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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After: 

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.