses. The various appliance, switches and plugs were included in this. The nervous system included all circuits converge; these would suit everyone needs, for example to wake up, the humidity from the shower, etc… There was a sensory which minimized the energy consumption. This sensory would go off when the occupants arrived as well. There was such a thing called computer management. This was a voice control computer to control electrical and electronic environments by responding to the human voice. The computer was trained to recognize a number of worlds; the voice signals turned into electrical impulses by receptors. This is when start and stop can be done by voice demand. This can control a homes inner environment, especially with disabilities and age. This still today remains an expensive dream. Architecture is a social art form. It innovates and creates new spaces. There was a wide assortment of finishes and colors with concrete. Some reinforced and pre-stressed concrete were factory made. The metal was put into improve the resistance and flexion. The metal resists tension and the concrete resists compression. An advantage is that it never breaks and if it is overloaded it will just crack. The pre-stressed concrete needs to be waterproof and will be air tight; therefore it can be used for bridges.

Classical Architecture:

This film talks about classical architecture. Some of the interesting things I found were that the human body measures all things and the basis of architectural harmony. Indigo Jones was a man who introduced the classical style to England. He built the Queen’s House in 1616; this was built in the British Architecture. It was made with proportion and so much more. Classical architecture is based on the needs of the time. The temple is an example of Roman architecture; there was churches, palaces and so much more. Banqueting House was Indigo’s second work; it was a way to show how Jones learned the Italian way. This was very unique. “I Quattro Libri” defines classical architecture. In Greek Order, it starts off with a pedestal, to a column and at the told is an entrablante. The Romans invented the arch; first columns then arches. The Coliseum had separate order; between each column there were arches placed. The English terrace was one grand building. It started off by having one house and stuck it to another and another, which created the terrace. John Nash has the most popular terraces; he had a “grand residence” which was expensive. Soanes took the language and used it against itself. There is not a single dominant style; the revolution of technology. In 1980’s Classicism developed. There was a Battle against Modernism. More modern technology was being used in architecture. An example is the sunlight; this was used to bring in solar light and also to heat a house. There are so many more ways the reinvent the new architecture.

Frank Gehry: Architecture as Art:

Gehry never plannd, he responded to the place, the time and the people. He does not like to repeat himelf and he is very self critical. The things evolved over tiem baded on his feelings. Over time developed the technology to do things, which eveoled a language; this language slowly changes over time. He quoted “I am fascinated by the idea of movement in architecture”. At first he sketches and then the audacity and innovation comes to an infaniant and constantly evolving process. He was born in Toronto in 1929. He started with residential projects and developed his own architectural vocabulary which leads to large scale projects. The buildings can create and emotional response which interacts with the human responses therefore needs to have a sense of feeling in the building. In the 20^th century there was movement and chaos; this connects with the people which makes it humanistic and gives feeling. In modernist architecture, it is distorted by the specular builders, which is “lifeless and cold”, Gehry is reacting against that. There is no dominant trend or style, it is all cutting edge technology like luminous lightness. The residential homes were discovered freely, these were formal discoveries. He experimented with unconventional materials. His designs reflected influences form Japanese architecture and a pop aesthetic which lead to manipulation of light and space. He builds stuff overtime depending on its use. There were strong feelings between art and architecture which is shown in his buildings. He attempted to form a connection between buildings, culture and art history. He experimented with materials ad the harmony of buildings and users. He used light, decomposition of forms, and building and location. Technology let him create digital models and he was able to achieve an extreme level of perfection especially with his design and calculations. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is an architectural achievement and symbol of the millennium. This had dramatic free forms which made it a cultural icon. His architecture breaks from the age-old concept of building structures at a ninety degree angle from the ground. His buildings are functions and inspirations. He used the terrorist attacks of September 11^th; this symbolized the end of prideful and monumental urban architecture and beginning of growth and change. Frank Gehry was an amazing architecture and had remarkable works.

How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

The videos relate to the readings in the text by describing these concepts in more depth. The videos give more of an image rather than someone envisioning it. The videos give a demonstration of all their concepts that they discuss. Both the reading and the film discuss Frank Lloyd Wright and his architectural ways. The videos to me are more of some peoples view points along with historical facts.

What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understand Architecture?

To me the films were very interesting. I am a visual person, as I say in all my video responses; therefore they help me learn a lot better. My favorite video was the Prairie House one. I feel as if it really showed Frank Lloyd Wright’s true concept rather than just words on a sheet of paper. It was very interesting to watch. I also thought with the Classical Architecture, it was interesting how the video was showing all the different architectures there are still standings today, but also discusses the architecture from the past.

From the group of four that you had a choice: Why did you choose that film?

I chose the film: Frank Gehry: Architecture as Art. I chose this film because he was discussed in the readings and I was very interested in learning a lot more about him. He seemed like he was a very interesting person with appealing viewpoints. I thought from the video I would be able to receive more depth about Gehry and his perspective on architecture.

Installation Art

1. Include answers from Step 3.

A. What is installation art?
Installation art is artwork that takes over space; it defines space. I can also be described as some kind of sculpture around and something that’s all around you; the physical definition is the attitude. People describe this as “installing a show” by which they mean setting the art in place. An “installation shot” is made when a photographer is documenting the exhibition.

B. What materials are used installation art?
The materials that are used for installation art are everyday objects. There is not a right or a wrong in creating installation art. I can be created by various different objects and in various different scenes.

C. Why make installation art? 

People realized that being in a gallery or a museum is itself an experience, they began to take this into account in various different ways. From this came a new art, installation art. Artists were also looking in new directions thought about this process as well.

D. Which artist/installation did I find most interesting?

The artist/installation that I found most interesting was Fireflies on the Water by Yayoi Kusama. This work of art captured my eye. It says that it is a mirror, Plexiglas and has 150 lights and water. This is such an unusual work of art and I absolutely love it.

2. Include answers from Step 4.

A. From the material reviewed, is there a inspiration piece that I feel a connection with?

Based on the material that I reviewed, I believe that each piece did give me ideas, but there were none that I truly felt a connection with. I like to have unique art, and make it my own. There were not really any ideas that truly inspired me.

B. What theme do I want to explore in my installation? Refer to your textbook if you need to review Themes of Art.

(Nature, Environment, Self, Mass Media, Consumerism, etc.)

The theme that I wanted to explore in my installation was Self. I wanted my installation to be about me. I love to create things about things I like to do, things that interest me. I feel as if it makes my work better because it is about my everyday life.  

C. What materials will I use?

The materials that I will be using are materials that describe me. I will be using my cell phone, camera, iPOD, a fashion magazine and a fashion book, a piece of makeup, nail polish, a zebra pillow, a card from where I work, my car keys, a margarita glass and my double chain necklace . I feel that these are the pieces that describe me in a way. The fashion magazine and textbook were used because I love fashion and I am a Fashion Merchandising Major. The iPOD symbolized liking music, the camera because it captures all the memories and my cell phone because I would be lost without it. The double chain necklace was used to show my fashion sense and the makeup along with nail polishes because it is part of the beauty industry which is involved with the fashion industry. I used my car keys because this is my first car I can call my own and the first car that I can say I bought. Since I am doing the theme of self it would work out perfect.

D. Where will this installation be located and why?

I am going to be doing this installation in my room because I wanted a place that really described me.

3. Include digital images from Step 6

4. Describe your installation. Be sure to use the worksheet from Project #3 as your guide.

The materials that I will be using are materials that describe me. I will be using my cell phone, camera, iPOD, a fashion magazine and a fashion book, a piece of makeup, nail polish, a zebra pillow, a card from where I work, my car keys, a margarita glass and my double chain necklace . I feel that these are the pieces that describe me in a way. The fashion magazine and textbook were used because I love fashion and I am a Fashion Merchandising Major. The iPOD symbolized liking music, the camera because it captures all the memories and my cell phone because I would be lost without it. I used my margartia glass to show that I am a bartender. The double chain necklace was used to show my fashion sense and the makeup along with nail polishes because it is part of the beauty industry which is involved with the fashion industry. I used my car keys because this is my first car I can call my own and the first car that I can say I bought. Since I am doing the theme of self it would work out perfect.

5. Analyze your installation. Be sure to use the worksheet from Project #3 as your guide. 

My installation is basically a portrait of myself. Each item in my image pertains to something about it. It is a sybolic portrait without really seeing me is how I look at this.

6. What are your thoughts on the planning and creation of a site specific installation?

My thoughts on planning were just thinking what I was about. I asked myself what reminds me of myself?, which objects would be perfect to describe me?. My thoughts of creating the site was that I wanted it to be a personal setting, somewhere that it is my own; therefore I figured I would use my bedroom. It describes me completely so I figured it would be perfect for the type of installation I am doing.

 

Peer Reviews

1. Hyperlink the Blogs you reviewed into your Blog

http://jennaaiello.blogspot.com/ (Jenna Aiello)  

http://artsymoos.blogspot.com/ (Julia Oakes)

2. When looking at Project #1: (Elements and Principles), did you agree with the element or principle the artist listed with the images? Did you see other elements and principles in the images?

I agree with the elements and principles that were listed with the images for Jenna’s blog. For her one picture for movement I did see line in it as well. The lights on the Brooklyn Bridge to me demonstrate line. Also with the same picture I saw value as well. The colors of the picture portray value strongly.

From looking at Julia’s slide show I agree with all the elements and the images that went along with them. I do see that more elements can be used on various pictures as well. One that really stood out was the picture of crayons used for unity, it can be used for color as well. It would be an amazing picture for color I believe. Her variety picture can also be used as unity; all the necklaces go together as one.

3. When looking at Project #2: Where there any images in the Peer Blogs the same as your own? If yes, what were they? Where the reasons the image was selected the same or different as your own?

In this blog posting there were some of the same images. We both have the “Kill Yourself” portrait. To both of us, we wanted to find a deeper meaning into this image, we both asked the question why?, why would someone create art like this?. We also both said that we have a connection with the sculpture of the mom and the baby called “Eta d’oro”. We both said that it was a strong connection. I definitely made me appreciate my mother more; both of our connections with it we express were a little different though. For which artwork had an impression on me, we both used “Pinwheel” and “Convergence”. For “Pinwheel” we both had different explanations for this artwork. “Convergence” we both said the colors were very interesting and how it flowed throughout the work. 

Julia and I had one of the same image for this project. The name of the work was “Dinamismo di un Cane al Gunzaglio", I said that I felt a connection with this image because I have two dogs of my own and it reminded me of my dogs. Julia said that she would like to know more about the work and it intrigues her.

4. Where there any images that your Peers selected that pique your interest now? If yes, what are they and what is your connection with them? What would you want to know about them?

There are some images that she discussed that I also felt a connection with. The one impaticular was “Man Varnishing Doll’s Bed for Little Girl”; Norman Rockwell. I felt a connection with this one because I am so close with my father, that it made me think of when I was a little girl. It seems like she was such a “daddy’s girl” and he did everything and anything for his daughter, just as long as she was happy, which is the perfect image of my dad today.

The work of art that I would like to know more about is the picture of the city. I would love to know what city this was and the time period. I love big cities and the busyness of them. It definitely intrigues me and makes me want to go to a big city to visit.

5. What do you think about  the process of reading your peers reflection? Do you find this to be a valuable in your learning?

By reading her perspective, it makes me look at art in a different way; although some of our explanations are very similar, she still has a different view point. I find it very helpful to look at art in someone else’s view. It makes me appreciate art a lot because of how many views I look at it in.

6. Check your Blog and read comments posted by your Peers. Do you find their comments helpful?
I feel as if the comments were not as helpful as I thought they would be. I felt as if it was more of a compliment of my work, which made me happy in a way!

Video Review

Through the Eyes of  a Sculptor
1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Some of the key concepts that I found very interesting were that there are many steps including traveling. He was a carver before a sculptor because he loved stone and it really is important to know how you really are. When he went back to France it was interesting the temperature when he went into the plateau and the width and height. Each stone has a different smell. A restoration artists work on specific areas like the hands, feet, and face and they would rarely be asked to work on the entire figure. He uses feelings to carve; the points of reference are from the master mold. Over a century and a lot of training people became young and talented carvers. He came to America to carve to become more creative. The sound of the stone and no cracks means that the stone is good to be carved. He works on more than one piece of art to keep the sculptures fresh (clay, marble, and limestone) and he interacts with everything with technicality. When a sculpture is shipped there are pieces called bridges left in therefore nothing broke and when it is settled in then the bridges are taken out. When creating his works he visualizes in his head and it then becomes real, but he will not be too detailed; first it is emerged into clay, then plaster and reborn into marble. When doing a mold when there is nothing left to do, refine it which is done with two parts the front and the back. It’s very important to get every detail. Silicone mold would preserve the piece; holes are put into the piece to cast the plaster. In Corronta, Italy the people’s story is carved on the marble walls and each structure represents something from the past. An artichona is a craftsperson; there are normally about five to seven workers, all specialized working on a piece. 99.9% of marble is good, if not it is turned into calcium carbonate and used in other products. It is important to have a very good light when finishing your sculpture; the file is a tool used to smoothen an object and to take away the chisel marks. To be a sculpture you need a high level of concentrations, especially when finishing an object; and give a sculpture life.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

Just like the Glass and Ceramics reading, the readings about sculpture give so much depth about the history and how sculpture came about. From the film, it is in the perspective of one sculptor who is showing his life and how he found he loved sculpting and wanted to become a sculpture. It also shows how he became so famous and his process he went through to get where he currently is. The readings are able to give a person history, but if a person wanted to become a sculptor, I would suggest to watch the video because it feels like you are the sculptor.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics: Sculpture, Installation, and Craft?

To me, this film made me learn a lot more about being a sculptor, especially the certain details. From watching this video, I felt like I was the sculptor. I realize that it does take a long time and a great deal of dedicated hard work, based on this video I now greatly appreciate sculptures so much more. I am able to give greater thought to them rather than just staring at them. This film is able to show how much dedication, time and effort goes into creating a sculpture; therefore it adds depth to understanding sculpture, installation and craft.


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

Some of the key concepts from this film about glass were that glass it everywhere; it is limitless. It is created by sand, but has different properties of sand. It is a viscose liquid which stiffens when it is cooled. Silica creates crystals. Fusion happens at 1500 degrees Celsius. When heat is added; it breaks the crystalline structure. Molten glass is blown and it shaped with a marver or hands (wet newspaper). When it comes in contact with air it is molded and it is reheated to reach it desired shape. Glass is still fragile. When reheated and not fusion it can withstand the heat. The propane torch is malleable and sticky without melting. Glass can be engraved. Stain glass windows have a lead technique. These types of windows are very popular in churches and each of them tell a story with a beginning, end and moral. Ceramics are made with fire, not made with silica but with a clay base. If the temperature is raised the silica structure breaks. Ceramics are hard and resistant. There are many types based on quality and temperature; the organization of the crystals creates the quality of the end product. Drying is when the piece is fired and is the most important part of the process. Dry-pressing is done for tiles. Glazing is done to create a waterproof finish and shine. A large piece is done by spraying. A double glass partitions are standard. Laminated glass is bonded with two or more glass pieces together with a PVB film. When heated and under pressure the PVB film softens and after three to four hours the film is melted which creates an adhesive.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

 I believe the readings give a greater understand of the history of glass and ceramics. The videos are able to show the viewer the exact process of creating glass and ceramics, which can be easier to see rather than reading. The viewer is able to capture exactly what is meant to be done, but the reading it is better the capture the details, like the degrees and what happens if the temperature is lowered or if it is raised.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics: Sculpture, Installation, and Craft?

The Glass and Ceramic film, I feel was interesting, but I thought that the information was repetative from the text. I was able to better understand the processes of creating glass and ceramic by visually seeing the process. I am a visual person; therefore for me to see a film does give me a better understand and it does add depth. Just like creating a sculpture, creating glass and ceramic is a long process as well. It does take a lot of time and hard work, but not as much as creating an actual stone sculpture.


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

Important concepts I found in this video were that installation art was considered Fashionable, yet controversial. According to Judith Nesbitt, installation is when an artwork takes over space, it defines space. Matthew Collings said it is some kind of sculpture around, something that is all around you; the physical definition is the attitude. Installation art is a three dimensional art work, it uses space around them and interacts with the environment. Richard Wilson is a famous British artist who uses installation art. He reflects variety of installation. He shows the relationship with its work and its surroundings. One of his famous pieces is called “2050”. In a different piece he used the space of the inside and outside world. Escroplogists of the art world are art from the outside. Some installations can be seen from miles away and some are invisible. An example of an invisible piece of art is the music that places until a new millennium arrives. The key to this type of art is to draw the viewer to the little work and force them to interact that way with the world. Pop art is one of the many different forms of art. Dushall is a famous artist who used everyday objects can claimed them as ast. He claimed that the artistic ideas mattered, not the final project. It is important to compromise with the environment rather than the individual piece of artwork. The audience interacts with the art part of installations. In the 1970’s video installation came about and became very popular. This is the space of one image projected large or many different images that are projected into a larger image. Susan Heller is a famous artist who used this method in the 70’s. To her the most important concept of installation art is the images, space and the viewer relationships. Some installations take weeks to build. It can be divided into two ways, separate from the people around you/ It holds itself together when the situation holds you apart. Interactions are key and it has to be experienced. “Expect the unexpected”.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

The video relates to the reading in the text by giving more examples of how installation was used. Also by the way installation is described; it gathers space and everything in it into a single image, so the artists began to conceive of a space and everything in it as a single work of art. I believe the video and the reading gives the same definition of installation, but I believe the video gives a greater understanding of this art.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics: Sculpture, Installation, and Craft?

This was one of my favorite films so far. It was so intriging to me. Installation art is one of my favorite arts that I have learned about so far. This is not as long of a process, but some can be. I can definitly see this type of art being fashionable. It is objects from everyday being considered as art. I loved the video installation, I actually saw this at the Albright Knox Art Gallery when I went to visit and I never saw the purpose in it, now from watching the video I realized this is a work of art and it does have meaning behind it. This film gives me a better understanding of this type of art, before I saw this video, I did not really understand installation, and now I do and like how I said in the beginning, it is one of my favorite works of art.

Logo Creation

1. Discuss what you thought about creating your logo.
I found creating my logo very interesting. It was something that I really liked to do and I enjoyed it a lot. It made me look deeper into myself and find out more about myself. This was definitely an enjoyable assignment, although it was a little time consuming, it did not feel like it took that long.

2. Describe the process: creative thinking skills and ideas you used in the logo creation.
When I first saw the assignment I read the PDF file and the powerpoint. After reading those, I began to brainstorm things about myself. As I was brainstorming I began to draw my sketches. Each of the symbols in my logo stand for something that is part of my life and something that I love. Fashion Ave

and Seventh Ave

is important to me because I love New York City and I am a Fashion student. The sun symbolizes that I love tanning, summertime and the beach. Libra is my horoscope. I put puppy paw prints on there because I have two puppies. The Aldo Shoe box and the Victoria’s Secret bag show that I love to shop and I love fashion. The Nail Polish and MAC Makeup represents the beauty part. Mazda is the kind of car that I have, and it was my first car of my own. The Martini glass shows that I am a bartender and the Italian horn shows that I am Italian. In some of my sketches I wrote in “La Bella Vita”, which is a tattoo that I have, meaning “The Beautiful Life”.

3. What was the most important discovery you made in the creation of your logo?
The most important discovery that I made in the creation of my logo was that everything I love all have something in common. Each of these items describe me perfectly. The logo is a creation that is truly me.

4. What is the most important information you learned from watching the videos, powerpoint, and reading material for this project? What is your opinion of the videos?
The most important information I learned from the powerpoint was the common terminology: pictogram, symbol, signet, character, icon, emblem, cachet, trademark, and logo. It was interesting to find out the exact meaning of these terms. I found it interesting that emblem means “figure of heraldry” and cachet is a seal of approval. From the reading I learned a lot about logo types. There are various type of logos which fascinated me. The videos were very helpful as well. It was captivating to see the process of creating a logo for an actual company, it definitely does take a lot of time and effort into making a logo that stands out from the rest. When making a logo, it takes a lot of creative thinking and the person needs reasoning behind their symbol.

Sketch #1

Sketch #2:

Sketch #3:

Sketch #4:

Sketch #5:

FINAL LOGO: