Analyze This!!

http://www.rosevillearts.org/Artists/Fondelli_Tamara/index.html

Watch the Magic!!

The world is a place of beauty. Vibrant colors surround us on a daily basis. Now, before this chapter, I might have taken the importance of light for granted when it comes to its relationship with color. I know shadows have been a part of my life since I was young, from games like shadow tag to seeing your shadow on the playground, they have always been apparent. However, when we learned about colors as children, I do not recall our teachers stressing the importance of light. There was simply ROYGBIV, or Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet which made up the colors of the rainbow.

So, as for the pictures above, I took a uniquely shaped, transparent vase and placed it outside on a redwood picnic table in my backyard, where the variation in sunlight is the most significant. The first photo was taken around 2 p.m. which accounts for the intensity of the brightness. The walls of my house appear extremely white, although they are really more of an off-white/eggshell color. The picnic table appears very washed out, rather than the dark shade of brown that it appears to be in person. The sunlight allows for the vase to cast a distinct shadow upon the table which distracts from the intended focal point, or vase. The light also shines through the clear vase, allowing you to see the edge of the picnic table through the top of it. Due to the intensity of the lighting, the value is lighter at the top of the vase than the bottom. The second photo was taken later in the evening, after the sunlight was no longer visible in the backyard. The shades are much darker than in the first photo, and the apparently visible shadow is no longer cast on the right side of the vase. Instead, a very dark shadow appears to the left of the vase, but is only slightly visible compared to the first photo. The walls of the house are now a darker shade of tan, the picnic table has a visible tint to it, and the edge of the table is no longer visible through the vase. Overall, in both photos the vase appears to be a relatively cool color blue, however the shadowing in the second photo gives the vase a much darker value.

Did you ever think about the importance of lighting prior to this experience as far as colors are concerned? I have formed a greater appreciation for the relationship between light and color after this weeks lecture. Now when I step out into the world, I will be seeing it through a different pair of eyes. Eyes that appreciate the importance of light when it comes to viewing the beauty in this world. I think you will take great joy in doing the same.

Line and Space

This week, Chapters 5 and 6 presented many key terms and concepts, some of which I am already familiar with and others that are completely new to me. Linear perspective is present in all surroundings in the world, it's just a matter of whether or not one choses to be aware and acknowlege it. For instance, as you drive down a long stretch of a highway, you will notice that the road will have a single vanishing point which represents a one-point linear perspective. As you will also notice, the world is full of scale. As viewers, we know that as an object gets further away from you it will appear smaller and smaller, yet we also know that this object is always going to be the same size. Perspective is apparent in daily life and choosing to acknowledge it will give you a new outlook on the world. It will help you to see things that you might have previously overlooked.

At work I am constantly looking at plot plans for houses. These are simply outlines of how the house will appear, and from these I am supposed to determine if the house will fit within the given dimensions of the lot. It's amazing that I can gather all of this from a piece of paper and some ink, while sitting at my desk. Never really having to see the actual house or lot. The concept of lines allows many things to become visually evident in the world that surrounds us. So, next time you open your eyes make sure that you are really looking at the amazing things that are right infront of you.

Controversial Art

When I think of art a variety of things come to mind. From architecture, to sculptures, to paintings, the possibilities are infinite. Now, when someone thinks of taking all of this freedom away I simply see a tragedy in the works. The freedom in which art allows an individual to express him/herself is the ultimate beauty of art. Now, as an artist, would I want to check a list of acceptable criteria before letting my imagine run wild? The answer is NO. Predetermined standards would undermine the freedom that art is based upon. Simply placing standards does not take away an individuals creativity or talent. The only thing it would do is prevent the works of art from impacting people around the world. Although, even this may be impossible. For when alcohol was banned, people found ways, right? The impact may just take longer to spread with restrictions in place and the “world of art” that we live in would be forever changed.

Artistic freedom is what makes the topic of art unique. Every country, every culture, and every individual is able to use art as a release of thoughts and ideas. Art can bridge the gaps of languages, customs, and beliefs to bring people together to view and interpret individual pieces of work. If restrictions were placed that limited such freedoms, the circulation of magnificent works of art may see a detrimental impact. Thus, limiting our connection to different parts of the world. Art goes far beyond the individual who created the work and this is what must be taken into consideration before anyone implements regulations or standards upon our connection to the world. No two people view the same image in an identical way, which allows a single work of art to inspire creative interpretations among viewers from various parts of the globe.

So, how can we leave it up to a select few to determine what is “acceptable” for the entire world? Who will these elicit few be that can bring together all these cultural ideas, beliefs and judgments to make a list of “non-controversial” art pieces? The answer is simple, really. Someone will always see controversy where they want to see it. We learn at a very young age that the world is not here to make everyone happy, it is up to the individual to find happiness. So my solution is this, if a piece of artwork has a negative impact on you, simply cross it off your list of things to see and continue on to judge the next piece. If you are not willing to interpret, or see from another’s eyes, the beauty that may be hidden in a piece of work, what are you doing in a museum in the first place? Rather than restrict everyone’s ability to take in art of all forms, simply ask yourself if you are willing to step outside your comfort zone, to enter a world of creativity, risk, imagination, and the unexpected, since this is what museums are all about. If that’s not for you, don’t go.

This week broadened my sense of the impacts of art around the world. I myself would never begin to think of restricting art. Anytime I find a piece of work I don’t care for, I just walk away, untouched and un-offended. I take into consideration that an individual put much thought and time into it and truly respect them for that. I don’t have to like it and I don’t have to look at it either. Art is truly about freewill, both from the artist’s perspective and the viewer’s. I think that is what needs to be considered. It amazes me that some people are willing to sacrifice other peoples’ freedoms, by selfishly thinking their views are above all else, and what offends them must offend all. Take a step back, you are not the only person in this world with morals, religious views, or anything else for that matter. I guess I feel the world would be a better place if everyone was willing to set aside their biases to truly appreciate the time, thought, and freedoms that go into a piece of artwork. Wouldn’t it be great if people realized, “it’s not all about you.”

[These photos are from my trip to the Louvre in Paris. If you ever get the chance to go, it is truly magnificent.]