Module 8

1. Explain why you selected the video you choose from the selection listed above.

I just like Gothic Architecture. I've always found it very beautiful and interesting. Some of the lines remind me of bat wings.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

How Art Made the World 

These "Venus" sculptures can be found ll over the body, made by different cultures... all depicting the female form. What is interesting is that all of the cultures created the bodies with dramatically large breast and big round hips. The video analyzes why this is. They connect the findings to the findings of a research project done with seagulls. Basically, the scientists study how baby chicks react to the beak of its mother with a single stripe verse a fake beak with multiple stripes. What they find is that the chicks go crazy over the fake beak. The analogy here is that these ancient cultures are hardwired just like the chicks. They created these forms with over dramatized features that were valued in their culture and saw them as the most beautiful.    

Late Gothic Art and Architecture
During this time we start to see people having more things and having more comfort. People have things that aren't just religious; We see portraits of regular people and simply beautiful things. However, the church structure is still very grand. Stained glass during this time I found very beautiful and ornate. I thought it was interesting too that they said in the video that a lot of what we consider English art from this time, was actually imported. Books are also a part of this time. Very ornate printed books were sometimes even painted. The concept of printing books was new for the time. 

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

The first video relates to the ancient Mediterranean worlds portion of the reading. The Venuses were all create by ancient cultures and it analyzes why there is this similar dramatization of the female form. The second video I chose about Gothic Art relates to the formation of Europe and Christianity. Gothic art was particularly grand when it came to churches and it originated in England.

4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?
The first video I had seen before, but it's still an interesting piece. I re-watched a lot of it actually. The second video was decent. A little dry in areas, but not horrible. It added depth to the reading by explaining a little more in detail England during this time and Gothic Art. 

M7 Video Review

Architecture: The Science of Design
1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

•  I never thought of the substructure of a skyscraper. The beams underground can sometimes reach 60 meters. 
• Wind can actually be the greatest factor when building skyscrapers. It can make these huge buildings sway up to a full meter. 

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The readings are about Architecture as an art form like sculpture. I thought the video about Frank Gehry really related well to the reading because it talks about how he views architecture as art and how he is largely inspired by paintings.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of Architecture?
 This video was a little dry, but short enough that there were still some points of interest. I generally like the visual design of architecture but I don't normally think much about the stuff that goes into it like the substructure, the computer programing, or wind factors. It's a new perspective for me to think that way.

Frank Gehry: Architecture as Art
1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

•  Frank is inspired by paintings. He feels stuck he looks at paintings for new fuel
• he makes connections through art history, art and architecture
• works with curved surfaces 

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of Architecture?
 The narrator for this video was also kind of dry but his work is interesting. Perhaps I would have better liked to just read an article or see images of his buildings. Plus there was a ton of filler where they just played weird music.

4. Why did you choose the films that you watched?
 I'll be honest, I'm working on midterms this weekend and I'm swamped. These were just the first two videos I grabbed.

Module 6

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Sculptor:

• It's not really a key concept, but I never thought about the way the stone smells before... 
• Anyways. They talk about restoration projects particularity in France. They actually make a mold of the old piece out of plaster and then the sculptors copy the molds of the original. 
• they bang on a block of stone to hear if there are cracks inside or if the stone is good
• when having to ship a sculpture they leave little bridges within the piece for extra strength 
• new ideas are first made in clay, then they are cast into plaster, then finally marble 
• I also learned about the process of removing the marble blocks and how dangerous it used to be. Everything was moved and dropped down the mountain by man power.. the blocks were removed from the mountain with explosives. Accidents happened though and many lost their lives.
• many different crafts people will work on one piece because they all have different specialties 
• also bless the souls of the people who do this because it is such an intense craft form  

Glass and Ceramic

• I love glass. I would love to take a class. 
• the glass is formed with high heat temps. A bubble may be blown into the glass to make a vessel or it can be shaped just by melting in the case of a glass bead. Then it is fired again to strengthen it. 
• stained glass is made by fitting pieces of glass into channeled led strips which eventually are soldered. 
• double glass pains make a huge difference in keeping warmth in a building

• in production ceramics things are often poured into molds and then fired
• then dipped into glaze and fired again
• sometimes the glaze is sprayed 
• ceramics can be used to make hip prosthetic, who knew?

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
Part four in the text is about three dimensional media arts. The videos fall into this same category and help to give visual information about craft.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics: Sculpture, Installation, and Craft?

The films were pretty good! I could have done without the surgery scene (warn a girl), but other than that it was interesting to watch the crafts people at work. I have a soft spot for craft in fine arts. Must be that East Aurora state of mind I grew up with. The videos add depth to understanding simply because it's visual. It's one thing to read about it, but you don't really understand what goes into a craft form until you see it or try it. 

Module 6 Reviewing Peer Responses

1. Hyperlink the Blogs you reviewed into your Blog

https://funartinquiries.blogspot.com/

https://art-inquiry-doodles.blogspot.com/

2. When looking at Project #1: (Elements and Principles), did you agree with the element or principle the artist listed with the images? Did you see other elements and principles in the images?

Sometimes, I find the elements and principles over lap. For example sometimes line and pattern can both be present. I agreed with all of the images that I saw and it was interesting to see other students examples and how they satisfied each element or principle. 

3. When looking at Project #2: Where there any images in the Peer Blogs the same as your own? If yes, what were they? Where the reasons the image was selected the same or different as your own?

Heather and I both talked about the van Gogh in the gallery. She too talked about the visible brush strokes, but generally speaking I think we notice the strokes in a different light. Heather views the piece as a fearless rebellion, while I see his painting style as an attempt to cope with life and feeling.

4. Where there any images that your Peers selected that pique your interest now? If yes, what are they and what is your connection with them? What would you want to know about them?
I shouldn't even admit this, but I so seldom walk through the lower level of the art gallery that I didn't know that we had that Jackson Pollock piece. Doug mentioned it in his post and while I am very familiar with the work I am looking forward to going back and enjoying it in person. 

5. What do you think about  the process of reading your peers reflection? Do you find this to be a valuable in your learning?
Sure, It was nice to see my peers responses. It's always interesting to see the world through someone else's eyes for a moment. 

6. Check your Blog and read comments posted by your Peers. Do you find their comments helpful?
I have not received any comments. 

Logo

1. Discuss what you thought about creating your logo.
I really enjoyed making and doodling my logo. It's fun to kind of think about branding yourself in this way.

2. Describe the process: creative thinking skills and ideas you used in the logo creation.
I use the name Rae Khahn on my work. It's a condensed version of my first and last name. I don't really even remember why or when I started doing it, but I've been signing my work this way for the last 10 years or so. So I worked with the name and the notion of "ray's of sunshine".

3. What was the most important discovery you made in the creation of your logo?
Simplicity is key! when you do too much, it's cluttered. I tried to keep it simple and legible. 

4. What is the most important information you learned from watching the videos, powerpoint, and reading material  for this project? What is your opinion of the videos?
The most important thing for me was just seeing how much trial and error are in it. It was important to remind myself to keep sketching and pushing myself to try lots of little different variations. 

Art Gallery Visit 1

A.) Which artworks make an impact or impression on me? Why?
Carbon/Solid, by Liza Lou was really impactful for me. At first when I saw this big black canvas I thought "What's the deal with this? it's just a solid canvas?" So I got closer to it... at which point I realized that it was actually composed of thousands and thousands of tiny black beads woven together. It really struck me. What a beautiful dedication the artist must have had to this piece. 

This is not a Fountain, Subodh Gupta impacted me because I heard it before I saw it. There's something special about a piece that uses other senses. It sounds like a stream running in nature which is a direct contrast to its actual form. It was composed of old silverware, pots and pans! What a neat idea. The artist collected old pots and pans from families in India. The piece symbolizes the rapid industrial change in India.

B.) Which artworks do I feel a connection with? Why?
Then of course, I loved seeing the van Gogh's that are up right now. La Maison de la Crau (The Old Mill), is a favorite of mine. I'm not sure that I've actually ever seen a van Gogh in person? They really struck me because of their texture. He laid the paint on so thick and there's this beautiful quality of movement in his brush strokes. I think one of the reasons it impacted me is because this style is very much how I paint too. It was inspiring to see this old master painting in person.

I must not have jotted the name of this piece down... I stood and looked at it for a while though. It felt like home. When I was growing up there was a big field just beyond the woods behind my house. The field would always sprout wild flowers, queen ann's lace, daisies, and buttercups. I can remember just laying in the field as a kid and feeling the wild blow through the plants all around me. This painting brought me right back to this place. The texture of the paint made me want to reach my hand out and touch it. It seemed to capture the feelings of wind and nature in such a pure way. 

C.) Which artworks would I like to know more about? Why?
Cycle, this piece was just so massive. I'd like to know how the artist went about constructing it. What sort of feelings inspired its shape and what it meant to them to work with the material of bamboo. 

The Devil's Bridge, which is a series of three photographs was interesting to see. I would like to hear the photographer talk a bit about the bridge's more and why they chose to capture them.