Art 111 journal entry #6

Ads imitate art, art imitates life, life imitates ads.....with this unusual take on the transitive property, Hank Willis Thomas introduces us to his work. In an effort to expose stigmas and stereotypes in society associated with Afro Americans, he's removed the branding from several advertisements. The theory is that corporate logos somehow distract us from the imagery of the ads and their cultural undertones. I don't necessarily agree with this, nor do I agree that these images are prejudiced or portray African Americans in a negative light. I get the impression that this is the message the artist is trying to send. What strikes me though, is just how incredibly cheeseball and unrealistic many of these images are. This may be because all of the ads come from the 1970's where, with the dated fashions and hairstyles, one can't help but look silly. I'm going to try and use this technique with modern ads....looking past the branding and trying to see what's actually being depicted. I wonder if the results will be equally ridiculous.

Art 111 journal entry #5

Hmmm...the task? Describe the perfect building to accommodate my life. Not an easy undertaking. Taking a cue from the Seattle public library, my ideal residence would have to include numerous windows. Bright light is essential to a positive mood and also makes one more active. I would have a very large room with a botanical garden and a dome of glass above. Also, a bedroom incorporating natural motifs such as a small waterfall feeding a babbling brook meandering through is a must. The soothing sound of water trickling by would ensure restful sleep every night. The basement would be finished in dark wood paneling. Cushy leather furniture would abound to aid in relaxation as one smoked his cigar and sipped his after dinner aperitif obtained at the installed bar. A large well lit room, with large skylights would serve as the gym area. Exercise equipment as well as an indoor tennis court would be present, so the ceiling must also be very high. A large upstairs balcony would encircle the entire building, allowing for a morning jog without ever having to leave the house. A separate building off the main house would have to be built for the kitchen area, as a barbecue pit and smoker are an absolute necessity.....

Art 111 journal entry #4

These photos represent a narrative from my life about how I developed an interest in art. A small explanation may be required. The first picture is of my grandfather and me. My grandfather was a salty old retired submarine captain. I used to enjoy hearing his old sea stories when I was young, which probably influenced my decision to join the navy after high school (coincidentally enough, onboard submarines) This allowed me to travel and see much of the world. One time, while we were in port in Toulon, France; I took a week of leave and traveled to Paris. I saw lots of amazing things there, ate great food, drank great wine and had an all around great time. Most memorable, however was my trip to the Louvre. I was overwhelmed the enormity and beauty of their collections. It sparked an interest that continues today.

Art 111 journal entry #3

Josef Albers makes some excellent points regarding our visual memory, specifically in relation to color. He points out that everyone has a different visual image when specific colors are brought to mind. Even very specific shades of color with very specific references (like the red in the coke logo) will be interpreted differently by different people. It's interesting to think that what I may consider my favorite color might seem ugly to someone else only because their brain recalls a different image. When I think of the color yellow, I imagine the bright, soft yellow of a canary. This is probably because my mother bred and sold canaries for many years when I was young. When I hear the color blue, I immediately imagine a bright, electric blue. This often leaves me disappointed....I asked for a blue tie once and the gift giver and I obviously had very different interpretations of the color. Albers says that this is because we have a terrible visual memory and our brains basically make a best guess at colors. This is probably why there is so much variance in eyewitness accounts to crimes.

Art 111 journal entry #2

In 1981, the government commissioned Richard Serra to create a piece of public art in Federal Plaza in New York City. The result was a 120 foot long, 12 foot high steel wall that was tilted slightly. This work, called Tilted Arc, divided the plaza almost in half. Many people, mostly those who had to work in the plaza, immediately took issue with its inconvenience and appearance. They complained that one had to go way out of one's way to get around the large monument in order to traverse the plaza. There were also complaints that the wall attracted graffiti. Eventually, after several years, a court ruled that the wall had to be removed. Serra argued that the fact that the wall forced people to go out of their was exactly its purpose, and to move it to another location would render it meaningless. I tend to agree with the court's decision in this case. If a work of public art is commissioned with public money, it should appeal to those who in effect payed for it. Most painters wouldn't tell their patron that their opinion of their portrait was unimportant. I feel the same thing goes for public art. Purposeful or not, art created for the masses and paid by for the masses should appeal to the masses. Otherwise you just have a big wall in the middle of a plaza pissing people off as they try to get to work:)

Art 111 journal entry #1

In 1980, the Vatican announced that it was undertaking a vast restoration project for the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, one of the most cherished works of art in the world. After 14 years, the project was finally finished in 1994. The Catholic church was ecstatic, however, unfortunately many art historians and patrons felt differently. Many believed that the integrity of the original work had been compromised, citing as evidence before and after pictures, etc. They demanded in depth documentation of the project and the processes involved. I find it ironic that a project designed to remove centuries of residue buildup from dirt, smoke, and general atmospheric contaminants is criticized for altering the original masterpiece. No one can deny the marked difference between the before and after pictures, and also that the ceiling post restoration is much brighter and clearer. The argument that this has somehow ruined the original is ridiculous. If anything, the original artwork is being revealed again, now that hundreds of years of contaminant buildup which distorted the image has been removed. The Vatican went to great lengths to maintain the original paint and even cracking as a result of age.