Project #4 : Art Curator Exhibition Slideshow

Reflecting on the Creation of an Art Exhibit:

Riding Through Art

Curator: Carly D. Szczygiel

Creating this exhibit was much more work than I had anticipated! It was a lot of fun tracking down different pieces of art and arranging them in an order that told the story that I wanted to tell. I chose the title because I wanted to express the subjects of the art (horse and rider), but also because I wanted to create a progression of art through time and age of the human subjects in the art. As I mentioned in several posts I was really taken with the Taft Modern video and the concept of an interactive museum experience, which is why I added the nontraditional art components at the end of the presentation. There were many more pieces that I would have liked to include but I could not find enough pertinent information about them to verify that they were art. I felt like I learned quite a bit about the presence of horses in art and the diverse many relationships that humans have had  with horse over the years and how they have been captured. I hope that it translates in the viewing of this presentation. In closing I hope that with a dash of imagination the interactive ideas can be appreciated as I intended them to be in real life.

Module 13 & 14 - Video Review

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

• The Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art - The key points of this film are to address Low brow, which is according to many artist interviewed is varying degrees of obvious, uncultivated art. Cartoons, pornography, and many varieties in between. It is decidedly different than mainstream art. The artist who weighed in on the genera that they were included in identified themselves as admitted outsider artists, and they are proud of it. It is usually narrative, involving action, and not viewed as sophisticated. The internet is credited with the growth in lowbrow popularity has been attributed to the fact that people can gravitate to it without the stigma that traditional, art interpretation casts of the genre.

• BBC Culture show: Tate Modern is 10! (Parts 1-4) - The key point of this film is about the focus of the Tate Modern museum on the experience of patrons. It is fun, but the art is not always taken seriously. Some of the most popular aspects don’t necessarily have intended purposes, but mean very different equally impact full things to each unique person. It brings people together, and breeds interaction, but can also lead to a lack of respect for the contemporary art aspect of the art and the art itself. People take away what they want from the experience

• An Acquiring Mind: Philippe de Montebello and The Metropolitan Museum of Art-The video accentuates the importance of the Curator(s) in the design, layout, and content of museum.  This is an art itself, but rather than working in brush strokes, colors, and mediums, the curator uses art to and the way they related to one another. The difficulties lie in acquiring pieces and using them to work with other pieces. It was interesting to learn the how many different aspects, of the art is assessed: quality, value, trend, authentication, time period, cost. I was surprised by how many curators there were at the met, and that ultimately a board decides what art is acquired.

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

• Each of the videos relate to the creation of my Art Exhibition project. All three videos provided an aspect of art and how it is related to an exhibition. The importance to encompass all types of art without bias. The importance of having a focused exhibit with a good blend and contrast of art appreciation and personal experience. Finally, the critical analysis and collaboration that is required to produce world renowned exhibits and what my evaluation should be of the pieces that I chose because I am acting to fill all the roles.  
• In The Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art the point that I took away with regard to creating an exhibit was the iteration that art is a really subjective experience for most people. Even Though I may not particularly care for a style of art, like many people were reported to feel about lowbrow, it is important to incorporate a variety of styles to be diligent and thorough about art. It is also important to recognize the variety of tastes that are out there and not to be swain by my own subjectivity, when working as a curator.

• In BBC Culture show: Tate Modern is 10! (Parts 1-4) the power of the museum experience was highlighted. It was very impact full to see how effective the museum had been in making the art experience tangible. The curators and museum staff was very conscientious about the individual experience. I found it interesting that though, they succeeded in having a fun museum with many exhibits that people enjoyed they face the unforeseen problems of people disrespecting some of the art, and not necessarily appreciating the art, only how they experienced it.

• An Acquiring Mind: Philippe de Montebello and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, provided a great insight into the multi faceted decision process that is involved in the obtaining, evaluating, and displaying of art. The Metropolitan is a huge conglomerate but I took away the importance of having many minds and many opinions that go into making it as diverse and successful as it is. I will be extra mindful of my limitations as only having my own experiences and my own character resources to work from. I am committed to thinking outside my comfort box to ensure that the exhibit assignment holds something for everyone of my imaginary audience.

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?

• The films were fantastic. I really enjoyed the message that each was meant to deliver with regard to the Art Exhibition assignment. They emphasized the importance of diversity, objectivity, and the viewer experience. I wish that there was some way to make the exhibit interactive, in the style of Tate Modern, or at least to have part of the exhibit be interactive without taking away or taking people out of the mindset of the art experience over the personal experience. I hope to incorporate all of the points I learned from these videos into the overall experience of the exhibit.

Week #12 - Video Blog

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.
• I chose Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the '50s and '60s, and Andy Warhol: Images of an Image, because the 50’s and 60’s was something I could conceptualize. It was my parents era and and visually I know that I have seen pieces from that time, in life outside of a museum. I chose the film about Andy Warhol, because I wanted to know more about him specifically. It is a name that I recognize but an artist I know little about.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
• In the Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the '50s and '60s, the key concepts that I really took away was why the art from that time took on the form that it did. The mood of the world, and the fact that artists were interested in creating art that had not been created before, which is in part responsible for abstract technique.
• In the Andy Warhol film, I felt like the presence of art in marketing, media , and the everyday were really apparent. I was struck by Warhol's statement that department stores were the new museums.

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
• The videos I chose really provide a more in depth accounting of the way that the artist connected to the world and insight about why certain art became predominant and poplar. I also appreciated the evolution of art especially warhol’s art to interpret the world, actresses, advertisements, etc. in a way that took them from everyday items to art through his unique view and techniques. Especially silk screening.

4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?
• I really enjoyed both of the films, I was surprised that I like the Warhol film more that I liked the Abstract Expressionism one. More so than the book the film provided information about the mood of the world that the artist were in an some of the outside influences that influenced the works. Additionally, the video about Warhol did a good job of really depicting how and why his art was so different and revolutionary. It gave me a better understanding and respect for the pieces that I had maybe previously thought were rather unimpressive copies of someone else's work. For example the art of the actresses, being based on someone else's photograph, or the copied images of food labels or advertisements being retooled by warhol and presented to the world as his own art. I now really grasp that his art was the interpretation of these mondaine or ordinary things.

Art Visit #2 - Exploring Exhibits

Art Visit #2 - Exploring Exhibits

Step 1: The Exhibition

Questions about the exhibit:

1. What is the title of the exhibit?

• The exhibit is titled Torey Thornton: SIR VEIL

2. What is the theme of the exhibition?

• The theme of the exhibition is abstract, imagery from the artist Torey Thornton.

Step 2: The Gallery

Questions about the physical space:

1. What type of lighting is used?

• The lighting used is down lighting, that is bright and focused from tracks on the ceiling, about three feet back from where the wall meets the ceiling.

2. What colors are used on the walls?

• The colors of the walls are white with no accents.

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

• There were literally no other materials in the space besides art pieces.

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

• The movement is circular, only around the perimeter of the room. It seems as though it could start on either side of the door, but because the doorway is flush with one wall, many people seemed to start with the first painting on the right (flush wall side) because it was the first painting they saw.

Step 3: The Artwork

Questions about the artwork:

1. How are the artworks organized?

• The art is hung around a large white room. It is a perfect backdrop for the visually busy collection of art.

2. How are the artworks similar?

• The works are similar, they are all abstract, with plenty of color, contrast, line, and pattern.

3. How are the artworks different?

• Though the works are similar in style, utilizing similar elements and principles, the subjects are very different. The use of different color and shape makes the art have a diverse feel even though they seem to have a uniform theme.

4. How are the artworks framed?

• The works are not framed, they are very busy to look at and I imagine that a frame would not be complimentary to the work.

5. How are the artworks identified and labeled?

• The art is labeled by small index card sized identifiers of to the side of the art.

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

• The art is spaced far from one another. Some are hung alone on a wall. There is a lot of white space surrounding 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.

Artist: Torey Thornton

Title of work: There's Solid Militia Fashion, but Come On, Domestic Like Focus Always

Media: Acrylic paint, oil pastel, sharpie, graphite, nail polish, and marker on paper

Date: 2015

Size: 68 1/2 x 86 1/4 inches

Source of picture: http://www.albrightknox.org/exhibitions/exhibition:02-27-2016-torey-thornton-sir-veil/

Art Criticism

1.   Be receptive - Keep an open mind.  Look for what is good.  No put-downs allowed.

2.   Description – Describe what you see.  

• I see shapes in no specific layout. If i employ my imagination the large dark green/jade it a head on a body, but the other shapes take on no realistic application.

3.   Formal analysis – (form)  What principles and elements were used and how are they used?

• Shape and color are the most identifiable elements and principles of the piece.

4.  Bracketing - Is there anything in or about this work that reminds you of anything else? Do you see any symbols, metaphors, or allegories?

• My first response is no, but upon considering all the information I have about the art, I can see that traditional camouflage colors are used in the green color family.

5.  Interpretation - (content)  What do you think the artist was trying to say?

• It seems like the artist is saying forget what you know, and possibly to make the viewer create their own new imagined reality, trying to make sense of the work.

---

Artist: Torey Thornton

Title of work: Breaking Some Rules for Momma (Theresa)

Media: Acrylic on Wood

Date: 2014

Size: Undisclosed (big)

Source of picture: iPhone digital photo, taken at Albright Knox

Art Criticism

1.   Be receptive - Keep an open mind.  Look for what is good.  No put-downs allowed.

2.   Description – Describe what you see.  

• I see a figure in black, feminine in appearance. The colorful wood pieces in front of her look like graffiti-ed planks from a picket fence.

3.   Formal analysis – (form)  What principles and elements were used and how are they used?

• The contrast of the flat black figure against the shiny gold background is predominant. The color of the patterns in the picket fence are also very eye catching uses of those elements and principles.

4.  Bracketing - Is there anything in or about this work that reminds you of anything else? Do you see any symbols, metaphors, or allegories?  (iconography)

• The metaphor I see is a woman blocked by her surroundings. The use of a colored picket fence (traditionally white), represents to me both the repressed role of women, being kept behind a fence in the house, and the radical colors represents the other life factors that are not traditional and maybe vary from woman to woman.

5.  Interpretation - (content)  What do you think the artist was trying to say?

• Because I know this was for the artist mother I think it represents her struggle, and her oppression. I think Torey created it so that she may know he understood or sympathized with her plight.

---

Artist: Torey Thornton

Title of work: Crop in Plain View

Media: Acrylic Canvas with Metal

Date: 2015 - 2016

Size: Undisclosed (big)

Source of picture: iPhone digital photo, taken of exhibit brochure from Albright Knox

Art Criticism

1.   Be receptive - Keep an open mind.  Look for what is good.  No put-downs allowed.

2.   Description – Describe what you see.  

• Lines, and a lot of them. There are horizontal lines in earth-tones interrupted by blue metal pieces that intersect at a semi-right angle.

3.  Formal analysis – (form)  What principles and elements were used and how are they used?

• The elements and principles used are line, in both the patterned background and in the two intersecting blue metal planks, and contrast in the use of three dimensional materials and in the color, and contrast, difference of the bright blue atop the earth-tone background.

4.  Bracketing - Is there anything in or about this work that reminds you of anything else? Do you see any symbols, metaphors, or allegories?  (iconography)

• It strikes me a dualistic, and metaphoric of the evolution of the word “crop”. The earth-tone lines that compose the background of the painting depict the traditional crops a farmer might grow in  a field, where as the angle of the blue metal intersect represent the new digital formatting use of the word crop.

5.  Interpretation - (content)  What do you think the artist was trying to say?

• I think the artist is trying to call attention to the changing world, where once the word crop meant something of the earth, it now more often refers to the editing of a digital photo.

Take pictures of the images you are interpreting. If this is not allowed, make quick sketches of the pieces.

Module #11 - Video Review

Video Review: Matisse and Picasso & Expressionism

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.
• I chose the expressionism video because I really liked the imagery of the artists approach from the examples in the reading. It is like poetry, in that it expresses feelings, but instead of words the artists use color, shape, shade, and light to convey their emotions. I chose the Matisse and Picasso video for the same reason I have chosen many videos before. I really want it not be such a dullard about art and I feel like the more exposure I get to well known artist the more educated-ly I will be able to speak about and reference them, and the types of art they are known for.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
• For the Expressionism video the key concepts that I learned were about about the theme of the artist highlights in the videos. I also learned that I really like the work of Marc, not necessarily because I find it visually appealing, but that he seems to feature and appreciate animals. Also interestingly I was able to identify one of his pieces, The Wolf, from afar when I was at Albright knox working on the exhibit assignment. In the second video that I chose I learned quite a bit more about the two artist Matisse and Picasso. I was especially intrigued by how the video highlighted the relationship between the two artists. It seems very rare that we have learned about artists who are alive at the same time, impact each other. I also thought it was insightful to be exposed to how the art we value so highly today was received at the time it was created.

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
• The videos are a great supplement to add dimension to the readings. Where the book picks out only overviews and highlights the films are able to give multiple examples of artists works. There are many more pictures featured in the videos which, support the books reporting of the artists styles. The videos are also a powerful addition to learning about art because they, cinematography, are art themselves. It is good for me especially, as an audio and visual learner to be able to see and hear in greater detail the topics that are touched on in the book with only one or two supporting examples.

4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?
• The videos added depth to my understanding by providing a multitude of examples by the different artists works. The expressionist video was great for explaining why the different expressionist artist had different themes in their work. I felt like through the video I really got a scenes of the artist's style and it is interesting to see what was going on in the world and in their lives that influenced their art. I think this aspect of understanding the artist is more important in the expressionist style than in others. I also liked that the video showed works being retooled, where r the same subject could be changed to give off a totally different emotion. It was really interesting to gain insight to the relationship between Matisse and Picasso, the impact that they had on one another, and the fact that it was recorded in history, is unique to my knowledge in the history of the artist that I have learned about so far.

Module #10 - Mask Making

1. Upload the three (3) inspiration images to your Blog (or link to your Photobucket account). Explain why you selected the inspiration pieces.

AND

2. Include the analysis and description (art criticism steps) of the three (3) inspiration pieces.

   

• I chose this mask because I like the use of fur, and the painted lips and outlined eye holes make it appear feminine. It reminds me of human features, which appeals to me.

Art Criticism

• Description: When I look at the mask, I see a human face divided in half, surrounded by fur where hair would be on the top of the head, and beads an feathers where it would be on either side of the face.
• Formal Analysis: The primary elements and principles that are uses in this mask are texture (the fur, feathers, and beads), contrast (where the fur meets the smooth face), line (the eye is drawn across the face following the line, and color (the stark red against the white cheek).

• I chose this mask because it was human and feminine. I also like the long hair and the bird depicted on the forehead. It makes me think that this person is thinking freely.

Art Criticism

• Description: When I look at the mask I see a face that is decidedly human. The surface of the mask is a neutral flesh/wood tone, as it the hair. The lips are reddish and stand out, as to the black eyes. There is a bird painted on the forehead of the mask.
• Formal Analysis: The elements and principles used in this mask are similar to those used in the first mask. Their is contrast where the smooth surface meets the straw hair, but also in the dark black lines of the bird against the smooth uniform surface of the face. Color is used on the lips and the eyes.

 

• I chose this mask, because I liked the simplicity of it. I am a fan of half masks and I like cats.

Art Criticism

• Description: This mask is black, with gold lines to make up the image of a cat face.
• Formal Analysis: The mask uses the elements and principles of contrast (the gold against the rich black), and line (the whiskers, and even the writing in the cats ears).

3. Upload images of your sketchs and finished piece.

4. Explain how you used the Elements and Principles in your finished mask.

• I used the following Elements and Principles in my finished mask:
• Texture - the tulle fabric provides
• Contrast - the texture of the tulle fabric provides a contrast to the smooth paper of the eye cover.
• the beads against the smooth paper eye piece
• the white pearl against the black of the eye piece
• the white pearl's smooth finish among-st the rough green freshwater pearls.
• Color - The bright color of the tulle fabric, the green fresh water pearls
• Line - (in a reverse way of the cat mask) the pearl strand makes lines across the face, in a smile like impression.

5. Share your opinion of your finished mask and what you thought about creating the mask.

• My mask is... interesting. I like it, for what it is. I wanted to make it colorful and busy, and I wanted to use materials that I had in/around the house. Creating it in my mind was fun, and easy. I felt more confident in my ability to make a half mask than a full one, so I opted for that, like the cat mask. Making it was a different matter. My confidence was ill placed. It was hard to keep the eyepiece in place and to make the strand of pearls fall in semi-perfectly spaced lines across my face. With an endless budget and time I think i could have constructed a more durable mask. I am actually hopeful about being invited to a Mardi Gras or mascaraed party and being able to make my own mask for it. Probably something a little more mainstream and flattering, but I have enjoyed exercising my creativity for this project.