Garment Tests

Core Studio Concepts : End of Semester Evaluation

            My very first project was the easiest, yet most meaningful.  My favorite piece was my pocket shrine because it held special meaning and was very personal to me.  My most successful piece was my garment prosthesis because it had to be completely thought out and have a final product ready to present and perform with.  It was costly and challenging, but well worth the overall effort that went into it.

            During this semester, I learned what materials I enjoyed using and working with.  I like working with paper, textiles, products from bees (honey and wax), flowers, and a good portion of my works focused on human and animal anatomy.  I’ve really enjoyed learning more about sculpture and feel this is a focus area in my future.

             The most challenging assignment for me was the object space relationship assignment.  In the end I wasn’t very happy with my final product.  It was very simple, not in a good way.  If I was going to redo the project I would come up with a completely different idea.  To make the project presentation better, I would have used wire and sewed it into the garments to create the illusion of the hanger instead of using only paint.

            The guest and faculty speakers always had something interesting to say whether I agreed or not with it.  Each person shared new thoughts that will in various ways shape the way I think as an artist.  My favorite speaker was Anthony Sonnenberg as well as the Degenerate Art Ensemble.  I found all of then captured my attention.

            In this class I have had to learn what I can handle in relationship to time restraints. But honestly I know I could have pushed myself further in this class.  I do however feel I fulfilled the assignments.  I learned new processes that I enjoy using to develop my work.  I have learned that I like building things and how sometimes the materials dictate what my final piece looks like.

Degenerate Art Ensemble

On Thursday we had visitors from the Degenerate Art Ensemble who shared information about their combined efforts of using music, art, and performance to create a performance production.  Their productions are a collaboration of many people from each genre to create a final work of art.

I was especially interested in how the costumes they showed us made noises and sounds that were incorporated into the overall piece.  I also liked how the clothing (art pieces) that was worn impacted what the actors and actresses could or could not do.  The ability to freely move about was constrictive at times.  Clothing that we wear in our day to day lives is simple compared to the nature of the art worn in their productions.  Some pieces were limiting in movement.

Hot and Cold Connections

 

 

 

Object Space Relationship

Kristin Tollefson

 

 

 

Kristin is a sculptor who also installs art work, does public works, and performances.  She is trained as a metal smith and does a lot of wire work in her sculptures.  She incorporates many techniques along the way.

I find her sculpture work really beautiful and detailed.  I find her works very intricate, sweet, yet stellar. Her metal work is mostly inspired by nature. 

She has a shy side, but when she is performing it gives her opportunity to show the other sides of her personality.  Art gives her an outlet to express herself in many ways. 

First Thursday Art Walk

Float

Britland Tracy

 

One of my two favorite works of art was a photograph created by Britland Tracy.  Her picture called “Float” was well-balanced and appeared unfocused.  This picture included people in a swimming pool with only one facing upward while the others faced down.  This figure floating face up is of a woman who is in the forefront and she appears to be free and floating.  The other figures present a lesser image of being free, almost as if they are swimming and not floating.  As I reviewed her gallery, I preferred the photo that we saw on our art walk more so than the others shown in this collection on her website.  You can view these photos and learn more about what Britland was trying to capture at the following address.

http://britlandtracy.com/2012/10/07/float/

 

Marne Cohen-Vance

I observed three works altogether created by Marne Cohen-Vance – Section, Still-life I, and Still-life II.  I enjoyed all three of these pieces that incorporated fabric, sewing, and the human anatomy.  As an artist she also works for the Pacific Northwest Ballet where she works as a costume designer which I found intriguing especially because of my dance background.

Tony Sonnenberg- Pilchuck Glass

 

                Pilchuck Glass School was well represented Thursday night when six members of their residency program came to visit and share their experiences.

                The person that I enjoyed listening to most was Tony Sonnenberg.  Looking at pictures of his works was so inspiring as the detail that he puts into each piece is incredible.  He mentioned that many of his pieces are very beautiful but that does not necessarily arrive out of beautiful thoughts.  He shared how the labor of his work and the amount of time dedicated to each piece of art is important as one needs to devote themselves to their works if they want to have an amazing piece of art as the end result.   I share this same belief that one must give time and energy to their work if they desire a well-received outcome for themselves as well as the audience at hand.

Lewis Watts and Cable Griffith

 

                On Thursday, October 18, 2012, we were able to listen to Lewis Watts and Cable Griffith talk about their work.  One thing Lewis said was, “Line is just where two planes connect.  There is no line in the real world, only in paintings and drawings.”

                This statement sits well with me because whenever I try and draw something from the real world, I tend to start with lines.  But it is more like puzzles pieces fitting together with different values and shapes.  Looking at two walls that meet, you can see two clear planes that come together at the edge.

                Cable’s statement, “One’s artwork is an influence to oneself”.  This represents that an artist can continue learning from your past works.  You still can gain outside influences from other artists.   The more work one does, you will begin to see similarities by showing items, patterns, and interests that keep influencing your future works.  Cable also stated that at times you may feel like you are going in circles, but really you are not making full circles, more like loops.

Tobba by Shirin Neshat

            On Thursday the 11^th of October, our class attended the Seattle Asian Art Museum on Capitol Hill. There were various artists whose works were on display, a very collective set of works to view and enjoy. We were asked to pay special attention to Shirin Neshat’s film Tobba (tree). The film was displayed on two different walls simultaneously and they were facing each other. They did not show the same image at the same time but they eventually linked to one another.

            I personally enjoyed the film very much. There were times when I was concerned for the woman in the tree, especially when the connection was made that the men were getting closer to the tree. I felt relief when she suddenly disappeared from the scene. Since there were so many men compared to the one woman, it seemed like she was going to be harmed.

            Next I found myself concerned for the tree.  I was glad to see that the men kept their distance from the tree. It was almost like there was a force field around the tree that would not allow them to get closer.

 

Site Book

Ephraim Russell

 

Once you have decided on your next creation, what have you found is an effective way to begin preparing?

 

What I have found to be most effective when working with sculpture is using a graphic design program such as Adobe Illustrator.  Using this program I can make a blueprint for my idea and have a clear vision of what the pieces of the project will look like.  This also allows me to see things in different scales and from all angles.

The next step is to gather materials.  Using the program, I then decide what pieces I will need to have manufactured or which ones I shall make on my own.  Once the pieces arrive, I then begin creating the piece.  Over the process things may change from my original design and sometimes the design is based on the space I am displaying it in.  The project will evolve based on area, lighting, and color.

 

 

Work of Art: The Next Great Artist Focus Event

 

                We had the opportunity to meet two former Cornish graduates who were featured on the Bravo Network in a reality television show called The Next Great Artist.  Although they were on separate seasons, they both were one of fourteen contestants.  Mark Velasquez and Jazz-Minh Moore shared their experiences on the show and at Cornish.  

                Making art on a reality show was very challenging for both.  One example shared was how they were given twenty minutes to form an idea prior to shopping for the needed art supplies.  Due to the inability to gather additional supplies, they were bound to their original idea.  Each challenge was timed and the artists found themselves unable to go very far outside their initial idea because of time restraints.

                During the duration of their participation in the making of the reality series, they were unable to have any outside influences such as music, television, internet, newspapers, or telephone.  This challenged their ability to make their work their own, not formed from ideas brought forth from outside media or contact with others.  Most artists find outside influences beneficial to their overall creativity, yet possessing the ability to make it their own.

                The show was a positive experience in that all of the artists received attention via the media.  Whether the press shared positive or negative comments about the works or their participation in the series, both artists agreed that even negative press got their name out there.  It was challenging being shut out from their normal routines and learning to adapt to the surroundings and other participants.

               

Storefronts of Seattle

 

 

On Thursday, September 20^th, our class visited the storefronts of Seattle.  In all we visited three sites.

Installation #1:

Artist:  Gregg Schlanger, Basic Water Requirements

Location:  505 5^th Avenue South, Seattle – VULCAN, Inc .

Site:  #4 on the storefronts of Seattle map

When first arriving at the window front one sees a lineup of glass jugs, some containing a substance, and others not so much.  The substance is a necessity – water.  Upon further observation, one begins to learn what the artist is sharing with his audience.

Each jug represents a country.  It is properly labeled with the country name, a cutout outlining the shape of the country, and then a number sharing the number of liters of the basic water requirements for that country.

The jugs were displayed in a row and in order from least to greatest, left to right.  Somalia was one of the countries that had the least and Canada had the greatest.  The scale went from zero to 818 liters.

The artist draws your attention and puts things into perspective.  With the daily water requirement being fifty liters, some countries have less than a liter available.  The struggles faced by these countries that have a limited water supply, face a major water shortage leaving them unable to grow food and provide water for drinking.  The sad outcome can be death for the residents.

The display which is located in a real estate building does mirror the display.  Considering the ability to buy a small piece of real estate with running water is a luxury.  When thinking of the big picture, some countries do not have enough water to serve their people.  Countries such as Canada and the United States should be thankful not only for the opportunity to own their small piece of the world but to have adequate water available.

 

Installation #2:

Artist:  Paul D. Mckee

Location:  411 Maynard Avenue South, Seattle – SCIDPDA

Site:  #6 on the storefronts of Seattle map

For this display, I am unable to connect the artists’ work to the location.  The site to work did not relate in any fashion being it was displayed in the Asian community.  The only consideration may be that some people’s homosexuality or ones ethnicity is not always accepted.

This display depicts controversy.  There were two pieces each containing a mounted head of a person.  They were mounted like a trophy deer one would see displayed by a hunter.  Each head had antlers and ears like a deer. 

Surrounding one head is a swarm of bees that gradually lead over to the second head.

Until I read the display description, I had a hard time interpreting the work.  What I learned was that Paul Mckee is a gay artist whose sexuality was not accepted in his home life growing up.

I feel that I was unable to further interpret was he was trying to show.  Although I liked certain elements of the display, such as the swarming bees, I just could not personally connect and understand the overall context of the display. 

 

 

 

 

Pocket Shrine

Artist Perspective: Ruth Marie Tomlinson

 

September 13, 2012

 

Ruthie uses many resources to influence her art.  She is an avid reader, enjoys writing, and uses sketch books to record her thoughts and ideas.  Her education was provided at Evergreen State College and the University of Washington.  She has spent a lot of time working with various textiles.

People who have influenced her passion for art are Louise Bourgeois and Ann Hamilton.  Louise has worked a lot with tapestries and a favorite piece that inspired Ruthie, created by Bourgeois, is called Articulated Lair.  The way in which this piece is displayed, Ruthie thought it encompassed a humming sound only to find out later that the sound was coming from the building it was displayed in.  Ruthie is drawn to sounds and therefore the overall effect of the humming drew her into the piece even more.

One of Ruthie’s works was created out of inner tubes which were placed on the floor.  When one walked upon the inner tubes, she especially enjoys the sound it made.  She has come to incorporate sound throughout her works.

We learned about a second residence that Ruthie visits in the summer located in Montana.  It is called Two Dot Spot.  She loves the never ending horizon lines.  The shadows created by the ever evolving weather patterns are a source of creativity.  She has used coffee and ink to create a representation of the shadows onto paper.  This home gives her immense pleasure and truly provides a lot of ideas for her creativity.

 

 

The Henry Art Gallery

 

September 6, 2012

The Henry: Gary Hill, Contemporary Art & Vinyl

The Vinyl Show captured my attention the most.  I was drawn to the many uses of the vinyl and the incorporation of items such as a bird for a needle, padlock, and bow from a violin.  I liked how some were melted, broken, and some were in their original form.  The tower of records was amazing because of the overall number of records present in the display.  The artist captured your attention by the sheer number of ways in which he interpreted the records.

In addition to a terrific display, the added benefit of being able to hear music totally brought the visual and audio aspects together.  I loved how the one room had multiple records playing simultaneously creating one melody even though each one seemed to be its own instrument. 

I spent quite a bit of time in the vinyl show not allowing me to visit the other areas of the exhibit.  I was able to briefly view the other areas because of time constraints, but perhaps I just spent too much time enjoying Gary Hill’s show.  I’m someone who truly enjoys music and this show captured my attention deeply.  I really would like to see this again if time allowed and perhaps the areas I missed.  I would highly recommend this to others.