Module 16: AED 200 Reflection

My expectations for this course was that it was going to be easy but not a lot of work. Now that I have taken the course I realized that some weeks there is going to be more work than others but overall the course was not a hard course. Art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. My initial posting about art has changed because I feel like there is more to art now that I have taken this course. At first I never had a favorite artist and now I can say that I have a favorite artist. My favorite artist is Andy Warhol and I have grown a new appreciation for art. Now that I have taken this course I feel like I would take another course online. When taking an online course you have to have self discipline and stay organized. 

Module 13 and 14

This week our task was to watch three videos relating to our Art Exhibition Powerpoint Project. The three videos I watched this week are The Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art, The BBC: Culture Show and An Acquiring Mind: Philippe de Montebello and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In the first video some key concepts I learned was that Lowbrow Art describes an underground visual art movement that arose in Los Angeles, California areas in the 1970s. Lowbrow Art describes an underground comic, punk music and hot rod cultures of the street. In the second video I learned that the Tate Modern Museum is in Berlin and holds contemporary art in abandoned train station and that there are more than five million visits a year. In the last video I learned that the director Philippe de Montebello was hired in 1977 and worked for 31 years and was the longest serving coordinator. The museum opened in 1870 with 174 European paintings mostly Flemish and Dutch. I think the video's relate to the creation of my Art Exhibition project because most of the art in my powerpoint is similar to the Lowbrow Art style. I really enjoyed the film on the Lowbrow Art and thought it was interesting but the other two videos I thought they were hard to focus but they all related to my understanding of the art concepts I practiced while creating my project.

Module 12

This week our task was to watch two video's and the videos I chose were "Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the 50's and 60's" and "Andy Warhol: Images of an Image". I selected this video's because I really enjoy looking at abstract art because it makes me think and I chose the second video because I enjoy Andy Warhol's work. In the first video I learned that when observing abstract work the title isn't there for is to think about what the painting shows but instead to think and feel what the painting  is. I also learned that abstract paintings work in the real space between us and its surface physically and sensually as well as intellectually. In the second video "Andy Warhol: Images of an Image" I learned that he actually didn't start out having the idea of wanting to become a painter he wanted to become a tap dancer and he started out as a commercial artist for magazines and advertising. The videos relate to the readings because in the first video they both discuss how abstract paintings takes on the importance to external reality can be applied as in a portrait or still life. In the second video they discuss how when Marilyn Monroe died in August 1962, Warhol created a silkscreen with different colorful versions of Marilyn Motif. I enjoyed the Andy Warhol film because it was short and straight to the point the first video was very long and hard to focus but both were very informative.

Art Gallery Visit #2

This week our task was to visit an art museum and the art gallery I visited was the Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State College. The first exhibit that I visited was "Jack Drummer: The Effects of Time"(1980).  I wasn't sure about the theme of this piece because it was stretched and dyed rubber on two panels which were 60 x 90 inches. The lighting that was used was shining directly on the piece and the color of the walls were white. The colors that were used in the interior architecture of the piece were teal and turquoise. The movement of the piece was dull and confusing. The artwork was mounted on the wall and a lot of this artists work is similar because it makes you think.  The elements that are used in the piece are line, shape, value and texture. The principles of art are movement, unity and emphasis.
                                            
The second piece that I observed was Virginia Cuthbert's piece entitled "The Birthday Party". This was a self portrait of Virginia and her family and friends celebrating her birthday at her home in Buffalo. The theme of this piece was to portray her happiness as she celebrates her birthday with her loved ones. The lighting was shown on the portrait. The colors of the wall were a darker gray. The materials used are oil on canvas. The movement on this piece seems very involving since a party is portrayed. The elements used in that portrait are line, color and shape. The principles shown in this portrait movement, emphasis, unity and balance.
                                             
The third piece that I observed was from the Roycroft Copper Shop and it is called the "Ink Pot from Desk Set Cat". This piece is placed inside a glass box and the light is shown directly on the piece. This piece is copper brass wash and glass insert. The artworks are similar because they are all placed inside glass boxes and placed throughout the museum. The elements of art being used are line, shape, form, texture and value. The principles that are being used are unity and proportion
                                          

Module 11

This week the two videos I chose to watch are "The Impact of Cubism" and "The Mystical North: Spanish Art From The 19th Century To The Present". In the first video some of the key concepts that I learned was that the Centre Pompidou is located in Paris, France and has work from every phases of the 20th century. In the second video some key concepts that I learned is Francisco De Goya Y Lucientes was born in 1746 in Fuendetodos, Spain and that he reframed the world and questioned what it means to be a human. The videos relate to the reading because in the first video they discuss that the three featured artists in the museum are Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso and Juan Gris. In the second video they discuss that he is one of the Father's of Modern Art also that in 1808 when Napoleon invaded Spain, Goya had many etchings of the bloodshed and results of the war and called it "Disasters Of War". This week I felt that the videos weren't as interesting and engaging they helped understand the reading but they weren't as exciting.

Mask Making

The mask I designed is a representation of me. I am always happy and smiling and full of energy. I colored the mask with highlighters to represent my vibrant personality and drew huge smile. I drew a leaf headband on my head to represent the fact that I like being outside and playing sports and that I always have a headband on my head no matter the event. The elements that I used are shape, form, line and color. The principles that I used are pattern, rhythm, proportion, balance, unity and emphasis.
                             

Mask Making

The first mask that inspired me was a mask created by the Aztecs. It was created by the Aztec tribe of "Xictecuhtli" in the 1500's. This type of mask was used to be placed on the dead and originally made out of fabric but later on created out of copper, gold or clay. The Aztecs looked at the human skull as a prized trophy and seeing skulls used as masks wasn't uncommon during this era. These masks were used all part of court entertainments, possibly combining political with religious significance. The mask has different shades of green and blue. The elements the mask presents are line, shape, color and texture. The principles of art that are being shown are proportion and unity.

The second mask that I found my inspiration was a ceremonial mask from Papua New Guinea. This mask was created by the people who live there honoring all of the dead leaders whether they were both men or women. The characteristics of the mask have different  meanings whether it is how they died or a personality trait they had. For example on the mask a snake attacking a flying fish is symbolic of an important person. The principles that are recognized in the mask are rhythm, movement, unity and emphasis. The elements that are being shown in this mask are shape, color, value, and texture. 

                              

The last mask that inspired me was tribal mask from the people of Aotearoa, New Zealand. The tribe that created this mask is known as the Maori tribe. Majority of there masks are carved out of wood and represents many Gods. This particular mask is called "Parentless one or One God". I enjoyed this mask the most because majority of it is one color and the bright blue eyes draw me in. The elements that are portrayed are lines, shape and form and value. The principles that are represented in this mask pattern, proportion and emphasis and balance.