Sol Lewitt Conceptual Project

(photo: www.nga.gov.au)

The Concept art that we did in class was something new for me. At first I thought it was ridiculous that a artwork could be credited to an artist without him even touching the piece. But, I was also interested in the idea of just the instructions to make a piece rather than only producing it oneself. The piece we did in class was straight forward and simple enough that anyone could recreate it. The results was a big square made of tiles of curved and straight lines. I don't think it turned out right, because our lines weren't perfect. It looked off to me.

Performance Art

The Wall
Ingredients: Two to six people
One Wall

1. Participants stand with backs against a wall, hands down by their sides, plams facing, but not touching the wall. Everyone's eyes should be closed.

2. With eyes closed a participant ducks down.

3. Everyone opens his or her eyes to see who has ducked. If only one person ducks, start over and if everyone ducks, start over .

4. When more than one participant ducks down the standing people (or person)clap(s)

5. The clapping can go on for an unlimited time until the people or person clapping decides its over.

I tried this performance with my brother(18) and nephew(9). I read the instructions to them step by step. It was interesting to see who would duck down and who wouldn't. My nephew was quick to duck down as soon as I read that instruction and
I told my brother to clap. He did so for about 90 seconds. I thought that was interesting because I didn't tell him when he should stop. The decision was completely up to him.

The Gutai Group: Japanese Avant-Garde

The Gutai Bijutsu Kyokai or Gutai Art Association was founded in 1954 by Yoshihara Jiro, Kanayma Akira, Murakami Saburo, Shiraga Kazuo, and Shimamoto Shozo in Osaka, Japan. The Gutai Artists have been likened to abstract expressionist in that their art tended to look at the object in a new way.(IEAS Berkeley) The Gutai artist began to think about objects and thier relation to themselves and how they used them to create art."Gutai art does not change the material but brings it to life. Gutai art does not falsify the material." "If one leaves the material as it is, presenting it just as material, then it starts to tell us something and speaks with a mighty voice."(The Gutai Manifesto) Their works were precursors to the happenings and performance art that would follow in the Western world.(Tate)




http://www.ashiya-web.or.jp/museum/10us/103education/nyumon_us/manifest_us.htm
http://www.tate.org.uk/collections/glossary/definition.jsp?entryId=130
http://ieas.berkeley.edu/events/2003.02.06.html

Performance Art

Playing with behaviors of everyday life.

A mirror is normally used to look back at oneself. You see an imitation of yourself. Something that is you and, at the same time, isn't you, but merely a reflection of light.
In the "Mirrors" exercise you are looking at an imitation of yourself in the mirror, but unlike normal circumstances its not only you looking back. This makes me think of how alike people are and how important the idea of self image is to us. We all have an idea of who we are, but what does that come from?

Logos

A logo is a an image used to represent a company, group, institution or an individual. They are used as a visual description of the entity and become apart of
an identity to the public. Many of the best logos are also the simplest. They are easy to remember and recognize. A successful logo tells you something about the company, group, or individual it represents. The Dove logo is a good example of a successful logo. It uses a very basic silhouette of a dove that is still very recognizable.
What is the difference between a sign, symbol, a logo, and an icon?(http://www.logoorange.com/logodesign-D.php,10/18/2007)

Class Discussion: Duchamp

The piece as a very complex idea behind it. The ideas are not always prevalent when you first look at it. My first impression of it was that it had something to do with machines and looked modern. I think the overall concept behind the painting is too complex to really fully understand without Duchamp's notes. Visually the piece didn't do much for me either because the images are so foreign but not very pleasing to the eye.

Patterns

Patterns can be found everywhere. I looked at patterns from wallpaper in American homes to tiles in Islamic mosques. The use of patterns is not something new or unique to one culture. Patterns can be found anywhere.
I first looked at wallpaper designs and found such a variety of patterns. Wallpapers traditionally use repetition as a main design focus. From the many varieties i found in wallpaper alone I think its safe to say that anything can be incorporated into a pattern. I found patterns andrepetition in quilting and flooring. Tiling has a tradition of patterns. Tiles can be seen in European palaces to Mosques in the near east. Many Islamic tiles utilize geometric shapes and forms. Islam made a great use of pattern in their art because depiction of life was restricted. Patterns have always been a constant when it comes to design.

Gestalt

image source: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Multistability.svg)

Gestalt:
a structure, configuration, or pattern of physical, biological, or psychological phenomena so integrated as to constitute a functional unit with properties not derivable by summation of its parts.
(Merriam Webster http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary)


Other Links

Shades of Gray: Value Scale and Drawing

Three hours. That is how long it took me to finish drawing a value scale. I don't remember value scales taking me that long in the past, but apparently thats how long one takes. It was challenging to get each segment of the scale correct and the right value. I found myself erasing and going back over the same area more than once. Each time, it was either too dark or too light. At one point I think all of the value segments were all the same. It took effort, but I think that I was able to find the correct values.
The drawing was easier than the value scale itself. The first thing I decided on was the shape. And then I decided to use all the values on the value scale. I tried to arrange the values so that they would balance each other out. I chose the shapes I did to have movement through the drawing.

Value Composition

Lines, Strings, and Things

I enjoyed the string project because it was chance to do something that was active. The process of making the web was just as enjoyable as the end product. In the beginning I wrapped the string around whatever i saw without any thought or plan. Then, as i progressed I started to make more specific choices about where i placed string groupings and patterns. My goal was to make something that encompassed a large area of space. I also began to weave my string in order to give it a more web-like appearance. I was surprised at the end mass of string that resulted from everyone's contributions. If I were to do it again I would try to make it less random and more orderly.

Line and Shape

Which of the images a, c, b, d are lines?
Images a, b, c, and d are all lines.
Which of the images a, c, b, d, are shapes?
Images a, b, c, and d are all shapes.
What makes a line?
A line is a mark that connects to points together. A line can be continuous and unending.
What makes a shape?
A shape is made of connecting lines that make up a closed, contained object.

art analyzation #1

This piece is composed of ornate shapes and figures. The background is a dark navy blue color. In the upper left corner is a patch of gray in the background. In the center of the work lies a black wheel shape with thin, web-like circles in the middle. In front of the central wheel shape are two columns of ornamental forms. The left one is composed of black round shapes that branch out. The right column has round circular shapes that resemble ribbon, lace and flowers. Further to the right of the column are two more wheel shapes similar to the center one, but slightly smaller and with blue borders. The Circles are connected to each other by a single thin, curving blue line.
Interpretation:
This piece has order and balance because the forms and shapes are organized to fill equal parts of space. The artist balances the ornate forms with the circular shapes on opposite sides of the painting. In that way the work is organized and deliberate. The artist also uses muted softer colors throughout most of the work rather than brighter hues. The use of color unites the whole piece.
Evaluation:
I like this particular piece because of the use of balance. The colors are calm. Although there are many elements to this image, my eye moves over it at a moderate speed. I also like the decorative aspects of the piece. It feels very adorned, but antique.