Image Essay #12

With this picture, by Kara Walker, titled "Danse de la Nubienne Nouveaux", it personally to me is very interesting. Not just because its a silhouette and what not, but because of the many many different ways that it can be interpretted. One way, they way I mainly interprette it, especially when I saw it at first glance, is of the little african american children doing a stupid little dance, and jumping through hoops to please those who are watching, only to end up in the pot instead of pleasing them. Or it's like telling the children that no matter how much you may try to impress the audience, you still are dirty because you are black, and you will never be clean, no matter how many hoops you jump through, or how many times you bathe. It screams inferiority to me, and again the importance of this image for this week? It tells a story. It tells Kara Walkers story about her identity and her heritage. It also tells of possibly her inferiority complex with the other races. How she believes she isn't as good as everyone else. It tells her story, wether you like it or not, its what she has to say, and she has her own way of saying it.

Image Essay #11

This image, done by Margret Kilgallan, god rest her soul, is painted on the door of a luggage store. And while the simplicity of a painting on a luggage store may not strike you as something entirely captivating, I personally after having watched the Art 21 episode on her and her husband find it that much more interesting. I love how her and her husband would paint random things in random places then come back one day and stumble upon it. I love the idea of leaving your mark on something, and it being there for so long that you can come back to it one day and say "I was here". Margret Kilgallan and her husband Barry McGee, are graffiti artists who also seemed to have an inclination to leave thier mark on railroad cars, which is where the stumbling on a car or place again that you had already seen long long ago.

How does this tie into what we are currently doing? Well besides the fact that we watch thier biographies in class, they also have thier own way of telling thier stories. Each peice of graffiti that they do has a story behing it, even if its only to them that the story makes sense.

Image Essay #10

I think this image has a differant story kind of story behind it, which is one of the main reasons I chose it, for its story. Since our current projects are dealing with the story of this place, the story of this place is to me about a family standing on a bridge or boat laughing and playing as if they were on some sort of picnic. The main focus in this photograph is a young girl, probably eight years old, leaningon the railing. Although her face is somewhat young looking, belying her age to us is the body wich has the legs an arms of an older woman, and the torso of an eight year old. It really shows to us the reality of girls and women in this world. Girls always want to grow up to be beautiful women and older women spend the rest of their lives trying to look younger. This photo represents this through the girl, young and old, posing flirtatiously on the railing. Her family around her represents the rest of the world who look the other way or encouraging this kind of behaviour in women and girls in this society. As I said, this photograph screams its story in multiple layers, which is why I chose it.

Image Essay #9

This image is another one of those images that really has nothing to do with what we are currently doing, but I decided to use it after going back over our notes from this class and finding the term; "Phenomenology" which is the process of letting things manifest themselves. This particular image is one that I have had for a long long time, and everytime I see it I think of complete and total randomness, and how you start out with one thing, in this picture it would be the background, and then you just start to go, and something amazing comes out of it. I use to like to experiment with ink, and when I would, it would mainly be a mass of random lines and spirals, (although in a completely un-Tim Burton kind of way) and a mixture of the different colors of ink that I had. So when I saw the word "Phenomenology" I immediatly thought of this picture because it reminds me of those early random ink experiments. How I would usually start out with some kind of concept, or plan to make a certain something, but then by the end it would turn into something completely different, hence the phenomenology.

Image Essay #8

There is a reason that I chose this image, and it's not because it's screaming meaning at me. Mainly, I choose this image because it shows one of the techniques you can use to create texture. Also to elaborate on my previouse image essay, by useing crosshatching, (the technique shown in the picture) you can create more or less tension all depending on how you place the lines. If you are wanting a darker shadow or more tension in the picture, simply place the lines closer together. You can start to see this effect in the top right corner of the above picture. And if you are wanting to create a lighter shadow or less tension reduce the amount of line coverage like in the bottom left hand corner of the picture depicted above.

There are so many different textures that you can use in a picture, after all, everything has a texture. However, when an art instructor says use texture in your next project to me, I immediatly think of crosshatching, therefore that is the main reason I chose to use it for this weeks blog image essay, also it is one of the most commonly seen used textures in art works.

Image Essay #7

I decided to use this image for this week because it shows multiple layers of textures and how they can (in a way) be used to create depth in the picture plane. Starting more specifically with the center square on the top row. In this square there are multiple textures giving a feeling of a switchboard, or pipelines under a city. In the square in the top right corner, there are two main different textures, from the soft plain texture of the background, and the high contrast of the peice that is being pulled back. Again, creating depth, and contrast through the use of texture. Although this picture plane still seems to be flat, there are small amounts of depth in each of the smaller squares that make up the picture plane. Not only does the textures create a sense of depth, but the can create a sense of mood to. Say if the textures were harsher, and not as soft, it would give off the feel of the picture being angry, hurtful, or other such dark emotion. Compared to a soft texture that makes you think of a happy emotion. In this image its a soft, harsh mixture creating an equal feeling, which in the end, unfortunatly gives the picture no feeling at all.

Image Essay #6

While this image doesn't necassarily protry any specifics that we are doing in our class right now, it does however remind me greatly of our current project. Since mine is on the smell of dead fish, I wanted to get an image, in this case an image of a painting, that shows the meaning behind mine in a way. Although I don't believe mine has that much meaning, besides to entice the smell of dead fish, and to make people think of the ocean, I believe that this painting protrays my meaning simply in another way. It makes me think immediatly of the smell of dead fish, and the taste by how it is placed and displayed. However, due to the fact that there are lobsters, crabs, and a shark in the picture plane, it makes me think immediatly of the ocean, since you don't really think of those animals as being freshwater fish. It uses the elements in the picture to do exactly what we are trying to do with our project, protray a smell or sound, without blatantly saying what the sight or smell is. In this case, its the smell (and taste) or dead fish, just like my project.

Image Essay #5

With this image, made by David Salle, titled "Black Eyed Susan with Envy", The artist, not only using an interesting bright color scheme, conveys many layers of meaning in just this one peice. The first thing that comes to mind is the envy of beauty that is usually connected with the female figure. But then when you also throw in the beauty of nature, (i.e. the flowers) it compiles to make and even more interesting composition. With the top half of the picture being a seemingly summertime theme, with the baseball, flowers, woman in the swimming suit, and with the innertube, showing a bright happy day time activity. Juxtaposed with the naked woman on the bottom, in her nightgown, and half wrapped in a blanket, show a nighttime activity. Then when the two activities are juxtaposed next to each other, it only makes me think of the complete range of beauty that a male might see in a woman. From her natural beauty, to her sexual, sensual beauty only shown at a few times. Then mixed with the color scheme, it gives off this feeling of youth and innocence, along with knowledge of the world and enviroment around her. It shows her innocence and trust, through her interaction with her surroundings, again giving it many layers of meaning.

Image Essay #4

With this image, by Damien Hirst, titled "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991)", I chose it for this image essay because it reminds me of my project. Since my project is on the smell of rotting fish and this is a dead tiger shark suspended in a glass tank of formaldehyde shown at the Saatchi Gallery, obviously would reek of the smell of dead fish. If it wasn't overpowered by the smell of formaldehyde of course.
There is also so many layers of meaning you could pull from this one peice about this artist. Not to take into account that there are many peices of his that involve animals, but with this one in particular, it screams so much. First you can take the title, "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living." To me that says how no person who is living can envision death, no matter how hard they try. Even if they have a near death experience, they still can not envision what death will be. With this peice the artist is basically is taking a figure of death and bringing it into a viewable sense, leaving it open to the viewers interpretation. Even though we do not KNOW what death is, we can still think about it and interpret it how we want to, even if its just the death of a dead fish.

Image Essay #3

This image is a good example of circle, line, rectangle because not only does it employ the elements in our porject, but it also has a clear dominance structure within the picture plane. Starting with the most dominate circular design in the background. Which is peculiar because one would think dominace would be in the square and rectangle in the forground, which it is, value wise. But if you are going by size, it clearly is the circular design in the background. Even though the circular desgin, rectangles, and basically the entire diesgn itself splits the picture plans in two, and doesn't really keep the eye moving, by employing the use of accentuals, it draws the eye into the circular design. Then breaks it up with the background line design, and the blantant solid shapes in the foreground. The circular design is clearly the dominate in size, when grouped together, however, the lines in the background emply that the lines go on forever, providing us with our ump truck full of fries, the circular design becoming the trashbag full of fries, and the accentual rectangle and square being the kid size order of fries. All in all it provides with a pleasing design.

Blog Assignment #4

Place
1. I think we define the space. I mean you can take a plain white wall and transform it into any kind of thing you can dream up. You change the plain (space) into what you want it to be, and then change the over all feel of the space by what you do to it.
2. Some of the artists such as Richard Serra seems to be influenced by vastness and the feeling of smallness when surrounded by his large sculptures. I think he is presented with a large area, and the just seems to enhance the feeling when a person steps inside his sculptures. Others like Sally Mann, just seem to be influenced by the world in itself. Like when she took pictures of her children, but then after awhile decided she should try something new and switched to landscapes. She was influenced by her subject matter I guess you could say.
3. I don't think it really altered it, it just enhanced it. I mainly enjoyed learning about the new artists and gaining new ideas from their works. It also, did however, show me that you can make a piece out of almost anything, including the side of a train.
4. I felt the most connected to Pepon Osorio. Not so much because of what he is all about, but because he reminds me so much of my favorite artist Sandy Skoglund. Who is also an installation artists, and one of these days I would really like to do an installation.
6. Interested: The family woods- exploration, the pond-vastness, school-education, church-friends, town-activity Scary: garage-dark, basement at night- dark, woods at night-creatures, parents room-forbidden, fireplace- dream
7. Basement at Night: The mini living room with the couch, TV etc... the woodburner, various toys. Most of the textures are just normal everyday items. But at night its pitch black and when the woodburner would be going all you could see is the fire, nothing else, and it always made me think the house was on fire.

Stories
1. In today's society, I am sad to say, but the majority of the stories told are all either sex, crime, religious based. The one story however that will always be passed down no matter what will always be the bible. Although in the future it make take a different form..either all important or the book of the ignorant.
2. The majority of stories that are not ever told are usually those that go against the social norm of the time. These stories are hidden and most of the time forgotten because of thier "rebellious" words. However those stories that are told continuously over time are usually those that can be shaped and applied to the current time.
3. They keep sketchbooks that keep tabs on the process and development of thier ideas. I would say that yes they are works of art...they are the process of the piece but in themselves still art.
4. 5 years younger: I was 13 years old, and at that time thinking about school and the kids there. The kids where horrible to me growing up, and they were until about sophomore year. I remember specifically about the time I was thirteen of crying to my mother begging her to let me change schools. 10 years younger: I was 8 years old, and mainly thinking about saturday morning cartoons and whatever else I could play with that day, like barbies. 15 years younger: Barbies, and my sister. I am three years old. All I'm thinking about are barbies, sesame street, and my sister.

Image Essay #2

Circle, Line, Rectangle

For this project of Circle, Line, Rectangle, when I would be brainstorming for ideas, I kept thinking about the layouts you see in magazines. Which is why I choose this image as my second image essay subject. It reminds me of the background design for a magazine. The geometric shapes juxtaposed with the lettering seems to me to give this very straight forward concept. However, is you look at the collection by Rowan Moore called "Photodisc Green" (which this photo is a part of), you will find that the entire collection is an amazing show of symmetry, balance, dominant elements, and amazing colors.

This photo in itself shows one line, two rectangles, and four circles all overlapping each other. Which is almost what we were allowed to do but alas, there are those amazing colors that are used. The red, blue, green, yellow, and the lettering which looks like a mixture of all of those colors is simply mesmerizing. I'm sure that any other person would probably look at this picture and just move on, but I personally am fixated on it. It's just an interesting blend of color, juxtaposing, and over all balance. It reminds me of a painting hanging up outside of the arts village which I also find awesome.

Image Essay #1

Circle, Line, Rectangle

This image is an excellent example of our project because of the fact that it does use circles, lines, and rectangles, as is our current assignment. There is defiantly a dominant element in this composition, but due to the use of values, it seems to dissolve and therefore reduces its size in the picture, this figure being the circle in the lower left corner. Also, the use of values in the composition give it a while new perspective also. It shows not only the geometric shapes, but also provides you with positive and negative space, (the black being the positive and the white being the negative).

I also find it interesting that in this composition, the artist choose to overlap the shapes but make them transparent, so you can see the full shape while it intercepts with the next. This effect, in my mind at least, creates tension in the composition, and makes its far more interesting. Just because you have to take the time to examine the picture plane to locate and identify all of the shapes presented. Also, again, since they used the values in the picture, it creates depth and makes the composition look that much more realistic. This is why; I again, state that this is an excellent example of our first project, even though it goes beyond the restrictions of our project.

Blog Assignment #3

1. Before this Blog Assignment, had you ever kept a journal, diary, or blog?
Yes, I had a Xanga for about two years.

2. Before this Blog Assignment, had you ever written about art before?
A few times, in my high school art classes we would occasionally have to write essays explaining our work.

3. Have you ever written for fun (poetry, fiction or non, journalistic, or research)?
Often, I use to work on a school newspaper for fun, and I would write short stories when I got bored in class.

4. When writing, do you use a dictionary or thesaurus?
Dictionary, also known as dictionary.com when I can't figure out the spelling of a word.

5. If given a chance, would you rather discuss art verbally or through written means?
Verbally, because you can get instant feedback.

6. How would you rate your overall vocabulary?
Above Average, I at least try to sound intellectual.

7. How would you rate your vocabulary of art terminology?
Below Average, my art classes in high school where mainly a still life and easy A's. There wasn't a lot of actual learning going on.

8. How would you rate your writing abilities?
Confident, writing is very easy for me.

9. How would you rate your writing abilities when writing about art?
Insecure, I would much rather talk about it.

10. How would you rate your ability to use specific vocabulary when writing?
Average, when I talk about certain things, I mainly use the termonology that comes to mind, not specific terms. Such as juxtapose to me is just placement, or composition is design. Things like that.

Blog Assignment #2

In part three of Circle, Line, and Rectangle, I used tree bark as my three lines, leaves and my five circles, and buildings, or skyscrapers, as my seven rectangles. While the buildings, or rectangles, were the most dominate elements in size, it is the tree bark lines and leaves that seems to draw your eye.

As I was selecting what items to use for this composition, I guess you could say I was inspired by the difference of Bowling Green to my home. Where at home I was in the middle of the country and surrounded by tree's and cornfields, here at Bowling Green its all buildings. I'm not use to living in a town, since I have lived in the country all my life, so while I was putting this project together, I thought of all the buildings that now surround me, next to the woods that use to. So in the composition, there is all the buildings that seem to surround the picture plane, and yet there is that small tree that catches your eye and makes you focus on it. Kindof like how we are surrounded by buildings here, but still captivated by what we had.

That's what this composition means to me, the transition from old to new, from natural to concrete, from home to here.

Blog Assignment #1

When you ask us to write a biographical statement, I assume you do not want to know about the place I was born in, or the town I grew up in. (Mary Rutan Hospital, Bellefontaine, Ohio) I'm sure you want it to go a bit deeper, instead of getting the usual answers. So instead of the hometown, and other various facts you already know, (such as major, grade level etc.) I'll start with the three big interests in my life. They are as follows:

Art: Naturally this would be my first interest to list, after all why else would I be in art school if I had no interest in it? But then, to tell the truth there is another reason I am in art school; my mother. She always dreamed of going to art school, but unfortunately when it came time for her to go, she was unable to. One of my earliest memories is watching her draw a person's portrait. It just seems natural that I would be here now. But at the same time, I feel used when she asks for the details, like she is living through me, which bugs the hell out of me.

Music: While art may be my profession, music is my passion. Even though I am not in any way shape or form musically inclined, I do make for an excellent listener. There is never a moment when my stereo is not on. And in a way it is an art form all in itself. Even though I know it has to drive my roommate insane, because I will play the same song over and over until I have it memorized and can sing along with it. (Currently, it's Plain White T's: Hey There Delilah) And while I am not the person who can play the song, I can sing it, and debate over the lyrics. Back home I was constantly getting into debates over meanings of songs. Already I have gotten into a few here also.

Snowboarding: Last big interest of mine. I have been snowboarding since I was 9 years old. This mainly comes from living five minutes from Mad River Mountain, and multiple heart attacks on my mothers part. I have mild concussions, and I've blown a knee out doing it. But there is nothing to me like the feeling of gliding down that mountain. Or well in this case an oversized hill with a lift on top.

And now I will end this with the tired and true message of: If you want to know more, just ask me.