art gallery 2

I went to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. The title of thee exhibition I chose was The Long Curve: 150 Years of Collecting at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. There were various rooms to this collection, some housing paintings and some sculpture, the overall theme was contemporary art. The lighting used was either recessed or track lighting. The walls painted white throughout. I felt the gallery had an open space that was easy to navigate and the stair cases were modern. The upstairs atrium had ionic Greek columns.

The art works were organized by exhibits such as Virocode a disappearance of the source, artists in depth; Arp Miro, Calder or by eras such as the modernist. Some had there own rooms such as the room of contemporary art. The art works were similar in that they reflected the same time period, yet they were different in styles, techniques and media used. Some of the art works were framed with simple black frames other had very fancy ornate heavy gold frames. Some were framed shielded with plexiglass and some of the larger prints were unframed. Each of the art works have a plaque next to it giving the artists name, country, date of birth/death, the media used and in many cases how the piece was acquired by the museum.

Jim Dine American, born 1935 Ten Formal Fingers, 1961 World Relief with oil In looking at this piece of art I see ten long pieces of rounded wood, with curve tops. The tip of each piece of wood is painted red. The artist used straight lines and rounded edges. At first I thought this could be a box of matches, but then I thought it could also be a set of fingers nails or a picket fence.

Giacomo Bella Italian, 1871 or 1874-1958 Dinamismo di un Carve al Guinzaglio (dynamism of a dog on a leash), 1912 Oil on Canvas This piece of a difficult to clearly view because of the sun coming through the skylights and the fact that it was behind plexi glass. The artist used a very limited palette and a variety of brush strokes. Movement was created in that viewing this painting you could almost feel the dog and women moving. I think the artist was trying to convey that maybe time moves on.

Henri de Tourlouse-Lautrec French 1864-1901 Femme retroussant sa chemise (women lighting her chemise), 1901 Oil on wood panel This was framed in a heavy gold frame. The color pallet was very subdued and muted. Different color values were used to create the background. The women stands alone and shows the rounded curves of her body. Some of these curves are reminiscence of the curves seen by Michael Angelo. I think this conveys a women who is confident and there is a since of solitude.

week 11 video blog

Week 11 Video Reviews BLOG 1. Dada and Surrealism I chose this video because the name Dada, meaning no-no, as well as the concept behind Dadaism: bypassing the reasoning process and tapping directly into the unconscious mind, I thought would be interesting. This video explored the work of Kurt Schwitters, who claimed he was not a Dadaist, Hannah Hoch, George Grozsz, Joan Miro, Salvador Dali and ManRay. This video enhanced, built upon and gave visual support to the reading in the text. I feel I now have a better understanding of these art movements and I can say I’m not a fan. I appreciate that they are art but I prefer other styles. One of the first things I learned was that Dada in Russian means yes-yes and in French means hobby horse. The way Kurt Schwitters used objects of all types, and gave them new roles, was interesting. It was fascinating that Hannah Hoch’s piece, Cut with a Kitchen Knife, was so chaotic and it was actually very carefully planned. It was interesting to see her sketches, with people names, that were incorporated into her photomontage. I also found it interesting that George Grosz at times used lavatory graffiti as inspiration. Surrealism removes all elements of storytelling. This definitely added depth to the text in being able to see surrealistic compared to the works on which they were based. This was presented in demonstrating how Miro based his works on postcard images. In the works of Salvador Dali I think it clearly demonstrates that it is helpful to know the background of an artist when attempting to understand his work. Dali’s landscapes were reminiscent of where he grew up. I think what will be most helpful is that in viewing this video, and experiencing the process of analyzing a work, visually, will hopefully help with understanding and analyzing works at the art gallery this week. 2, Matisse and Picasso I decided to watch this video for two reasons, first to learn more about both artists and their works, and second because of the work posted on the lesson page for this week. It is by Picasso, Mother and Child, 1922. It is not a work I would associate with Picasso so I wanted to know more. I was not disappointed; I personally think this is one of the best videos offered so far in this class. It added to the readings and gave a wonderful work into the art and lives of both men. Gertrude Stein was the first to recognize genius in both artists. Matisse was serene, self-indulgent, and a father figure. Whereas Pablo Picasso was an eternal adolescent as well as a fiery primitive. They had a very unique relationship that I found very interesting. They were contemporaries, rivals, opposites and in their strange way friends. They used each other in their game of one up man ship to become better artists and the art world was the beneficiary. It was interesting that their awareness of their differences is what brought them together, and that they studied each other to do the opposite. I also did not know that at the age of 70, Picasso fathered two children. 3. Dance at the Moulin de la Galette I thought it would be interesting to see a video that focused on one work of art. I also felt watching this and viewing it being analyzed would help with this week’s art gallery visit. This video not gave insight into Renoir’s two paintings of, Dance at the Moulin de la Galette, but also gave more depth and understanding into Impressionism. In his work Renoir captured changing light, color and the immediacy of the moment. He used bright, separate colors and a variety of brushwork techniques. In this was it enhanced and added depth to the reading in the text. The first trivia fact I learned is that galette means pastry. It was very interesting to see how Renoir emerged himself and became a part of the subject he intended to paint. To see how everyday people, some important to him, others just villagers were incorporated into a lively scene. I was surprised to learn that some of the people were asked by Renoir to be actual models for the painting. Renoir in his work created an illusionary world of the dance hall. This representation was in contrast to the sinister, dark and somber versions created by Frederico Zandomemeghi, Toulouse-Latrec, Picasso and Van Gogh. One of the things I learned is what can happen when a work is sold and purchased by a collector. Sometimes it then becomes and investment, a commodity, that can be stashed away. I think this is tragic and hope that even though it is conjecture that Renoir’s smaller painting is being enjoyed in a private collection in Switzerland. I also learned that this painting, with himself put into the crowd, became one of Rod Stewart’s album covers. 4. The Impact of Cubism I chose this video to gain a better understanding of cubism. Cubism was influenced by the works of Cezanne and the art of the Iberian Peninsula. It was the most influential style of the early 20th century and offered European artists unfamiliar, non classical ways to represent form and space. The video presented and analyzed the works of Juan Gris, Marcel Duchamp, Robert and Sonia Delaunay, Kazimir Malevich and Umberto Boccioni. It demonstrated how these artists used cubism to create their works. Duchamp is presented as an artist who uses this technique but I will always remember him for his piece, the signed urinal, which was one of the beginnings of installation art. I found his work in this video, Sad Young Man on a Train, and Nude on a Staircase, difficult to understand even eith the interpretations provided. The same was true for Malevich’s, An Englishman in Moscow. I found it interesting how Sonia and Robert Delaunay went dancing as a way to present art to the people. I also noted that in the description/analysis of Sonia Delaunay’s work Electric Prisms that they referred to the primary colors: red, blue, and yellow. They obviously did not get the memo! This video enhanced the text and presented a deeper insight into the Cubism movement in art. It left me with a clearer understanding of the concepts behind the style but I do not feel confident that if presented with a work that I would be able to fully understand it without cues.

Art Exlporation masks

Art Exploration – Masks – Week 10

Artist: Nuna Peoples, Burkina Faso Title of Work: Hawk Mask Media: Wood, pigment Source: http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~bcr/Bayly/Nunuma_hawk_mask_b.JPG Description: A sculpted bird, with a somewhat scary face. If I did not know it was a mask and was just looking at this picture I could assume that it was just an artistic piece. The title reveals that it is a Hawk mask. Analysis: Lines are used throughout to outline definitive spaces, as well as within the spaces to create repetitive and rhythmic patterns. A limited but contrasting color palette is effective. It is in the shape of a hawk. It is symmetrical and the focal point is the face.

Artist: Unknown, this mask is used by members of Kiduma, a secret society that takes charge of social celebrations in the Congo Republics and Gabon Title of Work: Teke Moon Shaped Mask Media: Colored clay with paint Source: http://www.artyfactory.com/africanmasks/masks/teke.htm Description: This is a circular, moon shaped mask. Analysis: It is a moon shaped with various colors and geometric shapes used to create harmony and balance but it is not symmetrical. The focal point is the middle where have circular lines and various colors and shapes are used to create a face.

Artist: Unknown, Title: this mask is used in ngil magic ceremonies of the Fang people of Gabon Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_traditional_masks Description: This is a mask that has an elongated face that resembles a horse. Analysis: This elongated mask if symmetrical. A darker, thicker, semi-circular line defines the top of the mask. It appears to have some texture in that the space under the eyebrows is hollowed out. There is only one color used.

Sketches

Finished Mask

week 10 video blog

Week 10 Video Blog Review African Art: Legacy of Oppression The reason I chose this video was because of the title I had not read anything about Africa being oppressed. After viewing the video it definitely enhanced the text and added another dimension in my mind about African art. The video focused on Belgium’s Tervuren Museum’s, 250,000 piece, collection of African art. It was interesting and notable to see the variety of masks and understand some of the meanings such as the use of colors on the masks: white means healthy and black means ill. Also the different functions of the masks, some are to scare and some to get over fear. It was interesting that some are meant to protect against enemies, and in some cases that refers to western cultures. It was difficult to view the horrors inflicted on the Congo culture by King Leopold and how many were left dying on the road, whipped, or put in concentration camps in pursuit of the cultivation of rubber. Heaven on Earth: Buddhism I chose this video to learn more about the Buddhist religion. It greatly added to the information provided in the text book. It was very interesting to see videos of the famous Buddhist temples and their architecture. The temples explored were the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, the Great Stupa at Sanchi, India, the largest temple Borobudur Temple in Indonesia and the most interesting fact to me the Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, New York. The key to Buddhism is the teaching of tanha the path to extinguish all desires and all things that feed the ego and obstruct enlightenment.. The temples are built on levels and one must walk clockwise on the path of enlightenment to reach Nirvana, heaven. It was fascinating to view the carvings and learn that each had a lesson to teach. The largest temple the Borobudur Temple is in the shape of a lotus flower, a sacred flower to Buddha. One top of this temple that took 100 years to build are 432 carved Buddhas. The temple in New York is built in the Tang dynasty style and is made of glue and compressed wood. This temple is the home to the largest Buddha statue in the western hemisphere. Another fact I found interesting is that Buddhism flourishes in all Asian countries except India were it was founded. African Art: Its Cultural Meaning I was hoping that this video would give views of a wider range of African art outside of the very popular African mask. I was not disappointed. This video offered a more visual and in depth of everyday art in Africa. In the sub-saharan area of Africa art is a large part of everyday life. It is created in the simplest everyday objects, such as utensils, clothes, ornaments, hairstyles and architecture, and every piece shown was intricate and truly beautiful. An interesting concept I learned is that most of the art from Africa that is on display in museums is less than 200 years old because it was made of mostly wood or straw which deteriorates. Also it gave insight to the bronze casting, use of gold, and chairs made by the Egyptian civilization. It was interesting to view the performance art prevalent in Africa which involves not only masks but also movement, and music. Another key concept was that most of African art is conceptual art which flows from the imagination rather than being based on realism. It was interesting to learn how urban centers are impacting African art and how now many pieces are being made for collectors and decorators. Heaven on Earth: Hinduism Again to add to my knowledge of world religions I chose to watch this video. And again it added to the knowledge provided in the text in terms of the religion and the ability to actually view the artwork that reflects the Hindu religion. The Hindu religion considers Brahma the source of all life and its followers seek to let go of all things. The Ganges river, one of the symbols of Hinduism, is the sight of one of their most sacred rituals, that being the burning of the dead on pyres and the ashes being distributed into the river. An interesting fact is that the devout followers of Hinduism art not allowed to touch dead bodies, a task that is left to outcasts. The basis of the architecture of Hindu temples is that they are small but elaborately decorated in honor of a great many gods and goddesses. The temples explored included: the Mamallapuram, Khajurho, Krishna Mandapam, Panch Rathas, the largest the Dharmaraja Ratha, the Shore Temple recovered from the Bay of Bengal, and the Kandariya Mahadev Temple created during the 9th century which was considered the golden age of Hindu architecture.

week 9 project

It was strange and awkward using my hands for a drawing. I cannot draw well to start with and it felt strange and uncomfortable. After outlining I kept looking back and forth and the shadows seemed to change with every glance. I chose to use pencil because after creating the value scale I felt more confident with shading. It felt weird using my non dominant hand but it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. I did re do it several times and once I started shading that helped. I think both hands turned out okay the position I needed to use to get both hands on one sheet of paper was awkward. I do think they turned out to be a fairly successful study. If I had a choice I do not think I would use my non dominant hand to create future art work.

week nine video blog

Week 9 BLOG Video Review Velazquez I chose this video, although mentioned, did not stand out in the readings. He was a painter who chronicled the lives and times of his friend King Philip the fourth. He had one love his wife and one friend the king and this gave him the freedom to paint what he wanted. He did take trips to Italy and was considered an educated painter. I learned several things about Velazquez. First, he typically painted with a limited palette that consisted of ocres, black, whites, and touches of carmine. He believed in capturing the moment in his paintings to fully capture reality and truth. What I found interesting was when he painted landscapes he used his own feelings. Everything he painted he saw within himself. Some of what are considered his best works and the ones I found most intriguing are of the court jesters. He found beauty concealed in the unnatural. It took sympathy to portray them so naturally. He did not leave out their flaws or attempt to beautify them to make them acceptable, he strove to paint the truth. Through his work Velazquez strove to guide the viewer into what he as the painter had discovered. This definitely added to my understanding of the artist but also how the arts were being developed in Spain. Albrecht Drurer: Image of a Master I chose this video because I knew from the readings that Drurer was a printmaker and I wanted to learn more about the process and gain insight visually. I learned several things that enhanced what I had read and others that I did not know at all. Drurer was actually the greatest artist of the Northern Renaissance. It was he who introduced Renaissance forms and ideas to Germany which was still in the Gothic era. He was a painter and a draftsman. When painting he was especially fascinated by painting hands. Following a trip to Italy he was so impressed by the Alps, it led him to be considered the first landscape artist in Europe. He learned many of his techniques: how to achieve form with light and shadow, and using layers to achieve an enameled look, from studying in Venice. He relied on printmaking for income but did not ever stop learning and refining his art skills. It was interesting to see prints being made in multiples so art could become more available. I thought this video was well done. The Drawings of Michelangelo I chose this video for several reasons, first I think his work is fascinating, second, I used his drawings and then actual paintings in my project, and lastly growing up in Western New York, David, is hard to miss when driving down the expressway. I found this video to be very informative, complement the reading in the text book, and greatly added to my background knowledge of Michelangelo. I thought his drawings were unbelievable. They exuded power, strength and emotion. I learned how buy the use of grids the small drawings were enlarged to create the figures on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel. I also found it very interesting that after repeatedly trying the artist in the video could not even come very close to copying his drawings. I did know that Michelangelo considered himself a sculptor, but I did not know that he was self-taught and that David was the first marble statue to be carved in Italy since antiquity. It was also enlightening to learn that he was fixated on the solar plexus and that he took human figures and added abstractions to achieve perfection. He did indeed set the bar high for future body builders. I liked this video and it saddens me to known Michelangelo himself destroyed many of his own drawings. Leonardo da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance When I read in the text book that Leonardo da Vinci was considered the “ultimate genius and Renaissance Man,” I decided to watch this video. I knew he did many other things besides the Mona Lisa, but I did not realize how many other things he was involved in. I have to say we look at Da Vinci and know that he was a genius but I did not get the impression from the video that he was appreciated at the time. He seemed to flit from place to place and left some unfinished works. He unfortunately did not learn the lesson that a student should never to better that his teacher when he out painted Andrea del Verrocchio. He felt that emotion was made up of the spiritual (power of thought) and the material (the body), He felt that proportion and balance must flow and that beauty and harmony are of the divine nature. He was a master at proportions and applied them to his many endeavors. The most important thing I learned was that Leonardo da Vinci was not just the painter responsible for creating the Mona Lisa, he was a painter, a sculptor, architect, engineer (he helped redesign Milan following the plague),musician, student of anatomy and physiology (he actually did dissections to better understand human form), physiology, botany, hydrodynamics, aeronautics, and other disciplines. Yet he did not perceive himself as an educated man. I think his life was overshadowed by sadness and his genius was not appreciated. Another point of interest he was left handed.

Week 8 Blog Video review

Week 8 – Video Blog Review Andrew Reed More Human Than Human This video pointed out something interesting that I never really thought about and that is that art history has revealed that humans prefer images that don’t look like us. The more I thought about this the more I realized that this really is true and that human body images dominate our lives. The part of this video that enhanced the text book reading was the section on the Venus of Willendorf. It explained the sculpture in depth and gave a better understanding of its meaning and its relationship as to how the body is viewed and why. Dr. Ramachandran, a neuroscientist, (I remember him from a previous video), was again fascinating as he explained his theory and how the brain is wired to perceive the most stimulating body parts and that this overrides culture. Another key concept I found interesting was Egyptian art and the human figure. The portrayal of the human figure did not change in this culture because it was always based on a proportional grid, they did not want the figures to change, a reflection of the Egyptian culture and the obsession for order. The Riace Bronzes discovered by a fisherman are an example of ancient Greek sculpture. The Greeks created human statures that were more human than human. The Kritos Boy was the most realistic stature discovered. The Greeks strove to perfect their bodies, as they strove to become more godlike. This is evident in today’s world as many people world wide work out and exercise; however, typically it is under the guise of good health. Polyclitus changed Greek sculpture as he divided the body into quarters and brought movement to sculptures that were created poised to action. It is interesting to think about how the exaggerated sculptures from centuries ago continue to influence our lives daily. This video enhanced the readings by giving further explanations, especially visually, into how the human body is depicted in art. Art and Life in the Middle Ages: The Luttrell Psalter I chose this video because I had no idea what The Luttrell Psalter was and to gain some knowledge into life in the Middle Ages. This video provided an answer to my questions and provided insight into daily life during the Middle Ages. It enhanced and added to the concepts presented in the textbook in that it gave in depth visual examples of the Psalter, how it was made and decorated, and the calligraphy and illustrations involved. In addition it provided interpretations of the illustrations and how they related to Bible stories and daily life. The Psalter in this video was the illuminated two hundred page psalm book in Latin, created by a the Luttrell Psalter, that depicted all one hundred and fifty psalms as well as stories of saints, Bible stories, commissioned by Sir Geoffrey Luttrell in answer to a calling from God. The illustrations gave a glimpse into fourteenth century values and the daily life at the time that included: fashion, trade, entertainment, farming, feasting, and warfare. Two very interesting facts: babewyns are nightmarish creatures created to be reminders of hell, and that Sir Luttrell’s son Andrew was married at the age of seven to Beatrice who appears several times in the Psalter. Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany The thought of how the Bubonic plaque could impact art I found an interesting idea is why I chose this video. The video not only provided answers to this but also gave knowledge of the cities, art, and some rituals of the Tuscan cities Sienna and Florence, before and after the siege of the plague. Giotti was in the reading in the text book however this video explained in depth and gave a greater understanding into the impact he had as a painter on painting style as it emerged from the Middle Ages. Sienna and Florence were at peace and flourishing as cities in all areas from art to technology before the bubonic plague was brought to them via Chinese traders. One fact I did learn was that Florence, even without the onset of the plague, was headed for disaster as the King of England had reneged on a loan. The city was going bankrupt and it would not be long before there would be no food to feed the expanding population. The plague greatly effected the Christian population, many clergy men perished and a great disruption occurred in the occurrence of death as well as funeral procedures. A once kind and loving God returned to the vengeful God of the Old Testament. The cataclysm of the plague affected the arts in three ways. First, figures in paintings became flatter, there was no hint of emotions, and a celestial rather than physical world was portrayed. Second, gruesome paintings of the tortures waiting in hell emerged; diBartolo was one of the artists that portrayed this in his work. And third there was an escapist view. This is evident in the painting the Adoration of the Magi, where there is no symbolism or emotion. Some skeptics say that this may not be a result but rather perhaps artists were not as inspired that it was just a time of internal development. Regardless, one of the key concepts is that following the plague man changed in the way he viewed the world. There was a new way of thinking about man and his feelings and actions with nature and each other. This spirit of inquiry, fostered by St. Francis of Assisi, was the first light of what was to come the renaissance. The Treasures of Athens and Olympia: Beyond the Classical: Byzantine and Later Greek Art I did not have a special reason for choosing this video, honestly I really wanted to watch The Cairo Museum but after numerous attempts, at different times, and on different computers, the video does not play. It plays for about four minutes and cuts out, if you move ahead just a bit the same thing happens, and it goes on throughout. I suggest it be remedied or removed from the list. I did learn some things for the short bits I was able to watch but did not feel it would be considered a full blog posting. The Byzantine period was a highlight of this video and it definitely gave more insight into the art form of the painting of icons that was presented in the text book. The Greek Orthodox Church was a major influence on the painting of icons which depict, in addition to Biblical figures, but also heroes and stories that give insight into the culture of the time. It was interesting to learn that there are classes to learn how to paint icons and that some artists make a profession out of recreating these classic art forms. Damoskinos, Last Supper, is an example of the combination of the icon, a flat style, with concepts from Italian art. It was also interesting to learn how painting changed after the war with the Turks. The subject shifted as was not as religious based but rather a mixture of myth and reality. This Neoclassical movement, which looked back to Greece for inspiration, was introduced by King Otto, a Bavarian.