Student Gallery in the Library on 11/29

    I attended the gallery that was in the library lobby on November 29, 2017. The main artist who I enjoyed most was Samantha Stepnowski. Her gallery was names Making Sense of Common Complexities. When looking at her pieces of work, the main theme of them were skeletal shapes and animals, mainly those found at the beach. My favorite was the back of the horseshoe crab. The attention to detail stood out most to me. It was also the only yellow piece of paper on a wall that was white, with other works done on white pieces of paper. Even by sticking to the brown color palette, she still was able to create dimension through the work with the different shades that she used.
    The next painting I enjoyed was the dotted lizard's head. This piece again stood out because it was the only one with color on this wall and was also on a more yellow piece of paper. Her other drawings had been more blended, yet this entire work was made of dots, making it more intricate. You can tell where she added more dots in certain areas to create more dimension and details. Also, I like that she stayed with one color. There was no color scheme that she followed; she just used the blue. I also like how it was just of the lizards head. It makes the viewer less overwhelmed, especially with the use of the dots to create this piece.
   Lastly, I liked the different seashells she created. There were five different seashells on the same paper as skeletal images of a crab. However, to me the seashells stood out most. They were all drawn using only a gray scale of colors. The lighter to the darker grays made the details of the seashells stand out most. She also was able to make the seashells stand out from the skeletal pieces since they were gray and the other were more brown. From this gallery, I learned that, even when having different images in the same area, one can easily stand out from other based on the colors. It may not even have to be the colors used to create the piece, but also from the color of the paper compared to the others.

Postmodernism Blog Post

"You are born modern, you don't become so."
    The composition of the piece has L-shapes throughout, especially with the multiple frames. The paisley around the border leads you to the next black frame, which leads you to the puzzle pieces, then leading you to the main image and the frames within that image. The color scheme is analogous because the main colors used are green, lighter blues, and rose golds colors.The denotative meaning of this piece that I made includes a modern day living room with the people from times in the mid-1900s. There are also images of today's world, with images of old times. It is bordered with a frame(s), playing off of the frames in the image. 
   The connotative meaning of this piece makes me feel like I am in the middle of two different worlds. Although they still combine and join together to create one, there are multiple differences that stand out drastically. The ideological meaning of this piece links to how the past and the future appear to be different, yet somehow there are so many similarities. Even though things be seem to be drastically opposite, there are always relationships between things to some degree. This is shown through the cars. Even though they look different from one another, they still worked the same way and got people from point A to point B. 

Tufte Reading

While reading the Tufte article, the first paragraph immediately grabbed my attention. It said that even though we live in a three dimensional world, everything that is drawn on paper is two dimensional. Even though this seems quite evident, I have never thought about it this way. When looking at a book with pictures of a city, we can imagine it in real life, but I have never thought that the illustration of a city was any different than a city itself. However, even if they have the same features, they still are drastically different. The article continues to say how we can make illustrations on paper more three dimensional like, however, it is still fascinating to think of these in two very different ways, than what I would have thought of it previously. 

Making different items appear to be more three dimensional like on paper did not just occur out of the blue one day. There have been many techniques that have been attempted over a great amount of years. Some of these techniques did not work as well as others. However, without trial and error, we would not be so advanced in the work we have today that looks more three dimensional than ever. Many artists took both the ideas of others who may not have worked out the best and the ideas who did work out to piece together what they have now. After so many years, we still can say that three dimensional drawing is at its peak, yet will over more time become even better and more detailed. 

Sunspots were something discovered by Galileo and deeply studied in regards to three dimension. With over three hundred eighty years of analyzing these sun spots, it is the one thing that’s designs have not changed by others. The same exact design strategies are used by many artists just as they were back in history. I think this is interesting because so many images are viewed again and again, and changed so many times until it is perfect. Even when it is perfect to most, there still may be someone who is not as satisfied and would change it again. However, the sunspot is the one that has not been changed at all. These strategies have gone widespread and used independently from the sunspots altogether. 

Postmodernism

     With there being so many different cultures, religions, and world views, we are bound to have them intertwine in whatever we may see. This can take place in magazines and in ads, or on the street when seeing different people. Even though all of these do mix, they are all something special and unique. It is up to us to find these differences and make them into something worth emulating. It is because of this mixing that we live in the world that we do today. Art can be a good way to find some of these differences and then recreate them into something amazing. Even if it is only one or two ways in which a person or magazine has merged cultures together, we can be able to find beauty in it through art.
     The age of Modernism is one of the ages that sticks out at me most. At this time, there was great dissatisfaction with the world. Edvard Munch in The Scream showed this dissatisfaction immensely. There were many other artists who used the world around them at that time and how they were feeling, as well as how many other around them were feeling, to capture that moment in time. Often times, we can use these pieces of artwork to determine the world at that time period. Especially when it was so long ago, they can be used as a great guide to help us see what society was like and what it was going through.
     In todays world, especially in Hollywood, many of the signs and images used are not representing the world as it truly is. However, instead, it is showing us this hyperreality. It is more real than the real itself. It creates a sense of entertainment, while also showing us this reality that we live in. In older times, artists use their work to show us how they believed culture was at this time. We now take out own reality and emphasize it even more to show just what we think of the world.

Colors Podcast

     One of the very first lines stuck out at me saying, "What is color?" This had me thinking greatly because I, too, often think about what color truly is. Isaac Newton did many thinks to determine what color is, one being the rainbow that reflected off of his prism. He determined that white obtains all the colors of the light. This I believe is so important when discussing light. It is important to realize that colors are in everything that we see. Even though we may not see all of these colors, they are all still there. This can help us to become even better observers in art and in nature because we can view things differently than we may have before.
     Jay Nights attempted to try and get things, like monkeys, who can't see red or other colors to be able to see these colors they are missing. I find this truly fascinating that this was possible. In order to determine this, the monkeys took a test every morning, and saw positive results after 20 weeks. This leads to humans who are color blind and if they can be changed, or make colors more in greater in people who are not color blind. This would give people a whole new way of looking at the world around them. If this were to be possible, so many things would change. Not only would we see new colors and different shades of colors previously, we could use these colors in our artwork and create new pieces that speak to so many people and move them.
     Colors come from factories, currently, especially special colors like sky blue, or aqua blue. However, the question is where did these colors come from in nature. One example is this sap from a tree and you can only get it through cutting the bark and using bamboo, and it is then left for a couple of years. Even though this process is slow, it helps to change the color by adding water and for it to become even more different than we would have ever imagined the yellow color to be. By finding all of these colors in nature, they become even more fascinating. We see so many shades of every color through factory use, however, when seeing this amazing color come through nature, it makes it so much more spectacular.

White/Color Project

This was my first picture that I took. When looking at the objects individually, they both looked to be white. However, when you place them next to each other, the folder looks like a more grayish-white color. The phone case looks more like it has a greenish tint to it. You are more unable to call both pieces as white. 

This photo was taken in better lighting. I now see two different colors than white and two different colors than I had seen in the first picture. The folder now has a yellow tint to it, instead of being more gray. The phone case is more white looking, though. I would say that it has a slight gray tint, but is mostly white looking. The colors changed drastically than what they seemed to be originally, what they looked like in the first picture, and what they looked like when the lighting changed. 

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Julio Fine Art Gallery Opening on 9/28

     I attended the art gallery opening on September 28, 2017 at the Julio Fine Art Gallery. There were a few actual sculptures and also some paintings on the wall. However, I enjoyed the sculptures the most. My favorite one was called Knee High by The 4th of July. It was made by Kyle Bauer using plaster, metal, and poplar. It was tall, yet had the same shape repeating over and over again. Also, I liked that it was very simple. There were no bright colors. The only colors were white, with metal poles and a wood base. It was in the center of the gallery so it immediately caught my eye. The triangular shapes in the white pieces at the top also gave it more dimension than it would have if there were no shapes at all. 

     The next piece that I liked was again by Kyle Bauer and was untitled (Blue/Blue study). This was hanging on a wall with no other artwork, so it really stood out to me. The two different shades of blue really complimented each other and gave the viewer an illusion, in a slight way. Also, I really liked how it was divided into quadrants. They were all symmetrical and proportional with each other making it pleasing and appealing to look at. Lastly, I like how the shapes were. They were organic in appearance, but you could tell that they were almost ovally. 

     Finally, I liked the akin water tower by Kyle Bauer. This one was a sculpture and was in the back corner of the room. I noticed it even more after looking at the Knee High by The 4th of July. It was white and black, so also had minimal and simplistic color to it. I liked this because all of the organic shapes fir perfectly with one another. It created a tower like structure, that seemed to just fit right and stand perfectly erect. The shapes that it was made out of reminded me of an angel-like figure too. I enjoyed going to the art gallery and experiencing different kinds of art that I normally would not see. 

Knee High by The 4th of July

akin water tower

untitled (Blue/Blue study)

     

BMA Pieces

Out of all the works of art that I saw in the BMA, my favorite piece was Claude Monet’s Charing Cross Bridge Reflection on the Thames. The optical colors of the piece seemed to calm me, especially since it was a water scene. My favorite part about it was the boat. Although small and not as prominent, it stood out to me the most. The steam coming from it made it even more realistic. Some of the composition that was used were radiating lines. The lines went from the building to the big bridge, and the boat to the bridge. L-shapes were also used from the buildings to the bridge. The meaning that I perceived in this painting was that of New York City. It shows the buildings and the bridges, yet it does not show the hustle and bustle that comes with these things. Instead, it was a peaceful and calming painting that eased me and made me see the beauty in all things.

The next painting that interested me was Henri Matisse’s Festival of Flowers. The dimensions and different points this work had kept my eyes moving. The composition of this piece includes L-shapes going from the balcony door to the end of the balcony, and the balcony to the rest of the work. There were also radiating lines from the palm tree to the women, and the flowers to the women. Lastly, there was the Golden Triangle where the women became the center of the work. The meaning that I perceive in this piece two people delightfully sitting on their balcony while looking over the rest of the city and road. There may be people all around, but it is important to stop and take in your surroundings, and enjoy them for what they are.

My third favorite work was Piet Mondrain’s Composition V. The lines that this has gives it a simple touch, while the colors, again, give it more optical properties. The composition of this work includes radiating lines from the blue and yellow rectangles. L-shapes appear repeating with every shape, rectangle, and square. They are present in every way that you look at it. Rule of Thirds is shown, too. When you divide the image vertically, one portion shows some white and the blue rectangle, one portion shows just the white, and one portion shows the yellow rectangle and more white. The piece means simplicity to me. There is not a lot of commotion with colors or details and images, yet it still contains a lot of depth to it. It also makes me feel happy with the little bits of color that was there.

Composition V

Festival of Flowers

Charing Cross Bridge Reflection

Ways of Seeing

 While reading Ways of Seeing by John Berger, one line stuck out to the most. Berger writes, "Today we see the art of the past as nobody saw it before. We actually perceive it in a different way" (pg. 16). I think this stood out most to me because it describes the way in which so many people perceive art. What I may think to be beautiful and peaceful, another may believe that it is a chaotic work that they do not find enjoyment in. I think that it is important, however to have these differences of opinions. It is because of these differences that we have so many different pieces of art. If we all enjoyed the same things, then these same things would be drawn over and over again. Some people like darker colors, while others enjoy lighter colors, while even other enjoy bright and fun colors. These opinions give way for so many pieces of art today. 

This statement that Berger wrote could also be taken as people viewing and piece of artwork and noticing different things about it. If it is a portrait of someone, one person may connect deeply with their flowing hair, while another person sees emotion in their eyes that connect to them. All of these views that people have about one painting, drawing, or sculpture, can relate to everyone on a deeper meaning. It is important that society does come up with their own ideas about art, too. Even though we are all looking at the same work, if we all agreed on what it was about, then there would be no further opinions that make someone unique. 

Another thing that stuck out at me while reading this article by Berger was in the very beginning when he discussed that we all see things first before we speak. This can be related back to when we are infants. No one is speaking real words when they are one day old. However, we are all looking around at our surroundings and the people who are around us. I think that we do the same with artwork, and if we don’t, we should begin to. Glancing quickly at a piece of work and telling exactly what it is about does not allow you to fully engage with it. When looking at anything, you should collect your thoughts after a few minutes and then speak about what you see and feel. 

Visibility

     Imagination and the way in which is helps to create something visible plays a huge part of art. Italo Calvino in Visibility describes just how this happens. One of the main points that stuck out at me was that imagination is "stealing us away from the outer world" (pg. 82). I can agree with this statement fully. When we use our imagination, we are thinking of things that may not be necessarily real life, but could have realistic features or they could be real life but maybe not thought about in the same sense. Often times, I find myself using my imagination most when laying in bed. Your mind runs free and sometimes it could be for a few seconds, while other times it is five minutes or more. Regardless, I escape from the real world and envision something so unique every time.
      The time where one is imagining has the potential to be something related to art. What someone may imagine could be drawn, painted, or sculpted in order to become more of a reality. There are times where it may be someone else's imagination and the artist is trying to portray it. Calvino would agree with this statement. When there is something being describes, the artist has to figure out exactly what that person was thinking at the time, how he/she was feeling, what they were dreaming, and what they see represented. Some times this is done verbally meaning that the person is describing in words to the artist. Through artwork, we can grasp a sense of someone's imagination and the exact way that person wants it shown. It may not be realistic, but regardless if it is or isn't, it shows the imagination.
      When looking at different art pieces, people grab certain things from it. What they take away from it is their own and doesn't have to be uniform with anyone else. However, when visually looking at something, it is important that art does speak to the person. I believe art can truly change the way in which a person thinks and can have a powerful message when grasped the correct way. For example, Calvino discusses how artwork can communicate the teachings of the Church. It can be so moving that it is able to truly evoke emotions that may not have such an effect if done so verbally. Visually looking at something can change the opinions of many people compared to speaking about something.

The Whole Ball of Wax

      The Whole Ball of Wax written by Jerry Saltz provides an insight to what art is and how people look and think about it. Art is able to make some type of change. Although it may not be drastic or immediate, it still has an impact great enough. However, society needs to know how to look and discover the artwork in order to realize this potential impact. Saltz states, "Art is an energy source that helps make change possible; it sees things in clusters and constellations rather than rigid systems" (pg. 1). Here, he wants everyone to realize that art is not something that is left alone, instead it is something that is a culmination of different ideas and different topics. This group of many things can help those looking at art to become more intuitive in what is could potentially mean. 
      Once you are able to realize these certain aspects of art, it can often be a healing process that many people need. They may not even know that they needed it, yet once they finally feel the healing that it has made, it becomes even more of realization. To be able to have this healing, the onlooker needs to be able to look through the art, at the art, and into the art. Saltz continues to support this by saying that after September 11th one person went to a museum and saw antique furniture which made them feel better about the whole situation. To most people, furniture would not have this type of healing affect, however they were able to look deeply and see just how this would be the beneficial. 
      Lastly, Saltz uses the analogy of a cat and how a cat is art. I found this point most interesting. As mentioned, cats normally do not come when they are called by their name. They continue on doing their own thing and minding their own business. This leaves an area of space in between you and the cat. This is the space that one must understand in accordance with art. There is a big area that some people may comprehend all of it, while others may only comprehend parts of it, whether small or big. Referring to the cat, a person must be able to grasp what the cat is thinking to fully get its communication. Just like in art, you should be able to accept it in order to realize the communication between you and the art.