Art Experience #10: Beautiful Song

Amos Lee is a wonderful singer/songwriter who i discovered about a year ago, however his song 'Colors' still gives me chill bumps today. This is a beautiful song about how his world is not the same without a loved one around. When I saw him live in concert sometime last year, when he let out the first note of this song the crowd went "ahhhhhhhh"- literally. It was a beautiful concert and this man is my favorite artist. Please view the video I have posted on the sidebar. If you like it, buy his CD! You can't go wrong with Amos Lee!!

Art Experience 9: Nativity Scene

I love this stained glass version of the nativity scene because it reminds me of something I would see in church. Growing up in a Catholic family, and going to church each week it is amazing how every Catholic church feels like home, even though you are miles and miles from home. It is the consistency of traditional art such as this that always makes me feel home... Not to be politically incorrect, but for us, Christ has always been the reason for the season! Happy Holidays... Merry Christmas! Please see the beautiful stained glass nativity scene in the sidebar!

Art Experience #8: Christmas Interpretation

Shown on the sidebar is a video of Dave Matthew's interpretation of Christmas. I love this song because it is beautiful and it puts the story of Christmas and Jesus' life into perspective of an everyday person. The song is unlike any other song I have ever heard and is my favorite this time of year. Everyone should really listen to this song at least once! So here it is!

Art Experience #7: Holiday Art!

This is the first year I have lived in my own apartment for the holidays and I have learned that there is much art involved in holiday decorating. This year I chose to wrap presents with brown paper and contrast with beautiful bows! I think each bow adds a bit of character to the presents. I am also going to add to each present an ornament that matches! I love the art of the holidays. Pictured above is my tree and many of the presents I have wrapped! The picture doesn't do the tree justice.

Art Experience #6: Architecture Project

I chose the East Huntington Bridge as art experience number six. This bridge can best be seen from room 5171 of St. Mary's hospital in Huntington, West Virginia. This is currently my place of work and was one of my first clinical experiences as a student nurse. This bridge is a beautiful piece of art, especially as the sun rises and sets. I remember as a student gazing out the window at the bridge's beauty, and I still catch myself staring out the window at work as the sun sets over the river. Bridges are beautiful works of art. Also, it is amazing to imagine how bridges are built. The sight of the east Huntington Bridge will always remind me of St. Mary's and my wonderful times there.

Art Experience #5: Attend Dance Performance

For this art experience, I attended my own dance performance of vinyasa flow yoga. I purchased a new yoga DVD by Seane Corne and attempted a new style of yoga. Yoga is a beautiful, fragile work of art that connects the body, mind and soul. The vinyasa practice is structured around the breath. There is a sequence to be followed as you trasition through the stages of yoga. Each session you become more at peace and more confident in 'the dance'. If you have never tried yoga, give it a few shots! You won't regret it! Please view Seane Corne's take on flow yoga!

Art Experience #4: Garden State

Garden State is a low-budget film starring Zach Braff and Natalie Portman. I consider this an artistic film because is uses very unique music and ideas to deliver very important messages. This film provokes 'deep thoughts' about growing up and becoming who you want to be despite anything in your childhood that may be holding you back. My favorite line from this movie sums up the idea of the film.
"Maybe that's all family really is...a group of people that miss the same imaginary place."
Please watch the trailer I have posted on the side of my blog! It's a great flick!

Art Experience #3: Ben Harper in concert

I recently saw Ben Harper in concert. This concert was the best performance of music I have ever experienced. There is something about his stage presence that adds to the music. He is such a hard worker- he ran to get his guitars for the following song. It was as if he couldn't wait to play his next song for us! My favorite song he performed was Morning Yearning. Visit www.benharper.net for tour dates and more on Ben Harper! I will try to post the video of this song on my blog!

Art Experience #2: Natural Art

I recently visited Antietam in Maryland. The pictures shown above were most definately the highlight of my trip. There was a short storm followed by what you see above. The pictures are beautiful but did not do justice to seeing this rainbow in its true form. This is the closest I have ever been to the end of a rainbow. There must have been a pot of gold in the corn field a few feet away!

Art Experience #1 Museum/ Art Exhibit

I recently visited Tuscon, Arizona for a week long vacation. While we were there we took a tour of an Indian reservation. Within the reservation was a church. This drawing was found on the wall of the building. To me, this is a simple painting representing man and his search for an ultimate goal. Notice there is no direct, or simple route to the destination. Notice also the goal is always just out of reach and out of sight to the person within the maze. Also along the maze there are many ups and downs as there are in life. This painting is very symbolic in many ways.

Examples of Scott Hagan's Work

Midterm Part 2: Journal Article

American Photographer
Raising the Barn Standard

Scott Hagan is well-known across Ohio for his artwork. If you have not heard his name, you may have seen some of his work. Scott Hagan is a well known free-lance barn painter. Scott does not just paint red barns, but rather creates various images on a large scale. Also, Scott paints directly on the surface of the barn. How difficult it must be to paint at such heights and on such a grand scale!

His first news article was published in 1998 and he has continued to appear in The Wall Street Journal, Ohio Magazine, and USA Today. He has traveled 65,000 miles through Ohio to paint 88 different barns in honor of the Ohio bicentennial. This required 645 gallons of paint!

Scott Hagan has painted everything from quilting patterns to college football logos. He also has painted various customized designs for individuals across Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and other states! More examples of his artwork can be seen at www.barnartist.com.

Midterm Part 3: Line, Shape, Space and Color

I created this piece of art to demonstrate my knowledge of color, lines, space and shape. I was brainstorming on how I could create such a picture when I stumbled upon my mother's pastels. It was then I decided to paint this picture!

This picture contains three squares alligned in a horizontal line. Within the squares are hearts. These squares exemplify positive space. The space between the squares exemplifies negative space. To me, this piece of art demonstrates closed space, leaving the focus on the center of the art. Also, when I created this piece of art I shaded the insides of the squares with diagonal lines. The squares in this picutre are parallel to one another.

This picture also demonstrates my knowledge of colors. The row of hearts within the squares are analogous colors, whereas the squares that enclose them are their complimentary colors.

Midterm Part 1: Timeline of the Arts

A TIMELINE OF THE ARTS

Prehistoric ca 30,000BC
Small Boar from Tappeh Sarab, Iran circa 6th MillenniumB.C.












Greek ca the 5th Century BC
Amphora Decorated in Black-Figure Painting
Signed by Exekias (c. 540 BC) Depicting Ajax and Achilles

Roman ca the 2nd Century BC and the 1st Century AD
Garland Bowl 1000 BC to 1 AD from the Italian Peninsula

Middle Ages/Medieval 400AD through 1100AD
Plaque with St. John the Evangelist -early 9th century;
Early Medieval; Made in Aachen using elephant ivory

Renaissance the 1400’s and 1500’s
Leonardo da Vinci’s Virtrucian Man c. 1492




















Baroque the 1600’s
A Peasant Man, Head and Shoulders, Shouting
by Agostino Carracci c. 1557-1602














NeoClassical the 18th Century, 1700’s
Figure of a Warrior, Partly Draped by Giovanni Battista Cipria



Romantic the 19th Century, 1800-1900
Rainbow on the Exe by Thomas Girtin an English painter c. 1775-1802








Modern the 20th Century, 1850’s -1999
Edvard Munch 1863-1944
The Scream




Contemporary the 21st Century, 2000 – Now
José Manuel Merello Artist of the 21st Century
Bullfighter Boy



Pictures provided by http://www.artcyclopedia.com/ and http://images.google.com/

Monologue from Forrest Gump

"You died on a Saturday morning. And I had you placed here under our tree. And I had that house of your father's bulldozed to the ground. Momma always said dyin' was a part of life. I sure wish it wasn't. Little Forrest, he's doing just fine. About to start school again soon. I make his breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. I make sure he combs his hair and brushes his teeth every day. Teaching him how to play ping-pong. He's really good. We fish a lot. And every night, we read a book. He's so smart, Jenny. You'd be so proud of him. I am. He, uh, wrote a letter, and he says I can't read it. I'm not supposed to, so I'll just leave it here for you. Jenny, I don't know if Momma was right or if, if it's Lieutenant Dan. I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time. I miss you, Jenny. If there's anything you need, I won't be far away."

This is the scence where Forrest Gump visits Jenny's grave... a great monologue

Forrest Gump was played by Tom Hanks
The movie Forrest Gump was produced by Wendy Finerman, Steve Tisch and Steve Starkey

Week 7

My experiences with theater have been limited. I once was an extra in a play in grade school, but I cannot recall the name of the play. I have always been scared of getting on stage which has kept me from performing in theater. I recall in grade school going as a group to see multiple plays, which I enjoyed. As I previously mentioned, the last encounter I had with theater would have been The Nutcracker. The tradition of this performance strikes me. I would also love to see the performance of Rent live.

Week 7 Quiz

My last experience with theater was a few years back when I went with my family to see the performance "The Nutcracker". It has been a while since my last experience with theater. I wnjoyed my last experience with theater and would like to see a more modern display sometime soon.

I have heard about Rent from many people, and I would love to see it performed live. I want to see the live performance before I see the movie. In fact, my best friend and I have talked about going on a road trip to see the live performance of Rent!

Theater allows you to step out of your own skin and experience life from another point of view.

I believe that theater can change society and political views because they allow people to see things from an angle that they otherwise would not be able to experience. For example, West Side Story brought attention to gang violence and therefore made the public aware of problems in our society that otherwise may have gone unnoticed.

"IF"

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling

I enjoy this poem because it is full of wisdom and the words flow so wonderfully! How wise Rudyard Kipling must be to put these words so carefully and clearly! What a great work of art!

Activity Week 5

The structure of "The Jabberwocky" consists of a varied ABAB structure with a repeat of the first stanza at the end. The third, fifth and sixth stanzas do not follow ABAB structure. However, they each follow an ABCB structure instead. The first and second stanzas are full of what seems to be vernacular language for the characters.
It seems a young boy is being set out in the forest alone ,and his father warns him of the threat of the Jabberwock (the antagonist). This entire stanza has a negative connotation and also uses dialogue. This could be a metaphor of a young boy being set out into the world. The Jabberwock could symbolize any number of threats a young person must face once they have been set out on their own for the first time.
The second stanza uses imagery to describe the beast. Alliteration is used in the second half of the sixth line 'claws that catch'. Alliteration is also used in the eleventh line when the author says, 'so rested he by the Tumtum tree.' At this point, it seems to me the boy is being watchful of the Jabberwock his father warned him of. In the fourth stanza the author describes in detail the antagonist with words of imagery such as "eyes of flame" and "whiffling through the tulgey wood", allowing the reader to imagine the character.
In the fifth stanza onomatopoeia is used in the entire first line as well as the second line when the author states 'the vorpal blade went snicker-snack!'. At this point the boy kills the Jabberwock, or overcomes his threat in the great world on his own.
In the sixth stanza the father is proud of his young boy and praises him. This stanza has a positive connotation.
The last stanza repeats the first stanza and thus creates closer and brings the piece of work full-circle.

QUIZ 5

IS THE FUNCTION OF ART DETERMINED BY ITS FORM?

My opinion is no. I feel that a poem with imagery can captivate someone quite like a beautiful painting could. I piece of music can motivate a person, just as a play or a movie. The function of art is soley up to the person experiencing it. That is the beauty of art!

The Beginnings of a Timeline

The Coluseum! The GREATEST piece of Roman art there is!

Rome, Italy








My favorite piece of art from the Middle Ages! It was as if Michelangelo had seen God before! Such great detail!

Head of God , Michelangelo

The Middle Age

400-1400 AD

Critical Analysis

This painting is entitled Woman in a Garden. It was painted with oil on canvas by Claude Monet in 1867 during the Impressionist movement. Claude Monet was born in Paris on November 14, 1840. Even as a child he was drawn to nature, especially the sea and sky. I can appreciate Monet’s work because I am also one to marvel at the wonders of nature and all of her beauty. This picture made me feel as if I were the woman standing in the garden. By looking at the picture I can smell the sweet aroma of the flowers and feel the heat of the hot summer sun beating down on my back. But the question remains, who is the woman in the picture?

The picture is of a woman with a long white dress and a parasol standing in a large, lush, green garden accented with red, yellow and white flowers. The focal point on the picture is a short, round, flowering tree with soft yellow blossoms. This tree blooms among a symmetrical group of red flowers around its roots. It appears to be a bright summer day. The sky is bright blue, without a cloud in sight.

The woman is standing facing the tree, which leaves us unable to see her facial features. She stands to the bottom left of the painting and the sun in the picture has cast a shadow to her right. The tree, which is the focal point also casts a shadow to its right. Behind the focal point, is a smaller tree with bright yellow blossoms. The background of the picture consists of a lush green foliage. To the left of the focal point there is a cluster or white flowers. And far beyond the focal point, there is a row of younger trees which are red, yellow and white.

After gazing upon this piece of art for a few days, I decided that the woman in the picture is someone like me admiring the magnificence of the garden. After discussing this with a group of friends, others have mentioned that the woman might be waiting for someone to meet her in the garden. I still believe she is merely looking upon the garden on a beautiful summer day. By looking at the picture, she does not appear to be in motion and she is standing in front of the tree. If she had been waiting for someone, I don’t think she would have been standing facing the tree. She seems comfortable standing where she is and she is not the focal point of the picture. It is almost as though Monet would like us to admire the beauty of the garden with the woman.

It would be difficult to tell how old this lady is because her face is not visible and her skin is not showing. However, she does appear to be a full-grown adult. The artist was probably farther away from the woman when he was painting. Monet has a wonderful way of painting with detail without using fine lines. She was probably dressed in modern-day clothing at the time of the painting. It seems to be near noon, perhaps and hour or to before judging by the angle of the sun.

This piece of art is intriguing and brilliant. The bright colors ‘jump out’ of the painting and the woman’s white dress offers a wonderful contrast of the colorful background. In my opinion, this is a beautiful piece of work and the message is up for interpretation. If I could sell this painting for the artist, it would probably sell for large amounts of cash, as Claude Monet is one of the most well-known artists of all time. After all, he has been inspired by one of the most beautiful women of all time, Mother Nature. Which brings me back to my question, who is the woman in the picture? In my opinion, the woman in the picture is me. When I look at this painting, I love to ‘jump into her shoes’ and pretend that I am standing in the garden among the blossoming trees. The beauty of the painting is that the woman’s identity is up for siege.

Quiz Answers

Prehistoric
Where is Stonehenge? When was it built? What is its function?

Stonehenge is located at Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. It was built sometime between 2750 -1500 B.C. and has a significant connection with the religious practices of the Druids.

Greek
Who was Dionysus?

He was the god of wine and protector of fertility and vegetation.

Roman
What was the cultural and architectural significance of the coliseum?

The coliseum was the largest structure of its type for the time holding up to 50, 000 people. Professional gladiators fought until their death providing entertainment and practice for times of war, making the Romans a vicious battle force.

Middle Age
What are polytheism and monotheism?

Polytheism is worshiping more than one god, and monotheism is worshiping only one god.

Renaissance
Name 1 work of three different artists from this period.

Raphael – Disputa (Dispute over the Sacrament)

Michelangelo- Pieta

Leonardo da Vinci- The Last Supper

This Picture Struck Me.

This painting by Vincent van Gogh entitled Irises, St. Remy was painted in 1889. This picture immedicately took me back to my grandmother's garden as a child. I remember the garden smelling like sweet grape jelly. The mere sight of this picture took me back to that place in time.

To Amy...

Amy, I apologize if I am behind on any assignments at this time. My computer will not allow me to log onto WebCt. I think it may be a pop-up blocker application that needs changed. However, I am not great with computers and I will be having someone come take a look at it soon. I hope to then be able to catch up on some work!

Crossword Puzzle Answers

ACROSS
1. CHIVALRY
2. VERNACULAR
3. MYTHOLOGY
5. AESTHETICS
7. PAGAN
8. ALLEGORY
9. SIGNS
10. VELLUM
11. SYMBOLS
12. MONOTHEISM
13. TROMPE L'OEIL

DOWN
1. COMPARATIVE
4. CONUNDRUM
6. HUMANISM
7. POLYTHEISM

Example B

OPEN SPACE:
Harry Bertoia demonstrates open space in his 1965 sculpture entitled Sounding Sculpture (left).
CLOSED SPACE:
Talantbek Chekirov demonstrates closed space in this painting entitled Tender Passion (below).

Example C

Claude Monet demonstrates symmetry in his painting entitled Ninpheas et Pont Japonais.

Example A

Quiz One

1. The focal point is 'where the eyes go first'.

2. The primary colors are blue, red, and yellow. Various combinations of these colors create the color wheel. The secondary colors are orange, green, and purple. The tertiary colors are lime green, yellow-orange, red-orange, blue-green, indigo, and violet.

3. Complimentary colors are across from each other on the color wheel. Analogous colors are adjacent to one another on the color wheel. Cool colors include blues, greens and purples. Warm colors include reds, oranges and yellows.

4. The four basic types of lines include:horizontal (implies calm, rest) eg. horizon/sunsetvertical (implies nobility) eg. soldierdiagonal (implies movement) eg. wings/running legscurvilinear (grace) eg. waves/body lines

5. See example A

6. I see 2 triangles, 7 rectangles, and 2 circles

7. See example B

8. Texture is implied in artwork by adding detail with lines to create the illusion of touch.

9. Aerial Perspective

10. Linear Perspective

11. See example C

My first...

So i don't know how this whole blog thing works... but I think I have a blog spot now! Yay!