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.