Module 10

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above. -I chose African art because that type of art has always stood out to me as very creative and inspirational. I think having a very different culture to celebrate is unique yet fascinating the way African art is incorporated in their celebrations of life. The different meanings behind their art and masks and the different way they use art –dancing, rituals, masks, pottery, their homes is really very interesting. 2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned. African Art -art shown daily life, homes and utensils -defines expression in dress and hair styles -art especially important in African rituals -statues and mask and other objects once used in ceremonies –dance -many masks made of wood and straw -drawings in hard rock usually resemble animals --humans are also represented in rock art -farming and gathering replaced bunting -artistic achievements flourished 15-17 centuries -sculptures glorify rulers who are early Egyptian pharaohs seen to be devine -bronze casting -carved chairs resembling rulers power -Great Zimbabwe great political and economic system -walled enclosure –represented authority of rulers -fortress guards the valley -early Europeans saw African art as child like -primitine - portrayed a lack of understanding -perceptual and conceptual views -perceptual: based on the artists observation of visual reality; scenes and human subjects appear life like -conceptual: flows from artists imagination, expresses interior set of ideas rather then reality; power of symbolism -figure sculptures primarily found in west Africa -utilitarian objects have rich and symbolic meaning -creating objects in a traditional way --artists are respected community members -emphasis on copying and recopying others art -African art intertwined with the realms of magic and religion -animals, plants and stones are animated by unseen spirits -rituals gave humans control over such forces -art was believed to intervene actual course of life -an art object not supposed to represent a living human or animal but congier or spirit -used to worships and obsess spirits, gods and ancestors -mystic symbolism is most evident in 3D art sculptures and masks -some statues represent the power and wealth of rulers -other carvings represent the spirits and continuity of life -through the statues, the dead are among the living -in some regions, the elongated vertical forms suggest the ancestors remoteness from daily life -sculptures represent wild bush spirits these figures fed during sacrificial rituals intended to keep wild spirits at bay. -strong design elements in African culture; rigid frontal postures are common (suggest figures should be viewed faced on), side views carefully planned, texture is important, mask used in dance and other rituals, some are relatively naturalistic, others are highly stylized and abstract. -wooden masks usually embellished in feathers, metal, fur and other materials -many dance masks are remarkable best viewed in one element theatre and ritual -dancers move to a rhythm that puts them in touch with the forces of the universe. -among some African peoples, masks as a means of acquiring the power, powerful harvest, or to grantee good hunting, -animal masks are used to symbolize relationships between animals and the world of humanity -identify specific animals as courage or beauty -the masks allow the dancers to communicate with or even become one with gods or spirits -masks can also represent war like strength -masks were often a way to prepare for battle or to celebrate victory -village life styles are being influenced by growing urban centers -universalizing religions islam and Christianity replaced old beliefs -today masks that once had great power, now languish in museums -now art is used to flourish the market etc. African Art: Legacy of Oppression -usually see African art as static facing your frontally -masks worn by priests to connect to the dead- in Yambe culture –a sinking feelings in the pit of the stomach -huge range from central African art styles -give a visual vocabulary to use -systems of signs that can be read by the people of their society -artists of central Africa glorified the mothernes of their mothers, chiefness or their chiefs -forces of the land of the dead with actual containers of magical potions, revenge, masks -mask- white side healthy person black side sick person- masks like this were meant to scare you to treat handi capped people well because it can happen to you. Manhood to represct their elders -masks were meant to intimidate enemies In battle -masks could not protect against machine gun bullets -didn’t work against use westerners -Belgium massacre -congo- bullets= right hands, slavery 2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text? The readings in the text talks about the symbolic meaning behind different sculptures as well as masks. It talks about how art in Africa often serves as an agent to bring about some desired state of affairs, usually through contact with spirit powers. Among African art, the masquerade is the greatest involving costumes, sculptures, music, and movement. In western museums, African masks are commonly exhibited and admired as sculpture. But in Africa a mask is never displayed in public as an isolated, inert object. It appears only in motion, only as the head or face of a spirit being that has appeared in the human community. 3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts? I really liked the first video because I learned quite a few things that I did not know about. I also am saddened that the African art has changed and art isn’t just necessarily made for art and meaning but for economic purposes as the last thing discussed in the video. I like hot the videos went into depth about the ritualistic view of the masks and what they stand for and how they were used.

lilymac334's Hands slideshow on Photobucket

lilymac334's Hands slideshow on Photobucket



First two images are done with my dominant hand of my left hand

Second two photos are of my nondominant hand of my right hand 1. I have done a few sketches where my hands were used as the subject for my drawings and they have turned out well done. The hands a good subject matter to use because you can move the hand into many different ways giving different lines and shadows. 2. I used pencil because its less messy and easier to erase if I need to 3. I almost felt stressed out using my non-dominant hand. I wanted to take my dominant hand and just fix everything. I also felt like time was going so slow as I was trying to really focus and draw it making me super frustrated. 4. My first hand is slimmer then my second hand. Its more clear and the lines are more detailed as for the second hand, the image of the fingers are not positioned and as detailed in the cresses. I think it was successful or at least as good as it will get. 5. I probably wouldn’t use my non-dominant hand to create future works that at least need to be detailed and precise.

Module 9

1.Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above. I chose these two videos for no particular reasons other then I have heard of them many times. 2.For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned. Velazquez : -at 24 yrs old became court painter to Phillip the 4th -king rewarded him with the order of Santiago- Stability -captured the moment, light, air things that are timeless-real time -in his entire life had only 1 friend king, 1 love his wife -free of artistic compromise or unwanted commissions -he studied for 2 yrs looked, copied studied Italian painting -painted a canvas a subject of mythology -theme as if he the painter were to give it substance snatching it from time and making it real-interested him in myths -he didn’t care for eternity -educated painter master of impressive library for the time -his works are based off of work of early age and other artists -he represents artlessness, nature, not arrangement - painted equestrian portraits -abstract painter, portraying ideas and ideals -has been called a realist more so an idealist -used his eyes minds view -what makes kings look different from each other? The human part -his subjects appear fixed, inner movement is spiritual -sense of irony, Sinicism, fatigue -how to balance the humanity of his subjects with their deformed exteriors? How to express the beauty beneth the hideous exterior while realistic depicting that exterior? Solution, suggest depth through interplay of soft and strong colors- through detail and lack of so the viewer can look at not inside the character. -human freaks embody something clean and pure more ideal then the sum of their parts -gift to capture the mean and the moment -required great human sympathy and insight Michelangelo : -where does the core of the human being exist? -uses drawings as a stock of ideas he can return to, keeps the paper, reuses it -interested in what sculpture means and expressing it in a different medium -sculpture od david first marble sculpture carved in Italy since antiquity -blend details taken from life with an abstract idealized version of the pose -reworks the figure till perfection -ceiling of the Sistine chapel -chose moment right before god gives adam the spark through touch -take the drawings from the back, multiple line that runs around the edge of the form, every musculature is slightly emphasized above its reality giving a sense of movement to it -working through mass entangled bodies and testing limits what he can portray through the body -crucifixion drawings near the end of his life explore conflicting feelings of hope and dread as he approached death. 3.How do the videos relate to the readings in the text? As discussed in the readings, Michelangelo established his reputation as a sculptor by 25 yrs old. The sculpture David reveals his debt to classical sculptures. Michelangelo knew how the body looked on the inside, how they worked, because he studied human anatomy and had dissected corpses. Made a figure through knowledge made of muscle, flesh and bone but actually through all marble. David is a Renaissance sculpture because of his expression on his face and the tension and energy that is missing from Greek art. Michelangelo working on the design sculptures for Juluis ll ‘s tomb, abandoned that project to create a painting (which Michelangelo didn’t like) now one of the most famous, best-known works the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Velasquez uses light to create drama and emphasis, but light also serves here to organize and unify complex spaces. There was not much mentioned about Velasquez however. 4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts? The first film on Velazquez to me was dull, uninteresting was just simple. The most interesting of his works came at the end of the film where his works of art on those that are not considered beautiful came into conflict with his art. The description of how he would judge the appearance of the subject being painted and how he tried to disguise this ugliness was very interesting. The film on Michelangelo was great. I love his artworks and his sculptures. His many sketches and poems are incredibly done. The religious concept of the 16th chapel is beautifully done. He is overall amazing how meaningful all his work was to him makes the images he created 1000x more interesting.

Module 8

1.Explain why you selected the video you choose from the selection listed above. I chose to watch The Greek Awakening because I love Greek mythological stories and the artwork that represents such stories and the different Gods/Goddesses the Greeks believe in. 2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned. The Greek Awakening: -in art dismembered figures meant in a realistic way -suddenly the statues become human gods -visible sign of new self confidence in architecture –example of acropolis -took a city of wood and turned it into a city of marble -distilled perfection in the columns still standing -to make the columns seem perfect actually buldge a little in the middle, compensation to make the art looks straight - since 1975 the Parthenon has been undergoing huge preservation work. (marble) -mixing ancient fragments with newly sculpted sections -human beings are at the center of existence - partheon represents that humanist movement -a temple a church and a mosk -6th century sculptures – attack by Persians - there was a temple before the Parthenon -north side of freeze consisted of 60 horseman -art at this time was consisted of craft and skill -craftsman be a free born citizen or a slave. - sculptures are saved from the plagued pollution of modern day Athens in museums -athena and poeidon in the corners of the pedimont (disputes figure pointing and emotions) -east pedimont filled with sculptures show the birth of Athena -invented theatre and dramas -birth of greek trajedy and comedy -think of it as potilics -talk to the city about the city during thetre was politics -first to develop humans paintings and architecture of humans in a realistic way Documentary - images dominate our lives: tell us how to behave, what to think, how to feel, mold and define us, - -images of the body that are unrealistic - the venus of vilindorf 25,000 yrs old unrealistic body of a woman - seguils can explain the shape of the venus (behavior of the chicks) - -the hunter gatherers exaggerated what mattered most - fatness would have been highly desirable - -Egyptian pyramids aret - not unrelisitic eggagerated images of body figures- just to be about the right size of actual body form - -use the body image that’s most clearest (angle) - measure using a grid applying same grid to images all over Egypt - images were shared by an obsession with consistency and value - its alos seen in their buildings/ pyramids - designed with absolute persission - –permanance and order - egypts images they wanted to last forever while nomads made statues to carry with them where ever - Ancient greeks were fixated on the body - Perfect body was an athletic body - They believed that gods took human form and had beautiful bodies - The mor eimpresive you can make you own body the more of a god you are perceived to be - Figurines were as close to life like and life size as they could get - Worsherpers would think the life like sculptures were actually gods and goddesses - Most rapid artistic revolution of all man kind - Greek and Egyptican ideas were being exchanged - Egypts rigid styles didn’t satisfy the greeks, the greeks like realistic statues - Studied the human body - Critian boy a mildstone in art carved from marble. Seen as too realistic, it was boring. - Capture an athletic body used rods at points where the body is ready to move, and split the body in half and across the middle- began to move figure in specific ways. One side of body in motion one side at rest - Top and bottom have been exaggerated by muscle –impossible for an actual person or athlete took look like the realistic sculpture - Impressionist exaggerated light and color rather then shape 3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text? In the book, it discusses about the little figure woman founded in Willendorf. Numerous Paleolithic female statuettes were found across the region carved of wood, ivory, and stone or modeled clay. These statues were assumed to be fertility figures used in a symbloc way encouraging pregnancy and childbirth. Egyptian paintings show similar works as stone. The body is stylized: head, eyes, torso and legs are each shown from the most advantageous viewpoint. In Greece, sculpture, painting and architecture were discussed as techne roughly “ things requiring a special body of knowledge and skill to make”. Greek art eveolved toward naturalistic representation. The bronze warrior an idealized, virile male body stands in a relaxed yet vigilant contrapposto- the pose the Greeks invented to express the potential for motion inherent in a standing human. Bronze was the favored material for freestanding sculptures. 4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts? I enjoyed the film the Great awakening of Greece, it gave good history on the art of ancient Greece however I personally was excited to see more sculpture and the techniques they used to develop these sculptures. I think the architecture of the stadium and the acropolis and Parthenon architecture was interesting because we now use these techniques of architecture all around the world. I really enjoyed the documentary on how realism of sculptures has advanced since ancient times in different locations. Shows how important and hard the technique of realism is to actually capture and how the human body is history has always felt connected with the imperfect/unrealistic exaggerated version of the body.

Module 7

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned. Architecture: the science of Design -Skyscraper made up of steel skeletons holding up walls, ceilings and floors -skyscraper made up of 2 main parts, super structure and under ground sub structure -on main problem In constructing high rises is the wind. Wind is faster as the building gets higher. Buildings I high winds can sway a whole meter -Experts resort to wind tunnel microclimatic research, using models with an artificially created ventilator. Model of a building and its immediate surroundings with wind blown on them at different speeds. A probe with an ultra sensitive sensor link to a computer circulates above the model collects different points enabling experts to determine how the building and its surroundings will react to thrust of winds. -a high rise with flat surfaces and right angles act bad in bad winds -A smart apartment: computer linked to the houses various appliances. -because such products are at high cost its kept out of most consumers hands -voice command, start or stop (light clap on clap off) -Architecture has become a social art form -continue to innovate and create new spaces replacing traditional shapes with new forms – new material in concrete -used as a construction material back in Antiquity -regained popularity during last century -mixture of sand, pebbles or broken stone combined with cement and water -Joseph founded portlain cement most used today -set, hardening, resistance and volumetric stability -reaches resistance in 90 days -plain cement used for foundations -advantages reinforced concrete erect light buildings with daring forms, materials air tightness prevents it from cracking. Frank Gehry: Architecture as Art -a building can be a passive building or create an emotional response -sense of feeling in the building -modernist architecture as had been distorted by secular builders were cold and lifeless and hes going against that -building is something u put in a place and it eveolves over time, its use and space so its not a pure artwork like a painting but hes very inspired by painting. It is the highest level of human/ artistic expression. Hes seduced by it and when he cant think of anything he goes to museums -transforming buildings into sculptural objects -buildings are sculpture but not in the same sense each have their own domain or terrain. -Pays attention to natural light, use of unconventional materials, concern with functionality, -he breaks everything in parts -cant escape your signature 2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text? To be honest, the beginning of the reading basically focuses on the different types of building techniques that can be used which wasn’t exactly spoken about in the videos. One video talks about the steel frameworks, which makes up the “skeleton” of the skyscraper, which is also present in the book. The book also talks about reinforced concrete describing what its made of such as the video however the book talks more so about in depth of the reinforcement of cement and the video focuses on some reinforcement advantages. 3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of Architecture? Architecture does not necessarily have to mean the actual material building itself but it can be what makes the building as a whole, such as its features. Architecture is always evolving and changing. It does not have to be your standard building but a creation of your wackiest imagination. I think the Frank film was interesting I enjoyed how he strayed away from your average boring rectangular building and he added shapes and movement into his designs. I enjoyed his thought process and how he described his designs has as his own signature that he cant escape. The first film I understood the segments relating to the structural building and the use of cement as well as how they test the structure of the building against the wind. I was sort of thrown off by the technological uses that were implemented into the building at first but I am assuming that the word architecture means the outside and inside structure including its advancements that comes with it. 4. Why did you choose the films that you watched? I personally have always been a big fan of interior design and architecture so I figured I would watch the two videos that said in the title of them architecture.

Module 6 Video and book responses

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned. -Glass & Ceramics: -how to make glass -how to paint window glass and color using lead technique -Glacier makes small sketches then breaks the work up into small pieces (numbering them) then makes glass to fit that exact sketched piece then fits each glass into channeled led strips, then fasined and soughtered together covered with a water proof topping. -ceramics clay made of rock -different clays heated at different temps created different textured objects -plaster put in mild then fired -to make simple shapes in large quantities use dry pressing -glazing gives it the shine and look of glass -ceramics can be used for surgical reasons, muffler in automobiles, architecture -oxide reflect during the day infra red rays off the windows giving the building mirror like effect and the opposite occurs at night. -the intensity of sound in a room can be cut by half due to glass -laminated glass with catch fragments and keep it from shattering -Through the eyes of the sculpture -every stone has a different smell -sometimes they’ll just be called in to work on a hand, a foot or head not a full figure -check the stones sound to make sure its good make sure no cracks -everything has to work with the sculptures technicality -stone is gives dynamic of group and support the sculpture -use of bridges for stability -sculptures first sketched then comes alive in clay dies in plaster reborn in marble -artigano: crafts person or craftsman (usually associated with marble work) -the sculpture also uses feelings to sculpt life into their work 2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text? The book starts off by explaining the 4 basic methods for making a sculpture: modeling, casting, carving and assembling and these examples were shown mostly in the video Through the eyes of the sculpture as different artists showed themselves at work. The making of human figure sculptures (little and life size). Chapter 12 relates more so with the video glass and ceramics and the objects created that can be used in daily lives. We watched as plates were made and glass and ceramic pots and stained glass. 3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics: Sculpture, Installation, and Craft? I really enjoyed the videos, more so “through the eyes of the sculpture” because I really enjoy carving and using plaster and clay blocks. I personally love sculpting especially with the subtractive method taking a way from a big block and not being able to put it back together. I also liked the video on glass because I have always wondered how it was made (I knew from sand but how?) and the craft behind it is amazing.

Module 6 peer response to art projects

• My Response to Kayla Falters art projects -Project #1 Elements and Principles http://blogging-my-art.blogspot.com/2015/02/project-1_15.html?showComment=1425393647956#c6106970016252551624 -Project #2 Art Gallery Visit http://blogging-my-art.blogspot.com/2015/03/art-gallery-visit-1.html?showComment=1425394726210#c3845324541311034252 • My Response to Christopher Kasprzak -Project #1 Elements and Principles http://ckasprzak.blogspot.com/2015/02/httpi1341photobucketcomalbumso759kazbuk.html -Project #2 Art Gallery Visit http://ckasprzak.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-visit-to-albright-knox-art-gallery-in.html • What do you think about the process of reading your peers reflection? Do you find this to be a valuable in your learning? -I think the intake of feedback on any work you do enhances your learning ability. There are always little tweaks that can be made here and there that can perfect something or make it better even the slightest bit. Either way most of these art works that we have done so far in my opinion are based on our own opinions which can be seen differently through someone elses eyes so there is no complete right or wrong.