This past year has been so great! I feel like I have learned so much and have really grown as an artist. First of all, I feel like I have learned how to at least somewhat effectively hone in on a concept, but not let that honing in limit play and exploration. Also, I feel like I have seen improvement in my organizational and time management skill over this past year, especially in the virtual environment. Because of the situation with the pandemic, many of us had to work independently. I think this independence that I was forced to adapt to has most definitely already helped me in other facets of life - as adaptation and flexibility are key to basically everything. Again, this independence also forced me to figure out on my own when to ask for help, teaching me more and more self awareness. Lastly, I feel like this year has really emphasized, in my eyes, the importance of art. I know that sounds broad, but I feel like it has become really apparent that art can be a means of communication and connection - especially in a time where that is hard to find. Overall, I am so grateful for this past year - despite the unusual circumstances - and all that I have learned.
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I decided to make a smaller version of one of my past pieces, Orbit One, to have with the previous piece as a pair at the senior show. This piece is about 2/3s as large as the last, but was made in the same exact manner. I plan on hanging the two pieces next to each other, but with this one a little higher up (further from the ground).
Recently, I finished these two drawings that act a pair. The one on the right, titled "Intent" is meant to represent order. In order to make this piece I used a ruler and compass to draw two circles, and wanted to make sure that some of the actual measurements were a part of the final piece. The piece on the right is meant to represent chaos and is titled "Chance." I made this circle (ish) shape purely by hand. Although you can not see it in these photos, the paper has more natural, rough edges.
Today - April 30, 2021 -Dr. Nicewinter, an art historian, spoke with us about Inka Art and Architecture. She began by explaining the spelling of Inka, which I found very interesting. Basically, it is very difficult to translate from Quechua (the language of the Inkas) to English, and that actually, Inka technically means king. Dr. Nicewinter then went on to discuss more about the actually history, culture, and art of the Inkas.
Within early Inka culture, there was no wheel, writing system, marketplace, or breasts of burden. Because of the mountainous terrain and lack of animals able to pull carts, wheels really wouldn't have had a significant use. In regards to the lack of a marketplace, there was more of an emphasis on the more free exchange of goods and ideas. The land of the Inkas varied both greatly and quickly - marked by quick transitions between dry coastal desert, highlands, and the Amazon Basin. Out of these transitions arose stark differences in resources within the bigger culture, which led to adaptation and the bringing together of differences. The idea of verticality was prominent, meaning that "cross environment interaction took place to obtain necessary food and materials." Basically, people from different latitudes had to work together, despite their varying environments. This actually is a portion of what contributed to the spread of differing art styles. Inka is also referred to, almost more accurately, as Tawantinsuyu, meaning four parts. These four parts are Chinchasuyu, in the NW, Antisuyu in the NE, Qontisuyu in the SW, and Qullasuyu in the SE. Textiles have been deems one of the most important art forms within Inka culture. Basically, weaving was seen as the fabric of the universe. Individual textiles were even thought to be microcosms of the society as a whole. They were never cut, just woven to shape, featured many repeating geometric shapes, and used as markers of identity and status. Cama, in Inka culture, refers to a kind of essence, force, or power. Although there is no known name for artists in the society, many of the weavers were referred to as Camayaks - people who bring the camay. This shows their importance and status within society, in at least a spiritual sense. The idea of Ayni, which deals with two things coming together as a whole and duality, is also key to the culture. Most things within the society were actually even made in pairs become of this, connecting to the emphasis on reciprocity throughout the Inka lifestyle and tradition. Inka architecture was complex, yet very practical. Because of the severity and frequency of earthquakes in the area, the Inkas were forced to adapt. They used dry masonry, curved walls, plain roofs, and even trapezoidal doorways. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this lecture. I feel like I actually learned so much within a short time period from Dr. Nicewinter. One thing that particularly stood out to me was the idea of chaos vs. order within the culture - an idea I explore in my artwork. I really like how this contrast played into the idea of duality, which in the eye of the Inkas, had to do more with connection that opposition or contrast really. Perhaps next I focus more on duality - something I honestly think I have been subconsciously experimenting with in my art more recently. This past week I started to work on the second row of stitching on the circle. I believe I have completed this row on about six of the fabric circles so far. This is definitely time consuming, so I plan on continuing to stitch in my free time these next few weeks, rather than just during designated studio time. I am happy with how it's looking so far, so I'm thinking of continuing to do more and more rows if time permits.
During this week I continued to cut out the small paper circles and adhere them to the fabric. I did more than just what is pictured above, but all of this step looks pretty similar. The circles will be on the back of the fabric when this piece is actually displayed - for more of a subtle look.
Again, my projects have both morphed overtime and I have not decided which is my "at-home" project and which is my "in-class" project. So, here is my progress on each of my two projects. Just to be clear, the newspaper in the background is not a part of this piece. In order to complete this piece, I used basically a stamp and acrylic to create a pattern on parchment paper. I then altered the color or the pattern using more paint and just did some touch ups. I then drew my "orderly" circle on another piece of parchment paper. Next, I attached the two pieces of paper together and put a textured piece of packaging in between. I am happy with how this piece turned out and am definitely grateful for the level of planning I did prior. I plan on making another similar piece that represents chaos. In regards to my other project (the one with the 16 circles and embroidery), I started to add paper dots to the circles inside the embroidered circle. The paper dots will be on the back of the fabric when the piece is complete.
I am currently working on two projects, but have not designated one as my home project, and the other as my in-class project. Above, in the slideshow, is documentation of some experimentation I did this week. I was already planning on doing a simple graphite drawing soon, but when I was given a tray with circles on it I decided I would add a background to my future drawing. I played around with using the tray (both sides of it) as a stamp. I experimented with different amounts of paints, as well as time of contact between the stamp and paper. I think I like the subtly of the side of the stamp where the actually circles remain white. The last picture of the slideshow is a practice for what I plan to do for my piece - draw a precise circle on top of the stamped background.
Howardena Pindell's Website: https://www.howardenapindell.org/ Howardena Pindell was born in Philadelphia, in 1943. She attended both Boston University and Yale, and later went on to teach at State University of New York, Stony Brook, and Yale. Pindell worked at the Museum of Modern Art for around 12 years, with her focus being on Prints and Illustrated Books. Pindell's art-making process involves destruction, as well as reconstruction, and an emphasis on layering and texture. Her work has become more politically driven overtime. Here is a list of some of Pindell's most notable solo exhibitions (taken from howardenapindell.org): "Spelman College (1971, Atlanta), A.I.R. Gallery (1973, 1983, New York), Just Above Midtown (1977, New York), Lerner-Heller Gallery (1980, 1981, New York), The Studio Museum in Harlem (1986, New York), the Wadsworth Atheneum (1989, Hartford), Cyrus Gallery (1989, New York), G.R. N’Namdi Gallery (1992, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2006, Chicago, Detroit, and New York), Garth Greenan Gallery, New York (2014), and Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, Atlanta (2015).” Some of Pindell's work and my personal reflections: Untitled #98:
I really like this piece, and for some reason it kind of reminds me of Picasso's work - maybe because of the colors. More specifically, I like the texture and dimension of this piece, as well as the inclusion of not only paper dots, but the paper that those dots were cut out of. I also appreciated that the dots sort of come off the edges of the board, making the whole piece not just a perfect rectangle. Although I like the use of colors in this piece, I do not love the actual tone of the colors. I typically prefer more vibrance, rather than a chalkier look. I look forward to experimenting with the use of paper scraps with holes punched out of them in my pieces in the future. Prism #3: I was immediately drawn to this piece, Prism #3. I appreciate the incorporation of the paper dots into the paper itself. I feel like this gives the whole piece a certain richness, that it may have lacked if it was simply layered collage. I also like the organic shape of this piece and how that contrasts with the straight lines and geometry of the triangle, or "prism". I think this particular contrast could easily be incorporated in some form into my work, as it, at least to me, goes along with the idea of chaos and order. Untitled #4: I love this piece and its overall simplicity. It reminds me that art can be rich and interesting, even when it involves very few elements. I am curious how Pindell was able to create such depth in this piece. I'm thinking that some of the dots are under some sort of transparent paper, while other are over. This reminds me of what I did with mesh on one of my most recent pieces. I really enjoyed this lunchtime lecture, as well as having the opportunity to talk to Ms. Adams a little bit even prior to the event. I felt that she covered so much information, but at the same time was really thorough - which I greatly appreciated.
A lot of the information she covered was pretty familiar to me as I had heard a very similar lecture a few years ago, but this time served as a great review and reminder. Ms. Adams first talked about both the early influences of the west on the east, that of the east on the west, how Japanese Aesthetics came to be, and what aesthetics really are: beauty and the appreciation of beauty. She also touched on how easily and often eastern culture was misinterpreted. The focus of the lecture then turned more specifically to the concepts of Wabi, Sabi, and Yugen. The idea of Wabi is derived from Shinto ideals and embraces disappointment, poverty, and imperfection - both visually and of life itself. Sabi relates more to sensitivity, and often deals with sadness or melancholy. Lastly, Yugen, which actually originated within Buddhism and came to Japan around the 6th century, deals with mystery, depth, spirituality, and a higher realm. Apart from these three main ideas, Ms. Adams also mentioned a few other prevalent concepts in Japanese Aesthetics. These included but were not limited to the importance and praise of shadows, the role of rice, qualities of food containers, relationship between mystery and darkness, the role of literature, theatre and its evolution, and temple architecture. Overall, I am very grateful I had the opportunity to attend this lecture. I feel like I learned a lot and will be able to use this information as a great resource in the future. I always find myself feeling so inspired after learning about art history and various types of art, and this has proven to be true in this case as well. |
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