Final Project (Completion Notes) 5/10/10

I chose to complete a photo album of the forest fire at Morrow Mountain and to construct a weaving of plants grown in my yard.
























In my photos from Morrow Mountain you can see life beginning to grow out of the ashes. I visited Morrow Mountain twice recently after the fire and found tiny yellow and pink flowers growing where absolutely all undergrowth was devastated. I was amazed that the natural mulch was missing, and even the dirt appeared to be gone, leaving only rock which was so loose that I had difficulty standing. Some of the trees had holes burned in their trunks all the way to the core, but were blooming and had green leaves in the top. One tree appeared melted.













I really enjoyed making my weaving. I have never woven before, so I turned to the internet for instruction. I used grape vines, with grapes attached, kiwi vines, tree limbs, with leaves, Ivy, buttercup and iris leaves and a discarded rotten tree limb. All this was woven into jute.

5/03/10 Daily Notes (The McColl Center)

Fried by Franco Mondini Ruiz caused a lot of discussion among several of us. I agree with one of the students, that it is sad that someone can make $149.00 selling a hamburger stuck to a canvas, while most of us talented individuals struggle and will probably never have the opportunity to show or art work publicly. I find his work whimsical, but it doesn't hold my interest.

I collect art (my opinion of art) in many forms. I have antique syrup piggy banks. Most people threw these away fifty years ago, after they drained the syrup. But some people, saw their beauty and kept them. I collect glass antique animal candy containers, again, most people threw them away after removing the candy. Fortunately, some people saw their beauty and saved them. I have a wheel-o, a toy Thunderbird, pottery, wicker baskets and all sorts of advertising art. Most people throw these things away as they lose their utilitarian purpose. Some things that I like now, I did not like when they were first introduced to the public.

I hope that one day, I will come to terms with Ruiz' art. And I will pick it up in antique stores and the flea market.

04/28/10 Daily Notes (The Harvey B. Gantt Center)

Wow! David C. Driskell and Michael B. Platt are wonderful artists. I am not sure which I like better, because their work is totally different, and both are intriguing.

Platt's work does have a spiritual appeal, the way he layered print over print. While I was looking at a picture of a woman dressed in white, standing in the forest, a person stood between the picture and me. For a moment I could see a bald eagle instead of the woman. Perhaps that was her spirit.
The first piece I saw, as we walked into the gallery, had a layer of Christmas lights. This picture drew me to it. I can see using his work as inspiration for my own work.

Driskell's work reminds me of when I was a child and would draw with crayons, then cover the drawing with black and scratch out a picture. I appreciate that he shows multiple copies of the same print, so you can see progression from one print to the next, as he make changes to the background or foreground.

04/26/10 Daily Notes (Becthler Museum)

I was pleasantly surprised by the Bechtler Museum. Some of the artists that are on display, Edgar Degas, Andy Warhol, Joan Miró, Henri Moore and Max Ernst, have influenced art for half a century, and I am honored to walk among their creations.

Max Ernst's Projet Pour un Monument a W.C. Fields, 1957 is creepy and fascinating. I'm not sure why I like it, perhaps. I am drawn to the eyes of the person in the center. I like the person's arched looking back, blowing skirt and the umbrella that looks turned inside out. It looks as though it is windy. This person, with a pale face, seems Asian to me. I also like the colors of this composition.





I am very impressed that the Bechtler has a Pablo Picasso, Femme au Chapeau, 1962. I'm not a huge fan of Picasso, but I feel everyone should experience his work. Although I fail to see beauty if this piece, I do see talent and I enjoy looking at it.

Final Project 4/22/10

I plan on my final project taking place at Morrow Mtn. State Park. Recently 50 acres in the park burned. I love black and white art, I plan to take pictures of the burned areas. I plan on taking the pictures in color. I think it will be neat to have burned out areas with a blue sky and pictures with life coming back, such as weeds.

What kind of art did I enjoy before taking this class? Before this class I enjoyed mostly 2-D art, black and white and realistic.

Has my definition of art expanded from this class? Yes, Sometimes I fail to see the art in advertising and film. I have a new appreciation for performance art, but still fail to see the art in some of it.

In class, was I successful making art that was personal or political? I feel that all of my projects were successful in portraying one or the other. My project from my childhood painted a picture of my life. The kimono that I made showed my personal view of excess. My last project, the grass hut, was built in my head for over a week prior to actually building the structure. I am continuing to improve upon it in my mind. The Tibet project definitely carried a political theme.

Did I enjoy making art that was displayed inside the classroom or outside of the classroom? I enjoy either, but building the structure was definitely a highlight to me.

What is my goal in studying art? Making art makes me happy.

What do I want to say with my art? I want to add beauty, convey a message and/or enlighten others with my art work.

Can my art make a difference to an audience member? Yes, The Tibet project definitely educated people.

Does that matter to me? I want people to like my art and appreciate it. If no one likes it, it must not be good, so yes, it matters to me.

Who am I making my art for? I am making art for me, for my satisfaction.

5/03/10 - Update, I hope to add a second part to my project. I would like to use materials from my yard to weave an art work. We'll see how it goes.

Environment (Grass Hut) completion notes 4/18/10

Emily Nielsen and I set out to create a gnome home in which a small child could play. When we happened upon the field of dead grass our gnome home evolved into a grass hut. We realized that we should add stability, so we cut down fresh limbs that we could mold into a dome shape. To give the hut a uniform shape, we drove a stake into the ground and used a string to create a circle. Then for additional stability we drove the stake into the ground every 12 to 18 inches, following the circle.


After removing the stake the limbs were placed in the holes and shoved into the earth as far as possible. The limbs we cut were 7 to 8 feet long, so we were able to construct a hut that was larger than we had first planned. We bent the limbs over and using small pieces of twine attached them to each other at their tips creating a dome affect.




We left the leaves on the limbs to help cover the shelter. After the structure of the shelter was complete, we used buttercup leaves to tie grass to the shelter for further protection from the elements and privacy.





We created a valance and a mat of buttercup leaves to add additional privacy and decorate the doorway.







When the structure was finished we took turns sitting inside of it. There was plenty of room. The structure was large enough for 2 - 3 children to play in comfortably. It is also adequate shelter in case of a light rain or light wind.





Some of our fellow students referred to our structure as "the birthing hut", in honor of Emily.







This grass hut was constructed using all environmentally friendly materials, that we left on site so, that park visitors can enjoy it. I went back to see the structure on Saturday and it was still completely intact.

Skip Schuckmann 4/09/10

1. Does he bring in additional materials or use only what he finds on site? He prefers to use local materials, but if he has to import anything, he prefers to use someones else's discards.
2. Why plastic bottles? For light
3. How long did it take to create the amphitheater?


Skip Schuckmann seems like a child that never grew up. Reading about why he creates his art takes me back a time when I would divert a stream or mud puddle, to a time when I would go out in the woods and move rocks or tree limbs to create a shelter. I respect his work and admire that he has found "clients" that want his work. I admire that he has found a way to do what he loves and make a living at it without having to go main stream, to a gallery or a museum.

Instead of working for a corporation, government agency or university, he helps individuals conduct resource planning on their land. He works by the day (not hour) and at the end of each day he and the client decide if he should continue. Schuckmann's work is never done, because it is part of the environment, it is forever evolving.

I envy that Skip Schuckmann is able to dig dirt, move rocks, burn tree limbs, and stack trees all day and enjoy doing it. This is a life I could live.
1. Why are there no photos of him on the internet?
2. Is he not widely known. He is only briefly acknowledged on the internet and usually along with someone else.
3. Does he collaborate with Linda Weintraub? Their names are mentioned together several times on the net.

Place (Environment) Project Notes

How did you feel today outside? I am very comfortable outside and like to create interesting areas outside of my home.

What caught your attention? I was interested in the plantings in the hollowed out logs.

Where are you most comfortable outside - I love to play in the woods or on the edge of the water. I like to make boats and watch them drift off.

What is your personal history with the outdoors - We spent a lot of time in the woods, playing army, making campsites, building tree houses or lean to(s).

What do you want to say? I would like to create a magical gnome house for little girls. This house would be constructed from all organic materials. I would use twigs for the structure and vines that I find in the woods and buttercup leaves to bind them. I haven't decided yet as to whether I will cover the structure with leaves. Another idea I have is to build a large bird cage that is on the ground. Children will be able to climb in and out of the cage.

Again, it depends on what you want to try to say with the work. I like the idea of caging a person in my art. Cool huh?

Comments to my ideas are welcome.

Emily and I chose a grassy area in Reedy Creek Park, where we will construct our dwelling. We like the tall grass and feel that this will make a nice covering for our twig, and vine structure. We plan on using natural vines, limbs and twigs, that we will bring with us. Buttercup leaves and vines will tie the limbs and twigs together and then time permitting, we will cover the top of the structure with the tall dead grass.

3/29/10 Daily Notes (Andy Goldsworthy)

I enjoyed the work by Andy Goldsworthy. His work with the ice that he shaped and sculpted looked beautiful as the sunlight radiated through it. It looked almost like actual lights. I appreciate the way he painstakingly created his art using only what he found on site.








When he began to create a project in the water at low tide, I couldn't see his vision. When I saw the shape which appeared to be a huge egg or pine cone, I loved it. I especially liked the way this project was recreated in different areas, such as the pasture where the alpine cows were able to interact with the shape.







The twig art work that was created at low tide was really neat. I couldn't wait to see what happened to it as the tide rolled in. I was hoping it would stay together and float for a while before breaking apart. When the teacher turned the video off, most of us had not seen enough.







The flowers attached to each other and placed in the water to drift with the current were quite peaceful and I wanted to watch them drift away. Looking at Goldsworthy's art has given me insight into my next project.

Free Tibet Art & Actvism (03/22/10) Critique

Emily Nielsen, Maiko Yamazaki and I researched and created an art and activism project concerning China's occupation of Tibet. Until Emily approached me concerning this issue, I had no idea that this human rights issue existed. How, in a world of instant news media, where I constantly scan MSN, Google, The Charlotte Observer online and in print, and watch the news, both local and world, could I have never heard of this issue?

Tibet is a beautiful old world country, that on the surface reminds me of the USA in it's infancy. It reminds me of the cowboys and Indians era of our country.






I had heard of the Dalai Lama, but I never knew of his role. I had never heard that this guy was trying to save his country, heritage, religion, culture, etc. I did not know about the constant struggle for basic human rights.





It's inconceivable that another country would kill one of our religious leaders. I have no doubt that if this were to happen there would be payback. In Tibet, there is no payback. China does not allow the media free communication, so most Chinese people do not know anything about the Tibet human rights issue.





Citizens of Tibet do not have any basic human rights. Children and adults can disappear at anytime. To practice their religion could mean that they will face prison, torture and/or death.






I was very impressed by the way our project was received by the Concepts students. They were very inquisitive about the Tibetan plight and showed great concern. I'm sure it opened the minds of some of my co-students as it opened mine. If I could change this project in anyway, I would use a larger venue, so more people could view it at the same time. I would keep it in a dark foreboding area, with dark walls and perhaps add more red material representing the robes of the thousands of dead monks and nuns. I would add more prayer flags, and give out fliers showing how individuals can help.

For more information on the Free Tibet movement go to freetibet.org

3/3/10 Daily Notes - Maya Lin

Maya Lin designed the Vietnam Memorial Wall and to be honest I didn't like the concept when it was first proposed. I recall that it was to be just a wall. I thought it was a stupid idea, but I have come to see what it has meant to people through the years. Not only was my mind changed but also most of Americans changed their ideas. I have heard of many people that take paper and pencils with them so they can make rubbings of their loved one's names. I agree with Lin that it would not have the same meaning if the names were in alphabetic order versus the day the soldiers died. I also agree with her that the monument should carry the name of each soldier that died for his country in Vietnam.

I appreciate and like most of Lin's art work. The Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama was beautiful thoughtful and accessible to all people. People like to touch most of her art work, so it is interactive.

In the traffic approach to the Charlotte Coliseum, she planted 10 enormous holly bushes in a sinuous wave form. They were to appear to be rolling downhill, one after another, following a path suggested by small grassy banks and mounds. I never liked this art work and still think it was a waste of tax payers money. Most people didn't even know it was there.

DJ Martinez & Wenda Gu 3/15/10

Daniel Joseph Martinez (p374) creator, Do You Earn Minimum Wage & I Can't Imagine Ever Wanting To Be White like to evoke discussion concerning racism, privilege and poverty, etc. He chooses to "expose insidious concentrations of social, political and economic power". Perhaps he is creating art in his Do You Earn Minimum Wage sign, but am I showing artist talent when I place a sign at the end of my street, exposing my excess of stuff, by saying "Yard Sale" hand written in magic marker on card board. He is attempting to open discussions for social change. He is successful in that respect and I appreciate his advertising approach. I suppose it is art in an advertising sort of way. He stimulates emotions and anger. In some of his works he appears to be split open and his picture is taken.

1. What is his inspiration for each of his creations?
His is influenced by his upbringing as a Chicano in a neighborhood sandwiched between an all white and an all black neighborhood. He is also inspired by all that is wrong with our country and feels the need to correct it by bringing it to light.
2. Does he hate white people?
I'm still not sure if Martinez hates white people. He sees injustice and advertises it, stands back and waits for people to react. He not only touches on race, but poverty/riches, privilege/deprivation, censure, abuse, ostracism or any other wrong that he sees.
3. Is all his art racially or economically motivated?
Yes, yes. He creates art that involves "real-life issues and propels real-life actions."

Wenda Gu (p294) Oedipus Refound, The Enigma of Blood, Temple of Heaven and Beyond Joy and Sin. Gu is so controversial that his monumental installation was violently destroyed by a Russian artist at the "Interpol" exhibition (Stockholm, 1996). His work celebrates the physical origins of life an promotes universal accord. He seeks unity through art. He is a master of classical Chinese but has purged his art of national tradition. His works promote global accord. I find the Oedipus Refound Series where he used used tampons and sanitary napkins from 60 women from various countries to be disgusting. He also used placentas and semen and blood of a virgin. In Temple of heaven he used human hair from all around the world to create his work. Impregnation Piece will be his strangest work of art yet. He will impregnate women from each continent, and those children will be art. They will have children an so on, making the Impregnation Piece eternal.
1. What are his mediums? blood (including used sanitary napkins and tampons), hair, placenta.
2. How well is Beyond Joy and Sin received? All of his work including Beyond Joy and Sin are extremely controversial.
3. Temple of Heaven, what does it say? it really doesn't say anything. It is gibberish in numerous languages. Is it really human hair? Yes, it is comprised of human hair from around the world.

2/24/10 Daily notes Gomez-Pena, Walker, Lasansky

Guillermo Gomez-Pena - was trying to portray the American view of Latinos, public enemy number one. I think he actually is portraying his own insecurities. I didn't see anything in his art that I felt represented the view point of anyone I know. The only part of his performance that I appreciated was the heart bottle that he would blow into as though he was creating a heart beating.
Kara Walker - draws beautifully and I appreciate her art. I found some of her work to be offensive, but it makes a point. Her work is backed by history and pain. I really like her style of using silhouettes and her panorama, but I found part of it disturbing, especially the lady dancing as she gives birth.
by Mauricio Lasansky's "The Nazi Drawings" were interesting and also conveyed history and pain. I think the message convey was watered down from the way the felt.

Why is this art political?
Gomez-Pena - Seems to be anti-American, because of the way he thinks Americans feel about him. Walker is showing her views on slavery and white Southerners. Lasansky is portraying his anti Nazi viewpoint.
How is it displayed to the audience?
Gomez-Pena uses shock value, Walker protests in a pleasing manner, Lasansky uses more of a muted shock value.

Consumption (Advertising kimono)

I chose my project because of the consumption of magazines, books and newspaper, paper in general. I narrowed my focus to fashion magazines, and then my focus changed to fashion and magazines. As I scanned "In Style Magazine" I tore out the interesting pictures quickly, in one pass. I altered the pictures and created my own advertisements as collages. A lot of the pictures in the magazine where ridiculous before I redesigned them. If my ads were added to a magazine, they'd fit in well. I took a face and added sunglasses, a lady was stomping a car, a huge dog sat behind a lady in a tub, a nude lady was behind a large bottle of nail polish, etc.



I was impressed by the kimonos we saw at the Mint Museum the other day and thought that would be a good way in which to convey my message. Although I do not sew, I was able to make a modified kimono as a canvas for my ads on consumption. I used iron on transfers and my scanner to produce the look I wanted. My project was well received. Perhaps I will create a kimono out of silk and cover it with ads.

2/17/10 Kinkade and Beecroft

Thomas Kinkade
1. What inspires him to create art that looks like 1980's wall paper? He works with a corporate empire to spread his vision of pece and harmony throughout culture. pg20 - He is inspired by the same aesthetic that emerges from market surveys of public taste. p21 - he is a romantic idealist.
2. Does he paint what he likes or what sells? attention is directed to create distribution outlets. (The man is a marketing genius)
3. Does he paint in any other styles? no
4. What does he plan for his future in art? more of the same
5. Who are his favorite artists? n/a, it appears to be himself.

Vanessa Beecroft
1. What mediums does she use? p229 - She draws and paints but her main works are live people and only girls.
2. What is the vision behind VB 35? p224 - The "girls" display the unachievable, media-constructed standards by which legions of impressionable women regularly measure their self-esteem.
3. What does VB35 mean? this was not explained.
4. What inspires her? p224 - She plays up the good ole boys mentality towards women, obsessing on appearance, ignoring intelligence or accomplishments.
5. What other art work has she done? "Despair 1993" exhibited her diary and women off the street that looked like her.

2/15/10 Class notes (Film)

Helvetica - I didn't know a font could be controversial. This is one of my favorite fonts.
I enjoyed the films we viewed because of my interest in marketing.
- David Carson I like his use of various fonts as a part of his graphic art projects. The words are interesting as art, not just a way to convey a written message.
-Stefan Sagmeister's work is truly inspiring as he creates fonts from trees, vines, duct work, paper cups, hole punches, etc. Lou Reed's cover with the writing on the face was awesome. You should really take time to go to his web site and check it out. http://www.sagmeister.com
"Supersize Me" was a good look at marketing at it's worst. It's sad that any given large consumable product manufacturer spends more to promote products that are bad for you than, money that is spent on healthy food choices.

Mint Museum (On Randolph Rd) 2/10/2010

Lois Mailou Jones 1905 - 1998 - Wonderful artist. One of the best I've never heard of. She had a wide range of talent in her painting. There weren't any pieces that I didn't like. My favorite is "Mob Victim" 1944. I was drawn from his shirt to his multicolored face and hair. At first I thought this man was just meditating and then I looked down at his bound hands. "Palm Trees" and "Design for Crelonne Drapery Fabric" were beautiful in both design and the strong use of colors. I liked the "Ville d'Houdain, Pas-de-Calais, France" because of the way she used straight lines and geometric shapes to create a landscape.

02/08/10 Consumption Artists

Nick Cave - I love this guy. His sound suits must be seen dancing and heard in order to appreciate the whole picture. The suits standing alone do not complete the picture. His art must include performance in order to be complete.
Michael Ray Charles - is extremely talented. I liked that he draws inspiration from Greco-Roman art. I didn't consider the cultural/political messages in his art, I enjoy it because of Charles' obvious talent and subject matter. I think it is sad that someone destroyed his flag inspired work because they were so outraged by it.
Matthew Barney - Interesting, The horses wearing spandex suits and prostheses were very inspiring. I also enjoyed the iron worker series. The busted lips were strange.
Andrea Zittel - I liked her "intimate controllable situations" created in her living units. I appreciate her influence from everywhere she lived. I think its weird that she wears an outfit for four months and went through a time period of only wearing rectangles. She may need help. The island is awesome.
Mel Chin - I appreciate his transforming burned houses into worm growing farms? I mean (?) I don't get it. I think the revival field is great for the environment but not art. I liked his work with Carpets from Iran and Turkey, and software.

Nick Cave - Museum and You Tube 2/07/10

The sound suit we saw on our 2/3/10 trip to the Museum of Craft and Design was interesting. I enjoyed looking at it, but it, alone does not appeal to me. Although Cave is a very talented artist,his talent does not shine through unless you see and listen to his videos. I have seen his video along with a sound suit at the McCall Center and seen the videos on You Tube. I find them to be mesmerizing. I normally wouldn't like this kind of art. I was entertained and enjoyed Cave's work.

My Identity (First Project ) 1/27/10

One of my first memories is of the concrete steps on the side of our house. They are about seventy now, worn, and cracking, with re-bar showing through. When I was a toddler the jobke wat that I never walked down the steps, I rolled down them. Maybe I have brain damage. I remember being dressed for church, holding my little white pocketbook. It had three tear drops on it, pink, yellow and blue. I have tiny white blond pig tails. I take one step and it's a doozy. I must have gotten hurt, but I don't recall.

This concrete represents the steps I fell down so many times as a toddler, my father and my mother-in-law. I have the band-aids because I must have gotten hurt. My pocketbook and the pictures of me complete the picture.

I enjoyed this project, because it brought back memories of my childhood, my father and mother-in-law. I was able to convey my message in this project.

01/20/10 William Kentridge, Nan Goldin

William Kentridge

1. What is the driver thinking about? Kentridge is inspired by emotional distress.
   
2. Is the driver looking ahead or behind? Perhaps he is scared or jumpy looking ahead and behind. A victim. This reminds me of an Alfred Hitchcock drawing. The texture makes the driver look jittery.
   
3. Why is the right side of the drawing unfinished looking? pg.156 para 4 "I am interested in a political art, that is to say an art of amibiguity, contradition uncompleted gestures and uncertain endings.
   

• I think the driver appears nervous, manic
• Kentridge is alienated from Europe, divided loyalties and duel identities
• He is inspired by the apartheid movement
  
• The patient/doctor also uses nervous texture and portrays distress.
  

Nan Goldin

1. How did she decide on these sets/stories? Goldin uses her real life of drugs, sickness and relationships for her art. Goldin's sister committed suicide when Goldin was young. This impacted her negatively causing her to leave home, move from foster home to foster home, use drugs and have unhealthy relation ships.
   
2. Is abuse art? I don't think so, even after reading this.
   
3. How did she look a month earlier, directly after the beating? I looked on line and didn't find any pics from when she was first beaten.
   

Identity Project 01/18/10

Falling down concrete stairs as a small child. Dressed for church, carrying little white pocketbook. Concrete, pocketbook, band-aids, picture of me standing on stairs, dressed for church.

01/13/09 Class Notes

Bruce Nauman - I think its sad that this crapola is considered art. My husband and I built stairs beside our house using gravel and concrete blocks. I think they are beautiful with flowers on them, but I would not try to pass them off as an art exhibit.
I loved Kerry James Marshall's artwork. I would love to meet this guy and hang out with him. The sculpture that he reanimates into cartoons was awesome. His folk art style with minimum details are pleasing, no detail is needed.

Who am as a person?
What groups do I belong to? My Family, My husbands family, Coworkers, HS class, Mt. Gilead, former employers, Montreat Graduates, UNCC students, job seeking groups, friends, AAA, Harley riders, Mini Cooper owners, homeowners, VIC, cat owners, pc.

Groups that I don't fit into. Sororities, 18-22 yr olds, senior citizens, athletic groups, red hat, Parents with out partners, AARP.

Can you stop being in a group? Yes, If there are membership dues, if I move, if I die, if I'm expelled, If I don't pay my bill, If I sell my Mini or Harley, if I sell my house, if I get rid of my cats, if I sell my computers.