Currently at the Contemporary Art Museum there is a show for the Graduating students of USF. The students involved are also teachers and I have had the pleasure of having one of them as a teacher. The artists had to work on their thesis for the last year they are here. The works included different media such as: sculpture, drawings, paintings, and electronic media. This final assignment had to be a great one for they have to be judged by a panel of museum critics. Along with the artists projects, we were given a tour of the C.A.M.’s museum collection and studio where famous traveling artists come and work on future exhibits. Visiting the museum gave me a better idea of what is needed for the masters degree, a behind the scenes tour of the museum, and viewing future great artists.
First, we came in contact with the artist Stead Thomas. He did sculpture, video, and comic books for his project. The Sculpture that was very interesting was “I won’t starve bitches.” They were gold blocks to symbolize American money from the federal reserve. I like the juxtaposition of his idea about the American economy and the way we hold the value of money in our hands. His video combined mirror image techniques and showed him climbing a tree. Of course I am not familiar with this method, so I cannot explain more but I think he wanted it to look photographic. The comic books were not as good as they could have been, he should have made one nice comic book instead of five unfinished books.
Next, we saw Victoria Lee Skelly’s sculpture. She is involved with community art projects and used her emails back in forth to sponsors to form her thesis and end project. It contains a box with a picture of nature inside with grass on the bottom. It creates an affect that makes you think that you are outside. For the outside of the box she uses all emails that she received with negative responses to paste on the box. The emails are all declines for funds to build community art projects. I liked the way she used the technological world vs. nature.
Ariel Baron-Robbins accomplished her thesis by using paintings and video. Her idea is well thought out and visually interesting in both. The paintings are layered with contrasting black and whites along with gesture like figures. The video that she did is just like her paintings but living. She wears all black and moves her body in different gestures. This grad student definitely put thought into her concept.
One of my favorites is Carmen Tiffany. She did the movie about childhood dolls with real world talk. The idea of the modern world is changing the future for the children. Sickening at the same time cartoon like figures are being distorted. She takes lisa frank images and makes them almost annoying. She takes child pornography and gives it a twist. I loved the fact that it was almost like a Jerry Springer show for kids.
Another favorite of mine is Andy Nigon. I am a sculpture major and really loved seeing this piece in progress. He was my teacher last year and I saw him working on this project. He used different recycled material to create a huge elephant. All the methods he used were well thought out and organized. The material was used to look like the elephant skin wrinkles. On the ears he used old blankets and foam for most of the body. The frame is welded metal and the way he calculated the weight to the hind legs is amazing. The piece is very colorful, and makes you want to look all around. The piece never ends you always find something new to look at.
Toni Danette Billick reminds me of the artist that went here named Kaliup Lindsey. She brings about the ideas of Drag queen stars and the psychosexual philosophies in her work. The best one is the vagina sculpture in which you look into it and see a human dressed as a lamb. It is very odd and makes you think of fairytales. The vagina is very realistic and makes you feel like a voyeurist. The idea is to bring into light of what goes on in the everyday life of a drag queen star.
Last, but not least is Maxim Maximovitch. He did an electronic video of a 3-d world. It was cool that you could travel by using a mouse into each room. It looks like he put a lot of effort into making this fantasy world. The contrasts were great using light and dark shadows to form the spaces. I feel like he could’ve made it more interactive though by adding a search for an item or place.
Collectively these pieces of work are the end projects for these artists and I hope they continue to do work even with the judges outcomes. This show was mentally and visually stimulating. For once, it is nice to see what our school is accomplishing rather than another famous artist exhibit. All of these artists put a great deal of work in to this show and I am glad to have seen it.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Artists Guide- pg 71-122
Getting your artwork out there!
In these pages Battenfield discusses techniques her and other artists have used to get their art work exposed. These techniques are very important in trying to make a living off your work. It is important to be organized and on task in our lives, that is why Battenfield identifies how artists need to be knowledgeable on how to produce, advertise, and exhibit their own work.
The key to producing art work is to have motivation and an idea that is consistent. Make sure your work has a theme or thesis to show other people, mostly galleries. The artist must also be willing to take criticism to the full extent. Make sure that your studio is well kept so it may be open to many visitors. As an artist we should constantly visit other studio’s to learn more about how they do things, and take that information for your own studio. We might learn new information which will help us in the future. Also, try to have parties of your own to invite unknown people to see your studio. However, don’t only invite artists, make it a priority to invite all kinds of people. These skills are necessary to proceed on to the next levels for your art work.
In order to make money or sell our art work we have to learn how to advertise. Meaning that we should have business cards and have a website to correspond with. Free websites are easiest such as blogs or the “Free Artist Registries” website. Blogs allow you to have as many pictures as necessary where as “free artist Registries” only allows you to have a certain number of artworks. The “free artist registries” is a site that many curators and gallery owners look at; it is the most important one. Along with advertising comes the artist package. It is a packet that has a resume, an artist statement, pictures on cd rom, and a few exhibition reviews that you received. The artist statement should be straight and to the point, with a tops of 25 descriptive words. This packet along with the websites is key to advertising and selling your work.
Side by side with paperwork, advertising should also take place at exhibitions. As a beginning artist, we can show in a number of places from coffee lounges to banks. Art festivals are a good place to start too. This experience can help us better to get in to nonprofit galleries as well. In order to get into a nonprofit gallery we should do a multitude of research to help us find the right one. Make sure the gallery has a similar theme to your artwork so it will not be a waste of time for you and them. Having your own exhibition would is another idea. You can set your own rules and choose your friends that are artists to join you. It might be more stressful, but having your other colleagues their will make the experience more pleasurable. Having an exhibition for your work will get you out in the world and have your art work recognized.
This book uses artists experiences in the past to help us better understand responsibilities that are in our future. We should have great ideas rolling in, be organized, and make sure we have a blog or website. Having an exhibition is the main key in selling our work. One day these skills will come in handy either now or in the future. Battenfield makes it easy for us to understand once again through her own experiences as well.
In these pages Battenfield discusses techniques her and other artists have used to get their art work exposed. These techniques are very important in trying to make a living off your work. It is important to be organized and on task in our lives, that is why Battenfield identifies how artists need to be knowledgeable on how to produce, advertise, and exhibit their own work.
The key to producing art work is to have motivation and an idea that is consistent. Make sure your work has a theme or thesis to show other people, mostly galleries. The artist must also be willing to take criticism to the full extent. Make sure that your studio is well kept so it may be open to many visitors. As an artist we should constantly visit other studio’s to learn more about how they do things, and take that information for your own studio. We might learn new information which will help us in the future. Also, try to have parties of your own to invite unknown people to see your studio. However, don’t only invite artists, make it a priority to invite all kinds of people. These skills are necessary to proceed on to the next levels for your art work.
In order to make money or sell our art work we have to learn how to advertise. Meaning that we should have business cards and have a website to correspond with. Free websites are easiest such as blogs or the “Free Artist Registries” website. Blogs allow you to have as many pictures as necessary where as “free artist Registries” only allows you to have a certain number of artworks. The “free artist registries” is a site that many curators and gallery owners look at; it is the most important one. Along with advertising comes the artist package. It is a packet that has a resume, an artist statement, pictures on cd rom, and a few exhibition reviews that you received. The artist statement should be straight and to the point, with a tops of 25 descriptive words. This packet along with the websites is key to advertising and selling your work.
Side by side with paperwork, advertising should also take place at exhibitions. As a beginning artist, we can show in a number of places from coffee lounges to banks. Art festivals are a good place to start too. This experience can help us better to get in to nonprofit galleries as well. In order to get into a nonprofit gallery we should do a multitude of research to help us find the right one. Make sure the gallery has a similar theme to your artwork so it will not be a waste of time for you and them. Having your own exhibition would is another idea. You can set your own rules and choose your friends that are artists to join you. It might be more stressful, but having your other colleagues their will make the experience more pleasurable. Having an exhibition for your work will get you out in the world and have your art work recognized.
This book uses artists experiences in the past to help us better understand responsibilities that are in our future. We should have great ideas rolling in, be organized, and make sure we have a blog or website. Having an exhibition is the main key in selling our work. One day these skills will come in handy either now or in the future. Battenfield makes it easy for us to understand once again through her own experiences as well.
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Janusian Process by: Albert Rothenberg
This psychiatrist talks about certain inventors who go through a process of events to become successful in scientific invention. The methods used in their practices are similar to those of artists. Famous scientists like Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein go through “stages” to uncover the ultimate invention or concept. Many scientists in fact, have the same cognitive progression. The Janusian process defines how scientists use the theory of opposites to conceive the final product. The Janusian process is one of the three creative cognitive processes. The investigations included the thoughts, dreams, experiments, and childhood memories of several well-known scientists. Four phases are expressed to better understand the method to forming conclusions. First was the motivation to create, or why. Phase two is deviation from the main idea- towards their own. The third stage is derived from separation, and is named simultaneous opposition-this is where full realization and understanding of implications occurs. Lastly, construction of the theory, discovery or experiment is where modification, and the fine details are worked out. The Janusian process outlines the linear process existing in all creativity.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
The New Tampa Museum
Just Like the M.o.M.a
Visiting the New Museum in Tampa on last Sunday happened to be very enjoyable. It reminded me of the Museum in New York. The Modern architecture was something to gaze at along with the new park that sat by the riverside. The museum is two stories with a huge balcony that overlooks the riverside. It has a cafe, gift shop, and open gallery on the ground floor. The museum exhibits included sculpture, installation, photography, and paintings. Some artists that were most interesting on exhibit were Henri Matisse, Garry Winogrand, and Duh So. The museum did not have many paintings of Henri Matisse, but it was still interesting to see his visual process and female contour drawings in lithograph. The photography exhibit was amazing by Garry Winogrand. He is a documentary photographer who captures different women in different settings around New York in the 1970's. The females in most of the pictures were unaware of his presence. He took pictures of all these non bra wearing women and turned their snapshot into something glamorous. Everyday women, but all beautiful in their own way. A moment frozen in time. I recommend all photo majors to go see it. Duh So had a famous installation that is brilliant. He used sheer fabric and thread to sew a whole bathroom together. It was a 3-D bathroom with a shower, sink, and toilet. Even the circuits were sewn to look like you could plug an appliance in to it. Small but fun, this museum makes a great Sunday afternoon. $5 for student entry and $10 for non-students
Visiting the New Museum in Tampa on last Sunday happened to be very enjoyable. It reminded me of the Museum in New York. The Modern architecture was something to gaze at along with the new park that sat by the riverside. The museum is two stories with a huge balcony that overlooks the riverside. It has a cafe, gift shop, and open gallery on the ground floor. The museum exhibits included sculpture, installation, photography, and paintings. Some artists that were most interesting on exhibit were Henri Matisse, Garry Winogrand, and Duh So. The museum did not have many paintings of Henri Matisse, but it was still interesting to see his visual process and female contour drawings in lithograph. The photography exhibit was amazing by Garry Winogrand. He is a documentary photographer who captures different women in different settings around New York in the 1970's. The females in most of the pictures were unaware of his presence. He took pictures of all these non bra wearing women and turned their snapshot into something glamorous. Everyday women, but all beautiful in their own way. A moment frozen in time. I recommend all photo majors to go see it. Duh So had a famous installation that is brilliant. He used sheer fabric and thread to sew a whole bathroom together. It was a 3-D bathroom with a shower, sink, and toilet. Even the circuits were sewn to look like you could plug an appliance in to it. Small but fun, this museum makes a great Sunday afternoon. $5 for student entry and $10 for non-students
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Elcott my Marclay! It Was Ok.
Ahhh! almost fell asleep , Marclay was sitting in front row. Couldn't even talk for his own work. Some historian named Elcott discussed it frame by frame. What the hell! Good talk but monotone voice and Marclay silent. Something about cyanotypes and Pollock. Famous quote, " Have to forget to be different !Don't remember everything, because your work will be the same as others. " They talked about Cindy Shermon and Man Rays Photography. Cyanotype is a popular method used by many.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Artists Guide pg 28-44 How to's
Showing My Work
In this chapter the author discusses different methods for submitting your art work successfully. "A work sample is a visual image of your work as captured on digital files, color transparencies, photographs, or video." This way is most efficient says Battenfield, and this will probably be the only way people can see your work without visiting it in a gallery. You cannot rely on the gallery or photographer to set up the piece correctly, so we as artists have to be knowledgeable ourselves on our own work. To make sure we have a good sample we should take pictures of the piece from different angles and heights, reduce glares, and make sure all colors of the piece are visible. It is especially important in installation pieces to have a sense of scale so adding a person next to the piece would help in the photograph. The author also said to look in art magazines, and exhibition announcements at other peoples artwork to help with your own art work. For my area in sculpture it is good to take pictures in the processes from beginning to end. She says it would be guiding the curator or gallery through my process to make them more interested. The labeling and digital camera sections are also very helpful for me because I am not familiar with those areas. This chapter is very helpful in my future success with my prints and sculptures. I learned more in this book than any teacher has taught me!
In this chapter the author discusses different methods for submitting your art work successfully. "A work sample is a visual image of your work as captured on digital files, color transparencies, photographs, or video." This way is most efficient says Battenfield, and this will probably be the only way people can see your work without visiting it in a gallery. You cannot rely on the gallery or photographer to set up the piece correctly, so we as artists have to be knowledgeable ourselves on our own work. To make sure we have a good sample we should take pictures of the piece from different angles and heights, reduce glares, and make sure all colors of the piece are visible. It is especially important in installation pieces to have a sense of scale so adding a person next to the piece would help in the photograph. The author also said to look in art magazines, and exhibition announcements at other peoples artwork to help with your own art work. For my area in sculpture it is good to take pictures in the processes from beginning to end. She says it would be guiding the curator or gallery through my process to make them more interested. The labeling and digital camera sections are also very helpful for me because I am not familiar with those areas. This chapter is very helpful in my future success with my prints and sculptures. I learned more in this book than any teacher has taught me!
Artist show Jan 27th 2010
A Woman’s Hero?
It was 7:00pm on January 27th in the year 2010. The guest artist visiting the University Of South Florida was Jackie Battenfield. Famous for her paintings, leadership, and knowledge about the real world; she single-handily stormed through a life of unknown madness to leap to having her own book, The Artist’s Guide. The book uses a step by step process for dealing with the different archetypes of the art world. She explained how she got to this point starting with school. Battenfield graduated with a masters in 1978 while working at a painting supply company. Later in 1981, she decided to open up a non profit gallery in Brooklyn for artists called Rotunda. She started with a $5,000 grant and turned it over into 250,000 dollars by 1989. Jackie Battenfield learned how to write grants, sell paintings, and all while getting married and having a baby in 1982. A terrific challenge for a mom who taught herself everything about the gallery. Battenfield soon did not want to be in Gallery anymore and felt like producing more of her own artwork. As soon as she had her second child she quit the gallery in 1989. Working on her five year plan to be successful, she sold her paintings at galleries which started to pay for everything she needed. In 1991 she made $10,000 off one painting! Can you believe that? Jackie Battenfield now gives seminars around the world and teaches at Columbia University. I learned from her lecture that if I set my goals, I can accomplish them just as she did. She said to always write thank you notes, do follow up calls, and always think about the next year right now. This woman had plans and nothing stopped her from achieving those goals, not even her two kids and husband. G.A.P. Goals- Attitude- Perseverance
It was 7:00pm on January 27th in the year 2010. The guest artist visiting the University Of South Florida was Jackie Battenfield. Famous for her paintings, leadership, and knowledge about the real world; she single-handily stormed through a life of unknown madness to leap to having her own book, The Artist’s Guide. The book uses a step by step process for dealing with the different archetypes of the art world. She explained how she got to this point starting with school. Battenfield graduated with a masters in 1978 while working at a painting supply company. Later in 1981, she decided to open up a non profit gallery in Brooklyn for artists called Rotunda. She started with a $5,000 grant and turned it over into 250,000 dollars by 1989. Jackie Battenfield learned how to write grants, sell paintings, and all while getting married and having a baby in 1982. A terrific challenge for a mom who taught herself everything about the gallery. Battenfield soon did not want to be in Gallery anymore and felt like producing more of her own artwork. As soon as she had her second child she quit the gallery in 1989. Working on her five year plan to be successful, she sold her paintings at galleries which started to pay for everything she needed. In 1991 she made $10,000 off one painting! Can you believe that? Jackie Battenfield now gives seminars around the world and teaches at Columbia University. I learned from her lecture that if I set my goals, I can accomplish them just as she did. She said to always write thank you notes, do follow up calls, and always think about the next year right now. This woman had plans and nothing stopped her from achieving those goals, not even her two kids and husband. G.A.P. Goals- Attitude- Perseverance
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