Work In Progress shots

But is that Art? Response's

But is that Art?

Chapter 6: Cognition, creation, comprehension:  

1.       Select one of your own works and relate it to a specific idea presented in this chapter? If you cannot find a connection, describe why your work is divergent.

            Throughout reading this chapter, I read about Diego Velazquez's  work Las Meninas, 1656. In this painting the artists depicts himself creating a painting? creating the question, is it this painting? Throughout viewing this image I feel like this work differs from most if not all of my works. When I create a work using the same medium (paints) I would have never incorporated myself in the work because I feel like it would take away from the essence that I would be trying to portray. Although the work " does depict many modes of visual reality, including pictures, doorways, people, and even light itself." pg 164 Which are a lot of similar elements that I would incorporate in my paintings, I believe It all depends on the work , and your intention for the piece. As for Diego Velazquez's work he presents a kind of "paradox or conundrum to viewers. It is hard to interpret because of visual puzzles it raises. Regardless there are similar and different qualities from this work that can relate to some of my paintings. Mainly his use or reality.

Pick one work in this chapter and answer the following questions. What ideas drive the work selected? Who was it created for? What purpose does fill? What questions does it raise?

            The work I chose to write about is Andy Warhol's Brillo Box. From reading about this work I believe the idea that drove this work was " that this, too, can be art'- unlike the ordinary soap-pad boxes in a grocery store." Pg 149 It seems like this work was created for everyone, and that the purpose of this piece was to change people's perceptions of art. This is apparent because  "Sometimes critics can advance interpretations that artists themselves reject. The book describes interpenetrations as explanations of how a work functions to communicate thoughts,  emotions, and ideas. A good interpretation must be grounded in reasons and evidence, and should provide a rich, complex, and illuminating way to comprehend a work of art. Sometimes an interpretation can even transform an experience of an art form (such as these Brillo Box's) from repugnance to appreciation and understanding. " pg 150  Questions that this work could raise would be "Does art bear a message in the way language does? What must we know to clarify an artworks meaning: external facts about the artists lives, or internal facts about how their works were made?" And what aesthetic feeling can you convey from this piece if any.

 

 

2.      List any ideas that are new to you in this chapter.

            People have debated for centuries about the meaning of some works of art- for example, the Mona Lisa's smile. Does art bear a message in the way language does? What must we know to clarify an artworks meaning: external facts about the artists lives, or internal facts about how their works were made? Can we just look at an artwork for enjoyment?

            Notes:

·         Gender and sexual preference- together with nationality, ethnicity, politics, and religion- all seem to have some impact on the meaning of art. pg 148

·         Buddhist art can't have a Christian meaning, nor would Brillo Box make sense to people in ancient Athens. But Australian Aboriginal dot paintings might resemble modern art canvases from Paris and New York, but the artists aim and intentions are very different. Pg 149

·         Expression and the cognitive theories of art hold that art communicates: it can communicate feelings and emotions, or thoughts and ideas. Interpretation is important because it helps explain how art does this. Art acquires meaning in part from its context. Pg 149  

Work In Progress

 

After further discussion, and cretiques, I covered up the sunset, and started to incorperate a few designs in there by carving out layers of the tape out.

But is that art ? Response's

But is that Art?

Chapter 5: Gender, genius, and Guerrilla Girls:

1.       Select one of your own works and relate it to a specific idea presented in this chapter? If you cannot find a connection, describe why your work is divergent.

            Throughout reading this chapter, I feel like artists Judy Chicago's piece The Dinner Party 1979  presented a lot of similar elements and details , similar to the Tape works that I am creating for this class. She incorporates ,  geometric shapes along with patterns and designs that could be attributed to history. You can also see how she incorporates feminism in her work, while  helping to launch a new art movement. I really feel like her design choices, and attention to detail really makes this work amazing, and that is what I am trying to achieve when I start carving out layers of the tape. Although I do see my color scheme a bit more masculine with all of the bold colors, rather than the pastel colors Judy Chicago uses.  

Pick one work in this chapter and answer the following questions. What ideas drive the work selected? Who was it created for? What purpose does fill? What questions does it raise?

            The work I chose to write about is Cindy Sherman's Untitled film stills # 4 - 1978.  From looking at this work, I believe the idea behind this piece is to manipulate the image in such a way to convey that her essence can't be pinned down. It's really interesting to see the captivating emotion that she portrays in her photos. It seems like this work was created for women, to show how strong and independent women can be and that they can do what they want.  The purpose of this work is to portray the issues about feminism, along with the notion that women and men are equal. Feminist works can raise some questions such as " is there a deeper meaning, if so what? This work can also imply  cultural expectations, and integrated behaviors, such as ways of dressing, walking, or using makeup. It can also create a time and place due to the details, along with the aesthetic of the woman in the image. I really like Cindy Sherman's work and feel like she does a good job of portraying both  innocence and strength in her photos.   

 

 

 

 

 

2.      List any ideas that are new to you in this chapter.

From reading this chapter we could say that the social conditions have changed enormously to facilitate more female participation in the arts and greater recognition of women artists merits.

           

            Notes:

·         In 1985 a group of women artists in  New York organized to protest against sexism in the art world. Pg 123

·         The Guerilla Girls hid their identity under furry gorilla masks. Apart from their unique headgear, they dressed conventionally in black attire, even in short skirts with high heels. To complement their saucy use of the labels girls, the G-Girls created billboard-style posters using bold and black text and graphics that grab the viewers attention. Plus, they used humor- to show that feminists do have some!   Pg 122

·          Genius is often cited to excuse or justify an artist's strange behavior (Van Gogh's cutting off his ear), abandonment of ordinary obligations (Gauguin's running off to Tahiti), or alcoholism, womanizing, and mood swings (Pollock). Pg 131

Smaller Progress shots

But is that Art? Response's

But is that Art?

Chapter 4: Money, Markets, Museums:

1.       Select one of your own works and relate it to a specific idea presented in this chapter? If you cannot find a connection, describe why your work is divergent.

            Throughout reading this chapter, I feel like my most recent work where I had to create a painting using a system  that created a different mark during a specific moment during the system. It Lasted about 12 hours , than I added another 3 hours because I felt that the piece was unfinished. But my system was that I would have three colors, Green for horses, Red for Trolleys, and Blue for bikes and every time I saw them I would have to leave the Painted Ball on the Canvas and let it roll around for 2 minuets until I saw another. This work  is similar to  Jackson Pollock's Painting Blue Poles. I feel like the ideas behind both of these pieces was to let the system, or the paint make the mark. No matter how the piece came out it, can be considered random. This can be seen throughout some of my blog posts. I will try and post a picture of My System painting

Pick one work in this chapter and answer the following questions. What ideas drive the work selected? Who was it created for? What purpose does fill? What questions does it raise?

            The work I chose to write about is Jackson Pollock's  painting the Blue Poles. As for the ideas behind this work, I believe the brochure cover "showed a huge tabloid headline that denounced the painting: 'Drunks Did It!' But , on the inside of the brochure, the museum (and presumably its members) got the last laugh by pronouncing, 'Now the world thinks it's worth over $20 Million. And it's yours from $14.50 (the price of a membership) After succumbing to this appeal, will the new museum member really be able to look at Blue Poles for its artistic value. As for whom it was created for, personally I believe he created this work with the viewers aesthetic feelings in mind, while still using his own creative process.  As for the viewer I believe he intended it for not just one person but for everyone. From looking at this work, it can ether engage you or it can raise many questions. Questions such as Why did he use those color choices? Was there any specific way he dropped the paint on the canvas? Why did he create this work? etc.... These are all good questions that could arise if someone was unfamiliar with the work at hand. 

 

 

 

2.      List any ideas that are new to you in this chapter.

From reading this chapter It was really interesting to learn  how museums reflect many values about the artworks they present.

           

            Notes:

·         Some Museums reflect significant local archaeological finds, like the museums of Greece near Olympia and Delphi. Pg 91

·         Museums may reflect the identification of an artist with a place. Georgia O'Keeffe lived in New Mexica for most of her working life, and her imagery draws upon pueblos and the desert's vast skies, flowers, and bleached animal bones. Pg 92

·         Minority groups argue that new museums are needed because their artists, tastes, and values have not been represented in mainstream museums. Ppg 92

·         "Enjoyment of opera in films is always a dread giveaway of upper-class status, whereas a likimg for country- western music shows the opposite- that a person is earthy or redneck." Pg 94

·         20th Century   barbarians  cannot be transformed into cultured, civilized human being until they acquire an appreciation and love for art. Pg 99

Work In Progress

 

After another 5 rolls of tape I was able to continue.

 

After speaking with you in class, I decided to cover up the little painted windoe, because it takes away from the crazyness of the design.

But is that Art ? Response's

But is that Art?

Chapter 3: Cultural Crossings:

1.       Select one of your own works and relate it to a specific idea presented in this chapter? If you cannot find a connection, describe why your work is divergent.

            Throughout reading this chapter, I feel like some of my ceramic pottery  is similar to Juventino Cosio Carrillo, a Huichol Indian artist from Mexico, whom works with his family as a team to create traditional beaded masks. "The Huichol's traditional form of art reflects another significant outside influence, from a Dallas collector who thought that rounder beads might facilitate greater perfection of design; in 1984 he had beads shipped in from Japan and Czechoslovakia. The Huichol loved the new beads and immediately adopted to their use for decorating bowls and carved bojects." Pg 81 Even though my bowls may not have incorporated beads, it still included many similar design elements and small details, For a few of my pieces i melted glass scraps in the bottom of the bowl, and when they melted in the Kiln, it would create this magnificent glassy design. I feel like a lot of time and effort was put into these masks and I feel like I can relate to their styles and symbolism.   

Pick one work in this chapter and answer the following questions. What ideas drive the work selected? Who was it created for? What purpose does fill? What questions does it raise?

            The work I chose to write about is the nkisi nkondi nail fetish statues from Loango, in the Kongo region. From first looking at these works with bursting nails piercing the statues, these works seem quite fierce- like the horror-movie monster Pinhead from the Hellraiser series. But from further reading I than come across the initial perception of the work, along with the modifications of learning the external facts: that the nails were driven in over time by people to register agreements or seal dispute resolutions. Some believe these works were considered so powerful they were sometimes kept outside of the village. Although from looking at the sculptures they do seem to resemble some frightening  powers. The types of questions that could be raised about these pieces are " What types of arguments were solved? What did the nail symbolize? Do the different statues have different meanings? and art statues more prized if they have more nails through them? These pieces were really interesting to read about, and it was really interesting to learn about the deeper meaning of the process to the creation. 

 

 

2.      List any ideas that are new to you in this chapter.

From reading this chapter It was really interesting to learn  the different ceremonies and meanings behind works. The Zen tea ceremony is guided by subtle values of harmony and tranquility that affects everything from choice of flowers, window- shades, and pottery, to the way the tea is prepared and served. Pg 61 Many groups  in the Northwest Coast Indian galleries also have disputes how to display a piece. For example some groups would display them "as individual objects with commentary, whereas still another exhibited them only in a ceremonial context that recreated the potlach ceremony in which they would traditionally be employed." Pg 78

           

            Notes:

·         Dewy urged us to strive to achieve the internal experience of another culture. He thought this required an immediate encounter, and not studying external facts about geography, religion, and history. Pg 63  

·         Knowledge of context helps enhance our experience of other art forms too - say, coming to appreciate the religious associations behind reggae, gospel music, or a Bach mass.  Pg 66

·         Much indigenous art emerges from a complex history reflecting many interactions during colonial rule. Pg 68

Large Work inprogress

 

These was the start to the first layer of tape that I had applied to the canvas. I started doing as much as I could until I ran out of tape, trying to fill 5X5 requires a lot of tape so I will have to upload more pictures later.