Project #4: Art Curator Exhibition Slideshow Reflection

Reflection:

This was a fun and sometimes difficult project, and it was hard for me to put into words and talk about the pictures.  It was something that I was not used to so that is the reason it was difficult for me I think.  I enjoyed looking at all the sunflower pictures.

Week Fifteen: Self Portrait /Art Gallery Visit

Self-Portrait, c. 1971
Painter:  Elisabeth Louise Bigee Le Brun
Medium:  Oil on Canvas
Museum:  Kimbell Art Museum
Fort Worth, Texas

Self-Portrait, 1780-1784
Painter:  John Singleton Copley
Medium:  Oil on Canvas
Museum:  National Portrait Gallery
Smithsonian Institution

Self-Portrait, 1889
Painter:  Vincent van Gogh
Medium:  Oil on Canvas
Museum:  National Gallery of Art
Washington, DC

Self-Portrait, 2014
Artist:  Stephanie M. Kelly
Medium:  Oil Pastels on Bristol Paper

1. Why did you select the inspiration pieces?


I selected the pieces because they were familiar and I wanted to select inspirational pieces that I have heard of before.

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


I selected the pencil with color to create my self-portrait because it seemed to be the easiest for me to work with.  I was able to erase and manipulate and shade quite easily, which is what I like.  I also like working with oil pastels, they are easy to blend and erase.

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


I think that the challenge I feel that I faced was actually drawing the self-portrait.  I am not a great artist when it comes to faces or bodies for that matter.  I just had to just do it and not worry about how horrible and funny it looks.  My weaknesses are eyes, and shading properly.

4. How does this piece represent you?


I think I did the best I could for it to represent me.  Like in my previous answer, drawing faces is not my strong point, so I did my best to represent me.

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


The elements and principles I was able to work into my piece were line, shape, color, value, balance and unity.

6. Did you enjoy working on this project?


Yes, I did enjoy working on this project.  Even though I am not strong at drawing faces, it forced me to work at making it perfect.  If it were a leisure project I probably would have given up on it a long time ago.  Since it was a school project, I am glad that forced me to complete it.  I think I did well.

7. What do you think of your final artwork?


I think that my final piece is interesting and I appreciate it because it was hard for me to do and I completed it.  I like it just for that reason alone I think.

Week Thirteen and Fourteen - Blog: Video Review

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

In all three videos I learned the different ways that curators attack putting together a show.  A lot of it depends on the type of show and the style of the curator.  It’s an amazing process to put together an art show.

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

I do not know yet because I have just started and have not really gotten into it.  This is a difficult project for me.

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?

I think the films were really neat.  I think that my favorite film was The Lowdown on Lowbrow:  West Coast Pop Art.  I thought it was pretty cool and the art in that video was so interesting and neat!  Amazing artwork!

Module Twelve - Blog: Video Review

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

I chose Uncertainty: Modernity and Art along with Andy Warhol: Images of an Image because they seemed interesting to me.  I also like Andy Warhol ‘s art so I thought it would be interesting to see what this video was about.

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

In Uncertainty: Modernity and Art I learned that modern art is always changing with the changing world around us.  It keeps responding to modern life.  The modern world was based on speed and efficiency and mass production.  I was very surprised that Hitler also had influenced the changing of Modern Art.  All art is uncertainty.  As time changes, art is continuing to change with it.  Abstract and Pop Art are to me the most uncertain of all art. 

In Andy Warhol: Images of an Image I enjoyed watching about Andy Warhol.  It was interesting to learn that he did the Marilyn pictures on silkscreen.  I liked how he made reproductions of photographs or newspaper articles in silkscreen.  I loved watching how you make a silkscreen copy of a photograph.  It is so fascinating!  I think that one reason I like Andy Warhol’s work is because it is of things/people that I am familiar with.  Things that I know and things that I have seen.  So to see these things in a different way, through the eye of someone else artistically changing the image, fascinates me. 

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

The videos add to and expand on what we have read in the text.  A definite complement to the text.

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

The films are interesting and great!  They add to what I have read so that I can get a better understanding about what it is that I am learning in the chapters.  I enjoy them!

M11 - Art Gallery Visit #2

Step 1: The Exhibition

Questions about the exhibit: 


1. What is the title of the exhibit?  The Title of the exhibit that I really enjoyed was Clyfford Still. 


2. What is the theme of the exhibition?  The general theme of his exhibit was Abstract Expression.

Step 2: The Gallery

Questions about the physical space: 


1. What type of lighting is used?  The lighting was overhead light that was dimmed, and spot lighting. 


2. What colors are used on the walls?  The colors of the walls were white.


3. What materials are used in the interior architecture of the space?  The interior architecture of the space composed of plaster walls, wood benches, glass, and metal railings and metal sensors.


4. How is the movement of the viewer through the gallery space?  The movement seemed to flow throughout the entire space.  There were just pathways that seemed to flow into another hall or room.

Step 3: The Artwork

Questions about the artwork: 


1. How are the artworks organized?  The Artwork was organized by artists.

2. How are the artworks similar?  There were sculptures and paintings. 


3. How are the artworks different?  The artworks were different by the subjects that were painted or sculpted.  Every artist is different in their techniques and their visions and that is what makes them different.


4. How are the artworks framed?  The artworks were framed in wood frames. 


5. How are the artworks identified and labeled?  Beside each piece of art is a small plaque describing that piece of artwork.  With an exhibit, there is a little write up near the entrance of the space giving a brief description of the artist.


6. What is the proximity of the artwork to each other?  Each piece of artwork seems to be hung on the wall with at least 5 feet of space between them if not more.  

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. (See the sheet in the module folder)

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

November 1950  No. 2
Clyfford Still

Artist:  Clyfford Still

Title of Work:  November 1950     No.2, 1950

Media:  Oil on Canvas

Date:  November 1950

This is a beautiful painting.  I see a large canvas that is encased in a wood frame with the colors black, white, yellow, and blue.  It has emphasis, which is on the back shape in the center of the painting.  Everything works in harmony giving the sense of unity in the painting.  It also displays great color, shape and line.  To me this painting makes me think of the sun and water because of the yellow on top and blue on the bottom.  There is a stark thin white line next to the black mass.  I thought that maybe the white represents the good and sometimes we are overwhelmed with all the dark and bad things surrounding us, which is represented by the black mass in the middle of the painting.  

April 1962
Clyfford Still

Artist:  Clyfford Still

Title of Work:  April 1962

Media:  Oil on Canvas

Date:  April 1962

Another beautiful painting, all of Clyfford Still's paintings at the gallery were beautiful.  This painting is on a large canvas encased in a wood frame with the colors red, green, brown, and cream.  This painting also shows emphasis, color, shape, line and unity.  The painting seems to be complete with the simple colors that is has in it.  It does not remind me of anything, I just really enjoy this style of artwork.  That is why I chose it.  It is hard for me to tell what the artist was trying to say.  I just love the simplicity of Still's abstract expression in his artwork.  I could think that maybe the red represents anger, but it is hard to imagine that with such a beautiful painting.  

Blooming City Marks, 2014
Jose Parla

Artist:  Jose Parla

Title of Work:  Blooming City Marks, 2014

Media:  Acrylic, ink, plaster, and enamel on canvas

Date:  2014

In this painting I see all different beautiful coming together to complete an amazing piece of art.  The principles and elements that were used in this painting were texture with the plaster, vivid colors, line, value, balance is kept throughout the picture, unity, and emphasis.  This piece of artwork reminds me of Jackson Pollock's artwork.  The way the painting seems to just be thrown on the canvas with no rhyme or reason except with the use of plaster.  It is named Blooming City Marks and I feel that it represents the brightness of a city and it lights, any city, the darkness that is also in that city and the calmness of the day-to-day city life.  

Step 5: Document Your Visit

Take some pictures (no flash) if it is accepted at the Gallery you are visiting. 

Make sketches if you are not able to take photographs.

Bring home brochures and other materials for reference.

Questions and Topics for Your Blog Posting:

1. Make sure all questions/answers from Step 1-3 are posting to your Blog.

2. Make sure you upload images of the 3 pieces of artwork you are interpreting to your Blog or Photobucket account. (If in Photobucket, be sure to hyperlink to Photobucket from your Blog posting).

3. Make sure you upload images that document your visit and experience of the physical space. If you cannot take pictures, upload your pictures, scan in the brochure images, or hyperlink to the Gallery website from your Blog.

4. Answer this question: 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.?

Taking a visit to an Art Gallery looking at it from a different perspective was definitely a different experience.  I have to say that it was a little hard for me.  I usually have my children in tow and we really enjoy going around and looking at the art in a fun way.  I felt that this was a more serious visit and I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would.  Maybe next time it would be easier for me to complete my assignment if my children were with me.  I probably would have had a more carefree analysis of the exhibition.  I never really looked at the space the art was held in like the walls and lighting.  I definitely have looked at the architecture of the old building because I enjoy looking at that type of stuff...old buildings.