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.