James Turell#8

Turrell bases his pieces on his life-long investigations of light, space, and perception. Carefully engineered, they are complex in both thought and conception. Turrell’s work holds an aesthetic integrity that is equivalent to the light of the full moon. Minimal and unadorned, there is a silent ambient vibration that welcomes quiet contemplation. He was born here in Pasedena, amd is a grad from Pomona College.

Experiencing one of Turrell's pieces usually involves a mesmerizing illusion. There is a haunting transition period as the viewer’s eyes become adjusted to the subdued light. This physical transition mirrors the viewer’s perceptive shift.  The colors and shades that are chosen give an individual a diffrent perception than just a tunnel.  It also allows the individual to almost question the optical illusion.

"I feel my work is made for one being, one individual. You could say that's me, but that's not really true. It's for an idealized viewer. Sometimes I'm kind of cranky coming to see something. I saw the Mona Lisa when it was in L.A., saw it for 13 seconds and had to move on. But, you know, there's this slow-food movement right now. Maybe we could also have a slow-art movement, and take an hour" -Turell

Completely agree with his perspective on the Mona Lisa. Is it a master peice? or is it an over hyped painting with people just saying theyve seen it first hand?

Andy Goldsworthy#7

A career of nearly three decades distinguishes artist Andy Goldsworthy's awareness of time as the abstract of all sequences. The 48-year-old sculptor works with materials of the land -- sticks and stones, leaves and flowers, giant boulders and grains of sand. His work tells us the earth was born of liquid rock just as we grow from indistinct embryos; the stone of the earth ages just as surely as the generations of plants and animals living and dying upon it.

Currently a professor-at-large of Cornell University, with permanent sculptures collected all over the world. At first glance, some of Goldsworthy's art appears simple, even childlike.  Though much more complicated than just playing in a sandbox.  He uses just about any natural material, like rock metals wood simply antyhing. I feel like he tries to stay as natural as possible. Though i did enjoy much of his art. Simplistic but equally moving and powerful.

Photography plays a crucial role in his art due to its often ephemeral and transient state. According to Goldsworthy, "Each work grows, stays, decays – integral parts of a cycle which the photograph shows at its heights, marking the moment when the work is most alive. There is an intensity about a work at its peak that I hope is expressed in the image. Process and decay are implicit."

Santa Monica Camera Obscura#6

Well its located in Santa Monica next to a senior rectrational center and by the famous Santa Monica peir. It was put in 1955, the camara that revoltionized art. The turret that holds the lens and mirror can be seen at the center of the roof. I personally havent been there but i hear its a very cool experience. The device consists of a box or room with a hole in one side. Light from an external scene passes through the hole and strikes a surface inside where it is reproduced, upside-down. The picture can be projected onto paper, and can then be traced to produce a high quality image.

This is the image of the inside of it. There is a ship wheel that allows the person to rotate the lense into the direction pleased. But generally its the same thing as a pin hole camera.

Yoko Ono #5

A woman that comes from a family of bankers, she is often hated for destroying the Beatles and home wrecking John Lennons prior marriage. But she has given many attributes to our society and supports anti-war, gay rights, peace, and aids outreach programs. She is also known as an artist but many drown her amongst John Lennon. Her family thought that she was always capable of better things than what she came to be. She attended college St. Sarah Lawrence, though her parents approved of the school she was looked at beneath them.  She is a art enthusiast that goes to many happenings and tends to visit many galleries.

Since the 1960s, Ono has been an activist for peace and human rights. After their wedding, Lennon and Ono held a bed in. Basically spreading the point of peace itself. With the camera holders assuming that they would have sex, Lennon and Yoko used the opportunity to focus on promoting world peace.

This is a old piece of mine a while back. Many look at Yoko and automatically judge her.  She is really political activist individual that deserves more credit than she is given.

Marina Abramovic#4

Like we discussed in class, she has lived her life on its full potential. This extraordinary lady has, but is it equal to say that the stressed our boy or girl in high school silting his/her wrist can have the same meaning? Not saying that suicide is an art, just simply the way this artist is romanticized about has me a bit confused. She put her body as the canvas. She is extremely brilliant with her work and im amazed. But body art also can be related to this, piercings and tattoos. She seems to be troubled, i think personally. But maybe the kid cutting is testing the boundaries of their body as Marina? Same with piercings and tattoos.  Marina seems to be a very interesting individual though. 

Performance rhythm 10, her personal thought in the piece.
I switch on the first cassette recorder. I take the knife and plunge it, as fast as I can, into the flesh between the outstretched fingers of my left hand. After each cut, I change to a different knife. Once all the knives (all the rhythms) have been used, I rewind the tape. I listen to the recording of the first performance. I concentrate. I repeat the first part of the performance. I pick up the knives in the same sequence, adhere to the same rhythm and cut myself in the same places. In this performance, the mistakes of the past and those of the present are synchronous. I rewind the same tape and listen to the dual rhythm of the knives. I leave.

Just amazed on how abstract her mind is to listen to the recording after?

The Cacophony Society#3

Wow, so this was a wide awakening. The Cacophony Society likes to think of themselves as, "a randomly gathered network of free spirits united in the pursuit of experiences beyond pale mainstream society," which pretty much sums there whole views and stance on things.  They are often viewed as weird and abnormal individuals that don't fit in with our society. But if one actually thinks about it, most people don't fit in the regular society, most hate their jobs and life, which obviously means that they aren't meant for that.  They are also known to do forms of indirect culture jamming.  So they are aware of they're surroundings in the world and their own society as well. 

One of their famous get together has to be the Santa Claus Con. They completely decided to engulf and strangle society with Santa. One person said " we are giving society something they THINK they want and giving them way too much of it, and the people realize they didn't want any of that at all." This is a culture jamming event, we are constantly told that we have to celebrate Christmas etc. 

This is Disney Land at Burning Man by the Cacophony Society chapter of LA. almost a exact replica of Disney lands.  They seem to be involved artistically also.  This society is considered a weird bunch of individuals by our culture. But are they weird? or are they far from us? are we just afraid of expression and being judged by the rest? I think more of these groups need to be known. This seems so act like sort of a stress release from our constant judgemental society.

Burning Man #2

I completely honestly misjudged burning man. I didn't know the main purpose of it until i actually researched it.  Ive always automatically assumed on it being some obscure place full of drugs and walking naked people.  I guess it holds partial truth in that note, but i loved that they provide it as being an art (the actual burning and the week itself). I also love how they all agree on leaving the area used in better condition than when they arrived and also the whole morality view on helping each other. Another thing that caught my eye has to be the use of money, it barely has value, they tend to pay by doing favors or trading supplies and bargaining(which they call a gift economy).  Though they do sell certain items, like ice food etc, which most of the money goes towards schools and Charity events.  They changed such a beautiful and remarkable event to give back to the community, just another admirable thing.  Though they encourage for people to help one another, they also expect every individuals self reliance and the ability to make it through the harsh weather through the week.

 What amazes me the most is the big area that is a melting pot for artists.  "Burners" aka burning man enthusiast claim that art is something made to give back to the culture without cost.  Art is allowed to be seen to everyone present.

There are tons of artists and i even hope on going one year to see things for myself. If i could afford a overpriced 300$ ticket. But i guess nothing is free now days.

Jurassic Museum of Tech.

 

David Wilson was the creator of the museum. Its mainly a put together of 17th and 18th century curiosities. Many say that its almost a natural history museum more than just a art exhibit. When i first set foot in the Museum it was dim and immediately fell into the gift shop, upon entrance to the actual museum, i felt like I was entering a colt meeting or something.

This is one of the collections from the early 1900s maybe earlier. The museum all is surrounded by cultural things, they have a room that literally told folk lord tails or beliefs. For example the mice on toast was supposed to be eaten to stop children from bed wetting.

Me, but the museum was pretty scary at first. I honestly felt like i was in a horror film. The lady working their totally caught me of guard and scared me because she was telling us they were closing.

This was pausing when we first came in, though it was the noise that attracted us to the room. We walked directly under it, and then it all of a sudden started moving like a carousal. There are bells attached to it and it would make a sounds that makes you feel like death was upon you. though it was still interesting.

This room was the most interesting. It was upstairs and the walls just surrounded the room. But the basis of this piece was to focus on the USSR early rocket and satellite deployments into orbit. All simply to see if humans could possibly sustain in orbit.  This museum personally was the best one of all.

Survival Research Laboratories #1

 Mark Pauline the founder of Survival research Laboratories back in 1978.  It is a odd and beautiful event when they present their work. Since its inception SRL has operated as an organization of creative technicians dedicated to re-directing the techniques, tools, and tenets of industry, science, and the military away from their typical manifestations in practicality, product or warfare. They revolve their work around technology and machinery, which makes things very interesting.  There performances often consist of wild wicked shows, with flame throwers and machines or robots acting like humans/ animals.  The performances often conclude with the blowing up of the whole project. But from the videos I looked up, it seems that it would be quite hectic but enjoyable to be present at one of their shows.  Many often quote his work on being " when imagineeres from Disney Land go bad" which is pretty funny.  But Pauline's main reason to his work, he says " i want society to be scared" and he accomplishes that goal.  He dosent seem to mind the potentiality of people getting hurt, because he ignores what the fire Marshall claims to be unsafe. He has successfully staged over 45 machinary presentations.

Mr. Pauline himself. His creativity i believe opened my empty drum mind.  But his odd way of creativity has done the same for others...

Lawrence Lessig, Creative Commons

    Lawrence Lessig is a political activist and a American academic, the titles that he carries are B.A in Economics, B.S. in management, a M.A in Philosophy, and J.D. in Law from Yale.  He currently is a professor at Harvard and continues to spread his intellect. One of his major works is the "CC" or Creative Commons and is known as the individual that reduced legal restrictions on copyright and trademarks. www.lessig.org

The main symbol that Lessig uses for his presentations, but the basis of his argument is on allowing the artist/ creator to chose how many freedoms he can give the consumer.  The copyrights don't give the listener much to do with an album for example but listen.  This forms a trap in some ways, only letting it spread so much.  Its not that they are giving all the rights completely, but just giving more freedom all with out consent of a lawyer or legal liability. So Lessig created a easy marketing system that allows the artist more options to be recognized by protected, for example an artist may allow their piece to be remixed, sampled, or used for non commerical purposes. So this allows others to join in the creative process and build off a certain artist etc.

 
 

 Most artist believe that this works wonders for their work, simply because its a good way to get their piece known and actually viewed or heard to become successful. For example a band Willco was rejected from a major label, then freely gave it out online and soon another major label came to buy the rights, which caused more record sales than when it was downloaded free. This increased the success rate. Some artist open it freely stating that art should be free to everyone, but at the same time support and extend their creativity.

 Lessig main goal is to continue the development of art from generation to generation, he claims that our current system restricts it. Even Lessig found a home at second life...    

video project..

100% OC Graff. presents Dreams Are Illustration. featuring Merce KND... Shout out to  Rusko One for the editing and all of KND!

Robert Rauschenberg.

 "Painting relates to both art and life. Neither can be made. (I try to act in that gap between the two.)"-- Robert Rauschenberg, 1959

Robert is perhaps one of "The Century’s 25 Most Influential Artists" (according to critics). He constantly looked for new media of expression –painter, sculptor, print maker, photographer and performance artist.  Roberts art is often related to Warhol and Cage, which were the pioneers of American Pop Art. Instead of focusing on his education, age, and lifestyle being the central points of this project lets put the spot light on the art itself.

On the Left Robert's "Monogram" piece is displayed.  It obviously has a goat with a tire around it and i immediately thought of our environment.  How we as a society affect natural things that surround us. I don't know the exact meaning behind this particular piece, but may i add that i wasn't  exactly looking for his or any ones personal perception of the work.  But it is a real Angora Goat, which almost contradicts my view of the whole view of saving the environment or it can go either way.

 Robert captured the apoclytic 60s by depicting the oppression of African Americans, the war in Vietnam, the death of Blues rocker Janis Joplin, and the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. He revolved alot of his print making and canvas work around the crisis going on during his life.

Retroactiv I

Rauschenberg  is famous from standing apart from the typical Pop Art colleagues by using his skills to draw attention to social and political issues. His art activism certainly was short lived, nevertheless, his work with these issues were not appreciated at the time made. During his life he created artworks that addressed the issues of war, racial equality, nuclear disarmament, economic development, artist’s rights, and environmentalism - themes that all too few of today’s artists seem willing to focus on. While mainstream accounts of his life and art will focus upon his being a modern art innovator, Rauschenberg was also an individual artist deeply concerned with how his art could help change the world for the better.



1986 BMW 635 CSi Art Car by Robert Rauschenberg

On a concluding note i personally was infatuated with his work.  I strolled through most of his work and came to a discovery that a involved individual expresses  well what he is surrounded amongst.  I also read that Robert doesn't consider himself a artist and hates the whole way society critics it, especially since art itself has no rubric...

Cypress's Gallery

I had never been to Cypress's Art Gallery, simply because I primarily come to school for class.  I enjoyed the video with Cypress College's Art director that created those "robots" out of cardboard.  The video caught my attention when the director was speaking about Cypress's Gallery and how its of the students not some rich artist.  I have to agree that art is and should be out of expression, not based on the worth of a piece.  I really appreciated that he tended to focus on the students themselves rather than himself.  There was also a quote stating something about freedom of religion on the wall.  I found that really cool and creative on how they integrated it to the government. Another video was with 2 girls whipping their hair at each other.  I felt that could of been considered as one of those "youtube" videos where people just mess around.  I couldn't really relate to what the artist was trying to say. though i thought it was really cool our college provides this opportunity.

Art through video.

Through out the class last week we came across a large amount of videos claiming that it was art. I fondly agree that art can be anything from a simple base of "creation."  While watching the short films I honestly felt really lost, I couldn't somewhat keep up with the combobulation of most of the films.  Though the last film related to our society which immediately interested me.  The media does control every ones state of mind and it speaks too loud that we cant hear ourselves think.  Brainwashed by the corporate elite this countries capitalistic views have skewed many peoples points of views.  The video was basically claiming that everything is fake.  Video art is art, but i wasn't as interested as i should of.  Especially the other video that looked as if one was on a acid trip.  It was very hard to follow and i became less focused on the work. 

LACMA





Mhhm soup. So my trip to LACMA was prior to the trip being actually assigned. I only got a few pictures, but its size really surprised how big it was.  There was so many different types from modern art to historical pieces. This is a well known piece and catches every ones attention.  but throughout the museum i found plenty of different styles and felt more relaxed there than at Norton.  The atmosphere was alot more comfortable and had a sense of tranquility.  I actually spoke with the security guards about the art itself and met another fellow street artist. It was a completely different experience.

toys

       This was the first room we went in, it was very interesting.  His/her motivation according to one of the security guards said that " the inspiration comes from the artist not being able to have kids(or something along those lines)." But i find it really interesting on what motivates the art produce, sometimes more than the art itself.



middle eastern art



    I found this interesting, simply because I'm interested in alot of calligraphy, especially from the middle east.

  They also had a building dedicated to fashion. I wasn't too interested on the topic, but i came to see that women back then had alot to put on.  Layers and layers of garments.  Looks like things haven't changed, material upon material. jk

Just to prove i actually went, I dont know what i was looking at...

judy chicago.



dinner party.



  A UCLA grad, Judy Chicago is a painter and a sculptor. She also is a board member on " Feminists For Animal Rights."  The dinner party (above) is what she is most known for. It was showed in many museums and in located in Brooklyn Museum in NY. Judy claims that the purpose was to "end the ongoing cycle of omission in which women were written out of the historical record." The triangular design has table in between focusing on individual women/men.  Most are all women and have their accomplishments all on the table and many of them have butterfly and flower symbolizing a vulva. The piece also has 999 notable women on the tile surrounding the table. I personally didn't like this piece, I agree that each individual sculpture on the plates is, but I came to think that its more of a "trophy" rather than a piece.  It mainly seems to focus on individual accomplishments.  Though i understand it was a movement to speak out against the male dominant art culture, I honestly feel it could of been done a better way. Though i admire what she attempted to state, basically making room on the table for women.



judy



The "flower"



Hey i like aerosol art too!!! -judy

I loved this piece though, "the picket fence." I found it very simplistic and plain. Each shade going with the next.  She is a very successful artist, teacher , and has published 11 books. Coming from a impoverished family, she gained so much throughout her life.  Her main motivation came from men being most of the artist in galleries.  I realized that the motivation itself is just as equal as the art work itself.  I'm really amazed how far she has come.

A taste of my 20 years...

(on Left a friend on News Week)

5 frwy.

            A kid that walks through train tracks, freight yards, underground galleries, gang infested neighborhoods, and does it all for free. Fame overly engulfed his ego at the age of 15, a cocky kid that boastfully rivaled people 10 years older.  A kid that had everything but equally had nothing, no social life or worries of the quick coming future. Painfully he realized the truth on why he was constantly holding 12oz every night.  It was all because he was escaping my own emptiness, depression is slow and it kills.  But at the age of 18 he struggled hard and learned to leave the past, and began pursuing my educated filled goals. Painting is a index finger on the hand of my life and my biography rests on freeway center dividers...My life is a rough draft. 

My life is pigmented.



LA Riverbed



mean leg curls.



     Another 2 fingers of this kids life lies on a piece of wood and a plank of foam. He feels more comfortable standing on these more than walking and acts like a therapeutic activity that releases stress. Paddling and pushing through this hectic society we live in.     



video grab.



        Last but not least the poets muse. The ring finger that leads to his heart. She shaped this diamond in the rough and re-kindled the inspiration in the artist. Ssupportive of his talent and never once judged his rocky past. Shes been more than a friend, and no other could affect him like she does. Adrianne has filled a set of empty arms and doesn't mind holding a hand that has paint on them. Not a day goes by without her putting a smile that clings to his lips . Just an effortless breath that swept through his soul...    <33

A glimpse of my life...