Video Review Module 12

1. For this assignment I chose to watch the videos Andy Warhol: Images of an Image and Isamu Noguchi: The Sculpture of Spaces. I chose Andy Warhol's Images of an Image because it seemed like an interesting topic. I also chose The Sculpture of Spaces because the title caught my attention.

2. In the video Andy Warhol: Images of an Image some of the key concepts that stood out to me was that they talked about how to transfer an image from being a photo and make it into a silk screen, to do this you have enlarge the image several times. While I was watching the video I was interested in the part when they were talking about Andy Warhol's portraits of the women who they made one picture into ten but changing some little things in each one to make them different then the last one. In the portrait of imitation only the basic traits of the face survived because Warhol would make subtle changes to the surroundings or minor changes to the face. In the video Isamu Noguchi: The Sculpture of Spaces I noticed that many things go into making sculptures for spaces. One of these things is that the space in which the sculptures are being placed, it is important that the sculptures are one with the surroundings and that they are not overshadowed by buildings or other objects. The placement of sculptures is also important because it sets the mood for the overall piece.

3. The video Andy Warhol: Images of an Image relates to the textbook in a couple ways. One way that I found is that in Chapter 22 it talks about how Andy Warhol used silkscreen to recreate dozens of duplicates of his artwork. In the textbook it shows a picture of one of his works which is of Marilyn Monroe, which he used silk-screening to recreate this work. The video Isamu Noguchi: The Sculpture of Spaces relates to the video in a couple different ways. One example I found in the textbook is Ernesto Neto's Leviathan Thot in Paris. The sculpture is very well designed and everything in the sculpture is very well placed.

4. My opinion of the film Andy Warhol: Images of an Image was that it was somewhat hard to follow at certain times but it did help me understand some different art techniques and gave me a better understanding of how Andy Warhol created his works of art and what made them so unique. The film Isamu Noguchi: The Sculpture of Spaces was also tough to focus on as the video sometimes went half minutes without and talking and just showing pictures and not really talking about many key concepts. Although it was tough to focus on I do think it helped me understand the importance of sculptures and how much work goes into making them successful works of art.  

Art Gallery Visit #2

Step 1: The Exhibition
1. Margaret L. Wendt Gallery
2. Buffalo's History

Step 2: The Gallery
1. Dimmed lighting throughout the gallery but lights directed on the artwork
2. Dark grey
3. The materials that are used are picture frames, glass boxes filled with materials, there are rocks as an artwork as well as a gate located in the middle which catches the viewers attention as soon as they walk in.
4. The movement of the artwork takes you through the whole gallery. No matter what point you start at the pictures along the wall guide you through the while exhibit and keeping your eyes following the direction you are walking in.

Step 3: The Artwork
1.  There are artworks on the wall which are spaced evenly along each wall. If there was more than one artwork for that landmark the artworks were placed closely together to group them correctly.
2. The artworks are similar because they all have the common theme of buffalo's history. They all deal with the first drawings of either important buildings or parks located in Buffalo.
3. The artworks are different because they all deal with a different location, a different important factor in Buffalo's history. They are all unique to the theme in their own way.
4. Some of the artworks are in glass cases, many others are in picture frames and some of them are just placed on the wall without frames.
5. The artworks are easily identified and labeled by plaques located by the artwork to give the viewer the name of the piece, who made it as well what was used(the medium).
6. Most of the artworks are spread out throughout the gallery but the artworks that have the same subject are placed closely together.

Subject 4: Art Criticism Exercise
1st artwork:
Artist: Bob Collignon
Title of work: Site of the former Michigan Avenue Y.M.C.A
Media: Photograph
Date: 2015
Size: N/A
1. Be receptive: In this photograph I like how the clouds appear and even though the photo is in black and white I like how the lighting is captured in this photograph.
2. Description: In this artwork I see an open field and in the background there are trucks, multiple buildings and cars.
3. Formal analysis: The elements that are used in this photograph consist of line; created by the objects in the distance, shape; it occupies an area with identifiable boundaries, light; shades of light and dark values and space by conveying the idea of nothingness. The principles that are used are unity thought the sense that the objects belong together,variety by the interest due to its difference, emphasis because our attention is drawn to what is going on in the background.
4. Bracketing: This artwork reminds me of an abandoned area that has great potential. This reminds me a lot about the city of Buffalo in which we live in.
5. Interpretation: I think that the artist is trying to convey the atmosphere of Buffalo. By taking this photograph the artist captured calmness and the potential for something great.

 
2nd artwork:
Artist: John E. Brent
Title of work: Vintage bricks and detritus from the former site of Michigan Avenue Brach Y.M.C.A
Media: Sculpture
Date: 1926-28
Size: N/A
1. Be receptive: I like how there is a variety of pieces of the Y.M.C.A.
2. Description: In this sculpture I see bricks, rocks and rusty metal placed strategically among the block its sitting on.
3. Formal Analysis: The elements used are mass through the volume of the shapes, light through the three-dimensional appearance, color through the colors of the bricks rocks and metal, texture through the surface quality you can feel without touching and space through three-dimensional space. The principles used are unity because these objects have oneness; they belong together, variety because there are different object used to keep the viewer interested, scale in relation to the "normal" size and proportion because of the size relationship between the parts of the whole.
4. Bracketing: Nothing in this artwork reminds me of anythings.
5. Interpretation: I think that the artist is trying to show the history of the Michigan Avenue Branch Y.M.C.A.

3rd artwork:
Artist: John E. Brent
Title of work: New building for Cold Springs Baptist Church
Media: Colored pencil on paper
Date: January 24, 1955
Size: N/A
1. Be receptive: I like the colors that are used, they are clam colors and capture your attention. I also like the sense of community you get from looking at this artwork.
2. Description: I see trees, people and a building.
3. Formal analysis: The elements in this artwork are line through the symbols guiding you throughout the artwork, shape by the two-dimensional form it takes on, light by the radiant energy, color by use of warm and cool colors, and space through the flat surface of the work. The principles used are unity through the sense of oneness that the object portrayed belong together and subordination because certain areas of the artwork are purposefully made.
4. Bracketing: The artwork reminds me of the Church I used to attend when I was little, it was a happy place and through the use of the colors you feel like the Church portrayed is a happy place.
5. Interpretation: The artist is trying to get the viewer to see the sketching of the Church as it was being made and also to see the history of the Church as well.

Question: Usually when visiting and art gallery you go to look at the artwork and interpret it. During this visit I not only viewed the artwork but I also looked at the exhibition from a different perspective looking at how the artworks were spaced and the space in the exhibit. It was hard for me to do since I am not use to doing so but once I looked around at the gallery I have picked it wasn't so hard to do after all. The hard part would have to be changing my mind to think differently while visiting this exhibition.

Video Review Module 11

1. The two films I have selected to view were Matisse and Picasso and The Impact of Cubism. The reason behind picking the video Matisse Picasso is because Picasso is one of my favorite artists and I felt this would be a great opportunity to learn more about him and his work and this video seemed to do exactly that and it also informed me a lot about Matisse. I picked the video The Impact of Cubism because I don't know much about cubism so I used this opportunity to pick the video that provided a better understanding.
2. In the video Matisse and Picasso, I learned that the relationship that Matisse and Picasso have is unique. Matisse likes to rationalize and Picasso is impulsive. In the video it said that Picasso liked Matisse's simplicity and that Matisse used innocence and Picasso used the intellectual approach with art. In the video, The Impact of Cubism, I learned that cubism represents form and shape. In the video they talked a lot about certain artworks and how they had cubism. One artwork that I learned a lot about was The Breakfast Table by Juan Gris'. I learned that this piece of art had strong shapes and had still life. The artist stated that he works with abstraction and ends with the real objects and he was a cubist artist. Another artwork I learned a lot about was Champ de Mars by Robert Delanay. I learned that it was a period piece, and that the subject takes on life and color the viewer would not expect. This piece of art had spatial relations as well as the element of time and memory which I thought was interesting.
3. The readings relate to the text because in chapter 21 the author talks about how Henri Matisse was the leader of the wild new trend of expressionism. The book also talks about how Pablo Picasso wanted to reduce the role of color to a minimum to concentrate on the problem of representing form in space which he latter embarked on the movement known as cubism. The book went into detail about cubism but the video helped me to get a better understanding with all the examples and the in-depth explanations. The reading talked a little about Matisse but the video provided me with much more information to take away about him.
4. I really enjoyed both videos, at first I thought it was just going to be an hour long video dragging on about points that were irreverent but these two videos were an hour long about important and intriguing information. The videos and the reading helped me get a better understanding about cubism and its important role in artwork.

Module 10 Video Review

1. I have picked the videos African Art: Legacy of Oppression and African Art because I have always been interested in learning more about Africa. I am currently taking a course involving African American literature and these videos provided me with information on the arts of Africa. I also picked these videos for a more personal reason and that being I have an adopted brother who is African American and I love learning about his culture. 
2. In the African Art: Legacy of Oppression video I learned that the Kongo region is home to 250 different cultures. I also learned that African Art affected the West because it is abstract, simple and dramatic. In African artwork the artists give psychological truth to human form. In the African Art video I learned that art is a part of daily life not only is it in their homes it is also in their dress and their hairstyles as a form of expression, art is also important in traditional African rituals. In Africa art emerged as a carrier for magic and rituals. 
3. In the text they talked about how tradition plays a role in art just like the videos did (Chapter 18). The text also stated that art in Africa serves as an agent to bring about desired state of affairs, through the contact with sprit powers in chapter 18. The videos elaborated on that idea because they stated African art is in their rituals which involve spiritual powers. 
4. I really enjoyed watching these films, they brought light on new ideas and concepts I once didn't know about African art. They provided me with more information as well as new information about different ways that art influences everyday life.