Sofia Bakis - Collections and Exhibition Departments
A. All of the storage and cataloging that is made in order to make exhibiting easy when needing to find certain materials.
B. I love to organize, so I feel like I would enjoy this job.
Jaqueling M Atkins - Chief Curator and Soody Sisco - Assistant Curator of Textiles
A. The restoration of old materials by piecing numerous remnants together to create a full piece was very interesting.
B. I do not think I could do this job, too many specifics.
Karen Barlow - Museum Registrar
A. I was suprised to find that Karen was a huge part of taking car of the works.
B. I could see myself doing this job. The fact that you get to almost solely be the one who gets to choose which works are hung and get the honor of being able to see all the works in great detail everyday, is more of a reward than a job.
Steve Gamler - Preparator
A. I was suprised to fidn that Steve was responsible to putting up and taking down the exhibits. I always assumed there was like a group of people who did this.
B. I could see myself doing this job, strictly for the access to all of the colorful vinyl used to make the lettering for exhibits.
Friday, April 30, 2010
HC- Banana Factory
For my internship at the Banana Factory, I was joined by Amber and Miranda. The morning of the internship I received an e-mail explaining that we would be painting and to wear clothes that we did not care much about. Since Amber and Miranda are such avid e-mail checkers, they both pretty much showed up for a fashion show, luckily Rachel gave us aprons to wear while painting. The 3 hours we spent interning; we pulled nails, spakeled, and painted walls.
The painting went well, even though I was nominated as the edger, and I can't edge to save my life. After much ridiculing from my fellow interns, I turned in my brush and made Amber edge, while I painted walls. All in all it was a very eventful, fun day. Amber Miranda and I all plan on volunteering more hours this summer as long as our schedules allow it, because we would all love to have the experience.
The painting went well, even though I was nominated as the edger, and I can't edge to save my life. After much ridiculing from my fellow interns, I turned in my brush and made Amber edge, while I painted walls. All in all it was a very eventful, fun day. Amber Miranda and I all plan on volunteering more hours this summer as long as our schedules allow it, because we would all love to have the experience.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Kylie Sandt - Jenny Holzer
Jenny Holzer
I was kind of bored by Jenny Holzer's truisms. I think the most interesting thing about them was that they were carved into marble benches, but that apparently was not her own doing. I do consider her work art but I feel like it is more like poetry than visual art. However, there is so much art out there that can not be categorized and I suppose that could apply to this.
Five Favorite Truisms:
1. A single event can have infinitely many interpretation.
2. A positive attitude makes all the difference in the world.
3. Being alone with yourself is increasingly unpopular.
4. Confusing yourself is a way to stay honest.
5. Humour is a release.
In my own words
1. Everyone has their own way of looking at things.
2. Happy people make the world a better place.
3. Less and less people can stand to be by themselves.
4. If you don't know what you know or don't know, then you don't know if you are lying.
5. Have a laugh, it relieves stress.
I was kind of bored by Jenny Holzer's truisms. I think the most interesting thing about them was that they were carved into marble benches, but that apparently was not her own doing. I do consider her work art but I feel like it is more like poetry than visual art. However, there is so much art out there that can not be categorized and I suppose that could apply to this.
Five Favorite Truisms:
1. A single event can have infinitely many interpretation.
2. A positive attitude makes all the difference in the world.
3. Being alone with yourself is increasingly unpopular.
4. Confusing yourself is a way to stay honest.
5. Humour is a release.
In my own words
1. Everyone has their own way of looking at things.
2. Happy people make the world a better place.
3. Less and less people can stand to be by themselves.
4. If you don't know what you know or don't know, then you don't know if you are lying.
5. Have a laugh, it relieves stress.
Amber Remaley- Banana Factory Internship
Last Friday Miranda, Howie, and I went to the banana factory for our internship. Before going to the factory we already knew we were going to paint something, since Howie told us he received an e-mail saying we were going to paint so wear old clothes. We arrived early so we went for coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts and came back which we were still early. While waiting for Rachel to arrive, we walked around and looked at the new artwork. There was a new exhibit with these photos of portraits of people, which I thought were neat. Once Rachel showed up she give us painting smocks and we had to remove nails, spackle, and paint a couple walls a bluish color. The week before Liz, Chris, and Cailin taped off most of the wall so we didn’t have to do, but there was a lot of spackling to do. After painting for about a good two hours, I was the only one that got paint all over my jeans. The internship wasn’t that bad; Rachel was very nice and kept checking on us. Now when I visit the Banana Factory I can say, “Hey see that wall, I painted that”.
Amber Remaley- Allentown Art Museum
Growing up in Allentown I must have been to the Allentown Art Museum about a dozen of times. Between visiting the museum on a field trip with elementary school and showing my artwork there in high school; I knew the place like the back of my hand. It was interesting to see the behind the scenes that what goes on at the museum. I never knew where they store all the artwork or how they receive some of their pieces.
-Karen Barlow- Museum Registrar
Karen job of taking care of the artwork was harder than I thought; the pieces have to be at certain temperature at all times and she takes pieces of art down to give them a break from the gallery. Thought her job at the museum was the best, I would love to deal with the artwork and get to pick and choose which pieces should go up and come down. I could see myself later down the line working at an art museum, and I would like to be a museum registrar.
-Jane Kintzner- Interim Director of Education
Jane was in charge of the upstairs which held the children’s Education center, where kids get be creative and make art project which are hung around. I really don’t see myself doing this job, I’m good with kids but I would rather work more with the artist artwork in the museum.
-Jacqueline Atkins- Chief Curator, Curator of Textiles
Soody Sisco- Assistant Curator of Textiles
Jacqueline and Soody took care of all the textiles, while we were there they were trying to piece back together a piece of old material. The room where they held textiles was packed with hundreds of gray boxes, which had pictures of what piece of clothing they held. The textiles were neat, I loved seeing all the old hats and hat boxes, but I couldn’t see myself doing that job, simply because I would be afraid I would ruin something.
-Steve Gamler- Preparator
Steve was in charge to set up the exhibits and package the artwork. I would like to set up exhibits for a museum, but I wouldn’t like the taking it down part, so I couldn’t see myself doing this job.
-Karen Barlow- Museum Registrar
Karen job of taking care of the artwork was harder than I thought; the pieces have to be at certain temperature at all times and she takes pieces of art down to give them a break from the gallery. Thought her job at the museum was the best, I would love to deal with the artwork and get to pick and choose which pieces should go up and come down. I could see myself later down the line working at an art museum, and I would like to be a museum registrar.
-Jane Kintzner- Interim Director of Education
Jane was in charge of the upstairs which held the children’s Education center, where kids get be creative and make art project which are hung around. I really don’t see myself doing this job, I’m good with kids but I would rather work more with the artist artwork in the museum.
-Jacqueline Atkins- Chief Curator, Curator of Textiles
Soody Sisco- Assistant Curator of Textiles
Jacqueline and Soody took care of all the textiles, while we were there they were trying to piece back together a piece of old material. The room where they held textiles was packed with hundreds of gray boxes, which had pictures of what piece of clothing they held. The textiles were neat, I loved seeing all the old hats and hat boxes, but I couldn’t see myself doing that job, simply because I would be afraid I would ruin something.
-Steve Gamler- Preparator
Steve was in charge to set up the exhibits and package the artwork. I would like to set up exhibits for a museum, but I wouldn’t like the taking it down part, so I couldn’t see myself doing this job.
Amber Remaley- Jenny Holzer “Truisms”
Visiting Jenny Holzer’s truisms at the court house was a whole another level of art to me. In my head art is a classical painting or a Greek figure sculpture, but this I couldn’t put my head around it. The marble benches were benches that the public could sit on, but also visional art, with lines of poetic truisms craved in. This form of art was different to me, and I actually couldn’t comprehend it at first. Each line was like a riddle fortune cookie, but looking at her websites I got a better appreciation for her work. Each line is a wise expression of advice, it make me think and realize the truth behind it.
-“Being alone with yourself is increasingly unpopular”
This line reminds me of high school. The shy kids are sometimes loners and will never make friends or become popular by only staying in their bubble by themselves.
-“Confusing yourself is a way to stay honest”
I want to put this truism on a shirt foe my mom. When she tells small lies, a lot of the time she forget about them, so in the end she must become honest and tell the truth when she caught up in a lie.
-“Even your family can betray you”
Growing up I always heard, “Blood is thicker than water”, but the fact is just because their related to you doesn’t mean they can’t betray, if anything the betray of a family member will hurt more.
-“Money creates taste”
This line goes a lot for celebrities, once they have fame and fortune they have the hottest car and the newest styles of clothes, just because they can afford it now.
-“Push yourself to the limit as often as possible”
This is a great truism for our class. Right now we are all trying to push are self’s with our creative styles of art. Every time I do a painting I try to push myself to make it better then the late one.
-“Being alone with yourself is increasingly unpopular”
This line reminds me of high school. The shy kids are sometimes loners and will never make friends or become popular by only staying in their bubble by themselves.
-“Confusing yourself is a way to stay honest”
I want to put this truism on a shirt foe my mom. When she tells small lies, a lot of the time she forget about them, so in the end she must become honest and tell the truth when she caught up in a lie.
-“Even your family can betray you”
Growing up I always heard, “Blood is thicker than water”, but the fact is just because their related to you doesn’t mean they can’t betray, if anything the betray of a family member will hurt more.
-“Money creates taste”
This line goes a lot for celebrities, once they have fame and fortune they have the hottest car and the newest styles of clothes, just because they can afford it now.
-“Push yourself to the limit as often as possible”
This is a great truism for our class. Right now we are all trying to push are self’s with our creative styles of art. Every time I do a painting I try to push myself to make it better then the late one.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Meeting with Don Q.
I was not able to meet with Don personally.
Traci Anfuso-Young kindly agreed to show him the paintings that
I have been working on in class.
I am going to post the email she sent me describing the meeting...
"The meeting went really well.He loved your free line expression, use of picture plane, space, composition and conscious interpretation. He said you were the most accomplished in your class. He wanted to know what motivated you to do the abstract. he explained what his work was fundamentally about and explained that all abstract comes from somewhere. he mentioned music, pause, pacing and intensity, something he thought your abstract could use more of????????...He used the word emphasis and that the visual weight was very balanced and equally weighted. He encouraged you to pursue this new level of expression to see where it might take you.He never imagined his work would become so constructed. it's an evolution and you are GREAT!"
other words he used: sophisticated picture making
intuitive not naive
not afraid to make a mark and commit to it.
Trusim and Allentown Art Musem
A.LOCATION-THE WINDOWS CAST LIGHT THAT GLISTENS ON THE HARD SHEAR MARBLE
B.ADORNED ARCHITECTURE/UTILITARIAN WORDS TO REST UPON,BOTH MIND AND BODY
C.
1.DECENCY IS A RELATIVE THING
2.DISORGANIZATION IS A KINE OF ANESTHESIA
3.CATEGORIZING FEAR IS CALMING
4.BEING ALONE WITH YOURSELF IS INCREASINGLY UNPOPULAR
5.AMBIVALENCE CAN RUIN YOUR LIFE
D.
1.SOME POSITIONS ARE UNIVERSAL, A ROTATING DOOR LETTING ALL GO ROUND
2.CHAOS IS COMA
3.HAVING CONTROL OF FEAR IS EMPOWERING
4.ISOLATION IS UNCOOL
5.WITHOUT OPINION THERE IS NO WHERE TO STAND
1.SOFIA BAKIS/COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITION DEPARTMENT
A.THE DEALINGS WITH THE GIFTED COLLECTIONS
THE COMPLICATIONS OF ORGANIZING AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT TO DO
WITH THE ART AND OBJECTS.
B.I COULD SEE MYSELF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING COLLECTIONS,
I ENJOY CURATING AND ACTS OF PRESERVATION.
2.JANE KINTZNER/DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
A.WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND MAINTAINING AN ART SPACE.
B.I HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING ART LESSONS FOR CHILDREN AS A
VOLUNTEER AND I HAVE SEEN THE INSPIRATION IN THEIR EYES.
THEY FEED OFF OF BEING ENABLED TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES.
I COULD SEE MYSELF WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND PEOPLE IN
A STUDIO SETTING.
B.ADORNED ARCHITECTURE/UTILITARIAN WORDS TO REST UPON,BOTH MIND AND BODY
C.
1.DECENCY IS A RELATIVE THING
2.DISORGANIZATION IS A KINE OF ANESTHESIA
3.CATEGORIZING FEAR IS CALMING
4.BEING ALONE WITH YOURSELF IS INCREASINGLY UNPOPULAR
5.AMBIVALENCE CAN RUIN YOUR LIFE
D.
1.SOME POSITIONS ARE UNIVERSAL, A ROTATING DOOR LETTING ALL GO ROUND
2.CHAOS IS COMA
3.HAVING CONTROL OF FEAR IS EMPOWERING
4.ISOLATION IS UNCOOL
5.WITHOUT OPINION THERE IS NO WHERE TO STAND
1.SOFIA BAKIS/COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITION DEPARTMENT
A.THE DEALINGS WITH THE GIFTED COLLECTIONS
THE COMPLICATIONS OF ORGANIZING AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT TO DO
WITH THE ART AND OBJECTS.
B.I COULD SEE MYSELF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING COLLECTIONS,
I ENJOY CURATING AND ACTS OF PRESERVATION.
2.JANE KINTZNER/DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
A.WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND MAINTAINING AN ART SPACE.
B.I HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING ART LESSONS FOR CHILDREN AS A
VOLUNTEER AND I HAVE SEEN THE INSPIRATION IN THEIR EYES.
THEY FEED OFF OF BEING ENABLED TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES.
I COULD SEE MYSELF WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND PEOPLE IN
A STUDIO SETTING.
Mercer Museum and Mansion
Mercer’s Vision
Concrete is not usually associated with beauty – but Henry Mercer, native of Doylestown, Pa. – used the material to create a historic and artistic legacy. Mercer built three iconoclastic concrete structures in the early 1900s: Fonthill, his castle-like home, The Mercer Museum, and The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works. These iconoclastic places form a National Historic Landmark District and are open to the public year round with special combined tours available..
Henry Chapman Mercer (1956 – 1930) was a true American renaissance man who mastered diverse fields such as art, archeology, history, construction and manufacturing. He graduated from Harvard, gained a law degree, traveled extensively throughout Europe, and was one of the original employees of the Museum of Science and Art at the University of Pennsylvania (later renamed The University Museum). He became curator of American and Pre-historic Archaeology at the museum, which sparked his interest in traditional materials and methods of everyday objects.
Mercer became a key figure in the American Arts and Crafts movement. This international movement, founded in response to increasing mass production in the late nineteenth century, influenced architecture, domestic design and the decorative arts. It advocated simple forms, truth to materials, and traditional craftsmanship. Mercer’s life work became a true representation of these ideals; his tile is still renowned, the museum is one of the best collections of eighteenth and nineteenth century American artifacts, and his home is a living testament to his singular vision.
Of all the homes I’ve ever been in, Fonthill is high on the list of places I would readily inhabit. This is a place one can truly get lost in on many levels. Mercer’s home, constructed entirely of hand mixed concrete one room at a time, is both monumental and intimate at the same time. It encompasses forty-four rooms – including eighteen fireplaces, thirty-two stairwells and more than two hundred windows of varying size and shape. Amidst this vast and winding design there is an astounding array of detail. His colorful hand-made tiles adorn ceilings, walls, and floors. Built-in seats, shelves, and nooks create endless spaces of interest. Collections of leather bound books and hundreds of framed prints offer the ambiance of a working study where whimsical thought and mundane planning can meet on equal ground. Although built entirely of concrete, the home exudes pure warmth as the exquisitely designed windows let light flow beautifully into the interior. Fonthill is a true American original; I feel safe to say there is no place like it.
Fonthill was the warm-up for the The Mercer Museum. This hulking seven-story structure contains over fifty thousand early American artifacts. The museum has a central atrium that is six stories high – and literally filled with things – many hanging from the walls and ceiling. You peer up at the bottom of a whaling boat and see eye to eye with a real covered wagon. Collections of tools, including woodworking, metalworking, agricultural, textile and dairy form the backbone of the collection. Unique little rooms have special collections like cast-iron stove plates. The items are well organized, yet often laid out in a meandering free form way that invites the viewer to wander from one area to the next; I became caught in a subtle hypnotic trance crossing the boundaries of modern times into a world of wood, iron, stone, and clay. Mercer knew these items would be priceless one day but most were considered junk during his time. The man’s vision and curatorial skill was astounding; he was an archaeologist of the pre-Industrial Revolution era..
The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works is the last of Mercer’s poured-in-place concrete worlds. The functioning business, based on traditional design and ceramic methods, actually pre-dated the building itself. After leaving his curator position at the University Museum, he turned his attention solely to collecting material for his museum. This activity led Henry Mercer on the path of producing hand-made goods – in the form of traditional Bucks County pottery. The pottery business failed but Mercer continued undaunted and shifted his focus to producing artisan ceramic tiles instead. Mercer tiles became very popular and developed a large following, being used in many prominent projects of his day. Mercer's greatest project was the floor of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg where four hundred mosaics depict the state’s history from pre-historic times.
The tiles were made from local clay using traditional firing methods. The bold and colorful designs were often based on medieval themes or country designs like stove plates. Mercer developed a full manufacturing system from plaster mold, slips and glazes, to firing methods. To this day the Tile Works functions as a living history museum producing runs of specific tiles, conducting tours, and offering classes and apprenticeships to artists. The tiles are wonderful: many show figures at work depicted in stark patterns, some offer natural things like birds, plants, and insects, while others are geometric shapes with the definite feel of hand-made goods.
The “Mercer Mile” is a wonderful day trip. The visual and intellectual stimulation is a real treat; it’s a journey into the mind and life of an eccentric genius from the heartland of historic Bucks County whose singular vision and commitment to excellence produced an iconic American destination in our backyard.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Cailin Crisler-Kylie Sandt Critique- Navajo Project
Materials-Foamcore, bee's wax, slate...forgive me if I'm missing anything...
Her project was mixed media based. All the colors were organic. There are squares of slate and bees wax that dominate the piece. Everything is cleanly done. At the center is a square slab of slate with an etching of her self portrait.
Overall, it is beautifully done and it correlates well with the rest of the work Kylie has done this year. I don't think she needs to change anything about it.
Her project was mixed media based. All the colors were organic. There are squares of slate and bees wax that dominate the piece. Everything is cleanly done. At the center is a square slab of slate with an etching of her self portrait.
Overall, it is beautifully done and it correlates well with the rest of the work Kylie has done this year. I don't think she needs to change anything about it.
Cailin Crisler-Banana Factory Internship
Liz, Chris, and I arrived at the Banana factory a few minutes after 8. Once again, I didn't know what to expect,except doing the grunt work only an intern would do. Shortly after arriving there, Rachel met up with us to show us our duties. We spackled walls and touched up paint. We taped up hallways, prepping the hallways for for a new coat of paint. Rachel was knd enough to get us coffee. There wasn't anything unexpected about that day.
I want to one day work at a gallery and become a gallery painter. Maybe even have my paintings set up at the banana factory. That day was only a sneak peak of the internships I'll probably have in the future of gallery work. We all have to pay our dues to get anywhere.
I want to one day work at a gallery and become a gallery painter. Maybe even have my paintings set up at the banana factory. That day was only a sneak peak of the internships I'll probably have in the future of gallery work. We all have to pay our dues to get anywhere.
Cailin Crisler- Don Voisine Lecture
The day I met up with Don Voisine, I didn't really know what to expect. I showed him the recent work I'd done in class such as my belief system painting and my self portrait. He told me he'd look at my work the way any artist would look at it. Don didn't have anything negative to say. He politely asked what my methods and thought processes were as I was making them. I also showed him my sketchbook. As he was paging through it, he'd stop and comment. He seemed to like my line studies. He also seemed interested in all the pages that had color, which was no surprise given the subject matter of his own work.
I wasn't able to stay for his entire lecture. I could tell that he was nervous and wasn't very comfortable speaking at the podium. I could symphathize because I'm the same way. We both belong in a studio, not in public speaking. Despite his nervousness,I could tell that he is passionate about what he does as he told us a brief biography of his life and work. He told us he didn't feel the need to paint what everyone else was when he was studying art. All of his paintings in the gallery were color blocks,basically abstracts, and that he'd been doing them for a long time. his paintings consisted of two color blocks contrasted on wood. They were like feelings or colors you could find in nature,stripped down to only the basic color pallete.
Personally, his paintings didn't really move me in anyway other than the sheer numbers of them.
I wasn't able to stay for his entire lecture. I could tell that he was nervous and wasn't very comfortable speaking at the podium. I could symphathize because I'm the same way. We both belong in a studio, not in public speaking. Despite his nervousness,I could tell that he is passionate about what he does as he told us a brief biography of his life and work. He told us he didn't feel the need to paint what everyone else was when he was studying art. All of his paintings in the gallery were color blocks,basically abstracts, and that he'd been doing them for a long time. his paintings consisted of two color blocks contrasted on wood. They were like feelings or colors you could find in nature,stripped down to only the basic color pallete.
Personally, his paintings didn't really move me in anyway other than the sheer numbers of them.
Cailin Crisler-Jenny Holtzer and the Allentown Art Museum
I didn't find anything interesting about the Truisms installation. I did like that we were able to sit on the benches is we wanted to. That's what I love about public art.
C.Jenny Holtzer's Truisms
1.Being alone with yourself is increasingly unpopular.
2.confusing yourself is a way to stay honest
3.Dreaming while awake is a frightening contradiction
4.People who don't work with their hands are parasites
5.money creates taste
D.My Truisms
1.I heard that you can kill people
2.Don't expect to be popular if you are always alone.
3.you can't find what you love most in life until the end of your journey.
4.in order to find solitude, you need to find yourself.
5.If you know what you really want, than your a liar.
Allentown Art Museum
1. Steve Gambler, Preparator
A. I thought the most interesting thing about his job is being able to figure out where all the art should go using a computer program.
B. I don't think I could do this job though. I'm not very good with computers and I'd be nervous all the time trying to get everything perfect.
2. Sodi Sisco, asistant curator of textiles
A. I loved the textiles department. I was thinking about how cool it would be to restore old textiles and clothing.
B. I could see myself doing something like this. I love clothes and patterns. I also love the history behind each peice they restore.
C.Jenny Holtzer's Truisms
1.Being alone with yourself is increasingly unpopular.
2.confusing yourself is a way to stay honest
3.Dreaming while awake is a frightening contradiction
4.People who don't work with their hands are parasites
5.money creates taste
D.My Truisms
1.I heard that you can kill people
2.Don't expect to be popular if you are always alone.
3.you can't find what you love most in life until the end of your journey.
4.in order to find solitude, you need to find yourself.
5.If you know what you really want, than your a liar.
Allentown Art Museum
1. Steve Gambler, Preparator
A. I thought the most interesting thing about his job is being able to figure out where all the art should go using a computer program.
B. I don't think I could do this job though. I'm not very good with computers and I'd be nervous all the time trying to get everything perfect.
2. Sodi Sisco, asistant curator of textiles
A. I loved the textiles department. I was thinking about how cool it would be to restore old textiles and clothing.
B. I could see myself doing something like this. I love clothes and patterns. I also love the history behind each peice they restore.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Chris Demchak - Allentown Art Museum
1. Karen Barlow, Museum Registrar
A. I like how she basically takes care of the collections they receive. You can tell she's passionate about what she does and the respect she has for the artwork, like taking certain pieces down to 'give them a break.'
B. I can totally picture myself in this job with the handling, sorting and organizing all that work.
2. Steve Gamler, Preparator
A. Even though we did not get to talk to him, I think his job is the most interesting. I like that he uses computer software to digitally design the look of an exhibition before they set it up.
B. This is something I can absolutely see myself doing as I believe I have an eye for composition and what looks good; also, arranging where things go is applying art in itself, it's not just a job but more of a close-to-home job that lends itself to use skills you acquired in art school.
3. Jacqueline Atkins, Chief Curator, Curator of Textiles
Soody Sisco, Assistant Curator of Textiles
A. The textile department wasn't as interesting for me. I like fashion to an extent and costumes, but I believe there was too much emphasis on the textile dept. than there needed to be.
B. I cannot see myself in this position.
4. Jane Kintzner, Interim Director of Education
A. I think it's interesting working with kids and letting them explore their creativity while also recycling old materials.
B. I'm not a big fan of kids so I don't think I'd enjoy this position too much.
A. I like how she basically takes care of the collections they receive. You can tell she's passionate about what she does and the respect she has for the artwork, like taking certain pieces down to 'give them a break.'
B. I can totally picture myself in this job with the handling, sorting and organizing all that work.
2. Steve Gamler, Preparator
A. Even though we did not get to talk to him, I think his job is the most interesting. I like that he uses computer software to digitally design the look of an exhibition before they set it up.
B. This is something I can absolutely see myself doing as I believe I have an eye for composition and what looks good; also, arranging where things go is applying art in itself, it's not just a job but more of a close-to-home job that lends itself to use skills you acquired in art school.
3. Jacqueline Atkins, Chief Curator, Curator of Textiles
Soody Sisco, Assistant Curator of Textiles
A. The textile department wasn't as interesting for me. I like fashion to an extent and costumes, but I believe there was too much emphasis on the textile dept. than there needed to be.
B. I cannot see myself in this position.
4. Jane Kintzner, Interim Director of Education
A. I think it's interesting working with kids and letting them explore their creativity while also recycling old materials.
B. I'm not a big fan of kids so I don't think I'd enjoy this position too much.
Vanessa Cross Court House Truisms
The Five Truisms that i chose are
1. Boredom makes you do crazy things
2. It's better to be a good person then a famous person
3. Raise Boys and Girls the same way
4. Good deeds are eventually are rewarded
5. A little knowledge goes a long way
The Five Truisms in my own words
1. People do crazy things when they are bored
2. Just because someone is famous it doesn't make them a good person
3. Boys and Girls should be treated equally
4. Your rewarded eventually when you do a good deed
5. knowledge little or a lot can go a long way
1. Boredom makes you do crazy things
2. It's better to be a good person then a famous person
3. Raise Boys and Girls the same way
4. Good deeds are eventually are rewarded
5. A little knowledge goes a long way
The Five Truisms in my own words
1. People do crazy things when they are bored
2. Just because someone is famous it doesn't make them a good person
3. Boys and Girls should be treated equally
4. Your rewarded eventually when you do a good deed
5. knowledge little or a lot can go a long way
Chris Demchak - Jenny Holzer's Truisms
A. The most interesting thing about the installation was the location and medium she worked on.
B. I absolutely believe the medium and location go hand-in-hand. Holzer to me seems sort of 'gimmicky,' that is to say she wanted to get her truisms out and she used a variety of ways to do it. Bruce has stated that besides the giant street installations she's done stickers to fortune cookies and I've even seen them written on colored golf balls.
Having inscribed her truisms on marble benches in a courthouse absolutely ties into her way of thinking as described above. Her truisms are philosophical statements that can easily be compared to that of Greek philosophers and the choice of medium, marble benches, is another nod to Greek culture. It all fluidly ties into each other and I have no doubt all was intentional. So if anyone has any question as to whether or not this is art, there is your answer.
C. 1. Raise girls and boys the same way.
2. Expiring for love is beautiful but stupid.
3. Sacrificing yourself for a bad cause is not a moral act.
4. Stupid people shouldn't breed.
5. When something terrible happens people wake up.
D. 1. It's not a question of whether it is art, but rather is it good art.
2. There is no such thing as being different.
3. Trust is more important than monogamy.
4. People who see things as just black-and-white aren't just colorblind.
5. Truisms should not be taken to heart.
B. I absolutely believe the medium and location go hand-in-hand. Holzer to me seems sort of 'gimmicky,' that is to say she wanted to get her truisms out and she used a variety of ways to do it. Bruce has stated that besides the giant street installations she's done stickers to fortune cookies and I've even seen them written on colored golf balls.
Having inscribed her truisms on marble benches in a courthouse absolutely ties into her way of thinking as described above. Her truisms are philosophical statements that can easily be compared to that of Greek philosophers and the choice of medium, marble benches, is another nod to Greek culture. It all fluidly ties into each other and I have no doubt all was intentional. So if anyone has any question as to whether or not this is art, there is your answer.
C. 1. Raise girls and boys the same way.
2. Expiring for love is beautiful but stupid.
3. Sacrificing yourself for a bad cause is not a moral act.
4. Stupid people shouldn't breed.
5. When something terrible happens people wake up.
D. 1. It's not a question of whether it is art, but rather is it good art.
2. There is no such thing as being different.
3. Trust is more important than monogamy.
4. People who see things as just black-and-white aren't just colorblind.
5. Truisms should not be taken to heart.
Chris Demchak - Banana Factory Internship
The first thing Rachel had us do was plaster some holes in the hallway where art was being displayed and fix the lighting. Liz and Cailin went to Spackle and I volunteered to do the lighting.
Fixing the lighting was fun but also annoying because the lights were so hot. There were about six small studio lights on tracks above each work of art. Even though I was neither instructed nor informed I took some things into consideration:
- was each light serving some kind of purpose?
- the amount of light each part of the piece was getting/equality
- what the light did to the color/enhance or flatten
- the kind of shadow it made and if it was beneficial or distracting
She also showed me how to replace burnt out bulbs.
Next she had the three of us tape off the edges of walls that were to be painted. It wasn't too difficult but I believe I've made an improvement on how to make straight lines with masking tape.
We got that done with record speed and she had us do the same thing to the Olympus room, with Cailin removing nails from the wall.
The last thing she had us do was bring out an old mosaic from the back in which they were going to display at a later date.
The three of us worked really well with each other and did a very efficient job being both fast and accurate. If I had more spare time I would love to go back and do more jobs for them.
Even though it may be considered 'grunt work,' I see it more as Art Support. All these jobs are really for making the art look better and for keeping galleries such as the BF going so they can help other artists. It's a great thing that I would love to be a part of someday.
Fixing the lighting was fun but also annoying because the lights were so hot. There were about six small studio lights on tracks above each work of art. Even though I was neither instructed nor informed I took some things into consideration:
- was each light serving some kind of purpose?
- the amount of light each part of the piece was getting/equality
- what the light did to the color/enhance or flatten
- the kind of shadow it made and if it was beneficial or distracting
She also showed me how to replace burnt out bulbs.
Next she had the three of us tape off the edges of walls that were to be painted. It wasn't too difficult but I believe I've made an improvement on how to make straight lines with masking tape.
We got that done with record speed and she had us do the same thing to the Olympus room, with Cailin removing nails from the wall.
The last thing she had us do was bring out an old mosaic from the back in which they were going to display at a later date.
The three of us worked really well with each other and did a very efficient job being both fast and accurate. If I had more spare time I would love to go back and do more jobs for them.
Even though it may be considered 'grunt work,' I see it more as Art Support. All these jobs are really for making the art look better and for keeping galleries such as the BF going so they can help other artists. It's a great thing that I would love to be a part of someday.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Truisms/Allentown Art Museum: Deanna
Truisms
I liked the change of pace on this trip. I initially thought we were going to look at more galleries like we've been doing. It was interesting to see in person that there are places that aren't galleries that use art, in this case, the courthouse. I am not sure how I feel about Jenny Holzer's "Truisms" as a work of art. I would describe it more as poetic because it is all text. I also didn't really understand the benches as her canvas. I think if they were written on the wall in a flowing pattern or something, it would have interested me more. I do however like the idea of collecting all these little bits of life lessons and arranging them in a courthouse. Its kind of satirical in a way. I think that was the idea behind her artwork. Also, as Bruce mentioned and I agree, it was cool how they were mostly statements that were new and not cliche.
I chose as my 5 favorite truisms:
1. "A solid home base builds a sense of self" --if we lose a sense of how we were raised and our roots, we lose ourselves, or, if we have no place to call home, we are lost.
2. "Boredom makes you do crazy things" --a bit self explanatory but: people will do anything to keep themselves entertained
3. "Class structure is as artificial as plastic" --Everyone learns and behaves differently and there is no 'one way' to deal with people as a collective because they'll do what they want
4. "Myths make reality more intelligible" --sometimes things that are made up are so ridiculous it makes our world seem very simple and not so hard.
(---I actually think I would have put this the other way, "Reality makes myths more intelligible")
5. "Protect me from what I want" --People are prone to addiction and should stay away from the things that will harm them.
Allentown Art Museum
1. Jacqueline M Atkins, Chief Curator
A. I think she has a very cool job. Being a curator must be really fun albeit very stressful. I envy that she gets to touch the artwork. Museums always tantalize us with glass and ropes so that we are constantly reminded that we CANNOT TOUCH. I would love to feel all the old fabrics and hold the pottery etc.
B. I can see myself being a curator. I'm a huge perfectionist and I think I can handle the workload.
2. Jane Kintzner, Interim Director of Education
A. The most interesting thing about Jane's job is coming up with fun activities for the kids. I loved her recycled dragon by the crayola factory. It would be fun to come up with all these fun ideas to get the visitors involved.
B. I don't know if this is something I'd do for a living but a lot of people think I should become an art educator so maybe I 'd be pretty good at it.
3. Sofia Bakis, Collections and Exhibitions Dept (Hopefully that is the correct name)
A. I also envy her for getting to take care of the artwork behind the scenes. Its cool that she gets to see them and work with them on a personal level. She gets to see the work at a different light, a different height and a different distance, before they are measured and hung perfectly with just the right lighting. Its kind of like being able to work with celebrities before they put their make up on.
B. I would LOVE to have her job. I think maintaining the quality is not only a challenge but a priority and a privilege.
4. Soody Sisco, Asst Curator of Textiles
A. The most interesting thing about her job is restoring all the old pieces of fabric. I love the idea of preserving history and I admire her patience with those toiles.
B. Although I'd like to say I would love to restore textiles, I really can't see myself in this profession because I'm a pretty pathetic sewer. However, I would love to be a restoration artist in general.
I liked the change of pace on this trip. I initially thought we were going to look at more galleries like we've been doing. It was interesting to see in person that there are places that aren't galleries that use art, in this case, the courthouse. I am not sure how I feel about Jenny Holzer's "Truisms" as a work of art. I would describe it more as poetic because it is all text. I also didn't really understand the benches as her canvas. I think if they were written on the wall in a flowing pattern or something, it would have interested me more. I do however like the idea of collecting all these little bits of life lessons and arranging them in a courthouse. Its kind of satirical in a way. I think that was the idea behind her artwork. Also, as Bruce mentioned and I agree, it was cool how they were mostly statements that were new and not cliche.
I chose as my 5 favorite truisms:
1. "A solid home base builds a sense of self" --if we lose a sense of how we were raised and our roots, we lose ourselves, or, if we have no place to call home, we are lost.
2. "Boredom makes you do crazy things" --a bit self explanatory but: people will do anything to keep themselves entertained
3. "Class structure is as artificial as plastic" --Everyone learns and behaves differently and there is no 'one way' to deal with people as a collective because they'll do what they want
4. "Myths make reality more intelligible" --sometimes things that are made up are so ridiculous it makes our world seem very simple and not so hard.
(---I actually think I would have put this the other way, "Reality makes myths more intelligible")
5. "Protect me from what I want" --People are prone to addiction and should stay away from the things that will harm them.
Allentown Art Museum
1. Jacqueline M Atkins, Chief Curator
A. I think she has a very cool job. Being a curator must be really fun albeit very stressful. I envy that she gets to touch the artwork. Museums always tantalize us with glass and ropes so that we are constantly reminded that we CANNOT TOUCH. I would love to feel all the old fabrics and hold the pottery etc.
B. I can see myself being a curator. I'm a huge perfectionist and I think I can handle the workload.
2. Jane Kintzner, Interim Director of Education
A. The most interesting thing about Jane's job is coming up with fun activities for the kids. I loved her recycled dragon by the crayola factory. It would be fun to come up with all these fun ideas to get the visitors involved.
B. I don't know if this is something I'd do for a living but a lot of people think I should become an art educator so maybe I 'd be pretty good at it.
3. Sofia Bakis, Collections and Exhibitions Dept (Hopefully that is the correct name)
A. I also envy her for getting to take care of the artwork behind the scenes. Its cool that she gets to see them and work with them on a personal level. She gets to see the work at a different light, a different height and a different distance, before they are measured and hung perfectly with just the right lighting. Its kind of like being able to work with celebrities before they put their make up on.
B. I would LOVE to have her job. I think maintaining the quality is not only a challenge but a priority and a privilege.
4. Soody Sisco, Asst Curator of Textiles
A. The most interesting thing about her job is restoring all the old pieces of fabric. I love the idea of preserving history and I admire her patience with those toiles.
B. Although I'd like to say I would love to restore textiles, I really can't see myself in this profession because I'm a pretty pathetic sewer. However, I would love to be a restoration artist in general.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Amber Remaley-NYC
MoMa-
First Miranda, Howie and I started out at the Moma Art Museum, which I never been to. We were excited to see the Tim Burton exhibit. It was amazing to see all the sketches he does to come up with his ideas. Also at the Moma I was able to see master artist like Van Gogh, Dali, and many of Picasso pieces. There I also saw some of my favorite artist, like Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. Over all I enjoyed the museum and got to see famous paintings that I never dreamed of seeing.
Whitney-
The Whitney Museum was set up kind of like a maze; it was confusing for us at first. There were unique pieces of artwork, and some videos which Howie and I were trying to rein act. Miranda and Howie were secretly trying to take pictures of the art in the museum, which was entertaining.
The artist is Storm Tharo, which is 58x42in and title Jodie Jill. It was done in 2009 with ink, gouache, and color pencil on paper. There were about four of these pieces with all different portraits. I loved the media and the way the ink made straight lines and also made a watercolor wash look for shadows. I liked how the artist also tied in a touch of color in the shirt.
The artist is Aurel Schmidt, and its titled The Fall. These pieces were amazing, when you came up close it became like a collage, because the were things drawn in like a condom for the bulls ear. Other thing that stood out to me is the type of media used, graphite, colored pencil, synthetic polymer, beer, dirt, and blood on paper. I don't know who would think to add beer, dirt, and blood to their artwork, but it worked.
The artist is Rashaad Newsome, its a 6:48 minute silent color video of a man dancing. This boy was very felxable, it made me jealous so I was trying his moves on the way home on the van.
The artist is Kelly Nipper, its a 5:11 minute black and white sound video of a female in a mask dancing. The whole video was someone counting 1,2,3,4 and the female in the mask would dance. At time she was in yoga poses, so Howie and I got on the floor and started dancing along to the video....we weren't that good.
The artist is Dawn Clements, and its titled Mrs. Jessica Drummond's. Its done with pen with ink on paper which is about 87x240in. This piece was huge and the paper was larger at some parts and smaller at others, it was a black and white drawing of the inside of a house. I liked it because it looked like it was a huge doddle done on a napkin, because some parts were crumble up.
First Miranda, Howie and I started out at the Moma Art Museum, which I never been to. We were excited to see the Tim Burton exhibit. It was amazing to see all the sketches he does to come up with his ideas. Also at the Moma I was able to see master artist like Van Gogh, Dali, and many of Picasso pieces. There I also saw some of my favorite artist, like Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. Over all I enjoyed the museum and got to see famous paintings that I never dreamed of seeing.
Whitney-
The Whitney Museum was set up kind of like a maze; it was confusing for us at first. There were unique pieces of artwork, and some videos which Howie and I were trying to rein act. Miranda and Howie were secretly trying to take pictures of the art in the museum, which was entertaining.
The artist is Storm Tharo, which is 58x42in and title Jodie Jill. It was done in 2009 with ink, gouache, and color pencil on paper. There were about four of these pieces with all different portraits. I loved the media and the way the ink made straight lines and also made a watercolor wash look for shadows. I liked how the artist also tied in a touch of color in the shirt.
The artist is Aurel Schmidt, and its titled The Fall. These pieces were amazing, when you came up close it became like a collage, because the were things drawn in like a condom for the bulls ear. Other thing that stood out to me is the type of media used, graphite, colored pencil, synthetic polymer, beer, dirt, and blood on paper. I don't know who would think to add beer, dirt, and blood to their artwork, but it worked.
The artist is Rashaad Newsome, its a 6:48 minute silent color video of a man dancing. This boy was very felxable, it made me jealous so I was trying his moves on the way home on the van.
The artist is Kelly Nipper, its a 5:11 minute black and white sound video of a female in a mask dancing. The whole video was someone counting 1,2,3,4 and the female in the mask would dance. At time she was in yoga poses, so Howie and I got on the floor and started dancing along to the video....we weren't that good.
The artist is Dawn Clements, and its titled Mrs. Jessica Drummond's. Its done with pen with ink on paper which is about 87x240in. This piece was huge and the paper was larger at some parts and smaller at others, it was a black and white drawing of the inside of a house. I liked it because it looked like it was a huge doddle done on a napkin, because some parts were crumble up.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Banana Factory Internship: Deanna
My visit to the Banana Factory was more fun than it was educational. We were greeted by Rachel immediately who was ready for us to work! Vanessa and I were assigned to cover scuffs on the wall in the Crayola Gallery while Kylie was across the hall doing the same thing in another gallery. This seemed like a simple task for us but it was actually very time consuming and my hands were cramping up. Then while Kylie was organizing paints and taping walls, Vanessa and I moved out into the hallway and fixed more scrapes on the walls. Those few jobs took up the whole time we had. I was really surprised when Rachel told us to clean up because I felt like I hardly helped her at all. My favorite part about it was actually revisiting the gallery while painting. I got to get really close to the paintings I'd briefly looked at the first time. Even though I was there to work, I still paid attention to the art. It was a neat experience. I think this seems like a really great profession for me. I am a huge perfectionist and I think I would enjoy keeping an art gallery clean and maintaining its appearance. However I do wish we had more time to really get a feel for the curating side of the business rather than just the maintenance.
Vanessa Cross new trip Mets
This was a harp right next to the grand piano and i also loved the detail on this one as well i wish i could play it but of course it was only a decoration.
Vanessa Cross New trip Mets museum
This was the grand piano in the METs museum and i thought it was so detailed it was awsome i just love the designs that it had on the legs i would love to have a piano like this in my house if i was rich.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Kylie Sandt - Whitney Response
Piotr Uklanski
This was probably my favorite piece in Whitney. It's size as you walked into the room forced you to look at it. Then when I actually took in the piece it seemed primitive to me, but in a good way, and of course that is what I liked about it. (Thank you Deanna for the picture)
Kate Gilmore
I initially did not care for the performance video/sculpture by Kate Gilmore because it seemed feminist and I am generally turned off by feminist art. However, after I looked her up and watched some of her other videos I grew to really like her, so many different people can relate to her easily.
http://www.kategilmore.com/
Lee Bontecou
I really liked how this piece felt cold and mechanical, but it's "mouth" personified it and gave it personality. I also appreciated how it was constructed with metal and...canvas was it? Because of it's personality, when I think about the artist constructing it I feel like she gave birth to it, but isn't that like all artists? Kind of a twisted idea in some cases.
George Condo
This piece really intrigued me because it took me a while to realize what it actually was. You really have to look at it in the right lighting and at the right angle.
This was probably my favorite piece in Whitney. It's size as you walked into the room forced you to look at it. Then when I actually took in the piece it seemed primitive to me, but in a good way, and of course that is what I liked about it. (Thank you Deanna for the picture)
Kate Gilmore
I initially did not care for the performance video/sculpture by Kate Gilmore because it seemed feminist and I am generally turned off by feminist art. However, after I looked her up and watched some of her other videos I grew to really like her, so many different people can relate to her easily.
http://www.kategilmore.com/
Lee Bontecou
I really liked how this piece felt cold and mechanical, but it's "mouth" personified it and gave it personality. I also appreciated how it was constructed with metal and...canvas was it? Because of it's personality, when I think about the artist constructing it I feel like she gave birth to it, but isn't that like all artists? Kind of a twisted idea in some cases.
George Condo
This piece really intrigued me because it took me a while to realize what it actually was. You really have to look at it in the right lighting and at the right angle.
Duane Hanson
How many people did this piece confuse I wonder? I walked into the room and almost thought this was live performance art. But no, it was only a super realistic sculpture of a woman and her dog.
How many people did this piece confuse I wonder? I walked into the room and almost thought this was live performance art. But no, it was only a super realistic sculpture of a woman and her dog.
Kylie Sandt - Banana Factory
When I went to the Banana Factory with Deanna and Vanessa I had no idea what we would be doing. It turned out to be pretty simple tasks. Rachel had us fix up the scuffs in the gallery walls with paint. When I was finished I also replaced some of the burned out light bulbs, and then she had me organize and label the paint cans, and then start to tape off a wall that would be painted by the next group. You would think that such jobs would be tedious and boring, but I actually had fun. Those kind of things relax me I guess. The problem with such a short internship though was that there really wasn't any time to learn anything about the place, the people, or what everyone does. From what I've gathered, I think running such a complex organization with galleries, studios, and classes would be a little difficult for me personally to do.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Review of Brandywine Art Museum
“The Waters of Wyeth Country”
The road narrows quickly at an old stone bridge. I continue south, perched between gray mossy rock outcroppings and a muddy meandering river lined with Sycamores. Marshes and fields roll away from the banks of the Brandywine in endless hues of brown. This is Wyeth country.
The Brandywine river Museum in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania integrates regional culture, history, and nature into a composed experience. The building, a renovated eighteenth century gristmill, hugs the bank of its namesake waterway, the Brandywine River. Every design element orchestrates a deeply felt sense of place. From the entrance paved in herringbone patterned brick, to the galleries with plank wood floors and rough hewn oak beams, to the riverside path set off by mill stones and life-sized bronze sculptures of farm animals, every detail communicates the rich history of the area.
The museum structure combines colonial era architecture with modern design elements. The inside and the outside are a flowing continuum echoed by the lazy river. Each floor has a central lobby with curved floor to ceiling glass walls overlooking the river. The silent words of the land and water are voiced in a large tile mosaic of the entire Brandywine River watershed. Detailed discussions of the local ecology are offered in a display presented by the Brandywine Conservancy. This groundbreaking non-profit group, formed in the 1960’s, was at the forefront of open space preservation, water quality conservation, and greenway creation. They are responsible for the existence and administration of the museum. It is fitting that the local pastoral landscape that inspired so many artists also gave birth to a progressive environmental organization. The land and art are inseparable here.
Three generation of Wyeth family painters, as well as two centuries of artists who lived and worked in the local environs, are represented in the collection. The intimate gallery spaces are well organized by period and style. Exhibits offer a balance of permanent collections and special exhibits focusing on regional American art.
An entire room is dedicated to N.C. Wyeth, the patriarch of the clan. He moved to the area in the early 1900s to study with the famous illustrator Howard Pyle, and never left. Although he wished to be recognized as a skilled fine artist, N.C., is noted for his dynamic illustration work. Best known of his portfolio are serial graphics from such popular novels as Treasure Island, Robin Hood, and Last of the Mohicans. Large oil paintings from those stories adorn the walls. One has to see them in this format to appreciate N.C. Wyeth’s talent – an uncanny appreciation of gesture, tonal mastery, and an elegant colorist.
My favorite painting was from Cooper’s book: a moody depiction of two Indians paddling a canoe with a standing white man between them. The foreground is anchored with white birch trees on the bank of the river, while the canoe and its occupants seem to float in an ambiguous meeting of water and sky. The intensity of their expressions and solid figures balanced by the ethereal light is hypnotic. Another painting, Ben Goon Marooned, is another example of Wyeth’s subtle use of strong tonal and color contrast. A wooly man peers out from behind the base of a large tree in a dark forest; all we see is his profile, shoulder, and one arm lit by a crevice of light. The mix of purple hues in the foreground wonderfully balances the crack of yellow sky. The eldest Wyeth was a masterful painter; I believe he deserves recognition for the breadth of his work. These classifications artists are pigeonholed into can be limiting of their appreciation.
N.C. Wyeth’s son, Andrew, is one of America’s most recognized artists. Home schooled, and tutored by his father, he set a course in art at an early age. Growing up in Chadds Ford, and summering in Maine, set the lifelong subject matter of his regional art. Scorned for decades by an art establishment bent on movements like Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art, this iconoclast was interpreted more widely later in his life.
A large painting of a sleeping dog in a barn with moonlight streaming through a window was my favorite. There is a strong use of the color cobalt blue throughout the interior, including a burlap sack the dog rests upon. The image plane is split down the middle with the interior on the right and the window gazing into a wetland landscape on the right. I consider a quote I once read by Wyeth stating that he saw himself as an abstract painter. How ironic that one of the most noted American realists actually considered his art abstract. This painting pushes the boundary of what many expect in a Wyeth.
Another favorite is the depiction of Kuerner’s farm. This scene, also lit by moonlight, shows a simple white farm house in the lower left corner with a single lit window balanced by a spring house in the upper right corner. A sparkling rivulet of almost pure white water emanates from the outbuilding and traces diagonally across the painting. A sense of mystery pervades such a common subject; a distinct non-sentimental wonder fills my mind. Does form define place or does place define form?
Most of Andrew’s paintings were executed in egg tempera. The quality of the brushwork laying complex hues of gray, brown, off-white, and black set the tone for most of the images. Dark shadows in old barns, touches of light on white washed walls, and undefined tangles of brush are common pictorial elements. Evidence of human presence, devoid of human presence, dominates many scenes. We see a dented tin cup, a table setting, or a crumpled bed. Like the landscapes, these elements go beyond the obvious.
Andrew had five children – three were painters. The best known is his son Jamie. He carried the tradition of creating strong imagery from the life around him based on solid fundamental skills. The most captivating image was a painting titled Draft Age. This half-body portrait executed in 1965 depicts a young man wearing a black leather jacket and dark sunglasses eyeing the viewer in a cocky pose. Black dominates the canvas, with highlights only on the face, arm, and metal zipper. It is at the same time the archetype “rebel” and a poignant snap shot of a certain person at a certain time.
Across the room hangs another Jamie Wyeth portrait. This one is a full body profile of a large pig in her stall. The animal is almost centered in the painting, the single focal point of perspective. You can feel the individual personality of this pig; she is a being posing for a portrait like you or I. The body is a mix of warm greens and purples overlaid on a wide range of yellows. The glowing color emanates the cheerful feeling of an early spring day.
I wander away from the museum thinking of the power of one family tied to one geographical location creating a heritage of art. Then I consider all the regional artists that influenced the Wyeths and the landscape and social fabric that molded those people. This museum connects one to the roots of America; a place outside the badgering drone of TV and strip malls – a place where things take time to grow and people take the time to take notice.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Amber Remaley- NYC Response
Claire Seidl- Before we went to visit Claire at her studio, I did some research on her work. I enjoyed her photography work and her unique technique on how to capture movement on film. One of my favorite pieces is a photo titled “sweet 16”, which I saw on her web site. Claire’s abstract paintings were nice to see the detail and texture in person. The best part was seeing how she transforms a small studio apartment into her own art studio and dark room. The sliding door which hid her paintings was the wow part to us all.
OK Harris- Besides the cute brown puppy in the office, which I wanted to take home, I loved the photo realism painting of buildings. In that gallery there is also this huge abstract piece which reminded me of my paint.
Earth Room- The first thing we all said when we walked into the room was…..”This is so Kylie”. It was so moist in there that I was afraid my hair was going to frizz, but I loved the idea of bringing nature inside. I just have to wonder how they are going to clean it up.
Broken Kilometer- After going into this Saw movie down stairs to nowhere place, we found the right way into the gallery. At first it was so quite when we walked in and turned the corner to see these dozens or thousands of golden rods. First thing I said was, “Is that real gold”. I thought it was different in a way of thinking outside the box with art. I heard someone say in our group that every so often the workers at the gallery have to slowly turn each one to clean the dust off, not a fun job.
Jack Shainman Gallery/ El Anatsui- I looked his work online, so I knew what I was in for when I saw these huge drapery pieces of artwork. The fact that its recyclable liquor bottles were very interesting, that the pieces bended so well like blanket folds. I enjoyed learning more about the artist like he came from Africa and was the youngest out of I think 30 some kids.
Johnathan Levine Gallery- Hands down best gallery we saw. I loved the modern new artist pop art digital thing about it. I visited the web site before going, and already knew what pieces I was excited to see. In the future I was loved to hopefully have one of my pieces shown there one day….which so will happen lol.
This reminded me of Banksy stencil graffiti artwork
I loved the detail in the collage background
The Independent- Telling you the truth, this gallery was the least I enjoyed. There wasn’t really anything that appealed to me, except for the nice huge clown rat greeting us as we walked in.
Mean While- On our way to the Pulse we went down stairs in to the under construction gallery, which had these huge amazing paintings. While taking pictures Bruce just happened to get in the shot.
Miranda with her paper bag of found coke bottles
Bruce calling into the wilderness
Pulse- I had so much fun at the Pulse. My eyes were about to fall out my head with all the images I was taken in. I loved the set up and the free tote bags that everyone in are class rocks now ha. There were so many styles of art and different types of media that I never thought of using. The Pulse to me was the icing on the cake to our New York art trip.
This piece looked liked a video camera shot, but close up it was like pixels
Video of the coolest painting ever
OK Harris- Besides the cute brown puppy in the office, which I wanted to take home, I loved the photo realism painting of buildings. In that gallery there is also this huge abstract piece which reminded me of my paint.
Earth Room- The first thing we all said when we walked into the room was…..”This is so Kylie”. It was so moist in there that I was afraid my hair was going to frizz, but I loved the idea of bringing nature inside. I just have to wonder how they are going to clean it up.
Broken Kilometer- After going into this Saw movie down stairs to nowhere place, we found the right way into the gallery. At first it was so quite when we walked in and turned the corner to see these dozens or thousands of golden rods. First thing I said was, “Is that real gold”. I thought it was different in a way of thinking outside the box with art. I heard someone say in our group that every so often the workers at the gallery have to slowly turn each one to clean the dust off, not a fun job.
Jack Shainman Gallery/ El Anatsui- I looked his work online, so I knew what I was in for when I saw these huge drapery pieces of artwork. The fact that its recyclable liquor bottles were very interesting, that the pieces bended so well like blanket folds. I enjoyed learning more about the artist like he came from Africa and was the youngest out of I think 30 some kids.
Johnathan Levine Gallery- Hands down best gallery we saw. I loved the modern new artist pop art digital thing about it. I visited the web site before going, and already knew what pieces I was excited to see. In the future I was loved to hopefully have one of my pieces shown there one day….which so will happen lol.
This reminded me of Banksy stencil graffiti artwork
I loved the detail in the collage background
The Independent- Telling you the truth, this gallery was the least I enjoyed. There wasn’t really anything that appealed to me, except for the nice huge clown rat greeting us as we walked in.
Mean While- On our way to the Pulse we went down stairs in to the under construction gallery, which had these huge amazing paintings. While taking pictures Bruce just happened to get in the shot.
Miranda with her paper bag of found coke bottles
Bruce calling into the wilderness
Pulse- I had so much fun at the Pulse. My eyes were about to fall out my head with all the images I was taken in. I loved the set up and the free tote bags that everyone in are class rocks now ha. There were so many styles of art and different types of media that I never thought of using. The Pulse to me was the icing on the cake to our New York art trip.
This piece looked liked a video camera shot, but close up it was like pixels
Video of the coolest painting ever
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