December22010
Today I am writing my last blog entry for this class and I find myself reading and writing this blog differently than when I started. I feel like I have more art insight then I did ten weeks ago in the beginning of September.
On Tuesday artist, Donald Morgan came into class to share his art and inspirations with us. At first he showed some pieces by artists that inspired him like an abstract nature painting by Per Kirkeby. What I found interesting about Morgan was he is a painter but also a sculptor who is very versatile with his mediums. Morgan’s pieces used paint but many of them were more like instillations. I really found his plaster-molded stumps very cool. Many artists do not show how they make their work but Morgan went into detail on how he crafted this piece. I respected him even more when he showed us his process. By pouring plaster into the ground around a stump and then burning the wood away he got the mold he wanted to gain a natural abstract form. Morgan had other installations like his drunken robots. You can tell Oregon natural environment have influenced Morgan artistic thought process so many of his pieces have to do with natures beauty. From spider webs to trees his pieces show his love for the outdoors and his surroundings.
This week in our reading Gablik interviewed art historian, collector and gallery owner Leo Castelli. Castelli is true artist historian; being involved in the world art for decades. He explained how the art world is constantly changing and how art is evolving everyday. As an elder art collector he has an classic view on art where he feels a lot of the older generation of artists is now lost. “I felt that what had been there before, during the sixties, was just unbeatable, and the nothing of that kind could succeed the heroic times that we had had here in New York after the end of the war… I admired: Pollock, de Kooning, Kline, Still, that group. I just felt that was gone forever.” P. 460. I understand that the era he grew with had masters and wonderful artwork but to believe great art is gone is just ignorant. I am not disagreeing with him I just think he said art changes. With the rise of the Internet and other sources galleries and museum are probably not getting as much attention as they used to. Castelli is very honest which I enjoy in this quote, “I realized that I had to change my attitude, and not be rejecting- as people generally are, as you know. Some one like Kahnweiler, for instance, after Picasso and the Cubists, felt that there was no good art anymore.” P. 261. It was to see when reading an understanding of the new age art. He talks about how he is not as aware or understanding of some of the newer art movements (like film) but that does not mean there is no more good artists or art. Personally I enjoyed this book but it would be nice if they got some input from younger up and coming artists who could have some input in the newer art movements and advancements like art going into a digital direction. Personally I think with the Internet art is taking more independent turn like music, artists do not need a gallery to get exposure and to get their name out there. It is going to be very interesting to see were art is in 10 or 15 years. 
Telegraph Ave. Berkeley, CA. A place where different artists of all different ages from all over the bay come to display and sell their artwork.
Justin Bau Dj Painting
November182010
This week in class sculptor Tannaz came in to talk about her rather different approach to sculpture. When I think of sculpture I think of clay curving and collage but Tannaz work was very different from the usual. Using an abstract approach Tannaz says each of her pieces has an inner deeper meaning that represents something to her personally. These though some of the photos of her work probably did not do justice to the original artwork I got of feel for her style. I loved the way she used text to speak for her in some of her pieces like the giant “IFORGOT” instillation. Another one of her pieces conveys the emptiness of precious things. Even though I would not have noticed this meaning before reading the title I like how Tannaz uses interesting materials to create her pieces and change how people normally feel about them. She said, “I like reactivate pedestrian materials with new meaning.” Another pieces was made with ordinary cinderblocks. Playing with lighting and other materials like silicone plastic Tannaz has fun with art but has put her own organic spin on sculptor. Tannaz explained how during her work process she will sit and look at her artwork until it is dead to her. Sometimes she will stop and look at pieces for days. This was strange but almost seemed like a form of art meditation. I feel like Barbara K-G from our reading this week would respect Tannaz’s method of doing art from objects and tools not normally considered artwork. I really did find Tannaz inspiring, as I wanted to go out and try something new after class.
This weeks reading was an interview with Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, a professor in the Performing Studies Department at New York University. She teaches a class on the aesthetics of everyday life and has a lot of input on the art world. One thing I noticed about Barbara is she asks a lot of questions but I like the way she thinks. On page 416, she explains why does art always have to be about beauty, why can’t art have a different notion. She used an example of a garden. Maybe the garden is pretty but also the garden is a source of food. “The arts of everyday life are highly utilitarian arts: they give form to value. That, for me, is what an art of everyday life is, something that gives form to value.” I cannot agree with this quote more I believe art shape and new appearance to something that was not there before. Barbara like many people in the book did not seem to fond of galleries, museums and overall hierarchy of the art world. What I enjoyed about Barbara is she likes what she likes. She does not like art just because it is in a fancy gallery or a expensive museum. Ignoring commercial value Barbara believes a lot of artwork goes unnoticed by the “art world” and she is fine with that. Not only is it bullshit but she believes the art world is just a large commercial market where some artists do not even get the light of day. Who is professional and who is amateur? But really who cares! The art world is trapped by “gate keeping” Barbara explains a way not to let talented artist into the selective world of art. She talks about art racism on page 424 and I found this passage very fascinating. Quality is art racism because a critic can come along and say that is horrible how is that art? The artwork Barbara enjoys is so-called created outside of the art world. Barbara believes the museums are not ready for artist making this “anti-artwork” (don’t really know what else to call it). I believe Tannaz artwork fits into this subgenre of artist who is really trying to do artwork that is out of the ordinary and questions what art can really be. 
public art made from scrap wood in Albany, CA.
November112010
This week in class we were fortunate enough to see photographs from Terri Warpinski. I liked how Terri goes about her photos; she takes picture of the real world and keeps it true to how she sees it. Most of her photos deal with social disorder and turbulence and our environment. I have always been a fan of black and white photography but it was nice to see photos that really had something to say. I felt like her images were very powerful especially the ones of the old concentration camps. Not only was Terri passionate about her artwork but each photo had a story to tell and captured that moment. It was like Terri was taking you inside of her life for an hour. I feel like lots of photographers just take photos but do not have motive and this was not the case for Terri. From the places she has been you can tell she is cultural educated. Terri’s art really spoke to me personally and I was happy to view such beautiful work.
In the readings for this week Gablik spoke to Richard Schusterman, a professor at Temple University. Schusterman being a professor of philosophy he talked about the relationship between art and science. I found it interesting how he made connections between the two saying both relate to economic regime of capitalism. On page 257 he says, “In both art and science we see the need for radical new discoveries. Part of the impulse of modernity-and this has come with us into postmodern-is the demand for change, new discoveries, new movements in art.” I agree with him because like science art is changing as people are always looking to make something new and elite. Sometimes I feel like art is bases on pioneering less than overall quality. Like in my art history class, I feel like a lot of the artwork is bad art but because it like thousands of years old it gets recognized as masterworks. Schusterman even gives his two cents on what is art? On page 259. “Sometimes you can debate with people what is art? Isn’t it art? And you get into an empty stalemate or into silly circular bickering. Then it’s worth asking: In calling this art, what is at stake?” I loved how he then talks about how most people think art is everlasting or eternal. He goes on to talk about how beautiful things that are temporary get overlooked like sunsets or fireworks for example. I really enjoyed this reading but what really caught my eye as a hip-hop head was his passage on hip-hop. He talks about hip-hop culture and its affect on the rest of the world. On page 263 he says, “The interesting thing about rap music is that although it’s black music and it maintains its deep connection to African American culture, when it travels, it gets inflected by the local culture and deal with that local culture’s problems. I guess what I’m talking about are two needs that are different, and might even seem conflictual, but perhaps could be brought together”. I agree with Schusterman because he believes like through hip-hop and art, certain things that normally do not go together can work to better the world.
The next reading interviewed Carol Becker, the vice-president for academic affairs of the School of Art Institute of Chicago. I found this interview very interesting about it address students need to be exposed to the real world. Growing up in a small nice town surround by Oakland, California I feel like I have seen the what can go down in the real world but a lot of people I know are very sheltered and really do not know about the poverty going on in our backyard. On page 361 Becker talks about how society wants artists to be, “American Society hasn’t encouraged artists to be part of the dialogue –not just to talk politics, but to talk about life. There hasn’t been any attempt to pull out from people who are really creative.” I felt like Becker address some strong issues and problems our society has. I know Becker would enjoy Terri’s artwork because it shows the world in a real way.
This week I loved the readings and the artist because I felt like I shared a similar outlook on what they were trying to say.
Mural for Oscar Grant. The young man who was handcuffed then shot by bart police in Oakland, California. Johnannes Mehserle, the cop responsible for the murder was given the lowest sentencing possible last week.
November42010
This Tuesday I came into class to find out our speaker could not make it in to make her presentation. I was a little disappointed because I think this writing reflection would be easier if I saw some artwork to tie into the readings.
With that aside our first reading this week had to do with female artists and their place in the artwork. I did not know what to expect when I started reading this chapter but I did find it quite interesting. It is true woman and females in general do not get the credit they deserve as we still live in a very sexist society. This is the main point the “Guerrilla Girls” want to show the world. The Guerrilla Girls are an underground group of colorful feminist who want to establish more female artists around the world. They feel that woman artists do not get the exposure that male artist get and I believe this is true. Many museums do not should as much female artwork and males art normally sells for more money than females. Sexist? I think the art world is sexist. On page 209 this fact proves woman are the minority, “There were 166 people in the show, only about 16 were woman, so that was 10 percent or less, and we knew we were in deep shit.” The Guerrilla’s feel that the museums and galleries are to blame but this is when they took a stand.
The Guerrilla Girl’s use Guerrilla like tactics to get their point around through street artwork. When they feel they have a situation they were make posters and put them up to open awareness. They all wear Gorilla masks to add to the Guerrilla image. They feel like they have been successful as they are growing in number around the art world. The Guerrilla’s feel like they are making a difference but more needs to happen. “You also need a network that’s actually supported by all artists, museum people, dealers and writers as well as collectors.” Page 213. I feel like if more galleries supported what they were doing they could get more exposure and get closer to their goal of more female art involvement. Romaine Brooks, on the G-Girls said her real art does not reflect her work with the guerillas and is not political. I feel like if instead of doing posters as a group if more artists depicted the problems in their own artwork more people would understand where the Guerilla’s were coming from.
The next reading on was female artist Mary Jane Jacob. At the start of her career she was the chief curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles in where she would go into the real world to find a place for art. Mary’s quit her job as the curator after she did an exhibit critiquing the lives of people who walked through the museum. This exhibit was not loved or understood by its viewers and she realized she wanted to bring artwork closer to everyday living. This is where this chapter gets its name from “removing the frame”. The museums get to choose what is art and what they get to frame but there is so much good work that does not get represented and this is what Mary tries to accomplish. “I think the space within which we view art, the frame, is very important to our perception of it. Having grown up with a Western attitude about the “progress” of art and the importance of continual innovation, at a certain point it was no longer enough to see styles changing, as one saw succession of different things on the walls of the museum.” Page 300.
When reading the chapter on the Guerilla Girls I felt like they were similar to the gang called the 12 monkeys in the film 12 monkeys.
October282010
This week I felt seriously blessed to have a painter like Ron Graff come in to class and share his stories and artwork. The Ron talked about his pieces also as discussed his life you could tell he is very honest and real. I could really feel what he had to say. To start his presentation Ron showed us some of his early slides of his realistic still lives and landscapes. Personally I love realism in painting because it is very challenging to make a painting look realistic. Ron said he never tried to have a realistic style if just kind of happened. The pieces made me say to myself, “wow this guy is talented.” But it was not until he talked about the pain he felt that made me really connect to him as an artist. He said that someone once told him that he must have had a great time painting this one piece of his. Ron explained how it was not fun and really kind of depressing painting realistically at times. Even though Ron loves painting he admits realistic painting drove him a little crazy. I found it extremely interesting how something you love and can be so good at can drive you crazy. But then I thought to myself about some of my own pieces that were a pain in the ass to finish. Ron has now quit painting realistic pieces and now practices more abstract styles. I found this very interesting because personally I have found myself trying to escape from the realistic artwork I once tried so hard to create. Some of Ron pieces had a graffiti influence and I thought were nice but were definitely different. Personally I think Ron’s best works were his realistic paintings but he said he would never paint those again because they made him depressed. I found it interesting when he said he lost all judgment on what is art. He said as an art teacher he sees so many different styles and some might not consider them good art but they are creative and unique. Ron believes traditional painting is not as relevant in our digital world of today but he knows there will always be a place for painting in this society. It seemed like he was almost unsure if his own works were even art. I feel like Ron under estimates himself and does not realize how good he really is.
I did the reading and found some interesting points this week. First I read the interview with Coco Fusco, who of Hispanic decent and works on performance artwork. I really liked how she explained what is going on with art hierarchies. Coco talked about how in our culture Museums and galleries can control art and the culture and this adds a large effect on what happens to art. She believes there is a cultural war going on right now in the art world and I believe this is true. Coco talked about this art class system that is really hard of certain types of artists to get the respect they deserve. Later in the chapter she explains one of her performance pieces she did all over the world. She caged herself and another person in a cage and acted like they were caged animals. They then had staged secretary guard the cage. I found this piece interesting but almost similar to the freeze video we watched in class. It asks questions but is also very stunning. This book was written in the early 90s so I found it cool they people were doing this type of performance artwork over twenty years ago.
After reading the interview with Coco I read the Arthur C. Danto interview that brought up question on artwork and social change. I really do not have much to about this interview but I did really disagree with this statement on page 278 made by Danto, “Oh, I think art’s quite powerless to solve any of the serious problems of the world.” Personally I think this was a pretty uneducated statement because there are many ways artwork and change the world for the better. 
October212010
This week photographer Dan Powell stopped by to give us a little visit and show us some of his portfolio. I was happy to see some photos because photography is more traditional than some of the other works we have seen in class. I found Dan’s works stunning but also very powerful as he sticks to the conventional black and white film. Many of his pictures were taken decades ago but remain timeless as if they were shot yesterday. His first works were set-up shots of collaged objects. Dan said he would find objects and use them as devices then through layering capture the image on the wall. I also enjoyed how Dan’s different series evolved and showed the growth of his work. He tried different things but conflicted between traditional styles and manipulating pictures. As an artist, old ex-graffiti writer, and an emcee, I love to see text in artwork. I think it adds ideas and elements to the work that could not be established through anything else besides writing. In Dan’s studio C series he played around with text and lettering and I think it added an urban feel making this work very ahead of it time. Some of Dan’s pieces changed over time and evolved, He went into a surrealist phase, which gave the pictures an eerie feel. Dan photography is visually corresponsive and shows beauty, two things I think he really stresses when taking photos. I found it interesting how he started out shooting photos of layered materials and then overtime started taking pictures of nature. It seemed to me like his later works were more traditional than what he started with. I believe photograph is like hip-hop because Dan even said photograph is sampling something and making it your own. Dan uses his lens to capture a moment in time through his own eyes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gpKYnRdf0A
After listening to Dan and viewing his beautiful photograph I read the chapter that interviewed James Hillman a confrontational theorist against psychotherapy. Hillman believes psychotherapy only adds my stress to the problem. Hillman talks about reasoning and why people do things as a service. An artist cleaned a river and some people look at this a service to the environment others look at this cleaning as an art piece. The interview talks about an artist’s relation to their artwork. What really is the difference between an artist working at a river and an artist and their canvas? One is unconventional but still they are both art? Right. Hillman on page 195 says, “Doesn’t she remain in the literal world? And, as such, it’s not art? She’s literally cleaning the river!” She is just cleaning the river but she is doing a beautifully service. Whether this is art or not who knows but I did find this portion of the reading interesting. I agree with the interviewer Suzi Gablik, whether or not people think the river piece is art it pushes boundries and makes people think. It makes people ask questions just like Ty has been saying. Art makes you question.
The next reading was an environmental historian named Carolyn Merchant who believes civilization has advanced beyond the rate of nature. Carolyn believes people have put themselves in front of nature and it is becoming dangerous to our existence. I think Merchant would respect the river cleaner in the Hillman interview. I feel like as a civilization we can take art and make changes through art in the ways we live our everyday lives.
October142010
This week in class modernist artist Jack Ryan come to present his non-traditional rather experimental artwork. His first “piece” was all about sound waves and the human ear. On the projector, Jack showed the sound waves frequencies and playing buzzing noises by lowering the frequencies he saw who had the best ears. I found this experiment very intriguing because my mother is an audiologist who specializes in hearing. She basically does the exact same text on patients to see if they have a hearing lose or not. Personally I did not see the artist value behind the sound Jack showed off. I do believe sound can be art but this piece was more of a science experiment than an art to me. Personally I enjoyed his paintings and drawing more, which showed off his artistic depth and demonstrated a more traditional style I could relate to a little more than his first piece. What I enjoyed most about Jack’s work was his passion for art and the way you can tell he really has fun with his art. Jack then showed off some videos that he and some fellow artists had made and I found them hilariously entertaining. When watching the videos and listening to Jack you can tell he has a good sense of humor but the randomness of the videos do make you as the viewer ask questions. Like when watching a short film titled, “Salt” a mostly naked guy awkwardly lifts himself up and then falls back down on to his stomach. The message is the not clear but visually the video is interesting and keeps your mind wondering what exactly is going on here? Is this art? Whether it is a masterpiece or not I would say so. Even though I did not personally connect to all his works I did enjoy listening and learning from a passionate artist who really has a good time doing what he does while experimenting and taking a different approach with every piece.
After seeing Jack Ryan present his artwork I did the reading and thought there would be more similarities but what I found was the opposite. The first chapter of this weeks reading contains an interview of conservative traditional art critic Hilton Kramer. Kramer is obviously has many years of art history and knowledge but he seems so lost to me in his ways and thinking. Kramer does not believe in the experimental artwork of the future and probably would not even consider some of Jack Ryan’s works art at all. At first I could agree with Kramer and his feeling toward “traditional” media like drawing and painting because I love drawing and have been doing it my whole life. On page 110 he says, “Because of the politicization of the art scene, meaning the museums, the universities, the art journals, and so on, …they feel endangered, facing a prosect of marginalization in the art world. They’re being told that it’s not the route to success in the art world to be doing these traditional things.” I feel exactly where he is coming from because sometimes I feel discouraged with my talents. Even though I can draw well drawing is not going to make me rich by any means. It is sad but this is the way the art world works. What Kramer fails to understand and that the art world is changing. You can’t just paint a picture anymore and sell it more millions. You need fresh ideas and I think Kramer comes of a little ignorant when he says on page 116, “I do think that popular culture-movies, television, rock and rap music, et cetera—-plays a tremendously destructive role.” Kramer is just old fashion and cannot accept the fact the way things are done changing with time. By saying movies, television and music is destroying art in our society is mind blowing to me but I guess some people old people just do not like change or technology.
October72010
This weak in class, an artist named Collin Ives came in to talk about his artwork and his goals as an artist. Collin is called an “eco-artist” because he works have to do with the environment and different ecosystems. He films videos to explain how wildlife lives in our hostile society. One of his works was a study on animals that have thrived in urban living conditions like the kit fox or pigeons for instance. I found his study intriguing because I was curious how or why some animals can reproduce and stay alive in a densely populated human society. I found his work interesting because it asked questions like how do birds survive in human habitats. One of his videos was captured through night vision investigation on the urban night fox called the kit fox. This video showed the intelligence of the fox and how it creeps around after hours. It was obvious the fox is a growing breed because it is nocturnal and can live in peace while humans sleep. Kit fox’s seemed very timid but well aware of their surroundings. Like any living creature being aware of environment is a key to survival. Personally I thought the videos and concept was motivating I just wish Collin had more information and data to show how these animals really continue to exist. Collin did get me thinking about how humans survive and our daily tasks, we all do without thinking about. Even though I had a hard time connecting to Collin’s artwork on a personal level, I felt like I got to see parts of human nature people do not see everyday. The wild life does have to be looked after or else species will go extinct. Collin’s videos were powerful but I do not think these videos are enough to motivate lethargic human to help animal’s well being.
In this weeks reading called, Doin Dirt Time, I read about two “eco-artist” whose artwork was very different than Collins. Rachel Dutton and Rob Old used to live in South Central, Los Angeles and one day they decided to change their lives drastically. Dutton specialized in making hay structures but him and his wife wanted to take a more spiritual approach to their lives. They both stopped everything they had been doing and moved to desert to become one with nature. When they got to New Mexico they burned down all of their sculptures to free the spirits and energy from the artwork. At first I thought these two were crazy and probably on a long drug trip but then I thought about how people really get off on destruction. Look at burning man a festival where thousands of artists meet up to burn a gigantic statue. Personally I think burning all of your artwork is destructive waste of time and it seemed odd how they would move to be with nature and does devastating damage to their artwork. Then I realized they really did just want to leave their old lives behind, I guess living in South Central can get to your head. Rachel and Rob are artists but living your old life behind to follow an old Indian’s ways about the apocalypse is just mind blowing to me.
In the next passage I read titled Making Art About Centipedes, I enjoyed some of the ideas more than the last chapter. On page 87 the author says, “As for art, Manes suggests that we move it out of the exclusively human world so that insects, mountain lions and trees can also have a voice.” I like this quote because I believe nature is naturally the most beautiful thing in the world. It is the purest form on life on this earth. Art is in nature and nature is art. When I want to see beauty I could go to a gallery or I could go on a hike and view scenery no human could ever created. I believe nature needs to be acknowledged as art.
John Muir Trail, Troop 15 High Sierra Trip 2008
October12010
Blog entry #1
This week I started art 111, where I was asked the question, “What is art?” Since I had a class last year with Ty, my professor, it was the second time I was asked this three word simple yet very complex question. Yes art can be a painting or a drawing but this question is so broad it is like asking, “what is god?” or “what is life?” But questioning art really got me thinking why do I do what I do? Why do I wake up and draw pictures of graffiti and city landscapes or why does my friend spend hours producing hip-hop beats that might never get heard? Art is part of life and I do not think art can be fully understood by anyone and that is what makes it so beautiful. Art affects everybody so differently. One painting I dislike someone could relate too and that piece could change their life. To me art is creative self-expression indifferent to medium.
Today in class was watched a video on Shepard Fairey a famous stencil artist and graphic designer. Even though I was very familiar with his works I never realized he was the one responsible for the all the art. Being a digital art major with a goal of being a graphic designer I loved to hear what he had to say about his artwork. You can tell art is Fairey’s life and he is completely dedicated to his craft. He has been arrested 14 times for vandalism-based crimes due to his public display of artwork. Myself being arrested when I was 14 for graffiti tagging I could relate to Fairey’s feelings toward the artwork he risks his life doing. The adrenaline you get from doing something you know your not supposed to do is crazy because you are expressing your talent to the world in this juvenile type of way. Some people might respect you, others (like people of authority) probably not so much. Fairey really grabbed me because he shows that you can be artist and make something from nothing. He does what he believes and loves and it got him where he is today.
The class reading asked and talks about the same questions our class has been asking. “What is art for?” was the title of this passage and I found it very interesting because when an artist does a piece he needs to understand his audience at least it seems like that these days. If an does a piece for skateboarding, his audience is skateboarders. On page 39, the author Dissanayake says, “In the Modern era, art’s role was to challenge and disrupt by means of its “otherness” and inaccessibility. Who is art for? Is what he asks. Many people think art is for artist but I do not believe this true at all. A graffiti artist once said graffiti art is not for the other people and I do not care if other cannot read what I write. I do this for the real graffiti writers and people that share the same passion as me and will respect what I do. I do believe if you want to make a living off a art you need to know who your client is and what they would like. I also agree with Dissanayake’s point where he says making something special is what has been socially and culturally important. That is why everyone spends hours working on what they believe is art, to make something great, wonderful, or timeless. This point reiterates points talked about in my class. “Good Art” is what everyone strives for but artwork can only be considered good if people other than the artist enjoy the piece.
