Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego - Research Paper Example

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) is rich with diverse art works from more than 20 artists rendering difference designs and genres. Located in San Diego, California, the museum is committed to its mission of serving “diverse audiences through the exhibition, interpretation, collection, and preservation of art created since 1950” (MCASD, 2010). As such, the MCASD boasts for more than 4000 artworks after the 1950s that encourages works from all kinds of artists: from unknown, emerging, and even famous artists in international art communities.

The artworks were varied with genres ranging from drawings, paintings, photographs, installations, sculpture and mixed media (diverse superimposed art works). The mixed media rendition of Alexis Smith entitled Men Seldom Make Passes at Girls Who Wear Glasses 1985 was interesting as it depicted Marilyn Monroe wearing collaged glasses of various images. The paintings were done in oil, acrylic, or mixed acrylic and oil. Some paintings were very simple, like one that was rendered by Kelly Ellsworth entitled Red Blue Green which was basically a painting of these colors in simple geometric patterns.

As compared with Sandow Birk’s Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld Presenting His Plan for the Invasion of Iraq painting in acrylic and oil done in 2007 which was more intricate with life like depiction of real people looking at a large banner with imprinted mission accomplished on it. Another awe inspiring art piece was the bronze sculpture of Nathan Mabry, Process Art (Dead Men Dont Make Sculpture) created in 2008 and appears outside the museum. It is a depiction of the famous artwork, The Thinker, made more contemporary in style and image.

The sculpture of the face was kind of eerie but is effective in soliciting interest from viewers. The light emitting diode installation by Erwin Redl was very contemporary in visual design and using both two and three dimensional perspectives in style. In green background color, the artwork stands out and initiates curiosity from the viewing public. Glenn Kaino’s Untitled (Reverse Inverse Ninja Law) created in 2006 were made from thousands of handcrafted Zapatista dolls, resin stringer and twine and crafted into a 144 x 48 in. (365.8 x 121.9 cm) hanging hammer.

This is virtually a representation of contemporary art in terms of using state of the art materials. Although the design could have been made more interesting, the art work, in itself was innovatively created. Iana Quesnell’s Triptych: Migration Path graphite on paper created in 2007 is also a unique expression of graphic art using a large pencil as the artist drew cartographies and traced her travel from home to her destination. However, the location of the art form could have been given more colors to enliven it.

As the picture was made on paper with a white background, the MCASD did not even provide a colored wall to hang it on to make the artwork more vivid and alive. There was also an exhibit on Kim MacDonnel’s applied design in retrospective which would run until the 23rd of January 2011. Her E123, 2010, enamel on wood, was fairly simple and not so attention getting that other artworks should be presented as enticing pieces. Overall, the journey to the MCASD was worthwhile and rewarding as it provided me with the opportunity to enhance my aesthetic point of view in appreciating contemporary art rendered by various artists in diverse medium and genre.

Work Cited Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD). Mission Statement. 2010. Web. 12 December 2010. < http://www.mcasd.org/about/index>