Popular Culture & National Culture Project

For this project I focused on social equality issues that still exist in our society today. With as many strides that have been made in race equality issues, I am amazed that commercial products are still not widely available for people if their skin is not white. The "skin toned" colors for products such as nylons, or Band-Aids, are skin colored- if you are Caucasian. 

I created this piece to bring awareness to "white privileges" that exist in our society today. These "privileges" should be a freedom shared by people of all colors. How hard would it really be to produce Band-Aids in a variety of skin tones? (Sheer or clear doesn't cut it, the pad on the back of the band-aid is still very light in color).

Ornamentation Project

When I hear "ornamentation", I think of objects that are overly decorated (with elements unnecessary to the function of the object), to the point that it becomes gaudy and ridiculous. I wanted to push this idea to the point where the ornamentation overtakes the function of the object. 

I chose to ornament a clock because it is an object with a very specific function: to display the time. The ornamentation has overtaken the clock-face and diminished the original function of the clock. 

Art and Science Project

My first project in drawing 3 relates to the topic of "art and science." I focused on nature and the endless possibilities it has. My goal was to create my own artificial version of a naturally occurring glow worm web. The concepts behind this piece relate to the light at the end of the tunnel: the very light that draws you in, is that which will take your life. (The glow worm spins a mucus web and patiently waits for the prey. However, the glow worm does just that- it glows, illuminating the mucus web below. The illumination draws the prey in to their eternal end.) I am intrigued by the idea that something so beautiful is also so deadly.

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.

Found Drawings Reflection

Today Jen, Chrissy, Noah and myself discussed our found drawings and shared images. It was interesting to see what different kinds of subject matter each of us were drawn to. I was particularly interest in the contrast between Noah's and my own: Noah focused on human forms and I focused on nature. I had not even thought of including human forms, because I will avoid drawing people at all costs, but Noah primarily focuses on the human form for subject matter. We were able to share our perspectives with one another, and learn to look at things from these new-found perspectives. 

Flickr Photos