Architecture

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

Prairie Style: 

·                     Developed by Frank Lloyd Wright

·                     Maintained an open floor plan and used natural materials

·                     Designed around the rising and setting of the sun

·                     designed with a series of horizontal bands that reflected the flat plains of the Midwest

·                     Wright's homes were a part of their landscapes

·                     Influenced many architects 

Architecture/The Science of Design: 

·                     Contributing to the creation of skyscrapers, was the development of new materials and technology

·                     Skyscrapers are built around steel skeletons that are riveted together

·                     They are made of the super structure (above ground) and the substructure (below ground)

·                     The biggest structural problem is the wind, which can create tension and cause the building to sway- but

are also affected by earthquakes, precipitation, and other elements

·                     With the progression of technology, possibilities are endless when designing a home

·                     Concrete was used as a construction material through out history

·                     Where major structures are needed, concrete is reinforced with steel bars to improve its resistance to traction

·                     Doesn't break abruptly, will crack when stressed, but tension is relieved by steel bars

Classical Architecture:

·                     Renaissance architects used Roman architecture as the basis for design and applied it to the surfaces of new building types

·                     The three Greek styles are Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.

·                     Tuscan and Composite are Roman

·                     Romans invented the arch and used columns as ornaments

·                     Post-modern classicism emerged as an architectural style combining the classical style with the modern

·                     Today modern technology like skylights and solar heating are worked into designs. Architects are still finding new ways of reinterpreting the principles of ancient architecture

Last Call For Planet Earth:

·                     Today, architects believe it is relatively easy to make a construct that uses 20-30% less energy

·                     Sustainability agendas are becoming increasingly more important to private businesses who realize the mentality is crucial to the success of their business

·                     Architectural designs manage energy through integrated systems, underfloor heating, cooling, ventilation, and use of passive solar energy. 

·                     Sustainable architectural design takes into account geography, climate, and local resources, particularly renewable materials such as wood.

·                     75% of carbon omissions originate in cities, thus buildings must serve many purposes.

·                     "Green-washing" is a term that defines the practice of selling or advertising green technology and sustainability in projects that are neither green nor sustainable.

·                     Green roof technology provides heat in the winter and coolness in the summer

·                     It is important to make these changes before further impact and damage is done. 

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

The videos relate to the readings in the text by giving an overview on the progression of architecture. We can see the evolution from the key concepts and elements from classical architecture, continue on to the more contemporary architecture we see in FLW's Prairie Style houses. We then see how the progression of technology and invention of new materials, like concrete, have changed architecture as well. These materials and processes have opened up a new world for architecture and design possibilities. For example, with this technology, the skyscraper has revolutionized urban America.

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

I really enjoyed the FLW video on the Prairie Style homes. I don't know whether its because his presence is strong here in Buffalo, but its amazing to see his work and influence of his work on other architects. His style was so innovative and he completely changed the way people lived, because his designs created a relationship with the occupant that was personal and organic. This video helped me to understand that there is an entirely deeper part of architecture which is how it personally effects us. 

I also enjoyed the part of the Science of Design video when they discussed concrete. I'm currently building a collection of furniture out of concrete and its interesting to learn about its foundation and original applications. I think the use of concrete to build furniture is even furthering the idea of progression with material in design. 

4. From the group of four that you had a choice: Why did you choose that film?

I chose the Last Call For Planet Earth video, because I am very interested in green architecture and building practices. I am trying to incorporate some of these own methods, or at least be conscious of them, in my own work. We all have to take what we do as an individual and see where we can fit our own practices of green living into our lives.

Week Six: Video Review

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

Through the Eyes of a Sculptor

-Emmanuel Fillion, a French sculptor, started stone carvings when he was 15.

-His first restoration works were on monuments and buildings, namely the Notre Dame Cathedral.

- During restoration works, the carver uses geometric shapes and works from a plan. They breathe new life into new sculptures.

-Fillion, who is now a master sculptor living in California, traces the development of a life-sized sculpture of two horses and a man from its original sculpting in Italy, to the final installation on the private estate for which it was commissioned.

-When starting a new sculpture, Fillion first sketches the piece and then models it in clay. He then makes a silicon mold to plaster cast the sculpture.

-Fillion searches for the perfect marble block. He travels to Carrara, Italy where over 1 million tons of marble is removed from the mountains each year and artists have been getting their marble for over 2,000 years.

- The video shows the process of Fillion’s conception into actualization. He uses special artisans to help him with the modeling process, molding process, and carving process.

Glass and Ceramics

-In glassmaking, fluxes such as potash or limestone are added to a silica mixture that is heated until it turns into a liquid. Then the glassblower uses a process to create glass shapes.

-Glassmakers modulate light by using different glass colors and textures. To make leaded glass, the glazier makes a small-scale model of the project first. The final, cut glass pieces are then fastened together with channeled lead strips.

-The crystalline restructuring of clay molecules during cooling is what gives ceramics their hardness and resistance. Multiple items such as dinner plates are dry pressed by pistons that exert even pressure to prevent distortion.

-Ceramic materials can be stronger than steel and are capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures.

-Ceramic prostheses are stable and well tolerated in the body. In the future, ceramic vehicle engines will be lighter and efficient.

-Glass can be used in architecture, where it fulfills many technical functions such as heat reflection and retention. Double paned glass windows absorb sound vibrations and provide thermal insulation.

-Laminated glass is an effective solution to glass that can shatter and cause injuries. Thick, laminated glass is commonly used in schools and sports facilities.

-Glass is slowly taking the place of stone as a building material.

Installation Art

-Installation art is a fashionable and controversial trend that manipulates space and perception and forces the viewer to look at 3D spaces in new ways.

-Richard Wilson’s art depicts the playfulness between the work and its surroundings. He creates site-specific art.

-Computer-generated music emanating through the Millennium Dome near London represents the true essence of sound over 1000 years and forces the listener to interact with it.

-From pop art springs performance and conceptual art, from Marcel Duchamp using ordinary objects to the Merzbau Reconstruction using “found objects” to Yayoi Kusama’s “The Driving Image.”

-Video imagery dominates art today. Susan Hiller has been using multimedia since the early ‘70s as seen in “An Entertainment,” a gigantic theater that reduces the audience in relation to the art.

-Installing difficult art items creates a new industry. It takes Mike Nelson a month to install “Coral Reef” after taking months to collect the items for it. With all the dismantling, galleries choose art carefully.

-As art of the moment, installation art is applied to a wide range of work from community art projects to world famous projects like Hirst’s “Mother and Child Divided” and Tracey Emin’s work.

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

The videos relate to the readings in the text, because they show the involved process and discipline that each art form requires. Each art form requires its own methods, set of materials and tools for creating. It also shows the variation of material use within a defined art sect. Sculpture encompasses carving, glass blowing, and installation art.

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

 I thought the films were very informative and interesting. I especially liked ‘Through the Eyes of the Sculptor.’ It’s so remarkable to me to see contemporary artists traveling and working through the footsteps of their predecessors and even working on the same projects in the same fashions. I also really appreciated when he went to the marble quarry and was so selective about his material. I truly believe that the maker bonds with his/her material that is used for creation and forms a special relationship and understanding with it. 

Reviewing Peer Responses to Artwork

It was really hard to find someone who had done both projects, so my first response is split between two people! :-(

Benjamin Bolton – “The First AED200 Blog”

Project #1

1. 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 think all of his images were reflective of their corresponding words, but most of them could have worked for two elements/principles or more. I noticed that his photo for ‘line’ of the brick wall also can represent texture and shape. Also, his photo for ‘proportion’ of his cat Poofies (lol) displays a good example of emphasis since she is a focal point at the end of the hallway and sticks out a little because of her dark color.

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

This person didn't do Project #2, but I chose someone else (Richard Cruz) for the review question below. 

3. Where 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?

In Project #1, I really liked the photo for ‘color,’ because it was a painting that reflected him as an artist. His organization of shape, line, and color are all a personal reflection of his perception of the elements/principles. I’d like to know more about why he chose certain colors or shapes and where the inspiration to create them originated from.


Richard Cruz - "My Very First Blog"


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


We did not have any of the same images, because we went to different museums and saw different exhibitions. I think we both chose pieces of artwork that we connected with, felt inspired by, or reminded us of something in our personal lives. 


Maggie Hartig - "Self-Discovery Through Art"

1. 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?


Yes, I thought all of her images reflected their element and principle extremely well. A lot of the images definitely could have represented other elements and principles too. Her 'color' image also could have represented unity or shape and her 'variety' image easily could have been used for texture as well. Overall she did a really great job!

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

Again, we didn't have any of the same images because we didn't go to the same museum or view the same exhibit. It seems like she chose images that inspired her or that seemed abstracted with bright colors that made the viewer interested. 

3. Where 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?

I was really interested in the painting Softly By Joanne Dumas. The color palette and line progression really gave a feeling of movement and rhythm that reflected the ocean. I love how the panel moved off of the wall in a really non-traditional way. I think a lot of people feel a connection with water. It evokes a tranquil and peaceful mood that seems comforting to the viewer. I would like to know more about the artist's perspective in creating this piece. 

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 think its very valuable to read our peers' reflections on what we are studying. It helps to give perspective, which is especially nice in an online class environment when everything is very individualized and based upon one's own perspective and opinions. 

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

I'm sure the comments will be helpful in either validating my responses or giving helpful criticism from another perspective. 

Art Gallery Visit #1: Memorial Art Gallery

Since I was in Rochester for Father's Day, I decided to venture to the Memorial Art Gallery to see their 5th Biennial. This exhibition featured several artists and makers from western and central New York. 

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

Eunsuh Choi

Between the Barriers, 2009
Glass
Flameworked borosilicate glass

The first piece that made an impact on me was the glass sculpture, Between the Barriers, by Eunsuh Choi. This piece is made from flameworked borosilicate glass. The grid-like pattern that has been created with such fine and delicate pieces of glass is unbelievable. The detail on this piece and difficulty of manipulating the material really created an impact on the viewer.

Val Cushing

Storage Jar, Acorn Series, 2004

Ceramics

Glazed stoneware

16 in. x 14 in. x 14 in. 

. 

The second piece that made an instant impact on me was a small clay vessel made by Val Cushing. This small storage jar is a part of his Acorn Series, and has an attention to detail that is remarkable. The etching of the fine patterned lines on the side of the vessel are very balance and exact, as well as the flow of really round and smoothed shapes starting at the lid and continuing down to the body of the vessel. 

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

Roberto Bertoia

Passage #3, 2011

Woodwork
Walnut and Plexiglas
9 in. x 30 in. x 10 in. 

I felt a connection to the work of Roberto Bertoia, especially his piece Passage #3. I like his work, because he is a woodworker and most of his work involves using domestic hardwoods- which I also use in my own work. I really like how he takes the traditional material of wood and incorporates nontraditional materials, such as rubber, into his pieces. They create an unlikely match that makes a commentary on natural versus manmade.

David Higgins

Spaulding Street, 2012
Painting
Oil on panel
96 in. x 144 in. (243.84 cm x 365.76 cm)

Another piece that I felt a connection to was the painting Spaulding Street, by David Higgins. Higgins is a master oil painter reflecting photorealistic imagery in his paintings. This particular painting is very large scale and comprised of three separate panels that are lined together. The painting is of a house that gives you a really warm feeling. The way the flowery bushes slightly hide the house and sits in front of a warm yellow, sun filled sky.

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

Nate Larson and Marni Shindelman

from the series "Geolocation: Tributes to the Data Stream"

2009-2011

Print

Digital C-print

11 in. x 14 in.

I am fascinated by the work of photographers Nate Larson and Marni Shindelman. This particular image, is from their project “Geolocation: Tributes to the Data Stream.” The series has been in progress for the past two years and is centered around using location coordinates to combine Twitter messages with photos from the places where the posts originated. The title of the photograph is the original Twitter message. I would love to know more about this project that is using social media and networking to create a relationship with the actual environment they were inspired and created in.

David Higgins

Billboard, Louisiana

2006

Painting

Oil on Wood

12 x 16 in

Another piece that I would like to know more about is another painting by Higgins. This painting, Billboard, Louisiana, leaves me wanting more. I wonder what his intention and conceptual meaning was behind creating this piece. I also wonder about his technique of painting. How is he able to achieve such realism? The rough and torn texture of the abandoned billboard lends such an amazing contrast to the soft natural background. 

Art Making/Material Exploration #2: Logo Design

1. Discuss what you thought about creating your logo.

For my logo, I wanted to incorporate my furniture making. Right now I have a company name entitled, "Kelly & Sons", which is a play off of the old traditional furniture shops that usually involved a family owned and operated business. 

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

I then began to think about the process of furniture making and decided to use very geometric lines and shapes that would faintly represent a tree. I didn't want the symbol of the tree to be too obvious. I settled on a design with two rings and many slivers, or different shaped triangles. These rings represent the rings within the trunk and the slivers represent how the wood is cut and rough sawn out of the tree trunk. I used color to bring some life into the design. 

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

The most important discovery I made was that imperfection and not having every element be even and exact, made the design more visually interesting. I also learned that color can completely change the visual look and feel of something. 

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? The most important thing I learned was how graphic design is used to create an identity for person, place, or company, that can easily be recognized by the masses. It's amazing to see how a small symbol with color can embody the spirit of a company or person and evoke a specific feeling from something so simple and small. Branding is important, because it represents the purpose and actions of a person/company in every way. I really liked the graphic design video the best because it was so interesting to see their process of creating the logo for the digital animations group. 

Art Making/Material Exploration #1: Exploring Value and The Subtractive Color Theory

1. Discuss what you thought about creating the Value Scale and Color Wheel.

Creating the Value Scale and Color Wheel was interesting and more complicated than one would think. It's easy to read about the capabilities of a material, but to really stretch them shade by shade yourself is much more difficult. The Value Scale was the most difficult, because you are demanding so many variations out of one material and just the weight of your hand can make all the difference in the world. 

2. Which media did you enjoy working with the best and why?

I much preferred using the paints to create the Color Wheel. I found that mixing the paints and using the different colors was much easier to work with and get the consistencies I was working for. I think that my "magenta" was too bright though and it affected the secondary colors and the black section of the wheel. I wasn't able to get the red and black right. 

3. What was the most important discovery in the creation of these studies?

The most important discovery in the creation for me was that magenta, cyan, and yellow are really the primary colors. I had, like many others, believed red, yellow, and blue to be the center fixtures of the color wheel. 

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

Again, the most important thing I learned was that magenta, cyan, and yellow are the true primary colors. I'd always concluded that all the colors (with red, yellow, and blue being considered primary) mixed together created brown and that didn't seem right to me, so now it makes more sense. I liked the videos because I felt as though they were concise and to the point. 

Color & Emotion

Color has the power to evoke complex emotional responses, as well as psychological and physiological responses. Certain colors can have cultural or individual associations, such as on a country’s flag or representing a group of individuals. They can be used as symbols or able to set a mood. Colors often have contradictory associations. For example, red can symbolize danger and anger, yet it can also symbolize love and happiness. Only context can provide clues to a color’s meaning or emotional impact.

I’d say one of the most interesting theoretical aspects of color is the one that proposes black as not being a real color, because it is not found in the natural spectrum. In the 19th century, painters began to stop using black altogether. I think this is interesting, because if you mix all the colors of the spectrum together- you get black. It is the absorption of all colors that creates black; therefore it is a real color. Yet beautiful paintings still emerged and I still know of painters today who refuse to use black.

In the Color video, I was really blown away by the bit on Monet. Monet believed if you looked at nature long enough, you would see only color. The shapes and forms would lose their meaning and merely become defined only by their color. I think that this theory can be applied to objects and manmade things as well. It’s overwhelming to think of living in a world of swirling color.

In the Feelings video, I found the works of Goya the most interesting. Here we see the artist painting strictly from his imagination. He is painting the unwanted and the unmentionable. Naturally, these images depicted are evoking feelings of fear or anger, etc. Goya shows negativity and shows how religion can be changed throughout his paintings. He began to depict hell and darkness. I can imagine how different these paintings were compared to the other works being created at the time. 

Project #1 - Elements & Principles

This project was pretty fun to create. I made a list of the visual elements and the design principles and simply just crossed them off as I went along. Since I am a photographer, there are a few photos that I took from over the summer that fit the elements perfectly. I wanted to mix them up.

Line- This photo is of a textile design I created by using the screen printing process. The different colors and angles of line are moving all throughout the piece.

Shape- The way the window pane frames the image and creates rectangular shape represents shape and form well.

Value- Here, in grayscale, we can see a wide range of tonal values ranging from black to white.

Color- This photo is of one of my classmate's textile designs. The piece displays vivid color in a vast array.

Light- In this image, we can see the light concentrated on top of the girl's head (me) and also coming through the holes in the blanket.

Texture- The fur blanket in this image shows a very textural surface.

Form- This image is of a building in Philadelphia and I think it shows a solid 3-D rectangular form and shape.

Unity- This bowl of almonds shows unity very well.

Variety- This is a fiber arts sample that I created. The way the one pocket has red string, instead of white, shows variety.

Emphasis- The emphasis of this photo is of my friend, Patrick and the large tree he is standing in front of. The tree, along with him, are the focal point of this image.

Balance- The balance of this photo is created with the vases and the shadows they create.

Movement- The focal point of this image is a person jumping in the air and falling down, creating movement.

Rhythm- The repetition of the cupcakes and their shape create a rhythm, as well as the the different frosting colors staggered throughout.

Proportion- In this image, my friend Anthony is standing behind a giant domino. This photo was taken at a park in Philadelphia, where the artist playing a lot with scale and proportion. We know that a domino is typically a very small object, but here it is displayed as larger than life.