Module 15 video blog

Step 2: Questions for your Blog Posting

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

Greenberg on Art Criticism: An Interview by T. J. Clark: Greenberg shares a number of insights on the relationship between art and history, the nature of value judgments in criticism, and what he calls America’s post-WWII “culture boom.”
The Colonial Encounter: Views of Non-Western Art and Culture: I did not know much of anything about non-western art and culture, but this video looks at the ways in which Western prejudice, ethnography, and art consumption have counteracted authentic things in common with other cultures.

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

They do if the viewer’s opinions and views match that of the interviewee. Everyone judges everything in their own way, so regardless of whether us students agree with what was portrayed in these videos or not, people will still get a different impression of something than the next person.

3. What is your opinion of the films? Do they add depth to understanding of art criticism?

They were really quiet first of all, the volume on my computer was up all the way, and I got frustrated going back and re-listening if any background noise was to occur. They were pretty dull to be honest, since the first was strictly a dialogue video, and no visuals to go along with it. What I grasped from it, his opinions and standpoints are interesting and thoughtful, but I felt like I had to concentrate on picking something that interested me. The second video I watched had a little better volume, and had visual examples shown during the narration.

Project 4-Curation reflection blog-Landscapes and nature in art

Reflection blog-curation project process

After watching the videos, looking at the discussion forum topic, I picked my theme, then looked at the sample powerpoints provided from past classes.
Nature, landscapes, and seascapes have always interested me more than any other theme in art. I have purchased many prints and sculptures of my favorite artists, all of which involve this theme. The search began with looking at different art gallery websites from around the country, taking virtual tours, etc. A few of the pieces I chose for my presentation do not have some of the crucial information such as size or date. I thought that if the image itself is powerful enough and the information provided was given and valid, that is what is most important. I spent several days on this powerpoint, making sure I was actually passionate about every piece I chose, and all for different reasons including different elements and principles being shown.
Overall, this was a good assignment I thought, because it allowed the students to choose a theme they felt stronger about than other topics, as well as choosing individual pieces of art, and being able to do research on them.

Mod 13&14 video review blog

Questions and Topics for Your Blog Posting:

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

The Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art: I did not know that what art historians call Pop Surrealism; practitioners call it Lowbrow.
Displaying Modern Art: The Tate Approach: I did not know that Tate curators developed a new method utilizing theme-based museum sections.
Bones of Contention: Native American Archaeology: I learned that 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.
An Acquiring Mind: Philippe de Montebello and The Metropolitan, I learned how much work is involved in preserving art pieces and how many fine techniques are involved. “World class art demands world class care”.

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

An art curator is, in smaller organizations, may have sole responsibility for the acquisition and care of objects. The curator will make decisions regarding what objects to collect, oversee their care and documentation, conduct research based on the collection, provide proper packaging of art for transport, and share that research with the public and scholarly community through exhibitions and publications. The videos and this definition do relate to the upcoming exhibition project because it went into very deep detail about particular works of art, how they are made, handled, and taken care of over years and years.

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 did not do much yet to start my project, watching these videos was over 3 hours of my time so far, I have only watched 2 other videos regarding the project, so as far as “understanding of the art concepts I practiced while creating my curation project”, I can’t really say much. My opinion on the videos was good. It was a nice change of pace to the normal videos. It was very interesting to me to see how different pieces are preserved and how much work goes into keeping them original, so nothing effects their look or value.

Module 12 video review blog

Questions and Topics for Your Blog Posting:

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

I chose, “Andy Warhol: Images of an Image”, because my best friend has always been obsessed with Warhol’s work. I knew of a few pieces he had done, but I didn’t know anything about him as a person or how he got to the point he has. I was very curious about his history and motives.
I also chose, “Uncertainty: Modernity and Art”, because during the art gallery visit assignments, I always wondered about “modern art” and what the difference is to regular art.

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

Andy Warhol: his fascination with—and his indifference to—celebrities as objects no less commodified than a simple can of soup. Also, his use of the silk screen which gave him the ability to make several prints of art to meet his clients demand, where he could continue putting out art, and gaining more revenue.
Uncertainty: I did not know how the Nazis tried to eradicate modern art’s uncertainties with some crushing certainties of their own; and shows how modern art’s relationship with modern life changed.

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

The videos are a great way to understand the book information better. I am more of a visual learner, and seeing it and hearing it is much easier to take in information rather than just reading. I noticed the modernity of art was mentioned in both, and Andy Warhol is obviously a very well know artist everywhere.

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

The videos always help me understand information better, and I catch things in the videos that may not have been mentioned, or I passed by in the book readings.

Module 11 Video Blog review

Questions and Topics for Your Blog Posting:
1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.
I chose 'Expressionism" because I know art is a main method of self expression, though I don't know much about it.
I chose "

Dance at the Moulin de la Galette" because I love french as a language, and it just grabbed my attention more than any of the others.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
An outgrowth of Fauvism, Expressionism emphasized color's emotional properties while demonstrating far less concern than the Fauves had with the formal and structural composition of color. The artist wanted to show living human beings who can experience love...not landscapes or people reading. His thought process was the only thing that I learned or was interested in from this video.
The 2nd video contrasts the artist’s idealism with the realities of poverty and left-wing radicalism that pervaded the locale. Also, that the painting is one of the most controversial in the whole world, and is called the most beautiful painting of the 19th century.

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
Videos given for this class almost always emphasize the readings from the test. As usual, it is just an easier visual learning method, than just reading.

4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?
Yes, they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts. The Expressionism video was pretty hard to watch, you could tell it was old, and the man's voice was a little too monotone for me.  The Dance at the Moulin de la Galette video was more interesting than the first one, it was more up beat and easier to watch and retain information from it.

Art Gallery visit # 2

The Burchfield Penney Art Center: Art Gallery visit # 2 (11/10/12)

Step 1: The Exhibition
 Questions about the exhibit:

1. What is the title of the exhibit?
There were a few exhibits being shown here, such as "Spain: Rock, Roll, Rumbles, Rebels & Revolution", and "McCallum Tarry: Intersections".

2. What is the theme of the exhibition?

The main theme seemed to be Martin Luther King Jr., and a lot of racially charged art in the advertised exhibits.

Step 2: The Gallery
 Questions about the physical space:
1. What type of lighting is used?
The lighting was mainly recessed, and significantly dim considering it was a gallery. Obviously there were spot lights where needed to help emphasize art.
2. What colors are used on the walls?
The gallery is primarily all white, some areas of the art center was grey and dark grey.
3. What materials are used in the interior architecture of the space?
There were light colored hard wood floors, black base boards, which brought out the primarily white walls. Very typical white paint on drywall art gallery scene.
4. How is the movement of the viewer through the gallery space?
Since I had never visited this gallery before, it was sort of like a white maze to me at first, like most other galleries, different rooms lead to different rooms and hallways. Everything was very spaced out, which appeared to me as a way to cleanse the pallet of your mind before moving onto the next piece.




Step 3: The Artwork
 Questions about the artwork:

1. How are the artworks organized?

The art was perfectly spaced out, and there was enough space between them where you could definitely concentrate on one piece without having you eyes want to wander to what was next.

2. How are the artworks similar?

They had close to matching frames, and similar matte was used.

3. How are the artworks different?

Every piece of art is different! Thats the beauty of it, other that the themed exhibits, once you move from one piece of art to the next, it was 100% different than the one before it.

4. How are the artworks framed?

There was large mattes used for the most part (unless a huge oil on canvas piece), and the frames used were primarily golds, blacks, silvers, and woods.

5. How are the artworks identified and labeled?

There were the generic white index cards with a black matte behind it to show professionalization and consistency. 

6. What is the proximity of the artwork to each other?

There was usually about 2-3 feet between artworks horizontally, then were obviously mounted closer together if there were more than one piece to go together to make one final artwork.

Step 4: Art Criticism Exercise
Select three of the artworks from the show and use the Art Criticism worksheet to desribe, analyze, bracket and interpret the work using the 5-step Art Criticism Process described. 

1) The artist is Thomas Kegler, the title is "Kaaterskill Falls Dawn" from 2011. The media is oil on linen. The size is not listed but was about 3ftX2ft. The piece caught my eye immediately, it is a beautiful painting of a waterfall at sunrise. The elements used are, color, texture, rhythm, and form(s).  Since there is a proverb listed after the title, I'm assuming the artist was trying to show a scene depicted in the bible.

2) The artist is Charles E. Burchfield, from (1893-1967). The first is called "Ulrich's Envelope from June 8th, 1964, while the other two are 'Untitled'. The media was graphite on commercially printed paper/envelopes. The size is obviously average size business envelopes. The elements used are, form, emphasis, and rhythm. This piece reminded me of what my mother does while she is on the phone...doodles on envelopes laying on the table. Some pieces of art really amaze me that they are considered something special, because in a lot of cases, something like this is done one a daily/weekly basis by someone who knows nothing of art. 

3) This again, is a piece by Charles E. Burchfield, from (1893-1967). It is titled "Solitude" from 1918, and is watercolor and charcoal on paper. The size was quite large, unlisted, but about 4ftX3ft.  This piece attracted me because I love staring into different landscape pieces, trying to see everything at once, and think about the motive behind it.  The elements used are, proportion, rhythm, and forms.  This piece at first reminded me of a still scene that may have been painted after the lord of the rings series. The landscape is similar to what is explained in the books and movies. Showing caves, and cliffs with who knows what is above or behind them.  Judging by the title of the piece, I would say the artist was trying to convey a simple sense of solitude, or serenity...maybe thinking that everyone needs to get away every once and a while, and appreciate nature.

Step 5: Document Your Visit
Take some pictures (no flash) if it is accepted at the Gallery you are visiting.
Bring home brochures and other materials for reference.

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.?
Looking at the gallery from the standpoint of concentrating on the space as a whole instead of just pieces of art inside of the gallery made me think at first, how huge of a building this is, and SO much open space. With how plain the walls and floors are I definitely realized that it is purposely made to emphasize the art, opposite of what this assignment is asking, so that you DON'T concentrate on other things such as the architecture, and physical appearance of the space.  This gallery I think I actually liked a little more than Albright Knox, it is smaller, and the staff was very nice and helpful. It brings a bit of a modern theme to the art gallery, (the entrance way).

Module 10 video review blog

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

I chose Buddhism because that religion itself has always interested me. Their views on religion while incorporating devotion, yoga, and meditation also have caught my interest in the past.
I chose Chinese Art, because I wanted to see if it incorporated anything related to Buddhism because they are located in Asia.

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

I don’t think I realized that Buddhism started in India, and spread to other lands, where it flourished.  Also I didn’t know anything about specific architectural works, such as the Mahabodhi Temple, in Bodh Gaya.
The Chinese Art video showed me 33 works of Chinese art, seldom ever seen outside of the National Palace Museum. There is SO much detail involved in these works, and the meanings behind them are even more interesting.

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

The videos relate to the readings in the test regarding the history of these topics. The videos give a more in depth view on the cultures, by also giving you a visual version of the same information, which for me, makes you understand more by actually seeing and hearing rather than just reading.

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

Buddhism has always caught my eye because of the relaxation, monks, etc. The video gave a much deeper understanding of the culture incorporating art and architecture.
The Chinese Art video was a little challenging to keep track of the chronological order of things…history has never been my forte, but overall, the incredible detail involved in these pieces made me realize how different Western art is from Eastern.