scrapbook

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.

scrapbook

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.

scrapbook

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. 

scrapbook

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. 

scrapbook

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.