Week 15 Project #5

1. Use the vocabulary you have learned in class to describe this artwork or performance in detail.

This piece is a work of conceptual art. The meaning of the painting is far more important than how it looks when completed. The content is meaningful and powerful. This painting relates to war and its resulting factors. The design is laid out a certain way for viewers to find the hidden figures. The painting has a combination of detail and elements. There is a form of organic art pictured here as well as realism due to war. 

2. What processes were used to create this work? What social influences might the artist be responding to and why?

World War II would begin just a couple years later and would further decimate the European continent as a whole. In Guernica, we see several victims of the bombing; some still living, some already dead. (Guernica Meaning, n.d.)

The artist is responding to the act of war. He targets the warmongers and fascists. It exists to make them feel ashamed. (Picasso, Guernica n.d.)

3. What is the relationship of this work to the time and society in which it was created? Describe the symbols used to express this relationship.

This painting is an anti-war icon that reveals crimes against humanity. In 1936, a civil war broke out. It was history’s first aerial saturation bombing of a civilian population. It was a cold-blooded training mission designed to test a new bombing tactic to intimidate and terrorize the resistance. (Picasso, Guernica n.d.) When looking closely at the painting, figured begin to emerge and faces appear. The faces show fear and cries. For example, to the very left corner lies a woman holding a small boy and crying to the sky. The boy is dying in her arms and she is devastated. 

4. Identify elements in the work that evoke a persuasive or emotional response. Be specific about what those responses are and why.

Color is shown within this painting. It was finished in black and white. This encourages the sorrow of war and the circumstances they were facing. It was a time of reckless behavior and chaos.

Value of grey is shown within the painting. The black is used to highlight the figures shown and emphasize the reality of war. 

Lines are used to give a two-dimensional image within the painting

Contrast of the grey tones emphasizes the emphasis expressed on the figures faces and bodies. 

5. Evaluate what you perceive to be the strengths and weaknesses of the work.  Apply discipline specific vocabulary and concepts when describing your point of view.

Picassos painting is not immediately clear and can be considered an abstract. The images convert into figures once it's analyzed long enough. 

References:

Picasso, Guernica. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/early-abstraction 

/cubism/a/picasso-guernica

Guernica Meaning: Analysis & Interpretation of Painting by Pablo Picasso. (n.d.). Retrieved from https:// 

legomenon.com/guernica-meaning-analysis-of-painting-by-pablo-picasso.html

Self portrait/Art gallery

 1. Why did you select the inspiration pieces?

I selected these pieces because they were all beautiful to me. I looked at the images and saw beautiful women pictured and it gave me the inspiration to use them in my final project. 

2. Why did you select the media to create your self-portrait?

I used charcoal pencil on my sketch pad because it was easier to detail the drawing than painting would be. 

3. What challenges did you face in creating your self-portrait and how did you overcome them?

I had a hard time re-creating the details of my face. I have always struggled with self-portraits. It never copies the same and never looks like the same person (haha). I did my best to 

4. How does this piece represent you?

The picture was taken when I didn't have any makeup on. I have dark circles under my eyes. It's the definition of finals week. I am exhausted from work and school yet I am getting through each day. I am working harder than I ever have. I am proud of this self-portrait. 

5. What elements and principles of art did you apply in this work?

Balance: The portrait needs to be somewhat symmetrical due to being a drawing of a face. 

Line: Crosshatching is seen slightly within this drawing. 

Shape: The outline of the face. Height and width are difficult to be measured in this form. 

Proportion: Eyes need to face the same direction, mouth and nose should be centered, outline of face should be well proportioned.

6. Did you enjoy working on this project?

This project was enjoyable. It's nice to be hands on sometimes. it brings out creativity and relaxes the mind. 

7. What do you think of your final artwork?

My final artwork was a trial and error. Many mistakes made, erase marks, and frustration. However, I thought it was an innovative and fun idea to wrap up the semester. 




Madonna (Self Portrait)
Cindy Sherman
1975
Gelatin Silver Print
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/madonna-self-portrait/vAHKe_oWiZre3Q




A College Woman
Ni Yide
1948
oil painting
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/a-college-woman/3gFKWhAVLJcgJQ

Maria Theresa, Archduchess of Habsburg (1717-1780)
Rosalba Carriera
1730
Painting
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/maria-theresa-archduchess-of-habsburg-1717-1780/9AEHiSDBLOkM3A

Week 13 & 14 Video Review

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

In the lowdown video, I find it interesting that these artists find themselves making a new category of art called a lowbrow. Instead of the highbrow artists; including prestige work, they are an all-inclusive group that allows many forms of art that might be looked down on. Art could include nudity, comic characters, gay lifestyles or anything that deviated from the norm. 

The BBC culture show talks a lot about abstract within paintings. It talks about how structure is hidden within the works of art that are displayed together within the clip. Insights of how artists see the world is the highlight of this video. They try to show the audience that there is more to an abstract painting than just the initial viewing. When you look closely, its rather clever and sensitive way of creating art and connections.

The acquiring mind video focuses on the director of the Metropolitan Museum of art, Philippe de Montebello, buys and chooses works of art that come through to the museum. Most of the work is European and authentic. They are constantly working to find works of art to fit their museums collections. The art is at competition. The pieces compete for the attention of the director and the departmental chairman in shows. 

2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Exhibition project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not.

The lowdown video doesn't not necessarily relate to my art exhibition because it doesn't contain any forms of art that are categorized to being lowbrow. They are all fairly normal forms of art and don't hold much diversity.

I don't believe the BBC video relates to my exhibit too much. Not many of my included works of art are considered abstract. They hold a clear image that dense't hold the same hidden messages as the works of art explained in the clip. 

I would say the Philippe de Montebello video can relate to some of the pieces that were included in my collection. Philippe holds works of art from European artists. Most of my work holds a similar style of work as the collections shown in the Metropolitan Art Museum. The French style of art is very popular within the museum.

3. What is your opinion of the films? Do they add depth to understanding of the art concepts you practiced while creating your curation project?

I enjoyed each of the films. I found them to be informational and worth watching. In reference to my curation project, I found all three videos helpful in finding a direction to go in. All of the videos shown hold different perspectives and styles of artwork. I think it was beneficial to see the different references before choosing a final exhibition. 

Project 4 Art Curator Exhibition Slideshow Journal

For this project, I found it difficult to look for images that correlated with my desired exhibit. However, the images that I came across fit the slideshow well and created a great layout for the presentation. I found it easy to write the art critisism because most of my images had differences and small details that made them unique from each other. I enjoyed reading about the images and how they were created. This project was time consuming but turned out being extremely informational with some unknown artists.