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.