Art as the Experience One Goes Through - Assignment Example

Art Blog 1. Crosscurrents: A Good Look I couldn't help but smile at your entry, Duncan. You definitely focused on the experience of the art rather than on scrutinizing it --- something that I myself do whenever I go to exhibits. Even though we learn in school the technical aspects, art for me is still about the experience one goes through upon contact with it. The “connection” that you mentioned between places was something that I noticed too. It seems to speak a lot, that goes even beyond the connection of the place to our connection to everything else that we see in the exhibit. That is probably one of the inner concept of the totality of the exhibit --- how everything is connected. The art works in this exhibit are connections to our past --- in fact, a very important past in the history of L.A. 2. Crosscurrents: A Day in the Life This is a very interesting post you wrote, Hailey, and the word tradition really caught my attention. Yes, the “Crosscurrents” exhibit is really about our culture and tradition --- much like a history of how everything came to be as they are now. Valentine's exhibit, which you mentioned is somewhat a miniature of what is at work here in the exhibit. You mentioned “What I enjoyed most about this exhibit was that it showed the process taken to make the Gray Column with photos, text and video, and told the story of how it was created.” For me, I see every piece of art work here as the step-by-step process of how it evolved to the modern art we know today. I also agree with you on your view of Henry Takemoto's “Untitled” piece of “circular shape with blue brushwork.” It's like an heirloom piece --- a piece of heritage. 3. Crosscurrents: Solid Light Grace, it is so true when you said “Computer images and pictures don’t do this artwork any justice at all.” I also love how you pointed out that the art piece looks different from different angles. The way you compared this piece of art to a sculpture and a painting at the same time is also a brilliant way of looking into this. I have always liked it to find someone who may not be truly able to understand a piece of art work, yet is able to find himself or herself communicating with it. The way you did your research makes me think that this art work really captured your interest. If I may say too, that the strategic placement of the art pieces also helped a lot in showcasing the maximum potential of each piece. It seems to me now that were some pieces placed at a different position, it probably would not have evoked the same experience for us. 4. Under the Big Black Sun: They All Woke Up Jaime, I do like the boldness of the posters too. They were brave and daring. We all know history and we do know too that that courage is what brought about the political and cultural movement in L.A. for the better. Thank goodness now we're celebrating diversity --- at least! Things such as these make me realize that there is beauty in the midst of even a horrible part of history. I am not an expert in graphic design, but I do know that the art here is not merely in the designs and the colors or the imagery at work. I feel there is also art in the way these people then responded to political and cultural issues through creative protests. The old adage “a picture paints a thousands words” seems to simple to even use to grasp the total idea of this whole exhibit. 5. Under the Big Black Sun: Rewind Hey there, Hailey. No one can really expect everybody to experience the same thing with every exhibit. But what I appreciate in your post is your directness. You know what you were expecting and you know when you're not getting it. And despite how things seem to let you down, you still kept looking for something that will appeal to your senses. I also agree with your comment about Chris Burden's “The Reason for the Neutron Bomb” (1979). Meticulous and precise even seem like understatements at one angle, but since you mentioned “angles,” have you tried looking at that art work from different angles too? Because when I did, I remember that it didn't look too precise from the side. You can see the tiny “flaws” (if you can call them flaws at all). But I think that's another message of this art piece. Just like Heinecken's piece, where different angles (perspectives) tells a different story. 6. Under the Big Black Sun: Is there even an answer? Hello Grace. I did try to look at the installation from the ground actually, and what I saw was different from your research. It is a good thing that you did a good research on this, which shows the art piece really caught your interest. My take on it was from a more emotional sense rather than the practical side that Burden wants to make --- like from the top view, it all seems like a piece of perfect evenness, yet from another viewpoint, you see flaws. If I connect it to history, it speaks a lot. But as I said I like the economical side that the art piece wants to relay. It's like saying “is it worth it?” I really like your post because it is very informative. Now all I have to do is look for that video of the actual interview with Burden. 7. Now Dig This: Dig the Emotion Hello there, Kurt. I like this post you have about Charles White. I too became emotionally attached to all of his work at the exhibit. I remember looking at each piece and re-creating the history in my mind, capturing how those people then have felt. White's work is powerful and gripping --- at least for me --- and I am glad you feel the same. I found myself so moved by the “Love Letter” too, basically due to the color (or the lack of it), and the facial expression of the woman in the art piece. The piece is so serene, yet the “uneven strokes” about it sort of says that something is rippling under the surface quietness. This is contrasting to the “price tags” on “Wanted Poster #6,” which appeared to me as “shouting” how unfair things had been then. I honestly felt guilty for something I did not really take part in. That is how moving it was for me. Read More