Metropolis and Robert Frost

I was greatly impressed by all the pieces I was able to view at the gallery on Wednesday. When going through the gallery, I felt most drawn towards Billy Fry's work, especially Impressions of Metropolis. The silent movie is one of my all-time favorite movies, and I was lucky enough to watch the film with its original score at the CAPA Movie Series in the Ohio Theatre. I could not resist dissecting this piece and writing about it. Fry's sketching partially titled Robert Frost (I unfortunately did not write the official title down) also sparked interest in me. The title of the blog already explains my general feeling towards both pieces; they are highly different from one another. Although they do have their differences, they also are relatable with each other.

Impressions of Metropolis incorporates a lot of color, shape, and line. I love how he uses pink, black, and blue to produce life within the piece, that would never exist in the black and white movie. There is value in his work in the spacing and arrangement of each panel. I find the piece aesthetically pleasing in that it directs the eye from the clock, to the bottom scene on the right side. Fry uses the same color palette throughout, using balance and rhythm. I find a strong connection with the piece, due to my own admiration for the film. The panels are not quite chronological to the movie, but I do not think that is what Fry was going for in his piece. I am sure he was displaying a tribute to the movie, but while doing so, Fry also captured his own perspective of the movie as an artist. Fry takes "snapshots" of the movie in order to admire the visual aspects of the movie average movie-goers tend to ignore. His use of color reveals a sense of imagination and his own take on the liveliness of the film. With the pipes in the center of the painting, the viewer is reminded of the beginning of the movie, and the control that technology often carries. I am also reminded of Hitchcock's view on voyeurism, as seen in Rear Window. Fry captures aspects of the movie and is able to emphasize them in ways in which the director may not have expected.

The Robert Frost inspired sketch contrasts greatly with Impressions of Metropolis. It is similar in that it provides a "snapshot", yet its technique is entirely different. Fry does not incorporate color into the work, but relies more on line and shape. His only tools are charcoal and a canvas, so he must use the charcoal effectively. I find the piece aesthetically pleasing, capturing a woman posed comfortably, and produced with great use of lines. The subject seems posed artistically, yet effortlessly. I like the thick lines used to enable the subject's body to "pop" out from the background. These lines are emphasized around her legs. Her book and hair seem to stand out in a way that produces a line of vision within the center of the sketch. Fry did comment on the piece, stating that it was inspired and produced through a nude model's unique decision to pose reading. Being an English major as well, the pose connected with him. I saw an intimate side to the sketch, as she is dressed in a robe simply reading. The concept of voyeurism is yet again displayed in the sketch, for normally one does not think of watching somebody read, especially while they are most likely somewhere alone. The beauty of her and her book are emphasized and admired in the sketch.

This week, the class will be focusing on Realism and Perspective. Pay close attention to the Challenges of Perspective and the different art movements discussed in the chapter. Post a blog entry and respond to something that caught your attention.

Personally, I never have really thought about perspective and how artists use perspective in order to attract the viewer's eyes in a particular way. Often when I look at a piece, I simply dive right into it, unaware of the technique in which the artist may direct the spectator in viewing the piece. It is quite interesting to learn that when being aware of where the eye is trained to look, one can interpret and understand even more out of a work of art.

Practically everyone has heard of Pablo Picasso at some point in the grade school years. Picasso encompasses the style of Cubism, and his works are quite abstract and unusual at a glance. I have seen various works by Picasso and other cubists in my life, but typically have not held that much interest in them. Visually, I have never really found them appealing, and I always felt that his work tend to be all very similar. I always understood that his paintings were significant to the art world, and highly appreciated, yet I never truly thought on why and how his work were so significant. I knew that cubism is an art form that takes different perspectives and arranges them into one image, yet I never thought why one would want to do so.

Upon reading chapter 4, I have realized that in order to appreciate some works of art, one must understand that perspective often holds a great deal of weight on their significance. A statement in "Practices of Looking" truly caught my eye. Sturken writes, "Each painting presents itself as a representation of how we really see. But wheras the Roland de la Porte painting posits a singular spectator looking toward the image, the Braque offers the restless view of a spectator in constant motion" (167). Often, we as humans tend to look at art and see it straightforwardly. Cubism, however, tried to capture the way in which humans view in the real world, with dimensions, and movement of the eyes. I was able to look at Braque's Woman with a Guitar in a whole new way, noticing the space and use of depth, and the geometric-like parts of the painting. Braque's painting takes an image and presents snapshots of a 360 degree viewing of the subject. After understanding the weight of value towards cubism, I feel that I appreciate the style a bit more than before.

Uniqueness

Respond to the quote from famous cartoon artist, Scott Adams:

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."

What do you think he meant by that? Do you agree with him? Provide any examples from your personal life when reflecting on this quote. (It can relate directly to art or not.)

When I first saw this quote, I could not be any happier. I feel like the quote truly encompasses what makes an artist stand out. I completely agree with Scott Adams. It is so easy to think that in order to be creative, one must first be talented in the art field, and able to imagine new and interesting ideas. Creativity goes beyond natural talent, and also involves the ability for one to produce something entirely unique and meaningful. By making mistakes, often other ideas spring from them, allowing one to work in order to improve upon them, or expand from those mistakes. A mistake is often considered something that is unacceptable or undesired, yet in art, can make an important statement, and produce an impact from its audience.

When I think about this quote, I think of the movie, Billy Madison. This probably has to do with the fact that I just watched the movie a couple of days ago, but there is a part in the movie that does relate with art and creativity. When the main character, Billy is in Kindergarten, he decides to draw a picture of a duck. Billy then colors the duck blue, and when asked why he does so, replies, "I have never seen a blue duck before." This part of the movie reminds me of my own childhood, when I would draw and color in grade school. Often, I had a similar attitude in what I produced, and found uniqueness and beauty in producing art that was different from everyone else. Being a child in my single digit age, I was not a Picasso, yet, I was able to realize that art is all about challenging what is expected out of an individual.

Art has the freedom for one to choose what they want to create. The more "out-of-the-box" a piece of art is, sometimes, the more recognition it can get.

I Spy With My Little Eye...

As a response to Hitchcock's REAR WINDOW, some theorists equate Jimmy Stewart's character as a metaphor to the film audience. His character was fixated in his wheel chair recovering from a broken leg - unable to leave. We as movie-goers have the same problem. In both instances, Stewart's character and the movie-goer watches a subject in the dark while that subject is unaware of who is watching them. If this theory holds true... we are all voyeurs.

Do you agree with the statement that YOU are a voyeur? How does that make you feel? Are you embarrassed?

The term "voyeur" has always held a negative connotation, and before discussing the term in class, I have always thought of it as that way. This term is a perfect example of how different cultures perceive and interpret things differently. In French, the term literally means "one who sees," which then upon second thought, leads me to believe that I am a voyeur, according to French terminology. In English, however, the term refers to a "peeping Tom" who secretively gazes at others for sensual/sexual purposes. As movie-goers, the movies in which we watch are created in order for people to view them. Those who create and act in movies, and even in documentaries, are usually being recorded for the purpose to be viewed by the movie-goer. I would not use movie-going as a reasoning behind being a voyeur since the actors and people involved almost always are aware that they will be watched.

I do agree that everyone, including myself, is a voyeur, as the French see it. Everyone from one time or another has gone to the mall or park and have "people watched". My friends and I find it quite fascinating, sitting in the mall and secretively judging those who pass us. Over spring break, I went on a trip to San Francisco and spent an afternoon in a park in which I "people watched." The water fountains that were at the park were quite unusual, and water spurted out from the top of the fountain, instead of the bottom. I remember watching several people go up to the fountain, confused as to how they should approach the fountain for a drink. One person in particular, eventually gave up, held their palms in a cup, collected the water, and drank from their hands. Candid Camera is a popular TV show in which "people watching" is recorded, with intended humorous scenarios. Those who view such a show can then be considered "voyeurs" as well (in a French sort of way).

Since practically everyone can be considered a voyeur, I find myself unembarrassed after reinterpreting the definition and using it the French way. It is in our own human nature to observe others and to be observed by others, and I find it near impossible to not be considered a voyeur.

"Rumble, Young Man, Rumble"

Spectatorship, Power and Knowledge. Chapter 3 helps convey The POWER of LOOKING. Pay close attention to the Power of the Gaze. Post a blog entry on the Power of the Gaze in Art. Respond to something that caught your attention or (interpellated you).

Art is the means in which one expresses a message or meaning within a medium. Often when one thinks of art, the automatically are drawn towards paintings and sculptures, yet art can be a variety of other things, such as architecture, dance, music, or clothing. As a spectator, one views art, and attempts to relate and find meaning within the art. The gaze, which is when one attempts to relate with what they are looking at, is quite powerful in art. Through the gaze, there is meaning in art, and the spectator then is able to gain some sort of understanding of the artwork. The gaze also influences how one approaches art. The example of red light cameras is a wonderful example of the gaze seen in The Practices of Looking, and mentioned in class. When one sees a red light camera, they assume that it is working, and that they should take caution and do what is legal at a stoplight. Usually, one would not run a red light if aware of the red light camera. The power of the gaze in this particular situation influences the reaction one makes when recognizing the red light camera. Art works in such a way.

A few weeks ago, I visited the Wexner Center for the Arts. A particular piece caught my attention, causing me to interpolate. One of my favorite contemporary artists, Glenn Ligon had a few of his works on display. His piece, called Rumble, Young Man, Rumble was present and contains a punching bag covered in printed text. Upon viewing the piece at a distance, I was attracted by how unusual it was. By using a real-world object, and applying text onto it, it became clear that the punching bag must hold some sort of symbolic meaning to it. The text, in turn, is what is used in order to further convey the meaning within the artwork.

I was unable to find an image of the artwork on the internet, but here's a link to the brochure of the exhibit, in which the image can be found on p.24. It's a pdf file:
http://wexarts.org/ex/index.php?eventid=4209

Upon closer inspection, I was able to see that the text was a controversal monologue, describing the white world into detail. Not only was the text itself quite controversal, but the way in which it was printed seemed to bleed on the punching bag canvas, emphasizing a sense of rawness, or imperfection. The text described a world in which the white man is dominant, as seen by the depiction of Jesus, flour, and even soap. As I realized the text wrapped around the entire bag, I found myself walking in a circle, reading over the entire monologue. Being a white female who grew up in a neighborhood rich in diversity, I grew up respecting and admiring different cultures. To be exposed to such harsh text, I was able to view a worldly perspective that was different to my own. I was able to realize that the color white, symbolizing perfectness, purity, and innocence, has dominated the world in which we live in. This has left discomfort and anger in the eyes of those who are minorities, for they can feel as if they can never live the "white" image that the world has provided them. With each depiction of the color white, there is built up anger, that is dying to explode and release. Not only did I conclude that the piece reflected anger towards a white world, but that the punching bag was also a reflection of black society to break free from the harsh images created by white society. For black society, the sport of boxing historically became a medium in which to rise up and find honor within the white world.

I enjoyed the piece because although I could not directly relate with it, I was able to understand its meaning through Ligon's use of the punching bag. Everyone can relate to a punching bag, wanting to release one's inner angers by punching the bag to let go of oneself. The harsh text was an eye-opener, revealing what many people tend to ignore in our current generation. By placing text on the punching bag, I was drawn by the piece due to its uniqueness and my own curiosity as to what the text had to say. The gaze enabled me to connect the text with the punching bag, and be exposed to issues that bother minorities to this day.