scrapbook vingt-deux

I found these wicker ball lights on a clearance aisle in target during winter break, and hung them up immediately when I returned for the spring semester. I think my roommate and I have had them lit maybe four times (?) this semester. Yea, we fail epically. Yesterday we were having a bonding evening, watching a great classic, Aladdin, and a soon-to-be classic (not really haha) Harper's Island. Disney makes me immensely happy, so I was really hyper and was all over the place. I randomly decided we should have the wicker lights on. For the first time I noticed the effect they had on the room. My attention was drawn the shadows. I don't know why, but it made me feel like I was in a forest. Shadows are such amazing things. They can be beautiful, like this, or they can represent something terrifying, like shadows in the woods on a moonlit night, you can't identify what they are from. Yet, in order to have a shadow, you need light coming from somewhere, and light is a symbol for hope and security. It's interesting to think how something so scary can come from light. I am going to make sure to use these lights more next year.

scrapbook vingt et un

These are my pre-approval of transfer credit forms from the registrar. Due to job shortage in my hometown, my mother and father decided that it would be best for me to take classes and work around the house the rest of the time. I don't think I am going to take all of them, but in the off chance I chose one over the other I need to make sure I get credit for my effort. My attention was drawn to them for a couple reasons. One is that they are symbols for my summer, or in this case lack there of. I only have three more "vacations" in my lifetime. I think before this I took them for granted, but now I realise that I should attempt to enjoy them to the fullest extent since pretty soon I will be working fulltime. Another reason is that they were such a pain in the butt to get/hand in/etc. I thought it would be simple, go to registrar, fill out form, leave, come back, pick up. No. There were like eighteen more random steps in between and about eighteen people (some of whom were nasty to deal with) at the front desk of Glendenning. Its seems like a lot of work just to have more work approved so that once that work is done you can go have more work done to have the grade put on your transcripts. Well at least now I know how lovely the process is...Summer is currently fifteen days away for me. Fifteen days until one of my last summers ever, and I will be doing more homework. Joy.

impressionism reflection

For my second artist talk/lecture/visit I went back to the National Gallery with my French Conversation class to see a guided tour of the impressionism exhibit. Impressionism is my favorite style of art. I took Intro to Art History last semester, but since it was getting near the final, we kind of breezed through this topic, so I only knew that I liked impressionism. The tour itself was really interesting, because rather than just go on and on about the picture, the docent asked us what we saw and what we thought the artist was trying to convey. Also, the information about the artists seemed really personal, and not just a general overview of his or her life. For example, after seeing two self portraits, one by Van Gogh and the other by Gaugin, the docent preceded to tell us about their tumultuous relationship and that they only agreed on one thing. They both thought Gaugin was a genious. I was also fascinated that pretty much all of the artists we looked at were going blind because of their work, and that was a big reason why their "impressions" were so important, because they lacked the ability to see all the details. Monet was my favorite, because I loved his series. Its so true that you get a different feeling seeing something at different times of the day, and his paintings definitely reflect that notion.

film reflection

I really enjoyed the film, La Jettee (I know there is supposed to be an accent somewhere in there). Not only was the story itself kind of interesting, but the concept of that one important image that would last with you for all time rang true with me. There are images, not ones that were photographed or documented in any other place but my mind, that have been with me for years. Some in particular though I see a lot. The image of my mother and father crying as they explained to my brother and I what happened on September 11th is one that will forever haunt me. As a child, I think you just naturally expect your parents to be strong and defend you. I finally saw how vunerable they were, and it shattered my world to an extent. It made everything after that seem slightly more terrifying, because I knew that my parents had the same feelings I did, but constantly had to hide them. I think I am going to use this idea in my narrative project. The single image forever scarred into a man's memory....

scrapbook vingt

These are my newest pair of headphones. This school year alone, I have had to buy four new pairs. For some unknown reason, the right speaker always blows out and dies. At first I didn't think that it would matter, but after a while, hearing only through one hear tends to give you a headache. A really bad headache. I can not pinpoint exactly why they fail me, but every month and a half, they stop. Last year I didn't really think about my headphones, or how vital they were to my existance. This year, however, has been rather traumatizing. I am hoping this pair lasts me. I never thought about how techinical headphones were before. Each of my other pairs looked totally fine, yet the right ear did not function in any way shape or form. They are not art because, since I am poor, I buy the cheap, unaesthetically pleasing sony ones. Maybe they die because they are cheap? Anyway, I think they deserve attention because of how often they are used and the detail put into them (or possibly my case since they are cheap the lack thereof?). They have the ability to provide enormous amounts of entertainment without disturbing anyone else around you. That's pretty nifty. Imagine how loud the world would be without them. They are so tiny too! It's incredible such a loud sound can come from them. Since they are tiny, it's also difficult to find the problem. In mine for example, maybe a wire snapped, or I turned it up too loud. I guess I'll never figure it out.

scrapbook dix-neuf

My birthmark on my leg has plagued me for as long as I can remember. Its an eye sore that causes anyone who sees it to wonder what the hech happened to me. I've been asked if I've been injured (which based on my coordination is likely),if I have a rash/disease/infection, if it is a tattoo, or if it is paint (?). Nope. None of the above. It's a birthmark. I used to hate it so much that I never wanted to wear anything but jeans. It was awful. And they used to be worse since I was smaller, they were closer together and the color was way more intense. They are like purple Rorschach blots. Yet inspite of the fact they are ugly, they make me unique. I have never met anyone else with a similar birthmark. At least one that pronounced. I am now proud of it. I was told that once I got to high school it would disappear. I'm glad they are wrong. It makes me "me". If it was not there, it would be like a part of my life/identity was gone too. This doesn't really have a GoogleEarth link, since I didn't know where I was from, since I move around and such.

scrapbook dix-huit

This is a guitar pick I found when I was vactioning in North Carolina. I picked it up, because I had planned on making it into an earring for my high school spirit day. Our color was yellow, and the more creative you were, the more likely you would be on powder puff court (the uber-strict allgirlcatholicschool equivalent of homecoming court aka fun). I attempted all four years, and failed miserably, probably because I never wore this in my ear haha. It usually sits in my shadow box on the wall. Now I look at it and it means so much more. It serves as a reminder from that vacation but it makes me think of who it belonged to. My family is very consistent. Each year we go to the same beach, stay the same week, and at the same house. I wonder if the person that left this has a similar schedule. If he/she is there the week before me. Or if it came from months before. What kind of music did it "create". I'm hoping anything but country...

scrapbook dix-sept

This is fly paper from my garage, it is definitley kind of nasty, but it caught my eye. Fly paper when you think about it, is rather morbid. Insects that manage to fly into it, are stuck, waiting for their slow inevitable death. And we as humans, not only allow this, but are fascinated by it. There are new victims everyday, which when I was younger, was "wicked cool". It simply hangs from the center of my garage as a symbol of our control over nature. You can not help but notice it and what it has done. It's awful. I can't imagine dying that way, yet I am drawn to it. I bet when I go home there will be even more bugs. And you can count on me to look and see.

Rupunzel Reflection

I'm really glad we went over the reading by comparing it to a well known story/tv show/movie. It helped me better understand the cosmological aspect of a narrative. Plus it reinforced how common every story is, themewise anyway. The characters may be different, but the problems/drama are basically the same. I'm excited to see how that will play out in our project. With "x" amount of images for us to use, it will be a challenge to create a story, but interesting to see the elements, literally, structurally, anthropomorphically, and cosmologically that are the same and those that completely unique and different.

artist onze

Although he studied to be a photographer, John Klima worked as a software programmer after college for several years. While the job gave him flexibility to work on other creative projects, it also influence his later work. At Microsoft he started thinking of other ways to organize files and apps, possibly in a three dimensional way. Glasbead (99-00)is the result of this influence. A spherical orb, Glasbead is a three dimensional interface that allows the visitor to create music alone or through collaboration. There are two kinds of stems, bells and hammers, that the visitor can upload music onto. When the hammers come in contact with the bells, a new sounds/music is created. This happens by clicking on the center of the orb and spinning it. I tried downloading it, but it only went up to Windows XP, and not Vista, so it was not working properly. Like the last artist/group I wrote about, I like that this can be done in collaboration. I think that it is important to bounce ideas off of other people. Sometimes it is the best way to learn. I also appreciate that Klima incorporated what he learned at Microsoft into art. It's another example of why collaboration is so important. If that had never happened, neither would have Glasbead.

artist dix

Raqs Media Collective is a group that created OPUS in 2001. OPUS or Open Platform for Unlimited Significance, is a communal website where visitors can both upload their own work and use other submitted pieces to amp up their own. These remixed pieces are known as rescensions. According to Raqs, rescensions are not copies or clones, that there is no stealing of ideas or pieces. Rescensions are like children of specific parents. This is an interesting site because it allows appropriation and collaboration for different art works. The article described that this was an almost utopian ideal for artists, that it seems too good to be true. It does seem to ideal, but it got me really excited. For some reason it didn't come up properly on my computer, probably because of the shared filed issue that St. Mary's is not a fan of.... Anyway, you can search by keywords and descriptions. Then the new work appears next to the old apparently. It sounds really cool. I think it's important to have a place to share ideas, because it is the best way for someone to grow as an artist. Hopefully when I go home/not connected to St. Mary's internet, that it will work!

artist neuf

Feminine Extension

Cyberfeminist artist, Cornelia Sollfrank, entered the first ever Hamburg Museum of Art's Gallery of Contemporary Art's international net art competition in 1997. This contest, unlike others before it, stated that only truly web based art and not other medias displayed through the internet would be considered. The first museum of its kind to hold such an event, it was suprised to receive 280 contestants. Unbeknownst to the judges, over seventy percent of the applicants were web programs created by Sollfrank. She created a program known as Female Extension that made up various women, from different backgrounds and styles that were backed by legitimate e-mail addresses. Additionally, these "women" also had separate entries. Basically, they were a part of her entry, but had their own lives so to speak. These works took HTML information and played with it in a way that they resembled other pieces. After the winners were announced, she came out with what she had done. All three of the winners were male, which Sollfrank had predicted. Her work was meant to criticize the blatant sexism of the system. Miraculously, even though over half of the applicants were female, the men somehow won. I think this was a really interesting way of calling them out. I'm not exactly a feminist, but sometimes its hard to deny that men have it easier in certain situations. She may not have won the prize, but she won in the sense that the judges at the Hamburg Museum can not deny their decisions. Using art to prove a point is really powerful, yet one little slip and the wrong meaning could be conveyed. Sollfrank was intelligent in the way this was planned out.

robert frank reflection

I really enjoyed the Robert Frank exhibit at the National Gallery. For some reason, unbeknownst to myself, I am drawn to black and white photography. To me, I feel like b&w adds or emphasizes the emotions of the picture. Without color your eyes focus better on the other physical qualities of the images. Although somethings seem to blend together, facial features and other aspects are more defined in way. What was really striking about his work was how he had the sequences so eloquently planned in his mind, yet most of the photographs were candid. Without the information from the tour, he subtle transitions from section to section with a flag indicating a new chapter would have gone unnoticed by myself. I also liked the room with all of the images from the Americans and how he worked hard to create his message about injustice in this country. My favorite things, however, were the images of the miners and the book he made for his wife. You can't help but notice the eyes of the miners. They fade away due to the fact they are blacked out by the coal. It was eerie to see. Some of my family members were miners and it's unbelievable to think that people go through that kind of labor daily. The book for Mary was adorable, it was cute that he strung all of their memories together, and that he cared enough to simply remember them.

self portrait reflection

My objective self portrait was more difficult then I expected it to be. When I think of the work objectivity, I generally think of the terms unbiased and truthful. It's hard to present an image as objective when the majority of your audience has no idea who you are, where you came from, or where you are going. I thought about doing a fake online dating ad, something like eHarmony, since it would be funny, and a statement of the facts. But someone who may not know me may not see what I had as objective. My hair is brown, true, but how do they know I don't dye it (I don't by the way). I don't wear glasses, but do I wear contacts? It was very complicated. So I scrapped that idea, and just decided to take a plain, boring, uneventful picture of myself and add a comment or two. During this project I realized that I can never take a decent photo within the first three attempts. In the end I could have chosen a picture of me that looked more like a school portrait, but I ended up going with one of the ones that had me blinking/wincing. The inability to take a good photo within the normal amount of time before people get annoyed is who I am, no sugar coating. The piece ended up looking sloppy though, so I am not too pleased with it.

The subjective self image was so much easier. The fact that no one really knows me in the class makes it interesting too. I chose my first and last school portrait, because not only do they represent the progress I've made in my life, but they aren't objective images of myself. They are staged, which adds a whole new dimension to it. The background is a scene that could either be inside or outside, it depends on the person viewing it. I wanted it to be more like a room, with a view looking out, to where I want to go. In the window is an image of a run down plantation. I want to work with historic preservation after school, so that's what I am running to. There are also images of my art work from the past year. My parents don't really get why I like art and want to pursue it in some fashion. It's been a source of tension recently. The song is the Beatles' "She's Leaving Home". The lyrics tie in with this notion of growing up. I want to get away from where I grew up, not because I hate it, but because I am longing for something more. It's nothing against my family, and they are having a difficult time understanding. I made it look like an actual note because I liked that element of is it a note, what is it. More subjectivity I guess.

From the critique I realized that I am a very subjective person. People choose to represent themselves in certains ways and its totally subjective, even the ways they are portrayed objectively. A conscious choice went into that project, one that we as viewers can't really understand until we talk to the artist himself/herself.

Rapunzel Notes

-What does this have to do with art?
-Rapunzel: full of patterns, repetition of characters and ideas-this sets up the world.
-I thought it was interesting that simply telling a story sets up the structure of the world with teh relationships of self and other. Interpretation gives us insight into how we think of ourselves in realtionship with where we came from, where we are going, and were we will end up.

scrapbook seize

This is another object I found at Second Chances. It's an old door knob (bad picture I know, sorry). What was cool about this when I found it was that it was the only non glass door knob in this huge barrell of them. The glistening glass in various colors were magnificent, but this stood out like a sore thumb. Like the club feet, it too is covered in toxic paint, but its not rusted. I don't know why, but I really want to know where it came from. It seems like in my neighborhood we all have the same generic knobs, boring and uniform. They can't even be painted, well they can but then your house looks really tacky. This has several layers of different paint, which you can kind of see in the picture. There was a design involved even in the door knobs, which it totally cool. I'm going to leave this as it is, and attach it to a small piece of wood and use it as a hook for necklaces.

scrapbook quinze

Over spring break, my mother and I went to this store called Second Chances in Baltimore City. Basically it's an architectural salvage warehouse as well as antiques dealer. We had seen it on a Trading Spaces episode a few years ago, and decided to finally pay it a visit. It was by far the coolest place I had ever been. They had ticketbooths from the Philadelphia convention center, old church pews, and rows upon rows of intricate stained glass windows. The little things, however, drew my attention more. These are two different claws from a clawed tub. Although their styles are similar, they are slightly different sizes and in different stages of dilapidation. For most people, these would be trashed. They are probably covered in eighty layers of lead paint, rusted to the core, and crumbling from the inside-out. This store, however, notices the potential of these found objects and helps give them a new life. I plan on fixing these up this summer, stripping the lead and such, and using them as book ends. It's definitley a conversation piece.

artist huit

Have you ever questioned if you actions on the internert actually garner any results? Ken Goldberg's Telegarden addresses this idea. Viewers log onto the Telegarden website and take care of plants via the internet, watering, adding sunlight, etc. In the center of this small garden, a robotic arm is present to carry out the actions the viewer has sent. Do these actions actually effect the plants, or did Goldberg have everything present. He is trying to make people question the "infallibility" of the internet, that it does not control every aspect of life. The engineering professor also created Demonstrate, where viewers can log onto the site, and have the ability to control a camera on the Berkley campus, zooming in and out on various students passing by. I like his work because it is a demonstation of how dependent on the internet society is. We are too lazy to actuall grow plants, but we are more than willing to click on certain buttons and have someone else do it for us. But maybe they weren't even doing it for us. The latter piece is more subtle in how it takes over our lives. We don't actually get out and participate in activites to see things, we have to see it through the internet. It's actually kind of sad....

artist 21

This viewing of the Artist21 series was another opportunity to learn more about artists and how varied they are. Sally Mann's photography is more than simply capturing an image. She only takes ambiguous photos that cause people to think about the subject itself as well as the meaning. Art has to be spontaneous, perfected in the imperfections. In both her portraits and landscapes, the self proclaimed atheist finds a way to express a beautiful spirituality that others can gain from after viewing her work. Mel Chin doesn't shy away from any type of art. He believes art can give an object new life. SPAWN brings condemned houses into a new life while Knowmad combines ancient tribal influence and modern technology so that a new generation can understand the past with the new information of the present. He gave a really cool quote, "Art's the same as it's always been, never the same". I think its a great statement on the ever changing nature of art itself. James Turrell was a little difficult to understand, since math/science and I are not friends. I enjoyed though, that he made those scientific concepts into a world that everyone can enjoy. Roden Crater will one day allow people to "see" that the earth moves, which is bizarre, but cool. Gabriel Orozco is an artist that is "intimate" with everything he sees. Nothing is left out of consideration. He realizes art is a communication for people, and as such uses common place objects to help make revolutionary statements.

Out of these four, I really liked Sally Mann's work the best. While she captures the moment, its so specific and detailed that it looks like it came directly from a memory. Although the children were posed, it looked like everything was playing out right before our eyes.

scrapbook quatorze

While on the subject of items my ancestors stole, this is another favorite decoration in my house. Technically, these weren't stolen, they were recycled. This is a giant wooden spool from a textile factory. We have a series of them in alternating heights along our fireplace, with a candle placed in the small opening at the top. In the case of this one, it is about the third of the height of the fire place and just stands out among the rest. According to my grandmother, her grandmother was the one who took these trashed items home as accents in their sparsely decorated home, and we've been using them ever since. I have to laugh at how green my family was long before green was the trend. It's like the saying, One person's trash is another person's treasure. In today's society, you can buy elaborately decorated candlesticks, handcarved and molded to perfection. If you ask me, I'd rather have these any day. The simplicity of its nature makes it unique as well. This, like the molds, is not art, but was probably used to create art in the 1800's. Maybe the thread from this spool went into a lavish fabric or textile. Or maybe it was a part of a simple cloth as well. I think history makes up for a lack of artistic label. What it started as to where it is now is far more important.

scrapbook treize

These odd looking things are actually old cigar molds. One of my relatives, upon immigrating to America, took jobs in various factories to support their family. Occasionally they would commandeer certain objects for themselves, and they have since been passed on for a few generations. My mom is madly in love with these, and has them hanging right across from the main entry way into our family room. As a result, they are the first things you see when you enter our house. Everyone always wants to know what they are, and why are they hanging on our wall. Even though they are kind of ugly, I must say I love these too. I love the history behind them and the uniqueness of them. We are the only people I have ever met that even have cigar molds. They provide an interesting contrast to the shelves, family portraits, and my own art work that hangs on the rest of the wall. The unexpected aesthetic quality of them makes them visually compelling. While they were designed to make cigars, we have no repurposed them. They aren't art, even though we try to make them out to be great pieces. From time to time I think about, in comparison to the ones we have (my mom has two and so does my grandmom), how many were lost. I'm sure that factory eventually closed down, or no longer exists. Today mass machines probably make the cigars. It's amazing to see what kind of technology was available then as well.

artist sept

The next artist I read about is actually anonymous. Mouchette.org, a web page that has existed since 1996, has yet to have a difinitive author. Based on the 1967 film, Mouchette, this piece of new media art looks like your average teenager's website. A large pink flower crawling with ants and flies fills the background, and a picture and information of a 13 year old girl Mouchette appears on the screen. When the page refreshes, noises from a little girl are heard such as laughing and sighing. In the description of Mouchette, the 13 year old, you can click on various links to learn even more about her. The one that struck me the most was her "advise" on becoming an artist. She said, "An artist? Yes. Here is a tip: I heard that the only way to become an artist is to say you are one. And then you can call "art" everything you make.... Easy, he?" I completely disagree with that statement. A lot of people still don't realize the effort that 99.9% of the time goes into making art. People assume certain things without really knowing all of the details. My parents for example aren't really keen on the profession of artist, thinking that it's not a real job. Quotes like this just reinforce that idea for people. Maybe it was the artist's goal to highlight misconceptions and perceptions in society. Other pages include sexual references, and even some politically inclined statements. Maybe it is a statement about the site itself. Since the artist has never revealed his or her identity, maybe it's a statement about themselves and that the site means nothing in reality. Who knows. Maybe we'll never know...

scrapbook douze

This is a picture from my grandparents wedding in 1947. My grandmother was eighteen and my grandfather was nineteen. As a party favor, my aunt gave us these photos after their 60th anniversary party. It was amusing to see how they had changed over the years. In this photo they look so happy, so young. Today, they are like Frank and Marie from "Everybody Loves Raymond". Marking such an important even in their lives, this photo is extremely important to them and to our family. It shows us where we have come from and it shows them who they have become. Until their party, it didn't occur to me how young they were when they got married. At my current age, they made the ultimate decision to settle down and start raising a family. I can not image being mature enough to make that choice. Stressing out about papers and tests are one thing, but even considereing supporting a family boggles my mind. They had to be extremely strong and sure of themselves to be able to do that. When I look at them now though, that happy couple seems to have disappeared, and it makes me wonder if it was worth it. I guess deep down they love each other, but it is really hard to tell. Their wedding photo just serves as a reminder to me of how I should think before I do something that "big". Not getting married persay, since that is a ways away from ever happening, but any monumental decision in my life. I also appreciate that they stuck it out for the long haul....

scrapbook onze

I found this object at a yard sale a few months ago and was fascinated by it. Originally I just thought it was a giant paper clip, meant to be an ornament for your office, room, etc. My mom told me, however, that it is a paper holder. Apparently they were really popular a while back, and I only wished I could have been around to experience the hoopla. Paperclips are handy items, but are common place because you can find them anywhere. To take the same shape and enlarge it, adds to both the form and function of the piece. When I don't have any paper I need to be held, the paper clip just looks schanzy sitting in front of my printer. On the other hand, it keeps me organized when I have so many different things to do. It neatly holds everything I need in order, so that it is easily accessible and available. It made me think about some of the other objects I have on my desk. The idea of form and function coming together and its effect on whether or not you want to own it. Being unique, objects stand out from the cookie cutter shapes around you. It's cool to have something like this, because no one else does. Granted I may not have the lamp that functions as a desk organzier, but this is way cooler.

scrapbook dix

I love this object because it is repurposing something traditional into a whole new art form. This is my spoon ring. I have known about them for a while, sold some at my work, and envied my friends', so I finally bought one last weekend from Etsy. What's great about this particular one is that it was actually hand made. I know the one's from my work and one of my friend's was manufactured. Basically those were rings tweaked to look like they were originally spoons. This is a spoon tweaked to look like it was originally a ring. The details in it are amazing too. When you think about it in the context of an eating utensil, you have to wonder why it is so intricate, if all you are going to use it for is food.
Due to its duality of form, ring and spoon, its interpretation as art is split. Spoons are not art, they just help you eat. Jewelry, rings especially, let you make a statement about yourself and what you want people to think about you. I can't wait to wear this ring everywhere!

pictionary reflection

After numerous failed attempts, I am proud of the images I finally created for my word, "abstract". What I had difficulty with was the way to convey this word in an orginal, yet understandable sense. I could have just mimicked a Jackson Pollack, but I thought that it was too copy-cat like. As an artist, I tend to be extremely realistic in my work, so I rarely make things abstract. Details are important to me, and a lack of them just irritates me. The first collage I posted, with the flipped horizon line and buildings combined two different perceptions. On top is a picture of my high school I drew for one of the graduation events last year. I drew it on a 5x7 piece of cardstock, and as you can tell, made sure every last aspect of the building was represented. Beneath it, is my attempt to abstract it. While I think it looks like crap, it demonstrates the simplification and the basicness of what is considered abstract. The second collage combined images seen in everyday life, but used in a new way. I decided to make the vegetables and fruit into a flower because it was unexpected. We know what they are and we know what a flower is, but to see them used to create a flower is a little surreal. You really have to think about what you are looking at and why, which I feel happens a lot with abstract art. The last one was me just completely going beyond my comfort zone and creating something new and original. Obviously the figure is a woman, but it is totally distorted with an emphasized head and tiny body. The face in and of itself is distorted as well. All of the essential parts are there to identify it as a face, but they are not cohesive. They look as if they don't belong together. Although I complained about this project while I was working on it, worrying that everything would look like crap, I am really happy with the results. Not only do they look good, but they also helped me step outside my normal realm of thinking and create in a more original way. Now I understand every detail is amazing, but they are not necessarily required for a great piece.

artist seis

Shu Lea Cheang's work is probably the most provocative artwork I have seen or read about this semester. While many of the other artists I have looked at discussed controversial topics such as violence, Cheang's pieces take it to a whole new level. Brandon, is a piece that discusses the life of Teena Brandon, a woman who passed as a man. As seen in the film adaptation, Boys Don't Cry, Brandon was raped and murdered because her choice to represent herself as a man and not a woman. Like I have said before, I love interactive websites, because I think it helps viewers better understand the intent of the artist and get more personally involved with the work. The first page transitions from the symbol of a baby, to a woman, to a man. Then, after you click to enter, several various images pop up on the screen. These images discuss man and woman and the means necessary to switch genders. When you roll over the images, however, they change. By changing, the scenes tell the story of Brandon's journey. Because it happens so rapidly, the changes almost seem natural, and not an elaborate process like it really was. Yet, as each one passes, you want to see what happens next, gathering all of the pieces of the puzzle together. It was bizarre to witness at some points, because I felt like I was looking at something that was meant to be private, that I was never meant to see these images. The piece did an excellent job of retelling Brandon's tragic story in a fresh way. We watch videos all the time, but it's rare to have this kind of art work to help us learn.

scrapbook neuf

This is Boris. Also known as Frankenstein. I found him on my cousin's playground when I went home and babysat a few weekends ago. I picked it up solely because I love old "horror" movies that are really outdated and fantastic. Then it got me thinking, "Who the heck did this belong to?" I love Frankenstein as much as the next girl, but Frankenstein seems a little out of place on a playground. I was terrified of the the wicked witch in Wizard of Oz, so I can not imagine how traumatized I would have been at the sight of Boris. On the other hand, this kid/his or her parent/the whole family is pretty amazing. If they appreciate Frankenstein enough to own a miniature version, that's pretty cool. Looking closer, the doll has some pretty amazing details. For being about the size of my pinkie, the doll looks eerily like Boris. There is a suggestion of hair, folds in the jacket and pants, and creases all over the face. The intricacies are amazing. I think it's only meant to be a novelty item, but I can not help but love it. Most people would have just thrown it away, but I now have him sitting on my windowsill, next to pictures of my friends.

scrapbook huit

This is a subway pass I found when I was visiting D.C. a few weeks ago with my friends. Looking at it now, the pass conveys a whole new meaning then when I first found it by the bus stop for College Park. At the time, I was drawn to it because of the meaning it held for someone else. Subway passes, when you think about it, are extremely personal items. A person purchases one to get to a specific destination to attend or accomplish a certain event. When I found this, it was already crumpled up, so I figured it had been used . Obviously, however, it is not that old, because it is commemorating Obama's inaugration. I couldn't help but wonder who had bought this? Where was he/she going? Why? Did they have a good time? My friends thought it was gross that I was picking up someone else's trash, but it's a fascinating object to me. Today, the pass doesn't not make me think of who it belonged to, but rather the god awful trek from the WWII memorial to the Lincoln memorial in the 70 mph wind gusts and in spite of it, how much fun we had. I love how when you look at any object, your emotions can change. I think it represents our growth and the passing of time, however fortunate or unfortunate it may be.

scrapbook sept

Once again with the patterns theme, my eye was drawn to a set of washcloths from Target. My mom seems to think that because I am a girl, everything I own should be pink. Not because it is a nice color, but simply because I am a girl. Working a lot this summer, I was unable to get the majority of my own supplies for college. So my mother, being the kind soul she is, picked everything up for me. As you can probably guess, 92.5% of that stuff is pink, including these washcloths. These are probably the most fantastic washcloths I have ever used. I used to get those ones that came in shapes, and after you put them in water would become a washcloth. While they were awesome, the sucked in terms of function. These are super thick, and amazing because they are ribbed. Ribbed texture helps it absorb more, and gives a great visual quality to the washcloth. There are alternating rows of wafflelike material and rows of slightly fringed material. Then on the other side, it is the exact opposite. They caught my eye in particular when I was doing my laundry. The variations of pink combined with the texture, stacked neatly together looked different and original. They may be something I use daily, but really don't recognize the astethic qualities that go along with it. When you think about it though, the astethic qualities really aren't ignored. I may not have consciously noticed it, but obviously my mother must have if she chose this bunch from the rest. It's all a matter of perception I guess...

Essay

When looked at by an individual who had no background knowledge about this project, the three collages by Michelle would seem unrelated. Interpretation is key to the analysis of a work, but, due to the subjectivity of its nature, can be unreliable. Each collage depicts an image that is distinct from the next. While one looks like it came from the pages of my high school geometry book, another looks like it was from the pages of a recent National Geographic. The titles of her pieces are the word obtuse, but I was convinced that her word was angles until I read them. It is interesting to see the various ways of conveying a word, but exactly what that word it is, is hard to decipher.

The first collage brings back haunting images of math class, plastered with a variety of triangles and angles. What is interesting is the placement of the shapes. There appears to be an order to the position of the triangles. They seem to be moving on an angle, playing off of the large angles in the background. Due to this, I immediately thought that her word had something to do with angles. Although color has been incorporated, it does not seem to play a huge role in the piece. Triangles in the foreground and background draw the viewer’s attention away from the orange color. Her next collage, however, through me off a little.

Colorful and bright, the second dictionary collage reminds me of an IMAX movie I saw on a field trip that explored various elements in nature. With this collage, there are no defined angles like the previous attempt. With this piece, the lack of clarity in some of the images that are blurry or cast by shadows, made me move my attention to the defined images on the outer edges. The whale’s tail sticking out of the water, the bird in flight, the freshly bloomed flower, and the beautiful butterfly are open and stretched out. There are no literal or implied boundaries for these objects. The bird’s wings seem as if they could reach all the way across the screen if that is what it desired. While that is physically impossible, the way it soars knocks down that notion. I assumed that the openness represented angles and how far they could stretch. The final collage further supports my theory.

Wrought with technological and cultural icons such as laptops and Snoopy, this final piece is also filled with angles. Both the cell-phone and laptop are open on an angle and also positioned on an angle like the shapes from the first collage. The textbook is opened so far that the spine is bending backwards. The addition of levers and speedometer also provide more angles. Even Snoopy’s head is tilted at an angle. What I never realized was that these angles were specific types.

Now, after accidentally stumbling upon the word, I can see where the obtuse plays in. All of the angles are overstretched, beyond ninety degrees. Even the angles in the background of the first collage mark that, being 100+ degrees. This proves the article on interpretation. I saw what I wanted to see, and ignored main clues.

artist cinq

Olia Lialina's work "My Boyfriend Came Back from the War" was one of the first New Media pieces that involved direct interaction between the viewer and the art itself. In fact, the piece was so advanced, complex techonolgically and emotionally, that it was often recognized as having more of the criteria of a movie. "My Boyfriend Came Back from the War" depicts the emotionaly turmoil a couple experiences after their reunion. By clicking the various parts of the web page, new information of the story unfolds. The woman had affairs while her boyfriend fought for his own survival. As the story splits up, so does the screen, further and further into little pieces. After a while, the text and images stop, and all that is left are black squares. This was the first piece I actually got to engage with, because the link worked. I remember seeing someone present this in class, and not being that interested. When I was the one clicking through the story, however, it was a completely different experience. I was glued to the text popping up. I wanted to read what happened next. Being able to physically interact with any piece, I think, adds a new dimension to the work. All experiences are personal, but this even more so. You have to be involved to find the rest of the story. As a viewer, I really like that concept because it makes me more aware of every detail and the work the artist put forth.

scrapbook seis

This is another lovely object I found in the depth of my book bag. An ordinary boring pencil. By the time my friends arrived at the Daily Grind, I had a majority of my belongings sitting on the table. One of my friends commented on this pencil in particular. She was thoroughly disturbed at the fact I chew on my pencils. To me it's nothing, I have been biting pens and pencils for years, but to her I was apparently killing the writing utensil. I ignored her comment, but took a closer look at the pencil. Bite marks on a pencil are really facsinating to examine. They drastically alter the appearance of the pencil and give the generally flat surface some texture. Some of them barely dent the golden covring, but others cut close to the core, creating subtle cracks. If these cracks are exacerbated, the pencil could even snap in half. Although I would never present this to a gallery, I will appreciate this pencil a little bit more until it is finally unusable, or knowing me, lost for real. It is hard to remember what each mark was from. Was I bored in class? Was I stressed about a paper? Was I trying to figure something out? Each mark is an emotion. They are special, like the marks in my flip flops. I never really noticed this before, but I tend to gravitate towards objects that help me remember things, or give me an idea of the past. I should probably attempt to discover more versatile things in the future....

scrapbook cinq

One of my scrapbook items for this week is a water bottle that had been lost in my book bag for god only knows how long. I was waiting for my friends in the Daily Grind and decided to clean out my bag, and while I found a lot of interesting things in there, this was by far the most interesting to look at. Since it was at the bottom, it had been smooshed slightly, and the remaining water had clung to the inner walls of the bottle, creating intricate patterns with the droplets. Even though there is water still in the bottle, I would not drink it. I would use the rest for a plant or something, but I have this notion that it is no longer "drinkable". Obviously this bottle is not art, its trash, well, really recycling. It deserves attention though, because of the patterns of the droplets. They in and of themselves are fascinating to look at. One small shift of the bottle, however, removes the previous pattern and creates a whole new element. This can be done repeatedly, each time, never the same. After a while, you even forget what the previous pattern looked like. The ephemeral quality of it is really cool.

after thoughts on after life

The movie we watched yesterday in class was probably the best movie I have seen in a long time. After Life presented an interesting perspective on what happens after we pass away. Most people believe in heaven or hell situation, which is honestly the notion I grew up with. However, I prefer the idea this film created. Memories are our existence. Without them we are pretty much nothing. Take for example, a person with amnesia. They can't remember their own identity, and who they have become. The film got me thinking what memory I would choose to see for eternity, but it also made me ask myself, would it really be "just" that memory for the rest of my life, or would I, because of the recreation, be able to remember more. My memory would be a road trip I took with my mom to visit colleges. Yet, that memory in and of itself triggers so many other memories. Would it be possible to remember them just by watching that scene over and over again? The character who had worked recreating memories and then passed on in the end touched on that notion I think. He told the girl he would never forget the experiences they had, and I wonder if by including all of his co-workers in his memory, could he possibly remember the times they all had shared? It is an interesting thing to think about...

artist quatre

domestic

Mary Flanagan is a New Media Artist that uses the media of video games to explore a deeper and more personal investigation of the world and of the self. Unlike some of the other artists I've written about, Flanagan is not trying to critique the abundance of violence in games, but rather, twist the "game for artistic purposes". Her piece, domestic, almost mirrors a popular game called "Unreal Tournament", except that instead of having the main point be shooting, the game focuses on the player's past and psychological development. According to the article, she wanted to prove that video games are just designed for hell bent little boys, but for everyone, no matter what their appearance may be. I just think it is interesting that she changed the overall intent of the game from physical to psychological violence. True, today's society lack of shock over violence is scary, but I think psychological is far more powerful and dangerous. You never know what you can uncover when you dig deeper into the mind...

scrapbook quatre

I am going to come right out and say it. I. Love. Mail. So, as you can imagine, my mailbox key is essentially vital to my existence. I thought this would a great scrapbook entry because of the details in the key and specific to the key itself. And because I love it so. Keys come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Mine is small, gold, and contains text. Yet, my house key is silver with a blue top and its quite large. Keys today are not thought of as art because they are generally not aesthetically pleasing. We think we have to many of them, then we lose them, and we get extremely irritated. Today keys are not really thought of, unless they are gone. With the importance of the internet, automatic garage doors, and so much more technology, keys are forgotten. Pretty soon, keys may not even need to exist.... It's really bizarre to think about how the importance of things disappears over time.

scrapbook trois

This week I have been totally pressed for time, thanks to inordinate amounts of homework and other obligations. Although this may sound vain, I really miss being able to dry my hair, because when I don't, my scalp takes on a mind of its own. Many products claim they can tame the beast, but they generally have the tendency to lie. Over the years, I have found one product that has semi-worked for me, a "curl shaping gel" from garnier. It prevents my hair from frizzing to mass proportions, so I am a big fan. Since I have been unable to dry my hair this week, the gel is my new bff. Yesterday when I went to spray it, I noticed how cool it looks in the bottle. I placed the bottle on my windowsill, next to my lamp, and the different gelatenous areas caught the light in a truly beautiful way. I never thought of my gel as art, occasionally a miracle, but never art. It is so common place and has never been used as any visual art before. People, including myself, over look these objects, because they serve one main purpose, and one purpose only, to tame your tresses. But when you look close enough, you see how amazing it really is.

line love

Whether they were visibile, invisible, or even gestural, I learned in my high school art class that lines were the end-all-be-all of any work of art. The first project I ever worked on was a still life where we were only allowed to used straight, vertical lines to create the image. At first, it sounded like a piece of cake, but then I soon realized the importance of outlines and shadows, and how difficult it was to create them with only straight lines. At our critique, we all complained about how long it took us to complete, and our teacher explained that we needed to understand how to manipulate the most basic (yet essential) form of line to create any thing we desired. That project has really stuck with me. Reading "On Form and Content" only reinforced how varied lines can become and how they can dramatically affect both the visual and sensual qualities of the work. For my 20 Lines project, I tried to create every line as an emotion, happy, sad, angry, depressed, and to help me I used the rhythm from various songs. It was an interesting emotional release. I appreciated seeing everyone else's lines more, however. You see certain people on a day to day basis, and have no idea what they are like. In a way, to me at least, these lines give a sneak peak into their minds and a better understanding of their selves.

artist trois

Like the work of Anne-Marie Schleiner, Joan Leandre, and Brody Condon, Natalie Bookchin's pieces criticize the uneccessary violence and unfairness in video games today. The Intruder is an interactive online game based a on short story of the same name, written by Jorge Luis Borges. Basically two brothers fall in love with the same woman, a prostitute, and continue to fight over her, until her murder, when they finally reconcile. Bookchin divided the story into ten distinct parts, or levels, that in and of themselves are based on older video games that defined gaming culture today. One level is like "Pong", where the ball is the prostitute, and the walls are the brothers, bouncing her back and forth. Her work since then has been more political, criticizing George Bush and corporate domination. I like that she subtley makes statements about gaming and its side effects by combining several generations of ideas into one. She takes the classic nature of the books, the outdated technology of "Pong", and the most up to date systems to make fun of and judge players, who often don't have a clue this is happening to them. I was looking forward to playing the game on my computer, but for some reason it wouldn't download.

growing up on the interwebnet

1. Prior to Facebook and MySpace, I think 'social network' was way more personal. In today's society, god forbid we actually meet people we call our friends. Before these networks, people made legitimate efforts to get to know people, and from that they met other people, and so on and so forth. There was no digital connotation to it. My mother had a "Facebook" at William & Mary. It was a paper version of today's social network. Everyone was entitled to look through it, but if you wanted to meet the person, you had to make the first move, face to face.

2. a. Ohmygawd Julie, guess what?! There is this amazing thing online called FACEBOOK. It could be a great way we could keep in touch over the school year. There are applications where we can chat, view each other's interests, and even see pictures! It will take talking on the phone to a whole new level. It would be like we were never three states apart!
b. Mom; Dad. I found this social networking online that is really amazing. It's a site that allows me to stay in contact with both old and new friends through chatting, pictures, and interests. I just found my friend Lauren, remember, from elementary school?! She goes to Boston College now, isn't that amazing!? You can even find your friends from high school and college too! Yes, others can see your account, but if you're safe about it, it's totally fine. (This is pretty much a legitimate conversation I had with my parents).
c. Neither of my grandparents have a computer, or really understand the concept of the internet. I think if I attempted to explain Facebook to them, their brains would explode
d. Suzy, have you called that boy from the sock hop yet? No? Why? Are you too nervous to call? Well I know of this great place on the internet where you don't even have to talk to him face to face. It's called facebook, and it's basically writing him digital correspondence. Another plus? You get to learn all about him from his profile! Maybe if you're lucky he'll give you a romantic bumper sticker, that's as good as getting pinned!

3. Any information you find on Facebook has to be taken with a grain of salt. While many put down their true information, you have to wonder if some of it is exaggerated. I think the thing that draws many people to a stranger's site is the profile picture. You see a face and it's human nature to want to know what these people are like. The picture then leads you to read more about the individual, etc. I clicked on one of those, "We think you should be friends with" options, and got a ridiculously pervy, sketchy guy, that for some reason is friends with a majority of the girls I went to high school with. I would not add him as a friend, because I really don't want to flaunt the fact I exist to him. His picture is him looking all seedy and creepy, but I am sure he thinks he looks sexy. The rest of his page is full of stuff about half naked women and binge drinking. His status was "looking for a good time". A real winner, one to take home to the parents, no? I want to know if this really works for him.

4. No, because as individuals we always have to right to go above and beyond any standards that are set, or even way below those standars.

5. The more technological advances there are, means the more there is to give to the world. I remember when there was only livejournal. That was pretty much a diary online. Then it started evolving and suddenly you could choose a mood icon, insert a picture, embed music. It became more than just words. Words come from the heart, but things like pictures, design, music taste, say a lot about the individuals.

scrapbook deux

These are my favorite pair of flip flops, and thanks to the unseasonably warm temperatures, I was able to dig them out of the depths of my closet and give them some lovin'. Last night, as I was getting ready for bed, I noticed just how worn they had become since last summer. I never really think of my flip flops as art, I am not really a "shoe" girl. Yet, these caught my eye because of the intricate details and erosion of my beloved footwear.It was bizzare to think of all the things that I have done wearing them. I attended my graduation party, went to the beach, endured orientation, and started a new life here at St. Mary's. The marks from my feet and the creases are reminders of the many walks I have taken. In a sense each one of those marks or wrinkles concrete representations of my experiences, my memories. My boring, super clearanced JCrew flip flops are better than any journal. Oddly enough they serve as a look back into the past. You never really think about these things, until you take the time to look. Now I'm disappointed that my shoes are falling apart, but it makes me consider the events that my next everday pair will discover and remember.

scrapbook une

These are strings from a sweatshirt and sweatpants that the washing machine destroyed. I'm an odd individual and can't throw anything away, so I simply shoved these in my desk drawer. The other day I went to grab a notebook and was immediately drawn to them. Even though I had just tossed them aside, they had formed such an interesting pattern and shape. The different blues weaved back and forth, helping the eyes flow through the curves. After that, I inspected them closer. Upon doing so I noticed the patterns within the strings themselves. The weaving resembles the design of a intricate and detailed basket. I loved finding the random imperfections as well, from either faulty construction, or the demonic washing machine. While they looked really interesting shoved in my desk drawer, I would never think of these strings as art. In today's society they are simply designed to tighten your hood or your pants. They are not meant to be eye catching or aesthetically pleasing. Yet, how many of these day to day items do we take for granted? Without these, people would be kind of lost. I'm glad I took notice of these. There are so many things out there to see that it's hard to appreciate all of them. If we slow down from time to time, it's easier to notice, but how many of us actually have time to slow down?

artist deux

Horror Chase

The husband and wife duo, Kevin and Jennifer McCoy are interesting new media artists. Together, they digitally remix scenes from films to create their own story. Horror Chase really caught my attention. I have always had a sick obsession with horror films since before I can remember. These six images caught my attention immediatley. With Horror Chase the McCoy's went beyond themselves and legitimately "re-filmed" the scene. Rather than remixing, they built a movie set and re-created Sam Raimi's (who directed spiderman and such...) Evil Dead II (a classic, I'm sure). Once filming was complete, they digitally altered the scenes so that at random intervals the man would be running from the attacker, and then towards the attacker. I love the message that this sends. These artists take a known story, something else someone has painfully described in detail, and completely change the ending in a sense. The scenes may look the same, but by changing something as simple as the order they dramatically change the purpose of the piece.

purpose of art

In my opinion, the purpose of art is to make both the artist and the viewer to go beyond themselves and think about the world in a different way.

artist21

As an artist, I find the work of others to be extremely inspirational, even if their style is radically different from mine. Artist21's interviews emphasized the idea that works of art are built rather than created. Many of my friends, despite my best efforts to tell them otherwise, believe that being an artist is the easiest job in the world. The artists interviewed demonstrated through their work the insane amount of planning and thinking before, during, and after the piece is completed. Vija Celmins worked over her painting nine times and still wasn't satisfied with the product. Elizabeth Murray, after she reworked her pieces several times, had her daughters critique her work, so that she could "build" a better piece for herself and for her audience. The film also identified the subjectivity of art and "how it can change the viewer or the world". Ann Hamilton's work centers on looking at the world through different "eyes". She hopes that her creations can help others look at the world in different ways, rather than being so set in their ideas. Bruce Nauman challenges the functions of objects and utilizes these subvert fuctions to challenge the viewer. He wants others to see objects for more than just their function. Matthew Barney uses symbols of Freudian violence and sex that are kind of unsual. His films make people think, not just about whether or not they liked the piece, but what it really means and how it effects them. My favorite artist, without a doubt, was Elizabeth Murray. I loved that she loved art because it was a way for her to escape the mundane and live out her imagination. Plus, I loved that her work reminded me of one of my favorite places as a kid, Port Discovery.

hitchcock-esque

The images we looked at last class yesterday tied into the readings, "What is Art" and "On Meaning". By looking at these images it was easier to understand the ideas of denotation and connotation. I was in the second group, and the images could have all had completely different meanings if they had been ads, or in some cases, if they had not. We discussed in our group that the first image could have been less intimate and personal if at the bottom it read, "Aveeno Skin Care". Another example is the khaki ad. The text connotes that the image was designed to sell khakis. Without it, the image would just be an interesting portrait of Jack Kerouac.

My favorite image was the final one, which i posted above. It reminded me of an old Hitchcock movie, mysterious and somewhat dark. Your eyes have to follow hers, wondering what she's looking at or if she's looking away from something. This image is another prime example of what text could do to an image. If there was bold text "It's Coming....2/13/09", the viewer would be more like, oohh what's coming, I want to see that movie. They would lose sight of the woman and statement she is trying to make.

artist une

Velvet-Strike

Anne-Marie Schleiner, Joan Leandre, and Brody Condon's work addresses the subject and overall violence of video games post the tragedies of September 11, 2001. Surrounding the months after the attacks, video games appeared that encouraged the players to destroy terrorists without explaining the complexities of the situation.
They responded with Velvet-Strike, a pseudo interactive game that allows the gamer to insert graffiti messages of love and peace along with digital protests instead of the violence. Velvet-Strike is designed to bring awareness to the over simplification of world issues portrayed in video and internet games and hopefully bring people's attention to what is really going on in the world.
What really drew me to these artists was not the work, but one of the quotes on their artist page, which read, "Reality is up for grabs. The real needs to be remade by us." I felt like that tied into the readings we were assigned this week on the complexity of what art is. I've always believed that art in someway is a response to something greater, which is what these artists try to convey. "Reality" is subjective, and we have the opportunity to create it for better or worse. They have created a game that criticizes the amount of violence accepted by society and allow others to voice their opinions on the matter as well. It's art that only furthers more art, which to me is very cool.