Monday, November 9, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Blog Assignment 3
I went to NYC on the bus trip and went to a few galleries in Chelsea. This was awesome! I'd never been there before; I didn't even know how to get there honestly. I was usually always lost in the chaos of midtown and in awe of the bright lights shining from Times Square, but I think I found where I belonged this time! Chelsea was very chill and low key. You wouldn't have even realized it was flourishing with the arts if you hadn't known where to look. We went to an 11 story gallery; it was filled with different artists, ideas, materials, etc. It really showed me how many different varieties of art are out there. If you have the balls to do something, and really believe and work your particular craft, it's art! Across the street from this gallery was where I was really blown away. It was a Richard Serra gallery, and I'd never been more overwhelmed by a piece of work in my life.
It was me and 6 other people. We walked into a very large white room. White walls, white ceiling, flourescent anxiety filled white lights, nothing on the walls. Inside this room were two huge sculptures, done by Richard Serra. From the outside they looked like large iron geometric shapes. My friends Kate, Danny, and I ran around the backside laughing and "lolly-gagging" about. I was really excited because I had just learned about this particular artist 2 days prior in my 3D Design class and was psyched to be actually with the piece, experiencing it. When we found an opening that you could actually walk into it, my adrenaline pumped and I ran in first, naturally being the little girl that I am. Immediately I felt disoriented, like i was leaning to my right side and couldn't stand up straight. I'm not sure what it was exactly that made me feel this way; the slanting of the walls, the dark rusted iron contrasted against the white ceiling? I don't know. It kept winding around and around, a maze that you had no idea existed from the outside deception. I was scared, really scared at that, because these huge 20 foot tall iron walls weren't held up by anything, no glue, nails, bolts, nothing; just engineered to be free standing structures. Creepy!
Once you got all the way inside there was a "leaf shaped" opening where 5 of us met eachother. This sculpture took 5 people, 5 artists (wishful thinking for me) and sent us into total disoriented chaos. I felt like I was having a panic attack, and so did everyone else, I think. It was weird because none of us really talked about it, or to eachother. We all wanted to get out, and get as far away from eachother as possible. My earlier nieve flighty self was much more cautious entering the second sculpture. Honestly, I was super uneasy about even going into it, but "when in rome", ok maybe not the right saying. Anyways, I had to do it. I talked to an old man that worked at the gallery and he gave me some tips. "Don't speed up, take your time and enjoy it." "Don't get scared, its a beautiful piece of art." Ok buddy, I asked him to go through it with me and guess what, he wouldn't! I want everyone to experience this though, it was the first time art had ever done that to me. It was overwhelmingly powerful.
The second museum I went to was the MOMA, Modern Museum of Art. I loved it! It took me and my friend Kate forever to actually get there though! The Richard Serra gallery left us a bit uneasy, we walked 15 blocks past the street we needed to be on! Whoops! After 4 pm it is free on Fridays to view the art and exhibitions, so you can imagine how packed it was. People were everywhere scurrying about, therefore it made it more difficult to feel the pieces, to have a relaxed deep experience with any one particular piece. I did get to see Van Gogh's Starry Night! In real life too, it was really there, along with 75 other excited tourists gauking and flashing pics. (A bit of a mood kill.) Talk about being with history though, star-struck, anxious, and so happy all in one. I never knew it has been so close to me all these years, just a quick 2 hr. drive and there's a piece of art that every living human being has been touched and influenced by, whether they know it or not.
There was a whole room of Jackson Pollock! I love him; I could get lost in his layers for hours, days. I actually just heard though that it was his wife that started the whole "dripping" or "drizzling" paint affect that he's so famous for, he just took all the credit for it. You know what they say, "behind every good man....blah blah blah". Pollock is one of those artists that kind of makes me feel lost though. I love what he did, I am inspired by his "free-ness" with the materials and the attitude that comes through his work. However, as a fellow artist, if one day I want to drizzle paint on a canvas, burn some smokes and ash it on my piece, in other words, roll around in paint and make love to my canvas, its considered too "Jackson Pollock". "It's been done before," "Where's the originality". It's discouraging, and it sucks. What if I want to be Jackson Pollock-esque for a month? Jessica Pollock, well that sounds wonderful! That is a whole other topic, another place and time.
I think one of my favorite things about the MOMA on that beautiful friday evening was the people. People were everywhere. Art is so important to so many people, so epic in so many people's lives. The gift shop was jammed full of people buying things for others. They wanted to share it, other people wanted to them to bring a piece of art out with them. Its hard growing up around this area to understand that sometimes. When I was little I had no idea about scultpures, famous painters, or art galleries. Coming back into town on the bus, art dissolved with the booze. You can just feel it in the city; I felt inspired, alive, beautiful. It's so powerful because there are millions and millions of people that feel it too. Even though we sit in a classroom of 6 people, we've got a million+ support group out there in the world, hopefully one day being touched by us.
It was me and 6 other people. We walked into a very large white room. White walls, white ceiling, flourescent anxiety filled white lights, nothing on the walls. Inside this room were two huge sculptures, done by Richard Serra. From the outside they looked like large iron geometric shapes. My friends Kate, Danny, and I ran around the backside laughing and "lolly-gagging" about. I was really excited because I had just learned about this particular artist 2 days prior in my 3D Design class and was psyched to be actually with the piece, experiencing it. When we found an opening that you could actually walk into it, my adrenaline pumped and I ran in first, naturally being the little girl that I am. Immediately I felt disoriented, like i was leaning to my right side and couldn't stand up straight. I'm not sure what it was exactly that made me feel this way; the slanting of the walls, the dark rusted iron contrasted against the white ceiling? I don't know. It kept winding around and around, a maze that you had no idea existed from the outside deception. I was scared, really scared at that, because these huge 20 foot tall iron walls weren't held up by anything, no glue, nails, bolts, nothing; just engineered to be free standing structures. Creepy!
Once you got all the way inside there was a "leaf shaped" opening where 5 of us met eachother. This sculpture took 5 people, 5 artists (wishful thinking for me) and sent us into total disoriented chaos. I felt like I was having a panic attack, and so did everyone else, I think. It was weird because none of us really talked about it, or to eachother. We all wanted to get out, and get as far away from eachother as possible. My earlier nieve flighty self was much more cautious entering the second sculpture. Honestly, I was super uneasy about even going into it, but "when in rome", ok maybe not the right saying. Anyways, I had to do it. I talked to an old man that worked at the gallery and he gave me some tips. "Don't speed up, take your time and enjoy it." "Don't get scared, its a beautiful piece of art." Ok buddy, I asked him to go through it with me and guess what, he wouldn't! I want everyone to experience this though, it was the first time art had ever done that to me. It was overwhelmingly powerful.
The second museum I went to was the MOMA, Modern Museum of Art. I loved it! It took me and my friend Kate forever to actually get there though! The Richard Serra gallery left us a bit uneasy, we walked 15 blocks past the street we needed to be on! Whoops! After 4 pm it is free on Fridays to view the art and exhibitions, so you can imagine how packed it was. People were everywhere scurrying about, therefore it made it more difficult to feel the pieces, to have a relaxed deep experience with any one particular piece. I did get to see Van Gogh's Starry Night! In real life too, it was really there, along with 75 other excited tourists gauking and flashing pics. (A bit of a mood kill.) Talk about being with history though, star-struck, anxious, and so happy all in one. I never knew it has been so close to me all these years, just a quick 2 hr. drive and there's a piece of art that every living human being has been touched and influenced by, whether they know it or not.
There was a whole room of Jackson Pollock! I love him; I could get lost in his layers for hours, days. I actually just heard though that it was his wife that started the whole "dripping" or "drizzling" paint affect that he's so famous for, he just took all the credit for it. You know what they say, "behind every good man....blah blah blah". Pollock is one of those artists that kind of makes me feel lost though. I love what he did, I am inspired by his "free-ness" with the materials and the attitude that comes through his work. However, as a fellow artist, if one day I want to drizzle paint on a canvas, burn some smokes and ash it on my piece, in other words, roll around in paint and make love to my canvas, its considered too "Jackson Pollock". "It's been done before," "Where's the originality". It's discouraging, and it sucks. What if I want to be Jackson Pollock-esque for a month? Jessica Pollock, well that sounds wonderful! That is a whole other topic, another place and time.
I think one of my favorite things about the MOMA on that beautiful friday evening was the people. People were everywhere. Art is so important to so many people, so epic in so many people's lives. The gift shop was jammed full of people buying things for others. They wanted to share it, other people wanted to them to bring a piece of art out with them. Its hard growing up around this area to understand that sometimes. When I was little I had no idea about scultpures, famous painters, or art galleries. Coming back into town on the bus, art dissolved with the booze. You can just feel it in the city; I felt inspired, alive, beautiful. It's so powerful because there are millions and millions of people that feel it too. Even though we sit in a classroom of 6 people, we've got a million+ support group out there in the world, hopefully one day being touched by us.
Blog #3
The artist I have chosen to do my review on is Crystal Wagner, an artist coming out of Montgomery Alabama. Her works deal with the metaphysical world, the greater human experience, and about the underlying biological capabilities of perceptive knowledge. I chose to write about her work is because of the unique use of layering and cut outs in addition with her skills in sculpture to create very deep and elaborate pieces.
Crystals works have a way of almost coming to life in the way they pop off the wall in her installations. There is a very flowing, organic feel to her works and how she presents her pieces to become a sculpture as well as a print adds so much more depth and energy to her works. I really enjoy the free flowing shapes and lines that are used, that compiled with the vibrant colors also help to bring her pieces to life. The use of different mediums also drew me into her works, the use of etching, Mylar, silkscreens, foam core board, cut paper to create a very deep and complex image that you eye just swirls all over and through each piece.
I really enjoy the complexity of her works and it shows how dedicated of an artist she really is. Her resume is impressive, having done numerous exhibitions all over Tennessee and Georgia. She has also traveled through europe and having done artist in residences in california and poland. Her works have been judged in national and international exhibitions and she has traveled to quite a few different schools doing artist workshops and help as a graduate teaching assistant. Her website www.crystalwagner.com shows all of her works and current and upcoming exhibitons.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Blogging Assignment #3
For my blogging assignment I chose artist Taryn McMahon. She is a contemporary artist from Iowa City, IA. The reason I chose to discuss Taryn's work is because I admire the complexity and originality of her work. I also enjoyed her technicality and precision throughout her pieces.
The color choice was another aspect I enjoyed. The various hues allowed for interesting yet cohesive pieces. The placement of her pieces as well as the technique used was another aspect I found interesting. The watercolor technique was my favorite.
The transparent yet opaque droplets allowed for my eye to flow throughout the entire piece. With this said, Taryn successfully incorporated the background into the artwork itself.
Another aspect that I appreciated was the emotion that the work itself portrayed. Personally, I found the work relaxing. The droplet technique reminded me of rain which is something I find calming. Also the color choice allowed me to admire the work without becoming overwhelmed.
Finally, in my opinion her work was very successful. I admire her precision throughout her work and the overall idea. After looking at her work I will be sure to incorporate more layers into my pieces, especially with regard to color and line. One piece in particular that demonstrated this layering is the piece shown below. The overall use of color is unique yet tasteful. This process allows for an interesting composition.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)