Final Blog.

1. What were you expectations for this course and where they met?


My expectations of this course was to learn about art and art history, and to create art as well. These expectations were met 100% with all of the projects and reading assignments that we have completed over the semester.






2. Now that you've been through this course, What is art? How would you define it now compared to your initial posting?


Art is a visual representation of something created by an artist who wants the viewer to interpret the meaning of it. Art is also the product or process of deliberately arranging symbolic elements in a way that influences and affects one or more of thesenses, emotions, and intellect. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations, and modes of expression, including music, literature, film, photography, sculpture, and paintings. The definition is similar to the one i had in the beginning of the class but now there is more understanding behind the words.



3. Who was your favorite artist in your original posting and who is your favorite visual artist now? If there is a difference, why do you think so? If you have the same favorite artist, why do you think so?
I believe my favorite artist in my first posting was Leonardo Da Vinci. At the conclusion of the course, though i do still have an appreciation for his work he is no longer my favorite artist. However i don't know that i have a favorite artist, but an appreciation for art as a whole now.







4. Now that you've completed this course, how do you feel about taking an online course? Is your answer the same as it was in your first posting? How is it the same or different?



 I feel that taking an online course can be challenging at times, but also very convenient. I feel that it allows for a lot of freedom but requires you to stay on task so you don't fall behind. This view is similar to my original post and hasn't changed much. 

Self Portrait

 These are my 3 inspirational pieces.

Artist: Leonardo DaVinci

Medium: Red Chalk on Paper

Size: 13 1/8" x 8 3/8"

Date: 1512

http://arthistory.about.com/od/leonardo/ig/Art-in-The-Da-Vinci-Code/Leonardo-s-Self-Portrait.htm

Artist:  Vincent Van Gogh

Medium:  Oil on canvas

Size: 25.5" x 21.75"

Date: 1889

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/gogh/self/

Frida Kahlo
(Mexican, 1910-1954)
Self-Portrait with Monkey, 1938
Oil on masonite, 16 x 12"

http://www.mexicanwave.com/blog/2005/04/04/20050404/



1. Why did you select the inspiration pieces?

I selected the inspirational pieces that i did because they interested me. I like the artists that i chose and their self portraits inspired me to make my own, in my own way as they did theirs.


2. Why did you select the media to create your self-portrait?

I selected the media i did because i like working in pencil. I feel it gives me the most control and it is the media i am most comfortable using.

 3. What challenges did you face in creating your self-portrait and how did you overcome them?

The main challenge i had in this project was deciding how to create the self portrait. I needed to decide whether i wanted it to be realistic or abstract. I decided on a cartoony style because it was one of my favorite ways to draws.  

4. How does this piece represent you?
This piece represents me because i drew it in a very cartoony style. This is my favorite style of drawing and therefore it represents me and my style.

5. What elements and principles of art did you apply in this work?

Some of the principle and elements that i used in this work is line, perspective, and repetition. Line is seen in the background and leads the viewers eye across the piece. Perspective is used by making the people farther away smaller, and repetition can be seen in the pattern on the shirt.

6. Did you enjoy working on this project?

Yes i did enjoy working on this project. I found it very interesting and i liked creating something in my own style.


7. What do you think of your final artwork?

I think my final artwork came out good, however i wish i had a better camera to take a picture of it with. I couldn't get a good shot of it with my camera as it kept coming out blurry.

Video Review Wk 15

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

Greenberg on Art Criticism: An Interview by T. J. Clark: The main concept of this video is an interview by T.J Clark of one of Abstract Expressionisms principle artists, Clement Greenburg. In this interview they discuss the evolution of art criticism and issues surrounding modernist painting. The conversation spotlights Greenberg’s reflections on his career and its place in art theory, journalism, and philosophy of aesthetics. Greenberg also shares a number of insights on the relationship between art and history, the nature of value judgments in criticism, and what he calls America’s post-WWII “culture boom”.

Greenberg on Pollock: An Interview by T. J. Clark: The main concept of this video is an interview by T.J Clark of one of Abstract Expressionisms principle artists, Clement Greenburg. In this interview they discuss career, working method, and legacy of Jackson Pollock. This video focuses on Pollock’s work from the mid-1940s onward and highlights Greenberg’s firsthand observations of the artist in his studio. Greenburg states that Pollock was an outsider but practical and pretentious. He also reflects on a supposed transition from easel to mural painting.

An Introduction to the Italian Renaissance: Giorgio Vasari’s Lives of the Artists has been the basis of art criticism since the 16th century. This program illustrates how each master of art developed their techniques by building upon the work of their predecessors. The discussion between Master Vasari and his apprentice reveals the innovations of artists such as Giotto, Ghiberti, Donatello, Uccello, Masaccio, Della Francesca, Botticelli, Leonardo, Raffaello, and Michelangelo. Images of selected in this video illustrate the Roman influence on Renaissance art and reinforce the concepts of perspective, balance, chiaroscuro, composition, and realism.

 The Critics: Stories from the Inside Pages: This film is about the journey of Dr. Dwight DeWerth-Pallmeyer to answer the question, “How do critics serve the public and the artistic community. Pallmeyer interviews people such as Good Morning America film reviewer Joel Siegel, Time magazine film critic Richard Schickel, Nashville Scene music critic Bill Friskics-Warren, and Fresh Air book critic Maureen Corrigan. The result is an in-depth look at criticism as an art form, the social value of a critic’s work, and the various ways that critics began their careers.

The Colonial Encounter: Views of Non-Western Art and Culture: The film is about the 1900 World’s Fair which in its time was promoted as a celebration of foreign ethnicities, but is seen now as a spectacle of Eurocentric myopia. Using photographs, film clips, and posters from the fair with commentary from renowned art historians the program lays bare the conceit. Offerings from collections and museums across the world are also featured. The result is a look at the ways in which western prejudice, ethnography, and art consumption have counteracted authentic intercultural dialog.

Jackson Pollock: Michael Fried and T. J. Clark in Conversation: This video is about a discussion between two critics, T.J. Clark and Michael Fried. Clark is concerned primarily with the sociopolitical history of art, whereas, Fried is a proponent of aesthetically based views of painting and sculpture. The video shows how the two artists try to obtain common ground. The two critics study two works of Jackson Pollack; these pieces are Lavender Mist and Autumn Rhythm.

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

Yes the videos do relate to the creation of my art criticism project. These videos relate because the videos cover the views of critics and show the process of how real critics critique works. By watching these videos it helped me to complete my project.

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

The films are interesting and well made. They add depth to understanding of art criticism by showing how the process works, and how the process has evolved through history. They also elaborate on the careers or critiques and show how they do their job.

Article Reflection

1. Which projects did you review?
The projects that i reviewed are Wild Life Encounters, The Wonders of Life, and With Love.
 
2. Why did you select the Exhibit you critiqued?
 I selected Wild Life Encounters because it was the one that interested me the most, and that i thought i could write the most on.

3. What challenges did you face in writing the critique article and how did you overcome them? The only challenge that i faced when writing this article was deciding on how to lay it out.Eventually I found the suggested topics to cover and i followed these examples.

4. How do you feel about critiquing your peers work?
I feel that by critiquing your peers work it helps them to gain insight on things that may help them in future projects. They can take your opinions and use them to create a better project in the future.
 
5. Would you like to read the critique your peers wrote about your Art Curation Project?
Yes. I would like to know what other people thought about my exhibit.
 
6. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your finished article and why?
I would rate my project as a 9-10, because though i think it is a well thought out article, there is always room for improvement.
 
7. Did you enjoy working on this project?
I did enjoy working on this project, it was fun and interesting to develop a theme and find pieces that fit this theme. I also enjoyed developing an interpretation for each piece in the exhibit.
 

Project Reflection

The process of creating my art exhibition was a fun and interesting experience. I chose my theme because i felt that finding paintings and images of war would be pretty easy to do. The first thing i did in the process of creating my project was to look through the projects that were completed in past semesters. By using these i got an idea of the format i wanted to use for my power point. After this was done i used ArtStor to find images of war. Simply by typing in War Paintings into the search bar of the site. I found the best 25 images i could and i started the process of describing and interpreting each piece. Overall i think this was a fun, but tedious project that i found interesting to complete.

Video Blog

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

The Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art: 

The main concept of this film is Artist Anthony Aussang stating that 'Lowbrow Art' is essentially reactionary to highbrow culture. The dictionary definition is, "a person regarded as uncultivated and lacking in taste." The film focuses on this type of lowbrow art.Displaying Modern Art: The Tate Approach:

The main concept of this film is the Modern art in the Museum of Modern Art. The film states that from 1929 onwards the art was displayed primarily in chronological order, representing each art movement. Art is displayed on white walls with flexible lighting. Another main point the film makes is that critics argue that Tate Modern's thematic presentation of art requires that viewers have no knowledge of art.

Bones of Contention: Native American Archaeology:

The main idea of this film is that Native Americans' bones were collected as a scientific curiosity during the U.S. genocide against Indians. There is a debate on whether or not the remains should be returned to their ancestors. Native Americans have ceremonies to discover whether the bones are of their ancestors or not. The Indians past is conveyed through an oral tradition. Native Americans do not believe in the scientists' history.
George Eastman House: Picture Perfect:

The main idea of this film is that by creating the first affordable, user-friendly camera George Eastman became the father of popular photography. The film shows the museum established at his home that celebrates the contributions he and his company have made to advance the art, science, and phenomenon of photography. The photography collection at George Eastman House is a visual history of photography that represents the work of 14,000 amateur and professional photographers. The collection is enormous and contains many different types of photography.

 2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Exhibition project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not.
Yes, the videos relate to the creation of my Art Exhibition project because the videos discuss different exhibitions and the arrangement of said exhibits. There are different ways of arranging artwork and these videos show examples of these. Chronology is one example. Artworks can also be arranged with no set pattern as well.

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?
The films were well put together and very interesting. They will deffinately be of help in the creation of my project. Before watching the films i didnt have a clear idea of how i was going to do the project, but by the end of the films i had some insight in to how i would complete the project. Overall the films were helpfull and informative.

Week 12 Post

1. Explain why you selected each of the FOUR videos you choose from the selection listed above.
 

The films I picked were Isamu Noguchi: The Sculpture of Spaces, Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the '50s and '60s, Hockney on Photography, and Andy Warhol: Images of an Image. I picked the Andy Warhol video because i really enjoy his work. I picked the Hockney video because I like photography. I picked Abstract Expressionism and Pop because i thought this was an area of art that would interest me. Lastly, I picked the Isamu Noguchi video because the title caught my eye.

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


Abstract Expressionism and Pop: The key concepts in the film are that Abstract Expressionism was born from a joining of attitudes in American art and European avant-garde art, but was later rejected for its nonfigurative and seemingly egocentric character in favor of the ultra-objective phenomenon known as Pop Art. By using Franz Kline's painting "C&O," abstract art is compared to figurative art. T

Isamu Noguchi: The key concept of this film is the sculptor Isamu Noguchi. He creates sculpture gardens to "humanize space and sculpture." Noguchi's childhood holds many clues to his interest in sculpture gardens and to his feelings of isolation.

Andy Warhol: The key concept of this film is the artist Andy Warhol. He worked as a commercial artist until 1960 when he began experimenting with advertising images. He worked until his untimely death in 1987. One process he used for his artwork was Silk Screening. Silk Screening is when photographs are blown up and developed onto silk screens; they are transferred to paper and canvas, using ink and paint. 

Hockney on Photography:  The key concept of this film is the artist David Hockney. He discusses the void between the person behind the camera and the subject. He aims to take away the void. Hockney uses photographic images to create something pertaining more to the condition of painting. Hockney experiments with photography over a five-year period in the 1980s.
 

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

These videos relate to the readings in the text because they discuss artists and topics that we read in the book this chapter, and also in previous chapters. They help to elaborate on the topics we've learned and show more about these topics.
 

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

 

I thought that these films were very interesting and helpful. They were well put together and covered the information they discussed well. The films added depth to understanding by elaborating on topics discussed in the text. They showed more examples and explained in more depth and this added depth to understanding.

Project Blog

Step 1: The Exhibition

Questions about the exhibit:

1. What is the title of the exhibit? The title of the exhibition was Forty: Sabres in the NHL.

2. What is the theme of the exhibition? The theme of this exhibit is the forty years that the NHL has been in buffalo with teams such as the Sabres.

Step 2: The Gallery

Questions about the physical space:

1. What type of lighting is used?

The lighting that is used in this exhibit is low lighting, but the pictures are highlighted by spot lights.

2. What colors are used on the walls?

The colors used on the walls are beige or tan color. They are plain neutral colors. However a few of the walls are blue and used as accents to the white. They are the color of the Sabres.

3. What materials are used in the interior architecture of the space?

The materials used in the interior’s architecture are marble and concrete. These materials are used in the flooring and also in the columns. Also wood and drywall is found in the walls and other architectural structures, along with glass.

4. How is the movement of the viewer through the gallery space?

 The movement of the viewer through the galley is linear with paths branching off to the left and right. These paths lead to more linear paths that the viewers follow.

 Step 3: The Artwork

 Questions about the artwork:

1. How are the artworks organized?

The art works are placed on the walls in columns of 3 or rows of 3. Some of the works are placed on a wall around the logo for the exhibit. There is a far back room that has the NHL 360 exhibit, and at the corners of each room are TVs playing videos relating to the Sabres.

2. How are the artworks similar?

The artworks are similar because they are all Buffalo hockey themed. They are also all framed the same way and are photographed in the same style.

3. How are the artworks different?

The artworks are different because some are photographs from different time periods. Some are in black and white while others are in color. There are also works of different media such a photography and video.

4. How are the artworks framed?

Most of the artworks are framed with a simple black frame.

5. How are the artworks identified and labeled?

The art works are labeled by photographer. These labels are in the bottom right corner of the photos.

6. What is the proximity of the artwork to each other?

The artworks are placed very close together. There is not much spacing between the artworks.

Step 4: Art Criticism Exercise

Select three of the artworks from the show and use the Art Criticism worksheet to describe, analyze, bracket and interpret the work using the 5-step Art Criticism Process described.

Take pictures of the images you are interpreting. If this is not allowed, make quick sketches of the pieces.

 Analysis:

Description: This piece is 3 photos that show the reactions of a family to a hockey game. The main man in the photos is angry about a play and as the pictures progress we see how the mans reactions change. In the last picture the man looks very defeated.

 Formal Analysis: The elements and principles found in this piece are emphasis, value, and balance. Emphasis is found because the main character of the piece is the man and he is emphasized by being placed in the middle. Value is found in the piece because it is in black and white and you can see the darks and lights of the piece. Balance is found because the piece is very balanced with things evenly placed around the piece.

Bracketing: This piece reminds me of the reactions of many people durring a hockey game. When attending a game you see the reactions people have to the game, and how people feel. This picture is and example of this.

Interpretation: My interpretation of this piece is that it is of a man and his family and their reactions to a hockey game. The man is frustrated and then eventually defeated. The family as a whole is excited for the action that is taking place, and at the end the wife finds the husband's frustration amusing.

 Analysis:

Description: These 3 photos are of a fight that occurred. There are people everywhere and it shows the scale of the fight. The photos how the fight progresses and the actions of all the people.

 Formal Analysis: The elements and principles found in this piece are variety, value, and movement. Variety is found because there are so many people and things going on in the piece. Value is found because the black and white photo shows the lights and darks of the piece. Movement is found in the way the people are standing and the way this portrays movement.

Bracketing: This piece reminds me of a fight that took place in an Ottawa vs. Sabres game a few years ago.

Interpretation: I interpret this piece as a fight that took place between the Sabres and Another hockey team. It was a big game and many people were involved. This shows how the people involved and the people at the arena reacted. It shows alot of excitement and action.

 Analysis:

Description: This is a photograph by Bill Wippert. The picture is of Ryan Miller the sabres current goal tender. Ryan is in his goalie equipment and there is a light source coming from the left. This casts a shadow on the wall.

 Formal Analysis: The elements and principles that are present in this work are value, balance, line, and repetition. Repetition is present on the pattern of the wall. The work is balanced with miller on the left and his shadow on the right. Value is present in the shadow, and line can also be found in the pattern on the wall and on the wall moving. 

Bracketing: When i look at this work i am reminded of an advertisement poster for a star wars movie. The movie has young Anakin with his shadow on a wall. The shadow is of his self when he is older. This is what i am reminded of when i see this picture. 

Interpretation: The interpretation that i get from this picture is the two sides of Miller. The person and the goalie. The shadow is his other side ready to play the game, while miller with his eyes closed is himself trying to ready himself to become who is projected on the wall.

What did you think of visiting the Gallery and purposefully looking at the exhibition from a different perspective - the physical space, the architecture, theme, etc.?

I liked the process of looking at the gallery and its exhibits from a different perspective. It was very interesting to look at things in a different light. I also like interpreting the art from the different clues found using the steps given in this project.

Video Review Chp 21

1. Explain why you selected each of the FOUR videos you choose from the selection listed above.
I selected the videos: Matisse and Picasso, The Impact of Cubism, Dada and Surrealism, and Expressionism. I selected these videos because each are about either an artist or style that I find interesting. I chose the videos I did to learn more about these artists or styles that stand out to me.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
Matisse and Picasso:
The key concept of this film is the relationship and connection of the artists Matisse and Picasso. The film shows examples of paintings and sculptures from each, and uses film clips to archive the journey of each artist. The points on their journey where these artists cross is the key part of this film. Françoise Gilot and Picasso’s son Claude provide insight on Picasso’s connection with Matisse.
The Impact of Cubism:

The key concept of this film is the Influenced of the works of Cézanne, African tribal art, and the art of the Iberian Peninsula on Cubism. Cubism was the most influential style of the 20^th century and provided artists with nontraditional ways to represent space and form. The film examines pieces such as Juan Gris’ The Breakfast Table (1915), Marcel Duchamp’s Sad Young Man on a Train (1911), Robert Delaunay’s Champ de Mars (1911), Sonia Delaunay’s Electric Prisms (1914), Kazimir Malevich’s An Englishman in Moscow (1913-14), and Umberto Boccioni’s Farewells (1911)

Dada and Surrealism:
The key concept of this film is the Dada movement. Which was born as a reaction to World War I. The film also covers the movement of Surrealism which opened new avenues for artistic creation by striving to bypass the reasoning process and tap directly into the unconscious mind. The video examined Kurt Schwitters’ Merzbild 25 A (1920), Hanna Höch’s Cut with the Kitchen Knife (1919), George Grosz’ Untitled (1920), Joán Miró’s Dutch Interior I (1928), and Salvador Dalí’s The Burning Giraffe (1936).

  Expressionism:

The key concept of this film is expressionism which is an outgrowth of Fauvism. Expressionism emphasized color's emotional properties while demonstrating far less concern than the Fauves had with the formal and structural composition of color. The film also covers how Contemporary Neo-Expressionism has further developed this artistic approach. This program examines: Edvard Munch's Ashes (1894, Osloo Franz Marc's The Tiger (1912), Municho Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's Five Women in the Street (1913), Cologneo Max Beckmann's Actors (Triptych) (1941-42), Cambridgeo Georg Baselitz's The Great Friends (1965), Viennao Anselm Kiefer's Interior (1981

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos relate to the reading in the text because they discuss many of the artists and art work from the chapter. They also discuss many of the same styles and movements that were covered in the chapter.


4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?
In my opinion the films are well put together and entertaining. They provide much information on the subjects and give many examples of what they are talking about. The films add depth to understanding by providing a visual reference for the information covered in the book. The films also delve deeper into the information explained in the books, and provide more information. This helps to add depth to understanding and increases the viewers knowledge of the subject matter discussed in the book better then the reading alone can provide.

1) I chose these 3 masks because they looked very interesting. On the first mask i liked the patterns that are all around the face. On the second mask i like the horns and the giant eyes that are very emphasized. The last mask caught my attention because of how much is going on in the mask, and the vast amount of variety.

2)    The first mask is an Ecuadorian clown mask. It is 10 inches and made from painted wood. The mask is an oval shaped face with its mouth open. It is painted in red, white, black, and blue, with patterns surrounding the face. It has a red circle on its nose and outlined cheeks, eyes, and eyebrows. The elements and principles that can be found in this piece are form, line, shape, and balance. The mask is 3D and take up a form, there are many lines in the piece, these lines make up shapes and patterns. The whole mask is symmetrically balanced.
   The second mask is a Bolivian China Supay mask. It is 14 inches, and made with fiber glass, plaster, paint, papier mache, sequins, and glitter. The mask is an oval shaped face with twisting horns jutting out from each side. The horns are patterned and the eyes are large and emphasized. There are jewels that run along its chin. The elements and principles that are present are from, line, shape, balance, color, emphasis, and rhythm. From is present because it is a 3D mask that takes up space. Line is present and created shape in the mask. The entire mask is symmetrically balanced, and color is used to emphasize the eyes and the horns. Rhythm is found on the pattern on the horns.  
   The last mask is a Moreno Mask. It is 15 inches, and made with painted tin, hair, and jewelry. The mask is an oval shape with a face that has small spaced out eyes, a large nose, and a large chin. The mouth has a row of large teeth, and there is a pipe in it. On the top of the mask is a crown and it is surrounded by a large amount of hair. The elements and principle found in the mask are form, variety, balance, rhythm. Form is present because the mask is 3D and takes up space. There is much going on in the mask so variety can be found. The mask is symmetrically balanced, and rhythm can be seen in the repeating shaped found all over the mask.

The first of these 3 images is my final mask, the other 2 are ideas and preliminary sketches. I used the elements and principles of balance, rhythm, variety, texture, line, and shape. Balance is present because the whole mask is symmetrical. Rhythm is found in the horns and the repetitive patterns. Variety is present because of the vast amount of things happening in the mask. texture is found in the hair surrounding the mask. And line and shape are found in the shapes created around the face and the lines used to make these shapes.
In my opinion i think my mask is very interesting and has a lot of things in it, this requires time to take it all in. I based it off the 3 masks i listed in the beginning, and by adding elements found in all 3 of those masks to one mask i think it created a very unique piece. I enjoyed the process of researching all of the masks and then creating my own from these inspirational pieces. Overall i think it was a fun and interesting project that i enjoyed completing.

Wk 10 video Post

1. Explain why you selected each of the FOUR videos you choose from the selection listed above.
I chose the four videos that I chose because they sounded the most interesting to me. I chose to learn about Buddhism, Chinese art, Japanese art and African art.. These are 3 cultures that interest me greatly so I chose the videos to learn more about them.
2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
Buddhism:
This film explains the birth of Buddhism and its spread. It uses detailed analysis of the architecture and art of this religion to show how it has grown and spread. It focuses mainly on the places where it has flourished such as Mahabodhi Temple.
Chinese Art: Treasures of the National Palace Museum:
This film spotlights 33 different pieces of Chinese art, and their influence on the Chinese culture. These pieces are rarely seen out of the museum that hold them, and they help to show how the Chinese culture has changed and transformed through the pieces.
The Great Wave (Japanese Art):
This film tells the story of an iconic image known as The Great Wave. It also tells of its visionary maker, and the times in which he lived. It also decodes the multiple meanings of The Great Wave, and explains the mechanics of wood block printing.
African Art:
The main concept of this film is the culture of the African tribes and the art that is involved in the everyday life of these tribes. The video describes the rituals and other artistic expressions that take place in these cultures. It also shows how and why these artistic expressions are important to the people.

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos relate to the readings in the text because they are videos about the cultures that are discussed in the reading. The videos show the cultures from the reading and art from these cultures.
4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?
I enjoyed the films and feel that they do much to enhance my knowledge on these cultures. They add depth to understanding by allowing me to see more about the art of these tribes. It also adds more information that the books did not include. This adds more depth to my understanding of the material.