Blog Reflections of AED200 - Teller

1. What were you expectations for this course and where they met? My expectations were to learn about Art. I would say that I most definitely have don that. I am thrilled to think about whatI knew then, against what I know now about art.

2. Now that you've been through this course, What is art? How would you define it now compared to your intial posting? To me the definition hasn’t changed. Art can be a drawing,  a painting, a sculpture, a Liberal Art or anything else that expresses what your feel.

3. Who was your favorite artist in your original posting and who is your favorite visual artist now? If there is a difference, why do you think so? If you have the same favorite artist, why do you think so? My favorite was Picasso. It still is. I think I have the same favorite artist now, that I did then, because I love his creativity.

4. Now that you've completed this course, how do you feel about taking an online course? Is your answer the same as it was in your first posting? How is it the same or different?  I am not as leery taking a course online now, as I was before we got started. It is a great deal of work in the class or online. Thank you for this experience.

Week 15 Self Portrait Project - Teller

    

Reflections

I selected the 3 photos for their simplicity. I had an extremely difficult time finding ANY self portraits in the AK Art Gallery as I learned that the Collection is often rotated and all pieces were not available.The Van Gogh and Bacon were from of the gift shop. The media I chose to create my self portrait was pencil on paper. I chose it because I feel that I have the most control with it. I didn't face any challenges creating my portrait. I tried to include Balance and Emphasis in my portrait. This project was fun to do, except for not being able to find any exhibits in the Gallery. I like my final artwork. It shows me the things in my face that I notice more than others.

Proof I was there....

Picture # 1  

Picture # 2

Francis Bacon, 1981 Oil on Canvas

Picture #3 

Painting, Oil on Canvas
Paris: Winter, 1887/88
Van Gogh Museum
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Europe

Art Critique Reflection Journal -Teller

   I reviewed 3 projects for this assignment. "Art in the Life of Trees" - Gruppo, "Youthful innocence Caught in the Moment" - Abate and finally "Wild Life Encounters" by Willie Wimes.

   I selected to critique Willie Wimes "Wild Life Encounters". I chose this exhibit because it seemed to be very similar to the project that I created. I did mine on wildlife as did Wille.

   Some of the challenges that I encountered while doing the critique were that I was afraid to be highly critical and that it was difficult for me to step back and really interpret the works that someone else selected. Trying to analyze why someone else likes a particular work of art is a tough task. I was able to overcome these things because I knew that critiquing hard was the only way to accurately convey my point. Once I was able to step back and view works of art for what they were, I found it easier to see what others saw, the raw piece.

  I enjoyed critiquing someone's work. I was interesting to learn what I really saw as well.

  I would most definitely like to read by peers review.

  On a scale of 1-10, I would give my finished article a 10. I nailed that thing!

  I loved working on this project. :-) Good stuff !!!!


  -Steve

Week 15 Video Reviews

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

Greenberg/Criticism - In this video I learned that were a ton of issues surrounding the new or modernist style of painting.

Greenberg/Pollock – I learned that Pollock was a big drinker. I learned that Greenberg thought he was overrated and “full of shit”. Although he chastised Pollock, he respected him and thought that he could have really been something if he lived a little longer.

Italian Renaissance– I learned that Artists didn’t just know how to create art, but rather they learned from all the artists before them and how they perfected their art. They learned by studying their elders.

The Critics– This video was amazing. It showed how critics are actually like artists.   They have their own style, their own rituals, and their own specialties.

Colonial - I didn’t really know anything about the 1900 World’s Fair, so this piece was most definitely interesting. It was odd to me to learn how everything depicted in the fair, was to promote the strength of the French etc.

Pollock – I think what I learned here is that any 2 people can have completely different views of the exact same work of art or exhibit. It is interpretation more than understanding that drives a critic’s view point.

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

Greenberg/Criticism - This video relates to the book in that shows how Greenberg loved Matisse and his contributions to the Fauve Revolution.

Greenberg/Pollock - This video related to the readings as it re-emphasizes the fact that as times changed and modernizations were implemented in Art, people were chastised and cast aside because their styles didn’t jell well with the current styles. We just read about this last week.

Italian Renaissance – This video relates to the readings in that we read about the Renaissance and the rebirth of art in previous chapters.

The Critics – This relates to the readings because it shows how individuality related to critics is the same as the individuality of artists. They have their own ways of doing things to create their endpoint.

Colonial – I think this relates to the readings in the book because it reemphasizes how Western influence on Europe changed the way art and history were depicted.

Pollock - This relates to this week’s work because it shows us that  2 people can have completely different views of the exact same work of art or exhibit. It is interpretation more than understanding that drives a critic’s view point. Since we will be critiquing each other’s exhibits this week, it has merit.

I didn’t particularly care for any of the videos that much. They are all starting to get quite a bit lengthy. The Greenberg video was especially hard to follow. Greenberg sounded drunk during the interview and was extremely difficult to understand.

Reflection Journal -Teller

     This was an interesting assignment. For my exhibit, I wanted to do something that was very meaningful to me.  Since I am an avid outdoorsman, I decided to do my exhibit around a Naturalistic and Representational theme.
     My project was off to a slow start although I knew what the end result was that I wanted to unfold, I wasn't quite sure how to achieve it. I started digging for things that were impolrtant for me to show my audience.  I wanted to show how I feel, rather than tell someone.  I worked my title of Life and Death, into something important to me. Hunting and the great outdoors.  It was magical, I could show Life and Death as time, a day or an event. As I started to dig the project quickly began to unfold onto itself. I was able to find so many pictures that I wasnt sure where to place them all, in order to convery my thoughts and show movemnt through the exhibit. This is what I came up with.
     I decide to use Sunrise and Sunset imagery as the life and death of a day on earth.  I also was able to use children, and natuer scenes filled with deer as symbols of life.  I then tuned the project to show the death of a day, by using moon paintings and nightfall etc.  I was able through this, to sho the death of nature in my final few slides by capturig deer skulls and photo taken of myself.  Although the final slide is not of a painting, it was in fact a photo, which we learned about in a previous section so it does count.
     I was able to show my points rather wellI think.  For my exhibit, I would show the slides in the exact order in which they appear. For the entire hallway, which is where I picture this exhibit, I would have a soft light from above, and eggshell color painted walls, unless otherwise noted in the individual slides, to show a certain effect that I was trying to achieve. I hope you enjoyed it. I know that I did creating it.

-Stephen

Week 13 & 14 Video Review - Teller

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

 The Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art

Lowbrow is a style of art. The name was fabricated by the artist Robert Williams. It relates to the group of artists that allegedly “does their own thing”, that lack culture and have no taste. It seems to me that it is more free expression. It is focused around cartoons it seems, and abstract art. Anthony Ausgang has an awesome blazer jacket.

Displaying Modern Art: The Tate Approach

I learned that Art Galleries actually have a direction in which exhibits art displayed. I figured they were all just placed where they fit. That is not the case. Things are arranged in chronological order as an example. Inside that idea related works are placed near each other even though different media may be used.

Bones of Contention: Native American Archaeology

I didn’t know that Native American bones were collected and all kept together in some sort of warehouse to be studied. That there was such a large discrimination issue. The Smithsonian had over 18,000 bodies worth of Native American bones. There were laws passed that the bones must be remained to their Native Tribes. Unfortunately the bones were not. Eventually because of these laws, bones did in fact start to be returned, so that the Indians could perform their own analysis.

George Eastman House: Picture Perfect

He invented the personal cameras. He also formed Eastman Kodak. There is no Mr. Kodak. It is an acronym of his mother’s maiden name “Kilborn ODA Kilborn “The first commercialized camera The Brownie, sold for $1. His 50 bedroom estate is magnificent. I didn’t even know he was from Rochester or that the house was there. This was an awesome video. Im going to go see that house.

2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Exhibition project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not. I think the videos relate to the creation of our projects in that I will use pictures of animals (Kodak video). I will use thoughts and theories of life (Bones video) The construction of my project will follow a chronological aspect (Tate Video) and the fact that I have no idea what I am doing, but will love what I am doing relates to the Lowbrow video.

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 loved the films for this section. They added much depth.

Week 12 Video Review -Teller

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

The Power of Art: Rothko– I chose this video because it has an interesting title.

Uncertainty: Modernity and Art– I chose this video because I wanted to learn about Modernity and Art other than what was read in the text this week.

Hockney on Photography – I chose this video because I am interested in learning more about this topic

Andy Warhol: Images of an Image - I chose this video because I am interested in learning more about this topic as well.

2.    For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
The Power of Art: Rothko

In this video I learned that he had killed himself. I did not previously know that fact.

I also learned he went to Yale, and dropped out. He believed that art could change the world.  I saw color field mapping and how he created his abstract paintings. They had no borders on some pieces and were not sedatives. He didn’t want his art to be silent, but moving. He was a major painter for artworks in the Four Seasons restaurant.

Uncertainty: Modernity and Art– I learned that Uncertainty: Modernity and Art is a part of everyday life. Civilization changes over the years as things modernize and art is no different. It is a main focus of abstract art where surfaces and appearances are deliberately left behind in the creation of the piece.

Hockney on Photography – This was a fascinating video. I saw how he actually drew photos with pictures. It was marvelous.

Andy Warhol: Images of an Image – This video was amazing.

I learned a step by step processes of silk screening, including the enlargement process and rinsing.

The Power of Art: Rothko This video relates to the book text for this weeks’ reading, in that shows how Abstract  perspectives are really the basis for a ideology that abstract art had been born.

Uncertainty: Modernity and Art– This video related to the readings as it re-emphasizes the point that Abstract art is deliberately open ended. “Taking a line for a walk” rather than purposefully forcing it to an ending position.

Hockney on Photography – This video relates to the readings because the camera was invented around the time of the Revolution which we just read about. It was also a new idea to draw with the camera, just as Expressionism was born in this era.

Andy Warhol: Images of an Image – This video relates to class work simply because it tells how Andy Warhol utilizes movie stars as his platform. He used silkscreen printing to mass produce prints, just like modern conveniences that were developed in the Industrial Revolution.

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

I like all the 4 films I watched for this section. The Andy Warhol: Images of an Image video made a pretty substantial impact on me. I think he may have been a little odd, but you can’t simply ignore his new technique of destroying and recreating images. I liked this video section a lot this time.