Project 4 Reflection

This first thing I did to start my exhibit was learn what it meant to be an art curator. So to learn this I watched Art Curator, Interview: Josh Yiu Assistant Curator of Chinese Art, Interview Wayne Baerwaldt curator Montreal Biennale, Felicity Fenner, curator at the Venice biennale and Peter Alter, Curator. After finishing these videos, it was time for me to pick a theme. This was harder than I expected. Obviously there are plenty of themes you could do, but most of them have been done over and over again. I wanted to pick a specific theme so it wouldn't be too broad. I figured nature would be a popular theme so I took that and chose something more specific to that theme. I came up with trees. Once I chose this theme it was time to find some pieces to go along with it. At first I had a really hard time. Then I realized I was going about searching for them the wrong way. So I picked an artist that I liked and limited my search to the artist name and tree. After doing this, I came up with more than enough options. The hard part became choosing the best options! Once I had all my pictures in place it was time to design the slides to correlate with the paintings. I had to think about the background, fonts and colors. I did not want anything that would take away from the beauty of the trees. This project was pretty interesting because you learn how much goes into these exhibits at museums and galleries. Its not just putting up art, its creating an atmosphere and an experience. 

Module 13 and 14 videos

The Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art

1. discuss the key concepts you learned.
Some concepts I learned was what lowbrow means. It is art that no one knows how to characterize. Artist don't like using this term. I also learned that this type of style is made for the people and made to relate to the people. It uses car culture, pop culture and even historic references.

2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Exhibition project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not.
It relates to the project for me in one way. It shows me that an exhibit does not need to be the normal paintings or sculptures, it can be provocative and they can be pretty much anything you want.

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?
This film was interesting. I have never heard of "Lowbrow" art until watching this. I don't really think it added much depth to my project.

Displaying Modern Art: The Tate Approach

1. discuss the key concepts you learned.
Some key concepts I learned was the intellectual and aesthetic issues associated with the display of art, using rooms in the Tate Modern as an example. Over viewing the exhibition style Alfred Barr established during his transformation of Museum of Modern Art in the 1930s, the video shows how Tate curators developed a new method utilizing theme-based museum sections.

2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Exhibition project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not.
Yes this relates to the project because it shows how important the background and surroundings of your exhibit are. You do not want to pick anything that will overshadow the artwork and you want to make sure it coincides with the work.

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 thought this film was very informative. It really helped me think about how I will display my exhibit on the PowerPoint. That is pretty much the only thing I learned from this video.

Bones of Contention: Native American Archaeology

1. Discuss the key concepts you learned.
This video talks about the remains of more than 10,000 Native Americans unearthed at archaeological sites across the U.S. are in the possession of museums such as the Smithsonian. This video discusses the tensions between scientists, historians, and museum curators and Native American groups, as the bones take on a central role in a war of alternate perspectives.

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 think this video relates to my exhibition project. This video was pretty much all about how the Native Americans interpreted art throughout history, which has nothing to do with my project. The smallest connection I made was how art can keep a history of someone or something living forever.


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?
While I thought this film was very informative on the Native Americans history in art, I do not think it added any depth to the art concepts that we have learned.

An Acquiring Mind: Philippe de Montebello and The Metropolitan

1. discuss the key concepts you learned.
Some key concepts I learned is that a museum is never done and they do not just fill gaps they cannot represent a style, artist, or movement unless they can get an outstanding example. Mr. de Montebello has acquired more than 84,000 works of art and is the longest tenured director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Exhibition project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not.
I think this video definitely relates to my exhibition project. They discuss how curators find the best representative piece of the style or movement they are showing. It shows how much work goes into every detail of the museum, from frames to wall colors to lighting and even the other pieces surrounding each other.


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?
This film was very interesting and informative. It really helped me understand how important the surroundings of the art work is. Each piece has to work together and you should never settle for a piece that "kind of" fits the theme or movement you are exhibiting. You want to have the best.

Module 12 Videos

Andy Warhol: Images of an Image
The Art of Henry Moore

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.
Andy Warhol video: I've always been interested in Andy Warhol because of his Campbell Soup painting. He is very different and I want to learn more about him.
Henry Moore video: I am not really sure why I chose this video. I guess I just wanted to learn more about him.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
Andy Warhol video- the video talks about the Pop Art movement and life of Andy Warhol. He began by photographing his friends and then later filmed them. Then he added paint to his silk screening. Also, the many different faces of Liz Taylor was interesting to me how they all seemed to be different, but they all have her face to preserve the identity of Liz.

 Henry Moore video- this video talked about the works of Henry Moore. It showed the sculptures of wounded warriors that he had done from a pebble he had found. He said "One must try to find a synthesis, to come to terms with opposite qualities".

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos really didn't relate to the text besides the fact that they discussed artwork from the time period post WWII and how the artists were changed by it.

 4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?
I learned more about these two artists and they were very helpful in providing examples of their artwork. The videos put more images in my mind regarding the text. I am more of a visual learner so watching the videos usually helps what I read in the text sink in.

Art Gallery Trip Take 2

Burchfield Penney Art Center 

The Exhibition

1. What is the title of the exhibit? Charles E. Burchfield: By Design
2. What is the theme of the exhibition? Transition of Burchfield from a designer to artist

The Gallery

Questions about the physical space:
1. What type of lighting is used? Bright lighting on the ceiling that is throughout the museum
2. What colors are used on the walls? Bright White
3. What materials are used in the interior architecture of the space? Just walls
4. How is the movement of the viewer through the gallery space? It flows from one picture to the next

The Artwork

Questions about the artwork:
1. How are the artworks organized? By exhibit and artist
2. How are the artworks similar? Most of them have a camouflage feel to them because he actually designed some camo. for the army during World War I
3. How are the artworks different? They each use several different colors and patterns
4. How are the artworks framed? Most of the work is framed.
5. How are the artworks identified and labeled?
6. What is the proximity of the artwork to each other? They are all located in the same area so you can go from one picture to the next.

 
Milkweed, 1929
gouache with charcoal on paper,19 3/4 x 15 inches
This drawing reminds me of a Hawaiian shirt. The scattered milkweed and stems creates a crazy kind of pattern and with all the milkweeds intertwining, it creates a camouflage feel. There is blue space between the milkweed plants that make them stand out. The lines of the stems make your eyes wander throughout the drawing. He was dancing between designer and artist while making these pieces.


Nightfall, undated
 gouache on paper, 20 x 15 inches
This was my favorite piece out of the exhibition. It has a dark eerie feeling to it. The black bunched up leaves in the foreground creates a dark feeling to the piece. The background is brighter which makes the the leaves look like shadows.


Field Corn with Morning Glories, 1927
watercolor on paper, 26 x 27 1/2 inches
I see a wilting cornfield in this painting. Again I can see him trying to incorporate the camouflage feel to this piece. There is continuous lines through out the the corn stalks and they are bunched together making the piece feel chaotic.

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.?
I like visiting art galleries, this is the first time I have been to Burchfield Penney. The architecture of the inside of the inside of the building was quite plain and that is because they want the art work to stand out. The lights and surrounding areas really affect how a person can view the art work. Everything plays a role in how the art work is viewed.

Module 11 Videos

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

I chose to watch the videos "Matisse and Picasso" and "Expressionism". I chose to watch the video about Matisse and Picasso because I have always been interested in their work and wanted to learn more about them. I chose the expressionism because the book gave a little information about it but I wanted to learn more. 

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

Expressionism- I learned that during this movement, artist wanted to convey different emotions in their work, not just recreating the picture or person in front of them. They wanted to tell a story with their work by using color and facial expressions to show emotion. 

Matisse and Picasso- I learned that Matisse and Picasso were in a way always competing against each other, however they always respected each other. Picasso knew of his talent since a young age and his father tried to help him pursue his talents. Matisse on the other hand did not even recognize his talent until he was at least 20.

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

These videos relate to the text because it kind of explained expressionism a little more and gave a lot more examples of artwork from the movement. It was interesting to learn more about Matisse and Picasso and their strange relationship. 

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

I was not a fan of the expressionism film. I thought it would be more about expressionist movement and less about the couple of artists. I really liked the Matisse and Picasso film. I thought it was interesting how they competed and how they had a mutual respect for each other. They even gave each other a painting. I think the videos helped show the different movements more in detail by giving several works. 

Module 10 Masks

1. Explain why you selected the inspiration pieces.

I chose these three pieces because each of them had an interesting pattern or feature on them. I liked the elephants and the shape of the first mask, the second mask had some interesting patterns around the eyes and the third mask had great colors and patterns.

2. Include the analysis and description (art criticism steps) of the three (3) inspiration pieces.

These masks all have intricate detail. They all contain specific patterns and the lines make your eyes follow around the whole mask. The first two masks are dark and use only black and gold colors. The last mask uses red, black and gold. 

 

4. Explain how you used the Elements and Principles in your finished mask.

I used different patterns throughout the mask. I also used a texture paper (although you cant really tell in the picture.) I used red and black with a gold background. 

5. Share your opinion of your finished mask and what you thought about creating the mask.

I liked my finished mask. I think it would be really great if I had the time to actually make a paper mache mask. Creating the mask was fun. It made me feel like I could be creative.

Module 10 videos

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

I chose the videos Buddhism and African Art. I selected the two videos because I wanted a further look into the cultures and art than what the book offered us.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
In the first video, I learned about the cultures and art sculptures of Buddhism. I learned that the scriptures were written in stone for the people who could not read and got a more in depth knowledge of Buddhism. In the second video, I learned how African art was made and learned about mosaic making and materials that are used.

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

The videos relate to the readings in the text because the book gave us a quick overview of each culture. The videos went into further detail and showed more examples of the art. The videos did a better job of explaining because they had a lot of images to follow along with the information.

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

Overall I thought both videos did a great job of explaining both cultures and added a bit more to what the book talked about. I liked how the videos explained the art forms of each civilizations.