Time for change in the world

This is my Xerox project.  I titled it Time for Change in the World because of the use of hands, coins, my watch and a globe.  I put all of the hands facing towards the top center of the box, where in the center is the interlacing fingers and the two-extended hands holding them.  This is how I tried to show that everyone needs to work together in order for the world to change. I wanted the focus to be on the center of the piece.  All of the hands are on colored construction paper so that they stand out more rather than just on a cardboard box. 

Orlan: “Art has to shock to justify itself."

An example of what Orlan looked like before any plastic surgery during a performance art, The Kiss of the Artist.

 This is Orlan during surgery for her performance art.

                                         

              After all of her surgeries for art, this is what Orlan looks like now.

I think if anyone first saw Orlan, they would think what has she done to herself? She transformed from a pretty woman into a Cruella Deville looking woman.  I didn't even think this would be considered art in any form.  Until I researched her performance art surgeries, I had never heard of Carnal Art.  Carnal Art is the manipulation and disfiguration of the flesh.  I wonder if this is what she intended to look like or if she just kept experimenting.

This was the first time plastic surgery had ever been used in an artistic form. Since she had always been using herself as an object in performance art, the plastic surgery was taking it to a new level.  Manipulation of the body is considered art.  I guess it is a matter of opinion because it makes me wonder.  As a non-art major, I do not see Orlan's surgical performances as artistic in itself.  However, I do think the way in which she decided to do the surgeries was creative.  She stayed awake even posed during surgery.  I think this is how it can be considered artistic.  Then again, the transformation from how she looked prior to the surgeries compared to after them is how she expressed herself as an artist. 

"HOWL CONSIDERED TOO OBSCENE"

Howl Live Part 1

Howl Live Part 2

Howl Lyrics


Have our regulations on freedom of speech gone too far? Over the past 50 years the FCC has cracked down on what can be aired to the public. Isn't that going against the Constitution?  The FCC has made restrictions on Allen Ginsberg's poem, Howl.  However, it is still able to be posted online because online sites are not regulated by the FCC.  It is crazy to think of the stories in the books we are required to read in middle school and high school compared to this poem.  Some of the graphic nature and stories we learn about are part of history.  That is just what Ginsberg poem's is.  He was expressing himself back then, and even on stage doing performances.  How has it possibly gone to the point where it cannot even be aired on the radio?  I don't think restricting poems other content is a good idea at all because people will just want to see what it really is when there is such controversy.  After reading the article, it surprised me even more that radio stations won't air foul language because they get fined by the FCC.  The financial risk that these stations would make would burden the company as a whole. 

"I like America and America likes me"

One of the reasons German artist, Joseph Beuys, was well-known is for his work in performance art.  One piece in particular was titled I like America and America likes me.  It is said that this avantgarde work shaped the future for many other artists.  What I think is most interesting was when I read that Beuys flew to JFK airport in New York for 3 days and was transferred to and from the gallery on a stretcher in an ambulance, just for this project.  After the 3 days, he flew out of America.  He said, "I wanted to isolate myself, insulate myself, see nothing of America other than the coyote." 


To me, this creates a sense of confusion among the public as to what to think of this man's sanity and as an artist.  Who flies to a different country for three days to sit in a caged room with a coyote?  Well, this was just the way Beuys was.  His creativity has made him one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.  He influenced Italian Renaissance painters, scientific theories of Galileo, writings of James Joyce, and others who admired his work.  


My take on Joseph Beuys'. I think this performance art project was a great exploration with animals.  It was a very risky three days for him.  As an artist, he had to incorporate stylistic elements as well as trying to stay safe from a wild coyote.  How far can artists really go with their art?  In 1974, Beuys was experimenting and creating new ideas in the art world.  

Grid Art Projects

Kelly- I really like the idea of your project, the only criticism is that I wish it were bigger.
Constantin- It was different seeing a grid project digitally.  I think it was a good idea of a grid because it is something that you have around everyday and you decided to make it into "art."
Kaitlin- Your grid art project was amazing.  I loved the way you used the colors and beads to create a design everyone can recognize.  It was great how you kept the size of the piece small and colorful, which also made the texture stand out.  
Cierra- Who thought a pac man purse could even be made? Great job on the project, you can just see the amount of time that was put into it.  
Darlene- After hearing you painted the pushpins with nail polish and had to individually arrange each one, I couldn't even imagine the time and effort put into the project.  The final result was perfect and had a special meaning to you.
Jon- I liked how you had your grid move along with music that you created.  It was a different take on the project but you were still able to keep to the concept of a grid.  
Amanda- Good job on the rug, especially since you made it into what you wanted to and not following the directions.  It must have been difficult to create a different picture with only the given colors.  
Sean- I think the overall idea behind this project was well thought out, but I think the actual project could have been more creative (whether it was made with several air filters) to make it appear more like a grid of green arrows.
Ryan- Who would have thought to even use a pasta strainer to create a grid project? Nice creativity and use of colors.
Patrick- It is clear that you spent a good amount of time working on this project with placing each bead on the square plates and then ironing them all together.  I also like how you tried to create a self-portrait out of it.
Katelin- I love the colors you used for the eye and how good they look together.
David- Awesome...The way you recreated the Space Invaders game looks so real.  
Rupert- The simplicity of the banana was a really good idea. I think it was interesting how you chose to not have it connected to the grid behind it so it was like an object made of larger beads was placed on a wired grid.  It would have been completely different if you just glued the beads onto the background and I think you made the right choice with it. 
Salman- I loved your project but it would have looked more complete if the whole poster was covered with beads.  The colors you used were perfect and made the picture really stand out from a distance. 

Grid Project

The piece I created for this project had a special meaning to me, as it is a tattoo I got for my Grandpa when he passed away in 2009.  The red and white rose means unity, and the end of the stem is blood dripping into his initials, PJL.  I tried to represent this using artistic "pom poms."

Rotary Glass Plates

Rotary Glass Plates, Precision Optics by Marchel Duchamp and Man Ray in 1920.

The design of Rotary Glass Plates is special, especially for its time, because it was something new in art. It was a moving art object that played with the viewers eye.  The way in which the plates circle around so quickly creates the illusion of no movement at all.  After watching a replica of this piece in a video, it is amazing because if a picture was placed behind the spinning plates, the picture would still be clear.  This was the magic of the device. Not only did it make the image clear, but the plates appeared to only be one moving object.  An example of this can be found on Duchamp's website under  number two of "Duchampian Multimedia."

Watson is Beat

Watson

Although it was a shock that a manmade computer was able to beat a human in Jeopardy, now another man has outsmart the machine.  It is crazy how technology that humans have the ability to make can be so high-tech that they are smarter than the people that created it.  As the future becomes reality, who knows what is going to happen next with technology.

New Technology

Hummingbirds are learning to spy...

Is technology going too far?  Do you think this is a breach of privacy?