Anne Rowan SMP

"Life Stilled" by by Anne Rowan 

She was a photographer and looked for intimacy in photographs. She is a believer of Budhism, especially the idea that all things are connected. In her work she tried focusing in and connecting. 

She likes taking an object or person and focusing on a particular part rather than looking at it as a whole. For example, she had a side profile picture of a boy but cuts out most of his face and body and focused on his hear and mouth area. This was to ensure a high level of detail and resolution in a non-conventional way. 

One thing that I liked about her SMP was how she talked about how she photographs her immediate surroundings because she doesnt believe that we need to travel anywhere in order to be dazzled by what is around us. I also really took a liking to a quote she provided by Tony Feher: "I think people are looking all the time, but I don't think they are seeing anything."

This quote reminds me exactly of what James Elkins discusses in his article, Just Looking." 

Anne Rowan SMP

"Life Stilled" by by Anne Rowan 

She was a photographer and looked for intimacy in photographs. She is a believer of Budhism, especially the idea that all things are connected. In her work she tried focusing in and connecting. 

She likes taking an object or person and focusing on a particular part rather than looking at it as a whole. For example, she had a side profile picture of a boy but cuts out most of his face and body and focused on his hear and mouth area. This was to ensure a high level of detail and resolution in a non-conventional way. 

One thing that I liked about her SMP was how she talked about how she photographs her immediate surroundings because she doesnt believe that we need to travel anywhere in order to be dazzled by what is around us. I also really took a liking to a quote she provided by Tony Feher: "I think people are looking all the time, but I don't think they are seeing anything."

This quote reminds me exactly of what James Elkins discusses in his article, Just Looking." 

Sarah Kramer SMP

Sarah Kramer: "Flights of the Mind"
-she likes distorting her objects
-she has a fascination with hands and eyes
-she also has a fascination with the female figure (which she described as not self-portraits, but maybe self-reflection)
-she mentions how she is not trying to make a statement on gender issues. However, this issue IS thought of when other people look at her art (as someone in the audience pointed out during questions)
-her fascination that interested me the most was relationships and struggles for power. When discussing this part of her project, she asked a lot of good questions that I always ask myself, such as those pertaining to financial dependence, tensions caused by self-sacrifice, when/why too many boundaries. 

Mike Benjamin SMP

Mike Benjamin:
He is renovating Charlestone Point; it is a work in progress; not finished yet. The program is called "Local Immersion" and it is located in historic St. Marys. He described it as almost like a study abroad program at Chancellor's Point that is 3 weeks long.
During his presentation, Mike talked about how today people can't function or pursue their goals without technology and how this is unreasonable. I don't usually think of things like that, but after he brought it up, I began to realize that he made a very valid point. What he said next made an even bigger impression on me. After talking about how people rely on technology and such, he argued that there are even bigger unreasonable things going on even WITH computers and institutions, such as people being bored in class or not being interested in their major. He called it a "lack of fascination" (in curricular activities). I have never taken the time to think about this concept until he mentioned it and after dwelling on this idea for a while, I realized that he made a great point. Even with all the technology and help in the world, some people are STILL not getting anything out of what they are doing or learning. This is tragic and I am glad that someone has finally taken note of it. After his presentation, one woman in the audience asked him: how do you reconcile the fact that this program is located on land owned by an institution? Mike responded by saying that the academic world and the outdoor world/environment need to communicate. I think this was a great answer and a good point.

artist: Radical Software Group (RSG)

"Carnivore"

Computer networks empower us to share information, but they also make it easier for governments and corporations to monitor our electronic communications. In the 1990s, the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) used a digital wiretapping software application called Carnivore to surveil traffic flowing through the servers of Internet service providers. This technology enabled agents to read e-mail messages and eavesdrop on the chat-room conversations of citizens. In response to this surveillance, a team of artists calling themselves Radical Software Group, or RSG, developed CarnivorePE (PE signifies "Personal Edition). I agree with these artists that the government practicing such surveillance is a complete invasion of privacy and should be stopped.

artist: Mendi and Keith Obadike

"The Pink of Stealth"
As the Internet first gained popularity in the mid 1990s, some cultural theorists argued that it was part of a new kind of virtual space (sometimes called cyberspace) that we enter as disembodied subjects whose identities are disguisable. Our bodies are left behind along with our genders, races, and ethnicities. In this new environment, our flesh-and-blood bodies don't register because they aren't visible. If a teenage girl could disguise herself as a middle-aged man, or vice versa, the old rules of identity no longer exist. 
Other people argue that our embodied identities follow us onto the Internet, and that categories such as female, white, or hispanic are every bit as real online as off. 

I personally agree with the argument that cyberspace allows us to completely change or disguise our identities. 

Literal: recounting events of the story; what happens in the story

Structural: patterns (repetition) For example pairs of characters or do two characters do the same things?

Anthropological: historical and biblical themes that are throughout text; biological concepts-man vs. women; raw, primitive way to view
-sociological and he might even mention psychological
-human experience

cosmological: the solar system; he was comparing the movements of mercury (god) with venus
-planetary compartments

IN CLASS
-compare ways of describing with Repunzel
-taking these categories and applying to contemporary narrative


LAW AND ORDER
-literal: a show in which each episode is a different story where a Special Victims Unit solves crimes in New York City

-structural: pattern-each show follows the pattern of beginning with a crime scene and immediately moves into detectives Bensen and Stabler pursuing suspects and obtaining evidence. In most episodes, after the perpetrator is caught, the show moves from detective work on the streets to the District Attorney trying to prove their case (while representing “the people”) in court.
-another pattern: usually, the first suspect is never the actual perpetrator

-anthropological: criminals are usually smaller in size and less attractive than Bensen and Stabler (the two detectives)

-cosmological: (just like in the reading in which at first glance people just see a plant but after further study and observation they realize that there are roots and ultimately deeper meanings) when first viewing this show, people do not see the detectives as their own persons; they are simply vessels of justice. However, after paying closer attention and watching more episodes, one begins to realize that both Bensen and Stabler have their own lives, which the show sometimes incorporates into episodes.

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I found this coffee lid on my desk next to my empty cup of coffee. To me, this is not just a coffee lid; to me, this represents all the coffee I have forced myself to drink in order to help myself focus on homework.
I have ADD and am prescribed to Adderall. However, I did not like the idea of taking a drug so I stopped taking it before I came to college. Doing so, however, left me with the problem of never being able to focus or concentrate. One day, I decided to get a cup of coffee even though I hate coffee. I added tons of sugar and flavored cream to sweeten it up (my friends say that it is WAY to sweet and makes them feel sick). After I drank a cup, I began to focus and concentrate very well. So next time I had work to do, I drank a cup of coffee and got it done. Eventually I realized that coffee was my adderall replacement that did not have the same side effects as adderall, such as lack of desire to sleep, lack of hunger, and general unhappiness/depression. So the fact that this coffee lid represents my "savior," allowing me to get my work done in a timely fassion, it deserves much attention and recognition and praise even though it is not considered art.

artist: Olia Lialina

"My Boyfriend Came Back from the War"
This piece produces a compelling and emotionally powerful experience that is especially impressive for an early work of New Media since most people expect such an experience to come from older, more established media (film).
This piece of art tells the story of two lovers who reunite after a military conflict. The different fragments of dialogue convey a lot of difficulty that the couple has reconnecting. It seems as though the woman confesses to having an affair with a neighbor while her significant other was away at war. This piece of art caught my attention because I am very interested in the dynamics of relationships and this particular story is different than most because in most cases, the man cheats on the woman. I do not console cheating but if it has to happen, I think that it is good that women are finally not the only victims of cheating in relationships.

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I found this pink deflated balloon on our common room table. As I was about to throw it away I realized that it was a leftover from my best friend's birthday celebration, and it drew my attention. Aside from the fact that it is my favorite color, I kept it because of the memories it represents. Unlike most birthday celebrations people have in college, my suite-mates and I sat around our common room table and played games. We had about three or four other people over, making it a very small, personal get together. We played Cranium, Clue and Charades and we all had a blast. I remember laughing harder than I had in a really long time and I'm pretty sure that everyone else felt the same. These memories were all brought back to me just at the site of this pink deflated balloon and that is why it deserves recognition even though it is not art.

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I found this earring in my jewelry case and it drew my attention because to me, it is more than just an earring like any other piece of jewelry. My father is Mexican and Venezuelan and therefore I was born part Hispanic. In the Spanish culture, it is custom for baby girls to get their ears pierced when they are only a few months old. This is done in order to distinguish the baby as a girl since at that age it is almost impossible to tell because the baby has not grown hair yet. Therefore, I have had my ears pierced since I was barely born and have always worn hoops. Only recently have I realized that hoops are also associated with the Hispanic culture, which helps me understand why I have always worn them and why I like them so much. This is why this particular hoop earring deserves attention despite the fact that it is not art.

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I found this coupon on the floor of Monty Lab last week and rather than just leaving it there, I picked it up, not to throw it away, but to read it. What I saw brought a smile to my face and even made me laugh a little under my breath. It instantly brought me back to the summer after my freshman year here at St. Mary's when my friends and I came back to visit our friends who lived off-campus. As soon as I pulled up in front of their house, my one friend came running out to greet me. Without thinking, I closed my door and automatically locked it out of habit. A few minutes later, when I went back to my car to get my bag, I realized that my keys were missing. I began to panic and looked around everywhere until a horrible thought made my stomach churn. I slowly peered into the car and saw them sitting on the drivers seat. I had been so caught up in saying hi to my friend that I must of put them there and forgotten to bring them with me. And since I always lock my car out of habit, I did it again except this time with the keys in the car. We were in the middle of nowhere and there was no way that I could call my mom (it was her car) to ask her to drive down three hours to give me another set of keys. That was just out of the question. I remember that I was so panicked that I could not think straight. Finally, my friend asked if I had triple A and I wasn't sure so I called. They showed up within the next hour and I felt like a world had been lifted off my shoulders. Anyway, that memory, which is funny to me now, after the fact, is why this particular coupon deserves attention despite the fact that it is not art.

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I found this gum wrapper in my purse and it reminded me of my training trip to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I have always been searching for a type of gum that I really loved and had never really found it until that training trip. I discovered Orbit Rasberry gum in a grocery store right before practice. My favorite scent used to be sun-rippened rasberry from Bath and Body Works and even though that was just smell, I figured, "why not see if I enjoy the taste too." So I tried it, and I loved it. Now I have at least three packs in stock so that I never run out. One time, I went to target and they were not selling this particular type of Orbit gum. I freaked out. I did not know what to do because it took me SO long to finally find my signature gum and right when I did, they stopped selling it. Or so I thought. A few weeks later I went to Bed Bath and Beyond at my house and saw it. I bought three large packs with three little packs each. I never want to be out of this gum again. My love for Rasberry flavored Orbit gum, which is represented by this wrapper, is why this wrapper desrves attention even though it is not art.

artist: Natalie Jeremijenko

"A-trees"
Natalie Jeremijenko creates works that force us to examine the problematic consequences of technologies like cloning and software. This particular piece of work allows us to witness the growth of a synthetic tree on a computer desktop. The tree is programmed to change gradually in size by more than the artists' programming. Every upward spurt reflects the actual level of carbon dioxide in the air in the microenvironment surrounding the computer, measured by a real-time carbon-dioxide meter. So her A-trees serve as monitors of actual air quality and, by extension, global warming. They call into question the fate of real trees in a world whose environment is increasingly impacted by humans, as if to suggest that one day the only trees left will be digital. 

Natalie uses the term "artificial life" Perhaps the idea of this "artificial life" is supposed to ask if A-trees grow and die in response to their environment, are they in fact alive? Jeremijenko combines the real and the virtual and makes me question my understanding of life and how we might work to preserve it.

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I found this grill recite in my backpack and decided to keep it because of the memories it will bring back in the future when I have graduated from St. Mary's. I have been going to the grill multiple times a week for the past three years since I was a freshman. My favorite items that I always choose from are buffalo wings, chicken quesadillas. grilled cheese, and grilled cheese with turkey, in which case I also get tomato soup from the grind. On this particular recite I ordered chicken quesadillas. Not only does this recite bring back memories of what I always ordered, but it reminds me of the different people that I used to go with or sit with while eating my food. Some of my funniest and some of my most serious conversations have taken place at the grill and this recite reminds me of them. This is why it deserves my attention despite the fact that it is not art.

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I found this wrapper next to my trash can this morning. I must have missed when I tried throwing it away yesterday afternoon but rather than putting it in the trash can like I always do, I kept it this time. It drew my attention because it reminds me of the grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches I would always get throughout the semester. More specifically, this cracker wrapper reminded me of all the times that I got chili from the grab-and-go and how delicious it was. The grab-and-go is located in the Louis Quad common room and is basically an alternative to the great room. It has made my life so much easier because it allows me to walk only a few feet to get food so that I don't waste time and am able to get more work done at my suite. This is why this wrapper deserves recognition and attention even though it is not art.

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This empty pack of reeses pieces peanut butter eminems,which I found in my purse, is significant because it is a representation of my love for chocolate, and in particular, anything reeses because I love chocolate and peanut butter. Anytime I am stressed or upset, I usually turn to chocolate. But in addition to it being a remedy to my upsets, it is also something that I turn to when I am in a good mood and am just craving something delicious. Reeses serve multiple purposes for me and that is why it deserves attention even if it is not considered to be art.

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I found these pink headphones next to my i-pod. They drew my attention for two reasons. First, they are my favorite color: pink, and second, they are the source of my entertainment for much of my time both at st. mary's and at home. When I am at St. Mary's I constantly have these headphones in my ears, whether it be when I am walking to class or doing homework in the library or working out at the gym. They allow me to escape from the world around me and focus on whatever it is that I am doing at the time. They allow me to enter my own little world and get lost in it. This is why they deserve attention despite the fact that they are not art.

artist: Ken Goldberg

"telegarden"
This piece of artwork raises questions related to what Ken Goldberg calls "telepistemology," or the study of the nature of knowledge gained through remote and mediated sources like the internet. After further reading, this artist makes me consider whether the garden really exists and makes me wonder whether people can actually trust that the users' actions have actually contributed to the growth of the plants represented on the telegarden Web site, or whether the entire art work is staged. 
Goldberg asserts that "media technology generally facilitates the suspension of disbelief. I'm trying to facilitate the resumption of disbelief." This quote took me aback at first but after some further thought, it made me realize what he was trying to say. People are so immune to interesting things thanks to technology and he is trying to bring back people's interest in unique things and concepts. Like James Elkins says in his article "Just Looking," many people just look at things without thinking or making themselves do so. This can relate this particular piece of artwork because Goldberg is attempting to change the fact that most people just look at things and instead make them think about it.

in class artists 03/36/09

Sally Mann
-dogbone photos
-her naked children
-landscape
One of the main things that stood out to be about this particular artist was her basic philosophy on art: "Art for fun." When she said that, I realized that I never think about why artists do what they do, and always assume that there is a specific reason behind it. So when she said that, I admired her for her ability to do something that she loves and not turn it into anything else but simply an entertaining activity/pastime.
I also took a liking to her dogbone idea; it reminds me of myself. I am not an artist but sometimes I find myself collecting random things that do not mean anything and yet I keep them because I want to and not for any other reason.
The photographs of her naked children I found interesting. They looked like models and she said that she wanted the pictures to look effortless, and they did. However, apparently they took multiple attempts at creating that particular image, which makes me realize that things aren't always as easy as they appear to be.
I also enjoyed her scenery photography. It was beautiful

Mel Chin
He loves to make things with his hands
images of burning homes and he had to change them
-take internal organs of a place and use it in a whole other way rather than just reconstruction
finding value in things that arent considered to be valuable anymore (burnt houses)
-conceptual art?
-two fold contribution: create something that is living when hes gone and at same time, reclaim an icon from what it has been depicted now as
-making art is not just one method
-idea of using video games to respect tribes that area dying out?
-things that are dying but can become inspiring
-art for 21st century is the same as its always been-it is never the same

James Turrell
-not seperate from teh sky; one with the universe
-go inside to see the light within
-idea of tunnel in crater to see the moon
-light tunnels were escape from busy streets literally right above them

Gabriel Orozco
-in grocery store: put catfood on watermelon;
-pictures as awareness
-no studio, means he always has to be in reality
-no technique
-clay
-games. created new ones out of traditional ones like ping pong (four people playing with pond in middle and no net) and pool (round table with rotating ball, the way the universe moves)

scrapbook

I found this pen in my suite. I knew right away that it was mine because I always chew on my pen tops and you can't really see it in this picture, but this pen top was practically chewed off. I never took the time to understand why I am constantly chewing on pen tops and at first I just assumed that it was because I get nervous with schoolwork but after further thought, I realized that I chew pen tops even when I am not thinking about or doing homework. Although pens can be used to create artwork, a pen itself is not art. A pen is simply a tool that can be used for many things such as writing, drawing, doodling or, in my case, chewing.

reflection on collages

My word was "balanced." I have always had a hard time being creative and artistic so I thought that a good collage would be one in which there are pictures that portray my word. However, after the class discussed my collages I realized that are many other ways to portray the word "balanced" other than visible pictures. There are many different angles that one can see "balanced;" it can be emotional, mental, or figurative as well as the literal sense, which is the direction that I went in.
I thoroughly enjoyed looking at everyone elses' collages. The things that people were able to come up with were fascinating and what was even more intriguing was how they used these creations to portray a word or concept. People were very creative and hopefully I can learn a little bit from them.

artist: Mary Flanagan

"domestic"

When I first looked at this piece of art I was unsure of what exactly it was supposed to be or represent. The fire at the bottom of the first half of the image makes me think that something burned down because in addition to the fire, there is the repeated word, "reconstruction." The bottom half, on the other hand, does not make very much sense to me. 

After further reading, I come to understand that "domestic" is a computer game. I also learn that it is based on Flanagan's experience of watching her house catch on fire when she was walking home as a child. This relates to what Steve Mithen says in his book: "The Prehistory of the Mind" as stated by Bart Rosier in his article, "what is Art?" Mithen defines art as images with symbolic meaning as a means of communication. Flanagan is trying to communicate something that happened to her through this piece of art which contains symbolic meanings that represent her memory. 

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I found this pin next to a computer in the library. I saw it and originally disregarded it as just a pin. But then I realized that it has more meaning to it. I began to think about all of the things that a tiny little pin can accomplish or allow to happen. For example, my favorite poster of my dog, a Samoyed, is up on my wall thanks to a push-pin; my broken blinds are held up by a push-pin; the Christmas lights in my suite are held up by push-pins; and at home, my Mom uses push-pins on our world map to mark where she has been. These examples of how significant and important a push-pin can be in everyday life demonstrate why a push-pin deserves attention despite the fact that it is not art. 

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The back of my one card is something that I never pay attention to. However, when I take a moment to think about it, I realize just how important it is. That black strip across the top of my tiny white student identification card is the source of all of my food funds in college. To people who do not attend St. Mary's all they see is an identification card. To St. Mary's students, on the other hand, it is much more than that. It is the only way that I, amongst other students, can eat at school. It contains both blocks and flex, which are meal tickets here. Essentially, this simple looking identification card is like a credit card to St. Mary's students and therefore deserves special attention although it is not art. 

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I found these staples on the floor of my classroom and was about to throw them away when I realized that they were perfect for my scrapbook blog. Used and unused staples probably seem like one of the most insignificant things to find on a floor, and they are certainly not considered art, but after some time and thought, I realized that staples play a very important function in the educational and working world. Staples allow for multiple sheets of paper to be put together in the right order. Many teachers don't even accept papers if they are not stapled. Clearly, staples play an important role in the world and therefore, they deserve recognition. 

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I found this paper edge next to a trash can and thought of how many times myself and other students rip this edge off without a second thought. But why? It is definitely not art? Then it made me think of how much more sophisticated a paper looks without that edge. Yet at the same time, that edge plays an important function of attaching paper to the spiral in a notebook. Without it, pages would be lost and disorganized. Therefore, this paper edge, that seems very insignificant to a passerby, plays an important function, and is therefore deserving of attention. 

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This recite has been in my wallet for longer than I can remember. At first glance, you only see a thin sheet of paper with numbers on it. No part of it reminds me of art, yet it drew my attention in other ways. It is from Sheetz, and that alone brings back hundreds of memories. Sheetz has been my savior since my freshman year here at St. Mary's because my friends and I have gone there countless times to get food once the great room and daily grind close. Not only does it provide us with food when we are hungry, but the food is fantastic. They make whatever you order right on the spot and not to mention, their donuts are spectacular. I can't even begin to explain how much I cherish sheetz and consequently, this recite is much more than a piece of paper with numbers; it is a representation of the dozens of times I have gone to sheetz to eat delicious food. Because of this, my sheetz recite is in need of much attention and recognition.

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When you first see change on the ground, most people either walk right by it or pick it up, depending on what coin it is, if they are in a hurry, who is around, and how willing they are to bend over to pick it up. I personally get very excited when I find change, even if it is just a penny. This picture contains a total of 28 cents, all of which I collected around campus last week. Most people would say that such an amount of money is worthless and cannot do anything significant. I feel differently, especially after my roomate and I went to JoAnne Fabrics to buy string to make necklaces and I was literally down to my last penny. In fact, I had to borrow 15 cents from my roomate. Consequently, finding this kind of change on the ground is indeed a significant discovery and therefore, this change deserves attention, even if it has nothing to do with art.

artist: Vuk Cosic

"ASCII History of Moving Images"

When I look at this piece of artwork, before reading about it, all I can note is that it seems to be digitally created and is probably a picture of a particular object or being but I can honestly not figure out what. I then find out, after reading about the artist and his work, that this project converts scenes from classic films and TV shows into short animations. I viewed the animated versions of these scenes and found it hard to depict what was going on. There was a lot of white flashes throughout the scene and it almost gave me a headache and I had a hard time following what was going on in the scene. However, that does not mean that this type of art is not interesting. As Kenda Buster and Paula Crawford say in one of our readings, "Art is at its best when it can be experienced. The experience of a complex work of art involves the perception of a complex structure of some kind." And that is exactly what this work of art is: an experience of complex art, involving complex structure. At first, I was confused because I did not know how to understand this artwork. But as Jery Saltz says in his article, "The Whole Ball of Wax," "people wrongly believe that art is about understanding, when, like almost everything else in the everyday world, art is about experience." 

Japanese movie (watched 02/19/08)

perfect description of a memory (in this case, an event)

After people die, they are sent to a place where they are told to pick their best memory. When they leave, this will be the only memory they will have. The staff at this place tries to recreate everyone's memory. Most of the people are cooperative but one 21 year old is not. He claims that a memory is obviously real but that creating a thought from the future can be just as real as well.
I think this is a pretty cool concept because during life, most people don't have or take the time to sit back and review their life. They don't have time to savor good memories and dwell on bad ones.
-the smiles (especially of woman in red dress) during recreated memory
-the videos of their life (i wish)
-letter to man about wife
-he finally learned that even though HE didnt have a happy memory, he was part of someone elses happy memory

lines project reflection

At first I thought it was tedious to draw twenty separate lines, each one as a different layer. However, after about the fifth line I realized that this project was a very fun, unique creative way to express myself. It also showed me a little bit about myself because I was consciously aware of the fact that there were previous lines under the new ones I was creating so part of me was trying to create a pretty design but at the same time, I took the fact that I had an entire blank sheet for one line for granted and let myself go. That second part of me was very excited to see how my unintentional creation would come out and the result was pretty cool to look at and it was even neater to know that I alone created it.

artist: Shu Lea Cheang

"Brandon"

When I first observed this piece of artwork, I was slightly confused as to what exactly it was portraying but came up with the idea of gender-switching based on the text in the artwork: "she's a he," "swap," "exposure." After reading about it, it turns out that I was on the right track. In fact, this is a Web-based art work that explores the true story of Teena Brandon, a 21 year old woman who was raped and later killed for passing as a man in 1993. Understanding the background to this piece of work really helped me understand it and appreciate it more. Just like Paula Crawford and Kendall Buster point out in one of our readings, "a work of art can simply be read by what the viewer sees but signification in a work is also created by such things as the artist's stated intentions, or the context in which it is shown." Learning about the true story of Teena Brandon and then re-analyzing this piece of artwork allowed me to gain a greater appreciation for this piece. 

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This is a three "branched" leaf that I picked off a tree. Like I said in a previous scrapbook entry of a leaf, I usually think of leaves as all looking the same. Yet just comparing this one to the one in my other scrapbook entry shows how different they are. The other one resembled a Christmas tree while this one seems more like a three-leafed clover. Even though it is not art, a three-leafed clover is a sign of luck and on a bad day, finding a leaf like this can brighten someone's day; I know it brightened mine. Therefore, although it is not art, this leaf that is shaped like a three-leaf clover deserves attention. 

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At first glance, this empty water bottle is just like any other empty water bottle found around campus. Unless it was custom made, it is not art. However, an empty water bottle still has significance. People need water to survive and when a water bottle is empty, it means that someone drank it to quench their thirst. Personally, I need to have a water bottle with me at all times. Even when it is empty after I drank it all, it is still useful to me because I continually take it to the water fountain to refill it. Without this handy little water bottle that allows me to quench my thirst throughout the day, I would have to take time out of my day every time I need to go to the water fountain for a gulp of water. Because of this, even an empty water bottle deserves attention. 

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This is an empty eminem wrapper that has been sitting on my desk for days. I never usually pay attention to empty wrappers since they are no longer of use to me. And they are most certainly not art. But taking a second look at this empty eminems wrapper also brought back childhood memories. I remember as a child, I would savor each and every eminem and getting a bag of eminems was like getting a million dollars back in the day. Therefore, this bag of eminems deserves attention. 

artist: Natalie Bookchin

"The Intruder"
When I first look at this piece of art I see a girl happily skipping along the street and falling into a pothole of some sort. But after reading about it i discover that it is a critical commentary on computer games and patriarchy. More specifically, it is based on a 1966 short story also titled "The Intruder" about prostitution, jealousy, and violence against women. It involves two brothers who fall in love with the same woman, share her, and then sell her. It ends with the woman's murder and the brothers' reconciliation.
By combining literature and computer games, Brooklin builds a bridge between art and culture. This relates to what Jerry Saltz states in his article, "The Whole Ball of Wax" when he says that the best art is ale to "mix the communicative function with the poetic, or in other words, to move viewers by giving them a complex experience, while also giving them information." That is pretty much what this piece of art is doing: it is telling a story while also trying to portray a message/information. 
It seems as though her critique is in the parallel between the violence faced by the woman in the short story and the violence and sexism found in most computer and video games. I personally applaud her for her strong stance in this area. I agree that video games are aimed at violence towards women and that there is also a lot of sexism involved and I think it is both creative and bold of her to express her disapproval through her work. I also find it interesting that most of her work is explicitly political. Again, I think that using art to send a political message is a great idea and a unique way to speak out against society.

scrapbook

When I first found this object next to my computer, I did not know what it was. After further investigation and analyzation, I realized that it was a mint wrapper carefully rolled up into an almost perfectly smooth, round-edged long rectangular shape. This is clearly not a piece of art, and is barely noticeable in the everyday world. However, it deserves attention because it changed form; I am intrigued how carefully someone rolled it up and smoothed out the edges so perfectly. 

movie about internet

-need internet to talk to friends cuz everyone is on it. its like a curency, you need to use it
-some people act themselves while others act as a completely different person
-parents dont know its going on
-nobody is really in charge
-the very public lives of kids growing up online
-even when on vacation, texting
-teachers almost have to be entertainers
-need to look a kids less as victims and more as participants
-internet is a way to "get it out there"; get things off your chest at anytime and you can say whatever you want and not get judged for it (as opposed to telling family and friends)
-internet has created biggest generation gap
-its easy to go online in places where parents cant control/have any idea (library, friends houses)
what were the people of frontline trying to say?
-things you wouldnt do in person you do online
-internet as new weapon in arsenal of adolescents
-this isnt going away so rather than hating it and trying to get rid of it, accept it and find a way to deal with this fundamental change in a way of life

scrapbook

I found this rice krispies treat wrapper on the path towards the great room. Usually I pick these kinds of wrappers up and throw them away but for some reason, I kept this one because it is not only one of my favorite snack foods, but it brings back wonderful childhood memories. An empty  wrapper is certainly not art but that does not mean it doesn't deserve recognition. The wrapper itself pretty much only serves one purpose: to wrap a snack food. However, in performing this function, it brings happiness and satisfaction to thousands of children and even adults throughout the country. Because of this, it deserves attention. 

google earth placemark

scrapbook

I found this leaf in the middle of Lewis Quad. I usually think of leaves as looking all the same but when I picked up this particular leaf, I realized that it also resembles the shape of a Christmas tree, which drew my attention in a positive way, bringing back fond memories of family, joy and happiness that revolves around Christmas trees during the Holiday season. Normally, I would not regard a leaf on the ground as a piece of art. However, that does not mean that it cannot resemble something more meaningful that what it is originally. The fact that a simple leaf can trigger such fond memories makes it something that deserves my attention, despite the fact that it is not technically or usually considered art. 

artist: Heath Bunting and Kayle Brandon

"BorderXing"
At first glance, this piece seems to be a realistic painting or even a picture that is attempting to portray nature and humans in it. However, after further reading, it seems to be a representation or documentation of the artists moving illegally from country to country. This concept is very interesting to me and completely changes the way I see this piece of art. I would not normally think of this type of project as art but after reading "What is Art For?" by Waldemar Januszczak, in particular, the sentence that says, "there is a specific connection between a place and the art made for that place," I start to realize that although it is not what most people envision when the think of art, but it is still art nonetheless. 

video response

These different artists all had their own unique styles and their works were very different from each other but what struck me the most was that no matter what, everything they did is art. Some work was conventional while other work was more radical but regardless, it is also considered to be art; there is no descrimination with art, which I consider to be a great thing.

Vija Celmins
Her work looks like pictures of the objects and images she has drawn. For example, this picture of the water could not look more realistic. It is my favorite piece of hers out of her work that I have viewed because of how realistic it is.
Her work includes oil paintings, charcoal, pencil drawing, and printmaking.


Elizabeth Murray
Elizabeth Murray is an American painter, printmaker and draughtsman. I found her work to be very unique but also very cool. In the video she talked about how painting is very physical because it involves squeezing the paint, mixing it, and physically moving your arm to paint. She used very intense colors.
What I found most interesting about her was how she wanted both "conflict" and "tension" in her work yet at the same time also wanted this "conflict" and "tension" to "live together."

Ann Hamilton
Ann Hamilton is a contemporary American artist known for her installations, textile art, and sculpturs.
What I found most interesting about her was not only the fact that she was the American representative to the Venice Biennale, but the work she presented there. She created a series of class and textured walls o address the topics of slavery and oppression in American society.

Bruce Nauman
Bruce Nauman is a contemporary American artist. It is difficult to define exactly what type of artist he is, but is work ranges from a broad range of media including sculpture, photography, video, drawing, printmaking and performance.
What I liked most about this artist was his attitude towards art: "accidents keep it real." Rather than stress over a mistake or accident, he not only accepts it, but he praises it as something that contributes to art.

Matthew Barney
Matthew Barney started as a sculptor, then did performance work, and is now a filmaker. He is both the producer and an actor in his films.
I found his work to be strange but interesting. The props used in his films were very intricate and real. What I found to be the coolest part was how he portrayed dead horses. Each one was different yet they all resembled the same thing: death.

What is Art?

Art is different things to different people. Some people consider art to be limited to paintings and drawings while others include everything and anything as long as it has meaning and appeals to the senses and emotions. Some artists, such as Elizabeth Murray, create work with no intentions and see what happens while others, such as Vija Celmins, have a specific object or image they are trying to re-create. To me, art is a way to express oneself and that can include any type of art form, even the radical works of Matthew Barney.

The different pieces of artwork we looked at in class were not only interesting to look at, but also had deeper meanings to them. Many required explanations to further understand what message the artist was trying to convey with his work but each one was very unique and fun to learn about. I look forward to learning more about each artist and the way he/she portrays their work.

artist: Jonah Brucker

When I first look at this piece of artwork, I see a gloomy, rainy day in which everyone comes prepared with either a bright red or bright blue umbrella. This could signify a bunch of different things but I personally took it as people staying optimistic even when the weather was gloomy. However, after reading into it, I realize that my prediction is completely off track. 

The umbrellas represent computers attempting to create a wireless connection and the colors indicate the connection status: red umbrellas represent computers that are trying to connect and the blue umbrellas represent the computers that already are connected. After knowing what this piece of art is really about, I personally think this is a very creative way to represent technological advancement (wireless connection) through illuminated umbrellas. As Kendall Buster and Paula Crawford point out in one of the readings, art can denote one thing and connote another. In this particular case, the denotation of this work is the use of umbrellas to protect people from the rain. The highlighted umbrellas as wireless connection is the connotative meaning of this work. 

As Buster and Crawford also say in one of our readings, "meaning can change as information emerges about the artist's life, earlier works, or intentions." In this case, learning about the artist's intentions completely changed the meaning of this piece of art and how I viewed it. 

 

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