Curation Video Review

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

The Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art 

-Artists and gallery curators explain what Lowbrow means to them. Artist Anthony Ausgang says it is essentially reactionary to highbrow culture. The dictionary definition is, “a person regarded as uncultivated and lacking in taste.”

--Its influences include comic books, B-movies, rock ’n’ roll, surfing, hot rods, and Cold War imagery.

-Art historians call it Pop Surrealism; practitioners call it Lowbrow.

-Artists and gallery curators explain how the term Lowbrow originated. Artists Robert Williams says he invented the term but doesn’t care for its meaning. Some believe Lowbrow Surrealism is a more fitting term while others embrace Lowbrow.

-Artists and gallery curators explain why Lowbrow art appeals to the masses. Pop culture, car culture, and folk art have both had major influences in the genre. Lisa Petrucci says the art is more relatable than esoteric art.

-Artists and gallery curators discuss pop culture and consumer references in Lowbrow art. The time after WWII known as the “Atomic Age” is another important part of the genre.

-Art covers so many different things ranging from concept art to paintings. Artists Anthony Ausgang says it is the job of critics to categorize the art. Robert Williams, the original Lowbrow artist, discusses his early career.

-Artists and gallery curators talk about Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and psychedelic rock posters.

-Anthony Ausgang recalls being introduced to Zap Comix. Robert Williams discusses how Robert Crumb inspired rock poster artists to start doing underground comics.

-At a time when galleries were not willing to display Lowbrow, the Laguna Art Museum put on a show featuring Ed Roth, Von Dutch, and Robert Williams. Artists and curators discuss the impact of MAD magazine on art culture.

-Artists and curators discuss the tiki theme that was prevalent in the 1950s and 1960s across the US. Lowbrow artists drew upon this imagery and incorporated it into their art.

-Artists and curators discuss conceptual art. While conceptualism brought thought to art it excluded audience members who were not trained in art history.

-Ausgang says, “Lowbrow blitzkriegs the idea that high culture requires a certain level of intelligence.” Robert Williams thinks the established art world is set up to promote only certain types of art like minimalism and abstract.

-Artist and curators discuss the unwillingness of the mainstream art world to accept Lowbrow. These unaccepted artists created their own art scene after being shut out from museums and galleries.

-Artists and curators discuss the emergence of female artists in Lowbrow.

-Artists and curators discuss the effect of the internet on art in general and Lowbrow specifically.

-Artists and curators discuss the difference between the fine art scenes in NY and the Lowbrow and pop culture going on in California.

-Artists and curators discuss how the punk rock generation propelled Lowbrow art culture. Artists were able to get their work to the masses through album covers and fliers.

-Artist Nicole Steen and other members from Pop Tarts discuss the parallel underground art scenes in Vancouver and California.

-Artist 12Midnite and the ladies from the Pop Tarts talk about bringing their work to the US. There are many talented Lowbrow artists in Vancouver but it does not have the population to support a big art scene.

-Curator Billy Shire is credited with promoting the Lowbrow art movement by opening the Shooting Gallery in San Francisco. Juxtapose magazine has made it possible for people worldwide to stay in tune with the Lowbrow art scene.

-Artists and curators discuss the current and future monetary value of Lowbrow art. The Pizz says he is internationally known but not wealthy while paintings by Mark Ryden sell for $500,000.

-Twenty years ago Robert Williams couldn’t get anyone to show his art work and now he is in demand all over the world. Over the last ten years Lowbrow has gained more recognition and acceptance.

-Ausgang and other artists share what they love about their work.

Displaying Modern Art: The Tate Approach

-Modern art in the MOMA from 1929 onwards was displayed primarily in chronological order, representing each art movement. Art is displayed on white walls with flexible lighting.

-By the 1970s, traditional ways of displaying modern art are questioned. Art came off the walls to become busy and noisy. Artists explore the political and ideological context of the museum itself.

-The Tate Modern displays its modern art in four sections. In each section an overarching principle provides a theme for the selection and exhibition of the selections of modern art.

-The Tate’s thematic approach to displaying art prompts controversy when three works by Richard Long are juxtaposed with Monet’s “Water Lillies.” Yet, the connections among the pieces are justified.

-Unlike MOMA’s original concept of displaying art in chronological order, visitors to the Tate are provided with striking and often abrupt transitions between the individual display rooms.

-Critics argue that the Tate Modern’s thematic presentation of art requires that viewers have no knowledge of art. They believe art should be more than entertainment.

-Many abstract artists tried to make paintings that were not dependent on figuration. They wanted to convey emotions, aesthetic effects, or social vision.

-The Josef Beuys room in the Tate Modern creates a church-like atmosphere. Visitors do not materially understand what they see. They transition to the next room where art consists of waste and junk.

Bones of Contention: Native American Archaeology 

-Native American bones were collected as a scientific curiosity during the US genocide against Indians. Anthropologists differ on whether or not the remains should be returned to their ancestors.

-Maria, a Yankton Sioux fights for the bones of a Native American who is taken for study after a road construction crew discovers the body. Anglo bones are reburied but Native bones are studied.

-David Van Horn, a field archaeologist, is charged with criminal possession of Native human bone fragments. He avoids jail but loses his livelihood as a result of his prosecution.

-Europeans encounter, seemingly strange, Native Americans and remove them from their own land. Burial mounds are thought to be too civilized to have been built by Native Americans.

-In the 19^th Century, Samuel Morton MD, studies brain size and conclude that the size of one’s cranium is related to intelligence. Native American skulls are collected and stored in museums.

-Susan Harjo, a Cheyenne and Muscogee, leads the fight for Native people’s objects of worship to be returned. The Smithsonian’s inventory reveals that 18,000 Native’s bones are stored there.

-Dr. Barnes, a physical anthropologist, is prevented from doing her research of Native American migration because of the new law. Bones with similar defects suggests shared genes and origins.

-Bronco Lebeau, a Lakota Sioux, rejects theories of evolution and migration held by the dominate US. The Sioux people emerged from the Black Hills and did not migrate from somewhere.

-Repatriation requires that scientists first determine the bones tribal affiliation. Skull measurement helps to identify where the bones should be returned. Conflict of interest is rampant.

-Native Americans have ceremonies to discover whether the bones are their ancestors or not. Their past is conveyed through an oral tradition. Native Americans do not want the scientists’ history.

-Scientists learn a lot about today’s health problems by studying the remains of human beings from the past. Scientists can benefit future knowledge by studying the past.

-Bruce Rothschild, an arthritis researcher, theorizes that arthritis is a new disease whose trigger may come from the Tennessee River region. Natives as well as scientists are skeptical.

-British researchers DNA test bones infected with TB. They claim research benefits understanding how man has changed from the ancient to the modern. Native Americans are still skeptical.

-Maria Pearson continues to represent the right to an undisturbed Indian burial ground. The holy areas are avoided by construction crews and archaeologists do not excavate graves.

-The Great Plains Omaha ask the University of Nebraska to analyze the bones for their cultural and health significance prior to repatriation. Change in diet and lifestyle is related to high rates of diabetes.

-Omaha women die earlier due to small pox and a change in their daily life. Their bones reveal that hard work by manufacturing furs wore them down and led to a lower birthrate and life expectancy

-Native Americans, in the early 20^th century, are stripped of their tribal identity at US boarding schools. Dr. Reinhardt restores pride by sharing his research with today’s Native Americans.

-Dennis Hastings, an Omaha, is satisfied with the reburial of his ancestors’ remains. Moreover, both the tribe and scientists have gained new knowledge by having the bones analyzed prior to burial.

-Now, Native Americans design the exhibits in New York’s Native American Museum. Ancestors’ bones continue to be brought home. Archaeology must share the responsibility for stewarding the past.

An Acquiring Mind: Philippe de Montebello and the Metropolitan Museum of Art

-Phillipe de Montebello has served as director at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for 31 years.

-de Montebello guided the acquisition of more than 84,000 works of art from around the world, increasing sections of artworks within the museum, as well as staff.

-The museum’s Euro center has grown to represent all countries and continents.

-The Met, under the leadership of de Montebello, has been innovative in many conservation techniques.

-Several pieces are acquired and inducted into the Metropolitan’s collection, conserved and either put on display or added to the archives at the Museum.

-Several pieces contribute to the physically growing world-renowned cultural institution.

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

The videos relate to the curation project, because they expand our minds on what it is to select pieces of artworks to include in a collection of pieces. Each piece can influence or impact another piece within the collection. We can see the importance of each piece, especially within the de Montebello video. He labored over the acquisition of many pieces. The Tate video shows us how we can be creative in displaying artworks. There are no rules, although there are traditional ways of displaying.

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 really enjoyed seeing the diversity in these films. The Lowbrow film and Tate Modern film really showed us about how the art world has changed and been affected over the last fifty years. I think they all really lent perspective into how artworks are selected, valued, perceived, and displayed together. They definitely helped me come up with my curation theme and project selections.

Art Gallery Visit #2: George Eastman House Museum

Step 1: The Exhibition

Questions about the exhibit:1. What is the title of the exhibit?

“Ideas in Things” located in the Entrance Gallery at the George Eastman House Museum

2. What is the theme of the exhibition?

The exhibition displays a series of photographs all by different photographers. The photographs display their persistence as cultural artifacts and as vehicles for memory and meaning. This exhibition, drawn from the collection of George Eastman House, is a small selection of art and other photographic objects that illustrate the way photographs live, move, and change over time in the material world we share with them.

Step 2: The Gallery

Questions about the physical space:1. What type of lighting is used?

The gallery space used a system of spot lighting. Each piece had its own spotlight with direct lighting over the piece.

2. What colors are used on the walls?

The walls were painted a very dark color, almost a charcoal gray. I think this was used to highlight the photographs which were primarily matted with white.

3. What materials are used in the interior architecture of the space?

I’m not sure what is meant by “materials,” but the gallery was pretty traditionally arranged with wooden floors, drywall, track lighting, and a small central bench for sitting.

4. How is the movement of the viewer through the gallery space?

The gallery is relatively small so the flow of traffic from the viewer was very simple. The gallery was in a “T’ shape, so upon entering you could either go straight forward or to the right. The traffic flowed either way along the perimeter. Photographs tend to demand that kind of traffic, because there is nothing to go around.

Step 3: The Artwork

Questions about the artwork:1. How are the artworks organized?

The works were not organized by any one thing in particular. Most of the photographs hung on the wall, although there was one piece suspended from the ceiling and a few pieces on a glass table against a wall.

2. How are the artrworks similar?

The artworks are similar in that they are comprised of the same medium, photography. All of the photographs were antique and of people.

3. How are the artworks different?

Some of the photographs were in black/white, while others were in color. The size and scale of the pieces were different, as well as the time period they were taken in. Some photographs were portraits or staged images, while others were more candid photographs.

4. How are the artworks framed?

The artworks are framed in contemporary black frames with white mattes.

5. How are the artworks identified and labeled?

Each photograph is labeled with a small plastic plaque to the bottom left of the piece. The text was in white so it was easily read.

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

 The distances between each piece varied, but mostly 1-3 feet were between each piece.

Step 4: Art Criticism Exercise

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

#1

Thomas F. Barrow

LANDSCAPE

1981-82

Gelatin silver print with caulking, staples and spray paint

 In this piece, I see a black and white landscape of what appears to be a barren land, possibly in the desert. The photograph is repeated twice on the top and bottom, creating an asymmetrical balance within the composition. Each photograph appears to have an X across it. The photograph on the top is disjointed as though it has been ripped apart and placed back together, almost like a puzzle. Where the pieces have been readjoined, there is a green color in the seams. The green color stands out against the monochromatic black and white.  I think the artist used the X and the ripping of the photograph to show us his negative association with the location of this photograph.

#2

Rick McHee Hock

CODEX (MONKEY BUSINESS/TRAP)

1987

Polaroid transfer process monoprint

In this piece, I see several small photographs, drawings, newspaper clippings, all in a sepia tone or black and white finish and all in a grid like layout. There is a mixture between text and imagery that all work to create a balanced composition. The way the photos are arranged create grid like lines that define each photo into its own space. The photographs all have a lot going on within them that causes the composition to have a very textured and chaotic feel. The panel of 36 photos shows us wildly contrasting Renaissance portraits, cartoons, news photos and more. We see Eve tempting Adam, the model Donna Rice tempting politician Gary Hart aboard the Monkey Business yacht, and Popeye tempted by a can of spinach. I think the artist wanted these images cause us to question our origin. It's the idea of evolution vs. creation- whether we came from Adam and Eve, or from monkeys.

#3

  

Various Photographers

[Panel of Cartes and Tintypes, Received by Post Office Dead Letter Office]

1961-1865

Albumen prints and tintypes

Again here we see a series of small rectangular photograph portraits. It is clear that the photographs are old and all in black/white or sepia tone. All of the images are of men- some in uniform and others in period garb. There is a sense of balance within the composition, as well as line formed by the grid layout. Because there is no one artist for this composition, we can attribute the sense of anonymity for these photographs. I think the reason for their grouping, other than that they were returned to the Post Office, is the anonymity factor. These photographs never reached their destination, so they become orphans, thus relating them to one another.

Step 5: Document Your Visit

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.?

I think it’s interesting to consciously view the gallery’s layout and arrangement of artworks from a different perspective. I don’t think most people realize the amount of thought and work that goes into arranging an exhibition. There is so much to consider even on a psychological level. The smallest details and differences can change the entire feel of a space or a certain piece. I thought the theme for this show was pretty broad. The only thing holding these images together was the mystery behind them. I can appreciate that, but I’m not sure the average viewer would be able to make sense of the exhibition’s theme. Other than that the space had an excellent flow and was easy to view and be a part of.

For more information, please visit the George Eastman House and the "Ideas in Things" exhibit.

Video Review: Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art

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

I chose these two videos, because I am interested in Postmodernism.

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

Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the '50s and '60s

-Abstract Expressionism was born from a joining of attitudes in American art and European avant-garde art, but was later rejected for its nonfigurative and seemingly egocentric character in favor of the ultra-objective phenomenon known as Pop Art.
-By using Franz Kline’s painting “C&O,” abstract art is compared to figurative art. The filled spaces of the canvas are distinctively different in these two styles.
-Kline initially injects his work with mood and expression but moves towards painting colors in undefined space thus sparking the imagination with a sensual impact.

-Kline uses shapes that evoke emotions. Kline’s use of action painting reveals a process of constant discovery and leads us into a world of color and form.
-“Mountains and Sea” causes her to emerge on the artistic scene and influences a generation of artists. There is a fundamental change in the way we look at a picture from her strength of vision.
-Frankenthaler’s work is both feminine and mystical and induces a contemplative mood. An observer experiences a warming and exhilarating sense of fruitfulness in her work.
-“Morning: The Springs” expresses movement as an echo of sensations and is evocative of plant forms, light, and falling water. It is a momentary gift of light with a calligraphic quality.
-In 1952, de Koonig makes his name with “Woman One.” By embracing a passionate and instinctive approach to painting, he becomes an instant talisman of “action painting.”
-John’s paintings undermine our assumptions and make us think. He seeks to make his common subjects visually seductive and to deceive our senses as a coherent system of information.
-By using blobs, drips, and layers, pattern dominates Johns’ work. The observer takes in the layers and yet sees the whole and moves from an impersonal to personal experience of his paintings.
-In the 1960s, Andy Warhol is pop art’s most famous son. This is never a very clear movement but is the first 20^th Century art movement since Futurism to embrace the rhythms of city life.
-Both Warhol and Rauschenberg become art icons of the 60s by paving the way for pop artists in their use of everyday objects.
-Lichtenstein’s “Girl With Hair Ribbon,” juggles the notions of representation and abstraction. The closer one looks the less the image is apparent and the details take on a life of their own.
-Lichtenstein treats style as something to be chosen according to the job, but he also concentrates on themes that stir emotions and passions.

Andy Warhol: Images of an Image

-Andy Warhol worked as a commercial artist until 1960 when he began experimenting with advertising images. He worked until his untimely death in 1987.
-Andy Warhol’s interest in the lives of these famous women and celebrities inspired several repeated images.
-Photographs are blown up and developed onto silk screens; They are transferred to paper and canvas, using ink and paint.
-The techniques used for Warhol’s silk screen, Ten Lizes, featuring Elizabeth Taylor was created in 1963.
-Warhol used images as a consumer product- he saw the repeated silk screen images as a way to make money.
-Warhol began to photograph his friends. He soon was filming them as well and ended up shooting about 100 films. He then began adding paint to his silk screen images.
-Warhol produced dozens of self portraits. As an art journalist his work addresses race riots, the conquest of the moon, the Cultural Revolution in China, and the universal reign of the dollar.
-The museum visitor critiques Ten Lizes.

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

The first video shows the new and exciting art movements happening during the 1950’s and 1960’s, which became the birth of postmodernism. Artists were creating in a new style and this became liberating to the art world, art critics, and the everyday consumer. The Andy Warhol video shows how technology, advertising, and media affected the art world. By using the repeated images of iconic figures, such as Elizabeth Taylor or Marilyn Monroe, he makes a commentary on American culture and consumerism.  

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

I have always been fascinated by the AbEx and Pop art movements. I think people of my generation can identify better with Postmodern art and such well-known figures like Jackson Pollack and Andy Warhol who have been idolized by contemporary culture. I think especially the process of creation, as well as seeing Andy Warhol as a person, can help us understand these two artists and the motives behind their creations.

Matisse, Picasso, Dadaism, & Surrealism

1. Explain why you selected each of the 2 videos you choose from the selection listed above.

I chose these four videos, because I am not that interested in Impressionism, which were the majority of the other choices. I am more interested in the Dada, Surrealism, and Cubist movements. I feel as though they deal with more abstracted representations in art, in which I find that I can identify more with.

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

Matisse and Picasso

-Matisse shows hisWoman With Hatpainting, which causes a controversy. American Gertrude Stein buys the painting and recognizes Matisse’s greatness.

-The Steins also discover Picasso and arrange for the two to meet one another.

-Matisse had a logical approach and was very rational. Picasso acted like a worker with painting as his job. The two are often compared as individuals, as well as their work.

-Picasso’s Les Mademoiselles d’Avignon, a portrayal of prostitutes, is compared to Matisse’s painting of women.

-Both admire each other’s search for simplicity and reduction in painting.

-In 1912, Picasso creates his first collage and immerses himself in leading the Cubist movement.

-A Russian collector buys 50 of Picasso’s painting and 20 of Matisse’s pieces.

-The two have their first joint exhibition in Paris, 1918.

-Matisse becomes fascinated with odalisques and begins to paint them. The artist displays a passion for decorative pattern and motifs. Picasso imitates these works to provoke Matisse.

-Picasso creates in solitude and does not travel, while Matisse explores the world and creates artworks in a routine schedule.

-Matisse and Picasso are both greatly inspired by strong, beautiful women in their work. The “sleeping women” awaken their inspirations.

-While Matisse would rub out his day’s work, Picasso would paint atop of his work.

-Picasso uses lines borrowed from Matisse, and later, Matisse borrows subjects, color, or lines from Picasso.

-WWII affects Picasso’s work, while Matisse does not display as much violence during this time.

-France is liberated in 1945, and the two have an exhibition in London.

-Picasso and Matisse had long discussions about the mystery of opposites and choices. The two study each other’s paintings to learn or to do the opposite.

-Matisse designs the Vence Chapel, while Picasso paints “War & Peace.”

-Matisse and Picasso hold each other in the highest esteem. Matisse dies in 1954.

Dada and Surrealism

-Kurt Schwitters, a German artist, realizes the unlimited possibilities of collage in 1918. He is often considered a Dadaist, although he did not identify himself with this movement. In his apartment, he builds a house that fills three rooms.

-Schwitters includes many objects in his art. He starts a magazine called “Merz.” As time goes by, he begins to include rural objects in his artworks. He manipulates light within his pieces. He wanted his art to “embrace everything in the world.”

-Dada translates to “yes, yes” in Russian and “hobby horse” in French.

-Hannah Hoch, a Dadaist, uses art to attack the society she detests. Her photomontage, “Cut With the Kitchen Knife”, contains chaotic figures. It makes a monumental political statement. She is the only woman in the Dada movement.

-Hoch’s photomontage attacks the political figures of the Weimar regime. The energy and confusion of the modern city is represented in her photomontage of New York.

-George Grosz masquerades as “the saddest man in Europe.” He leaves Berlin in 1933 and the Nazis burn his art. He paints the collective, mechanical concept that mankind has become.

-In 1926, Grosz paints “Pillars of Society,” a bitter attack on his enemies. He paints a wide social range of Berlin’s subjects. He despairs that WWI did not end the old, wicked ways of government.

-Joan Miro, a Spanish surrealist, creates “Dutch Interior I” in 1928. This painting is a parody of a Dutch 17^th century painting. He paints only the abstract structures of its composition. Miro bypasses traditional associations in his work.

-He then creates “Dutch Interior II,” which is made up of taut, curving lines. It is a parody of a painting by Dutch painter Jan Steen. In Miro’s paintings, one experiences two different ways of looking at the world.

-Dali, perhaps the most well known surrealist painter, probes the darkest regions of the human subconscious. Dali’s imagination conjures up a world in which nothing makes sense. Dali includes arid, barren landscapes in his work.

-Dali settles in Port Legat in 1930’s. Dali’s “Sleep” recalls the region’s rock formations. He includes crutches, one of his favorite fetishes, in his work. His paintings are questioned to be allegories and psychoanalytical.

-Man Ray, an American artist, creates “La Fortune.” Within the painting, individual components are true to life. Yet, other elements diverge from reality. He uses familiar objects that appear in an unfamiliar arrangement. Man Ray is also a photographer, film maker, and writer.

-Man Ray dedicates a series of works to Isidore Ducasse, a writer. Juxtaposition of unrelated objects fascinates Ray. “La Fortune” is open to many interpretations.

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

The videos related to the readings by demonstrating a more in depth look into some of the 20^th century movements happening in the art world. People were questioning the traditional ways of representation in art and rejecting them. They were more affected by the political, social, and cultural changes around them. They also were influencing each other. Events like WWI and WWII also affect the world and the artists creating during those times.

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

I really liked the Matisse and Picasso film, because it showed what influence of other artists is capable of. A lot of well-known artists making art during the same period, throughout history, rejected each other and kept a distance between them. With Matisse and Picasso, they identified with each other in some odd way and embraced the style of art they were both creating. It’s interesting to see that although they seemed to have a bit of a rivalry at first, that they somehow brought the other’s work to a greater level. I think this attributed to their innovation and greatness. They shared a unique perception of the world and the way they expressed it through art. I think that a lot of young artists could be more successful if they came together in this way, or were at least open minded.  

Masks

For this project, my three mask images are all from South American descent. They all depict the same theme: Skulls. I chose this theme and these masks, because I have always been fascinated by the Mexican celebration of Dio de Las Muertos – The Day of the Dead. This celebration and festival represents a celebration of death and life and I have always admired what it stands for. We can see through these images how the masks have evolved from simplicity to more elaborate designs.

Skull mask

Mexico DF

Painted wood, papier mache

9 inches

URL: http://www.masksoftheworld.com/Mexico/Mexican%20Skull%20mask%206.htm

Crit: When looking at this mask we can identify the use of line in a very simplistic way. The black lines create a sense of symmetry and balance, while contrasting the white background. The face holds the element of shape and mass with exaggerated features such as the cheek bones and the mouth.

Skull Mask

Guerrero

Painted Wood

11 inches

URL: http://www.masksoftheworld.com/Mexico/Mexican%20Skull%20mask%2011.htm

Crit: This mask definitely seems a bit more stylized. The first thing I noticed was the use of color. The use of color emphasizes the floral crown along the forehead that still holds balance and symmetry. We can also see the emphasis of color on the exaggerated cheekbones.The lines in the teeth create a very 3D effect and we can see from the profile how these exaggeraged shapes create a more unproportional mask.

Skull Mask

Mexico City, DF

Painted papier mache

URL: http://www.masksoftheworld.com/Mexico/Mex%20Skull%20mask%2014.htm

Crit: Out of the three, this is the most decorated mask. The emphasis is definitely within the line pattern, texture, and color use. The pattern of the lines creates a rhythm and balance within the mask. Even though the lines are not exactly symmetrical, the color helps to even out the balance. There is also an emphasis found within the starkness of the teeth and black of the eyes. Because there is no decoration there, they become a focal point.

Mask Sketches & Final Mask:

I tried to combine the style of the three masks I used for inspiration, along with my own style. The first and second masks were white with contrasting color. I wanted to use color to emphasize the certain areas of the face that I exaggerated- the cheekbones, eyes, nose, and mouth/teeth. I tried to also emphasize the use of line with the color. I used a cut out method to bend certain parts of the mask back to create the illusion of depth. The mask is asymmetrical, but still maintains a sense of balance with the color and cut outs.

I thought my mask was pretty reflective of my style. I definitely am drawn towards more geometric shapes, so I used rectangular, linear shapes that look more jagged and edgy instead of smooth, organic ones. I chose these colors because I thought they felt bright and happy, which symbolizes the celebration of the Day of the Dead.

Week Ten Video Review

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

I chose the Buddhism and Hinduism videos, because I am very interested in the principles of Buddhism and non-Western religions. I also chose the Chinese Art video and the Great Wave video, because I am fascinated by Japanese wood carvings and the delicacy of Chinese art and its relationship to nature.

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

Buddhism

-Buddhism was founded in India.

-The key to Buddhist teachings is the elimination of all desires and all things, like material possessions for example, that feed the ego and obstructs enlightenment.

-After Buddha’s death, Buddhism split into two groups known as hinayana and Mahayana. During and after the Golden Age of Buddha, Buddhist art and architecture flourished across India.

-Sanchi is a center of Buddhist art and architecture. Within the ornate carvings of the Great Stupa, Buddha disappears into symbolism and is represented only by the Bodhi Tree.

-Around the Great Stupa is a walkway where every step is a discovery of Buddhist art and architecture. As the pilgrim walks clockwise around the Stupa, he lets go of material things for the attainment of virture.

-In the central highlands of Java, lotus-shaped Borobudur stands as the largest Buddhist shrine in the world. At the top of the monument stand 432 Buddha statues.

-Buried by the volcanic debris and vegetation, Borobudur is uncovered in 1815.

-A religion that began by repudiating rituals, questions, prayer, and the idea of a personal god, ends up embracing all of these things.

-In India, Buddhism and Hinduism share commonalities.

-Religious monuments are truly “Heaven on Earth.”

Hinduism

-Varanasi is the holiest city in India and Hinduism

-The Ganges river is the symbol of life, death, and rebirth.

-Hinduism’s gods and goddesses function in a way similar to Christian saints by providing access to Brahma

-Hindu architecture is heavily decorated with sculptures of gods

-In Mamallapuram, India, the Ganges turns to stone which is a highly decorated and holy place. Several figures are carved within the stone there.

-The shrines in Mamallapuram are lavishly decorated and carved from single boulders. The Shore Temple holds a lot of Hindu art and displays Hindu architecture. It was excavated from the Bay of Bengal.

-The Kandariya Mahadev Temple, in Khajuraho, India, was built in the ninth century by the Chandella rules.

-It has lavishly carved panels that are covered in erotic images. The Hindus pay homage to the lingam/phallus for its life-giving and creative forces.

-The source of all life for Hindus is Brahma/God- the Great Breath. Hinduism teaches that there are many ways to God and these ways are symbolized by many gods.

-Hinduism carries within it a deep sense of spiritual in the ordinary and the everyday.

Chinese Art

-A lot of pottery was created for Imperial use and was highly decorated.

-Rich glazes and an enameling process called doucai were used during the Zhou dynasty

-People used black glazed bowls to complement the fairness of the tea.

-Imagery and symbolism derived mostly from nature.

-Had some painted pottery vessels that look prehistoric.

-Dragon motifs used on a perfumer and a leaf motif used on a handle to a vase.

-A lot of bronze use and blue porcelain.

-Fruit stone carvings are so small and delicate.

-Painted enamels derived from the West and became widely used on teapots and other pottery.

-Bamboo screens were common and held elaborate pieces of artwork telling narratives.

-Use of Buddhism imagery and symbolism.

-Calligraphy was an important art form.

The Great Wave

-Hokusai’s The Great Wave is probably the best known image of Japanese art in the Western world today and yet prints were selling in the 19^th century.

-The print was designed to be a throw away piece of art, but became an icon for Japanese art.

-Hokusai is apprenticed to a well-known artist and becomes a professional print designer. He learns how to cut wood blocks.  

-Many westerners see the painting as a symbol of implacable nature. To the Japanese, the image is one of courage and perseverance. Critics agree that the wave is not a tsunami.

-Hokusai spent most of his time working with a distinct tradition of Japanese art called the floating world style. He is influence by the sensual indulgences and eroticism of Shiba Kokan’s works, which are, in turn, influenced by Western art.

-Waves come and go throughout Hokusai’s work, even when the mountain is the primary subject.

-At age 70, Hokusai creates “36 Views of Mt. Fuji” to see to tourists and religious buyers.

-He includes everyday activities in the series and critics argue that the wave is a self-portrait of the other artist who has a strong strain of mortality. With The Great Wave, Hokusai introduces Prussian blue, a pigment that won’t fade.

-Hokusai’s The Great Wave is based on his structural theories of geometry. It consists of circles and triangles in a back to front arrangement influence by Western art.

-The title in the cartouche is translated many ways, but no one knows its exact meanings. People speculate about the geographical location, the types of boats, and the purpose of the oarsmen.

-Once it is finished, The Great Wave is a bestseller. Only a few of the highest quality historical prints exits. Hokusai’s wave painting is a perfect example of fractals, as the images repeat themselves at ever decreasing scales.

-Four years after Hokusai’s famous painting was published, a major earthquake strikes Mt. Fuji. Hokusai’s wave design is adapted in illustrations of the mountain.

-After Matthew Perry opens up Japan to the world, all things Japonaise become international. Other artists become influence by Japanese art. After WWI, Japan’s art loses favor. In WWII, it becomes associated with Japan’s aggression.

-In the 1960’s, a new generation of artists become excited by pop culture. Artists take ideas from Hokusai and reinterpret his vision. Today, the painting is viewed as a moral tale- a way to look inward and view oneself.

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

The Hinduism and Buddhism videos really convey the main teachings of the various religions and the lifestyles that accompany them. They also show the architectural and temple aspect of the two religions. There is so much history attached to each religion. In the Chinese art video, we can see the relation between functional objects, decorative objects, and the natural motifs and elements incorporated into those things.

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

I really liked the films. It’s so interesting to learn about different religions and their art. The various teachings set up a moral and ethical history for humans. I think my favorite is the Buddhism video. I really liked how Buddha’s main goal was to share his enlightenment with others and not necessarily gathering people to join the monastic order or follow a set religion. He just wanted to share his teachings with others to help them live better. The Chinese Art video was kind of slow and was just different viewings of pieces. I wish they would have maybe picked a few different pieces and went further into the history of each objects and Chinese process of making the piece, or how it was used for their culture at the time.