Artistic Representation of Humans Video Reviews

1. Explain why you selected the video you choose from the selection listed above.

I selected Cairo Museum because of all the choices it seemed the most interesting, as I feel I’ve read about Greeks and Romans and the Middle Ages so many times but only so much on Egypt. I was very interested in what it was going to show me.

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

In More Human Than Human, this video tells us all about how humans appear in art. It showed how they used to make completely unrealistic examples of the human form in art, and they talked about how they were trying to exaggerate the parts and features they found perfect on humans – like in Greek art how the more perfect the body was the more godlike it was so humans were depicted with perfect bodies. To me it mirrors society today where photoshopped photos of women and men with perfect bodies are plastered all around it. It warps our perception of reality and what is actually real and beautiful – which I think was the message of the video. In the Cairo Museum video, it talked all about different artifacts from many different places shown in the museum. It shows us about the background of the exhibit and all the different, ancient artifacts it holds – and how many it holds, as there’s so many they can’t display all of them at once.

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text? 4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

I think as usual the videos build off our readings. It brings to life the things read about and brings more of a visual to the things discussed. I think the videos were pretty interesting, and I really liked the Ciaro Museum video as it was particularly interesting to look at all the different artifacts and marvel at how long they’ve been there or how little we may even still know about them.

Architecture Videos Review

For this I watched the first two videos, Prairie Style (Frank Lloyd Wright) and Architecture: The Science of Design.

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

For the Prairie Style video, I learned about how architects use the landscape in their work, that Wright thought there was a relationship between the structures built and their environment and that they could enhance each other. For the Science of Design video, I learned all about the structure of skyscrapers. I particularly like the part where they tested their model structures in wind tunnels to see how the structure would hold up in real life. I knew wind affected tall structures, but having it go into detail was very interesting.

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

Well these videos just went more in depth to what we read in the text, such as discussing different styles and materials. It just went more in depth about specific types of materials and how they are used.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of Architecture?

As usual, the videos gave built upon the knowledge I gained from the text book. But as a visual learner this really helped me to understand better what we read. I honestly had never thought so much about different structures or materials and how they were specifically selected and tested to work in different environments.

4. Why did you choose the films that you watched?

I chose the Prairie video because there had been a section in our reading about Frank Lloyd Wright and I wanted to build from that little blurb and go more in depth, also the photograph of one of his structures was absolutely beautiful and I wanted to know more about his methods. I chose the Science of Design video because I thought it would be interesting to learn more about the science behind structural design and see how they really worked and not just how they looked. 

Peer Review Project

1. Hyperlink the Blogs you reviewed into your Blog

The two blogs I reviewed are: http://burgesslabria.blogspot.com/ and http://briannawainwright.blogspot.com/

2. When looking at Project #1: (Elements and Principles), did you agree with the element or principle the artist listed with the images? Did you see other elements and principles in the images?

I did agree with their images! I think the photos my peers shared really encompassed the elements and principles we discussed in class. I think some of the photos did encompass other elements than the ones they intended (though for one peer I believe the photos weren’t labeled so I was guessing which photo was which element, though they were pretty obvious to me).

3. When looking at Project #2: Were there any images in the Peer Blogs the same as your own? If yes, what were they? Were the reasons the image was selected the same or different as your own?

None of the images my peers chose were the same as the ones I chose, but the reasons were similar for some of the works they chose as for the ones I chose. We felt emotional connections whether due to nostalgia or comfort or something similar. Though really, one would expect us to choose these works because of the emotional response they elicited.

4. Were there any images that your Peers selected that pique your interest now? If yes, what are they and what is your connection with them? What would you want to know about them?

Yes there were! I really liked the glass work Tristano Di Robilant’s ‘Tree of Knowledge’ I saw on my peer’s post. As I’ve said before, glass works really intrigue me and the beautiful work of bubbles and cones made from glass was amazing! I can’t imagine the work that went into it. I’m so interested in how it was made.

5. What do you think about  the process of reading your peers reflection? Do you find this to be a valuable in your learning?

I did like this, for I found it interesting to read my peers’ take on the different things I’ve worked on myself. Their takes and insight also helped me to solidify different facts in my head as well as see their different opinions and ideas that made me think about things differently.

6. Check your Blog and read comments posted by your Peers. Do you find their comments helpful?

The comments I’ve gotten so far have been very nice and very informative! 

Video Reviews

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

For the video Through the Eyes of  a Sculptor, it was incredible to see all that goes into sculpting and creating sculptures. There’s an incredible amount of little details to be considered as well as many steps to take – like first you need to sketch and figure out the materials before going into the carving/shaping/assembling.  In the video Glass and Ceramics I was particularly intrigued because I find glassworks and pottery so interesting. Surprisingly I knew a lot of what they talked about, but I think the key concept was the different steps, such as incinerating sand and stone and spinning and twisting them in incredible heat.

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

Both videos related to the text in that they discussed the different ways to sculpt/make glassworks and all the different types and methods. The videos went a little more in depth, and I felt the reading and the videos both built off of each other well and when paired really helped me understand more.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics: Sculpture, Installation, and Craft?

As I mentioned previously, I enjoyed how the videos gave a more in depth, visual pairing with the information presented in the text. I found them very interesting and informative. 

Art Making/Material Exploration #2: Logo Design

Logo Sketches

Finished Logo

1. Discuss what you thought about creating your logo.

I found this assignment to be quite...interesting. I really had to think about the kind of things I felt I emoted and represented. The hardest part of the whole thing was deciding what I felt I was, and then putting it to an image was just fun. 

2. Describe the process: creative thinking skills and ideas you used in the logo creation.

Well like I said I really just had to think about the kind of things I enjoyed as well as the way I was perceived. I came down to the conclusion that I really just like adorable, frilly things, but I also am a writer at heart, so I wanted to tie those two things together. So I figured: pink bows and pencils. Then I just needed to figure out how to combine them in a somehow visually pleasing way. 

3. What was the most important discovery you made in the creation of your logo?

I wouldn't call it important, but I just re-realized that I am indeed not an artist and trying to create a piece of art, albeit how simple, was not an easy process. 

4. What is the most important information you learned from watching the videos, PowerPoint, and reading material  for this project? What is your opinion of the videos?

Well for me, the most important thing I took from everything was that I needed to keep it simple. That this is a difficult process and you want to keep your logo individualized but also basic so it can be easily recognized and reproduced for production purposes. I felt the videos were pretty interesting and very informative! They kept me interested, while other videos have some time just left me bored. 

Project #2: Art Gallery Visit #1

When visiting the Albright Knox gallery, it was very interesting to visit since I had not been there in a very long time (which is funny since I pass it every single day and live not 10 minutes away from it). When going through the gallery I found a lot of things were new, I searched for a few paintings in particular but was sad to find they weren’t there. Thankfully, I did find them on post cards in the gift shop, so a few of the paintings that I felt I was able to answer the following questions with are actually on display at the museum right now while some of them once were but no longer are.

A.) Which artworks make an impact or impression on me? Why?

1.      “Something about the Collapse of Art and Language” by Ryan Ginness, Acrylic on Canvas, 96 x 96 in., 2013

I really liked this painting a lot. It instantly stuck me, mostly because of the beautiful colors. Then, upon taking a closer look, I was really drawn in by the fact there were some symbols and images I recognized within the mass of shapes. It was definitely interesting me to see the combination of so many different images that had so many different meanings, all layering over each other. This painting is the one that stuck with me the most out of all the works on display currently in the museum.

2.      “Convergence” by Jackson Pollock, Oil on Canvas, 93.5 x 155 in., 1952

Now this is an older painting I remember seeing in my childhood. I remember seeing it with my family, and I remember it making such an impression on my sister that she bought a poster of it to hang in her home. It’s just so chaotic and messy and yet it seems to have order within it, somehow. This painting really made an impression on me as a child and has still stuck with me through the years.

B.) Which artworks do I feel a connection with? Why?

1.      “Symphony Orchestra” by Man Ray, oil on canvas, 52 x 36 in., 1916

When looking at the painting it took me a moment to really understand what I was looking at. But as I stared at it and read the title, I really began to enjoy it. Mostly because I was part of an orchestra for four years back when I was in high school. It made me nostalgic for a time several years past when I had so much fun and such a connection with music for such a long time. I enjoyed the memories the painting brought up for me.

2.      “Church at Old Lyme, Connecticut” by Frederick Childe Hassam, Oil on Canvas, 36.25 x 32.25 ins., 1905

I felt a connection with this work for the same reason as the above: it made me nostalgic and brought back wonderful memories. Going to church has always been a part of my life. After all the years of my life, I am the only on in my family who still goes to church with my mother every Sunday – though I do think without her I may never actually get up to go, and I know then I would miss the trip to church. On top of this, Autumn is my favorite season and the sight of beautiful autumn leaves always makes me nostalgic for a time in my life when my family was all together and not spread across the country and we would play in the autumn leaves and wander the park by our church. This painting, once again, really just brought up wonderful memories and staring at it just put such a smile on my face.  

C.) Which artworks would I like to know more about? Why?

1.      “Welsh Oaks #1” by Rodney Graham, Chromogenic print edition 1/2, 226.1 x 182.9 cm., 1998

This image alone was something I was drawn to because it with so interesting looking and also so tragically beautiful, in a way. When I read it was a print I was also instantly interested, since we had just read and talked about print making. I would be interesting to look up how this particular piece was made and for what reasons.

2.      “Music and Literature” by William Harnett, Oil on Canvas, 61 x 81.5 cm., 1878

This painting looks so comforting to me and for some reason makes me wonder about the circumstances in which it was made – I am not even sure why I wonder this as it is such a basic painting. But it’s just such a serene scene to me I’d love to learn more about it.