Field Trip Reflection

On Thursday we went to the Foster Gallery on the Eau Claire Campus for the drawing show. The following are the artists that I studied while at the gallery, and the very literal interpretations of what I observed about each piece.

Cal Lane- Untitled Map 3

material: old steel barrel cut open and flattened, with lid and bottom reattached

What I saw: world map, lace design, butterfly/dragonfly, dragon with fire/flames, deer and tree in nature with seated human figure, lobster, sailor's anchor, a truck, and a shield/badge/family coat of arms. The top and bottom of the steel barrel are detailed like the top or bottom view of a map- 24 "spokes" and 5 rings on each symbolizing the longitude and latitude lines on the globe (are these numbers accurate?) 

Contrasting Ideas: industrial v. domestic life, strong v. delicate, masculine v. feminine, practical v. frivolty, and ornament v. function

Edward Mayer

What I saw: line and repetition, tension and resolution, invasion of space (between media and within the gallery space itself), passing of time (tying knots or the long path traveled by one material that is either replaced of joined by another material, progression, flowing organic lines v. rigid geometric lines/shapes, flimsy v. stable, expansion v. confinement/condensed, pliable v. non-pliable materials, positive v. negative space

Amanda Hughen- Sepidemic

Materials: clear film with ink drawing on either side

What I saw: repetition, layers of simple shapes used to create a complex final image, rotating and reflecting of images, combination of geometry and organic forms, positive v. negative space, outlines v. solid shapes/forms

Project 1 Idea

           

For the first project relating to Science I am focusing on Natural Earth Science, or geology. To be more specific, caves and the endless interesting forms that are found in them. 

I have recently been examining images, text and videos of caves and the various life forms that strive in cave environments.  I see many connections of my own past work to the forms found in caves.  I find great inspiration in caves and see endless possibilities of how I could use such forms to create my own. 

I have been playing with ideas based from either stalactites or the glowworm mucus webs. One question I have is how far can I push the boundaries of “drawing”? Do I have to physically leave marks on a surface, or can I create my drawing with tangible items (string for example) and shadows? What is the fine line between contemporary drawing and sculpture?

After talking with my group, the biggest thing I felt was discussed was material choices. I will be working in a non-traditional form of drawing incorporating light to draw shadows on the wall, no physical marks will be made on a surface. Talking with the group helped me to refine and further develop my idea.