Module 15

1) My expectations for this course were to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for art, to learn about the creative process, and sources of inspiration. I believe that this course did a good job introducing me to these concepts and set a foundation of knowledge.

2) I think what I said in my initial posting still stands true for how I would define art. I've learned that art is hard to define as it comes in many forms and is open to various interpretations. I still believe that it is a form of expression.

3) My favorite artist in my initial posting was Andy Warhol. As of right now, he is still my favorite artist. I think this is due to the fact that I was able to spend a lot of time seeing his art and learning about him on my own accord which makes a deeper connection. However, I do really like the work of Charles Burchfield who I was unfamiliar with prior to this course.

4) I still love online courses just as I did prior to taking this class. I think online education is the future. It is easily accessible and inclusive of students who have other priorities in life to be able to complete coursework on their own time. 

Module 14

Self Portrait/Virtual Art Gallery Visit

Self-portraits selected from the Museum of Fine Arts Boston:

1) Self-portrait (muscle shirt), from the series Every Breath We Drew
Jess T. Dugan
2013
Photograph, inkjet print
61 x 47.9 cm

2) Self Portrait
Ellen Day Hale
1885
Oil on canvas
72.39 x 99.06 cm

3) Fantastic Inkwell (Self-Portrait as a Sphinx)
Sarah Bernhardt
1880
Bronze
31.8 x 34.9 x 31.8 cm

Image of myself:

Self-Portrait I created:

Reflection Journal Questions:
1) I selected the inspiration pieces for various reasons. For the first piece, as shown above, I liked the stance of the subject and how the body language parallels that of the image of myself. For the second piece, I enjoyed the gaze of the subject and how your eyes are drawn immediately to the face and eyes as in the image of myself. For the third piece, I thought the concept of creating a self-portrait in the form of sphinx was really interesting and creative and inspired the idea behind my self-portrait.
2) For my self-portrait, I used multimedia, Sharpie on wax paper superimposed on a print. I chose this media because I thought it represented duality with the outline of my face still visible but the creepy zombie still lurking beneath and also clearly visible through the wax paper. 
3) The challenge I faced in creating the self-portrait was finding a viable light source that could be placed underneath the photo which I used to trace onto the wax paper. I was ultimately able to rig a clear bin with my phone light underneath to create enough light to be able to trace the photo.
4) I think the piece represents how my outside appearance is often deceiving. Despite being able to capture an attractive picture of myself, at the time I felt very stressed and ugly on the inside. This also works the other way in that sometimes when I'm feeling great mentally my physical self doesn't line up. It is a constant and forever-frustrating dilemma. 
5) The main elements used in this piece are line and shape which I used to create the outline of myself. There is also the element of color from the image of the creature underneath the wax paper.
6) I enjoyed creating the self-portrait because it was a chance to be creative even though I don't consider myself an artist by any means.
7) I like the concept of my artwork much more than I actually enjoy the final product. I think with better tools and a better way to capture the final product, the outcome would have been much better.

Module 13: Project #4 Journal Reflection

I liked creating this project because it was nice to be able to find pieces that jumped out at me and that I was interested in learning more about. I wanted to see the similarities/differences in how women have been represented in art throughout various cultures, time periods, and art styles. Female beauty is a subject that I feel has been prevalent and widespread throughout art and therefore gave me a lot to work with. 

Module 13

Video Review:

1) Key Concepts
An Acquiring Mind: Philippe de Montebello and The Metropolitan Museum of Art

• Monographic gallery: all works installed by a single artist
• Philippe de Montebello was the longest-serving director of The Met, for over 31 years
• It is the job of the curator to capture the audience's attention
• The flow of the gallery is an important component that is considered by the curator
• There are approximately 2 million works of art in the museum's collection
• Montebello guided the acquisition of around 84,000 works of art

LIVE Q&A with MoMA Curator Anne Umland (April 24)

• MoMA was founded in 1929 and was meant to highlight the value of modern art 
• Modern art is often debated by experts
• Curators should remain open-minded and be a "perfectionist"
• The curator and exhibition designer must work together

The Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art

• "Lowbrow" is used to describe art that nobody knows how to categorize
• Atomic/Space Age: post-World War II period, the late 40s through mid-60s, heavily influenced by the American consumer culture
• It is the job of the artist to create and let someone else analyze
• Lowbrow features pop culture references which are relatable to the general population
• Robert Williams coined the term "lowbrow"
• Lowbrow is often looked down upon or not taken seriously among the art community

2) The films heavily relate to the art curation project at hand. The films discuss the process, expectations, and role of an art curator. The films highlight how important presentation and aesthetic is to a curator. The films also show just how difficult the curation process can be because not everyone views art the same. However, it is the job of the curator to be knowledgeable and able to adequately discuss the art.

3) I liked these videos because I think it was interesting to see a different role in the art community, other than an artist. It is easy to assume that artists create art and museums just put it on display but there is a lot of hard work that goes into what happens behind the scenes.

Module 12

1) Key Concepts-

Jacob Lawrence:

• viewed as one of America's most respected artists
• many art centers throughout the country designed to alleviate difficulties faced during the Great Depression
• individuals could receive free instruction in the field of their choice (music, dance, theater, painting)
• Harlem Renaissance: new attitudes, culture continued to grow
• positive effect on communities which led to increased contributions by the people
• Lawrence advocates for young people's exposure to what they like to do
• importance of black experience = American experience = human experience

Faith Ringgold: Artist & Activist:

• Ringgold born in Harlem during the Great Depression
• invented a new art form: story quilts
• a leader in the movement to open museums to works by artists of color, specifically women

Romare Bearden: A Black Odyssey

• Bearden is an African-American artist best known for collage work
• used The Odyssey as a metaphor for the experience of African-Americans
• Bearden stated that he used his work to take the elements of Afro-American life in the U.S. as he sees it and place it in a universal framework
• rendered a new depiction of the "modern woman" as an intellectual, strategist, one whom fights for her family
•  Bearden insisted that art comes from other art

Fauvism - Overview - Goodbye-Art Academy:

• fauvism: French avant-garde art movement, gained recognition at the start of the 20th century
• artists used vivid colors, radical, bold brushstrokes 
• kept the drawing simple but exaggerated colors and included fewer details
• Matisse and Derain established fauvism, broke away from traditional impressionist methods

Amadeo Modigliani: 6 Minute Art History Video:

• Modigliani was an Italian-Jewish expressionist, modern artist born in Tuscany in 1884
• focused on making abstract art that had an emotional quality
• preferred to paint indoors and focused on portraits and nudes, rather than landscapes
• fascination with expressionist/abstract approaches to art as well as non-western art (African masks)

The best moments from Dolce&Gabbana Alta Moda, July 2019:

• modern fashion drawing on ancient Greek culture as inspiration

'On Creativity' interview with fashion icon Norma Kamali:

• fashion has a short life
• Kamali's work influenced by pop culture
• fashion, health, beauty are all intertwined

2)In the videos, we learn about some of the artists that were influential in the movements of art as we've come to know them.

3)I really liked a lot of the films, especially the ones that contained information on the Harlem Renaissance. I also liked the tragic story of Amadeo Modigliani. It seems to be a recurring theme in art that the artists who end up being the most influential are controversial and unappreciated during their lifetimes. 

Module 11: Gallery Visit #2

Art Gallery Visit #2

Step #1
1) MoMA The Museum of Modern Art
2) https://www.moma.org/?ref=googleartproject
3) I selected this museum because I've visited it in New York when I was young and thought it would be interesting to take another tour, virtually this time.

Step #2
1) There are light fixtures on the ceiling that are pointed at the pieces creating a glowy, illuminated effect on the art.
2) The walls are muted tones of white and grey.
3) There are accent walls throughout the museum which the artwork is mounted on as well as glass cases which look to be about hip-height also containing various pieces.
4) It appears that you can walk through the museum to the open rooms containing the art.

Step #3
1) The artworks are organized by the exhibit.
2) As the name of the museum indicates, it appears that the art is similar in that it is modern and contemporary.
3) The collection of the pieces vary greatly in content, medium, and style.
4) There are various kinds of frames, some of which appear to be wood and of different colors. There are also some pieces which are not framed.
5) The artworks have white labels that are mounted on the wall with them.
6) The artworks have varying distances between them with some being very close, almost touching, and others being far apart.

Step #4
https://www.moma.org/collection/works/173340?sov_referrer=theme&theme_id=5162&effective_date=2020-04-19

Laura Owens
Untitled
Acrylic, Flashe, and oil stick on canvas
2013
137 3/8 x 119 7/8"

I see what looks to be a newspaper with abstract flowers made from paint strokes on top of it. The flowers appear to have shadows making it look as if they are floating over the newspaper. Owens uses line, shape, color, and texture. I think Owens is using the colorful flowers to create art on the newspaper which we may not normally see as beautiful.

https://www.moma.org/collection/works/284832?classifications=any&date_begin=Pre-1850&date_end=2020&locale=en&on_view=1&page=1&q=&with_images=1

Aida MulunehMorning BridePigmented inkjet print201631 1/2 × 31 1/2"
This piece is a woman with blue skin dressed in white with a veil. She is positioned against a red patterned background. The piece uses space, contrast, and pattern. I think the artist is trying to emphasize the regal essence of the subject. 

https://www.moma.org/collection/works/199052?classifications=any&date_begin=Pre-1850&date_end=2020&locale=en&on_view=1&page=1&q=&with_images=1

Michaela Eichwalk
Duns Scotus
Acrylic, oil, wax, and lacquer on artificial leather
2015
53 1/2 × 106 1/4"

This piece is composed of abstract shapes that look like they are made from different mediums and some look similar to ink blots on a yellow background. This piece uses color, shapes, and texture. I'm not sure what the artist was trying to convey with this piece other than creating art for the sake of art.

What did you think of "visiting" the Gallery and purposefully looking at the exhibition from a different perspective - the physical space, the architecture, theme, etc.?
I don't prefer a virtual visit to the museum. I would much rather be physically present to be able to see the artwork in person and take in all of the details which don't translate in the same way over a computer screen. I think being able to see the physical space, architecture, theme, etc would have helped me to understand the museum as a whole. 

Module 11

Video Reviews: Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the '50s and '60s & Dada and Surrealism

1) I chose these films because the titles seemed like topics I'd be interested in learning about. I'm hoping to hear about Andy Warhol and Marcel Dumchamp in the videos. 

2) Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the '50s and '60s Key Concepts:

• Abstract act is meant to be thought about and felt rather than simply looked at.
• Franz Kline, Jackson Pollock, and Robert Motherwell were among a group known as action painters who were abstract expressionists in America in the late '40s and '50s.
• Actions made in the process of painting were as important as the final result.
• In abstract painting, the question of where to stop becomes important. 
• Jackson Pollock created a record of the movements and gestures used in the process of making his paintings. 
• In Helen Frankenthaler's later work, there are allusions to biblical, especially Old Testament, themes.
• Painters, printmakers, and sculptors started to use popular imagery, juggling our notions of representation and abstraction.

Dada and Surrealism Key Concepts:

• Schwitters asserted that works of art had lives of their own.
• Schwitters removes the objects he uses from the roles with which we associate them, and by giving them new roles reveal their secret identities.
• Schwitters has been called the most materialistic artist of his generation.
• For the Berlin Dadaists, as for the Italian futurists, it was important that the world of art should be combined with the world of technology.
• Before and during the first World War some artists had rebelled against symbols of the past, claiming that cars and airplanes were more beautiful than statues.

3) The videos expand on the different eras of art that have evolved over time and give a more in-depth view with examples of the artists who pioneered these movements.

4) I enjoyed the films because I like to hear more about the artists that founded and led these movements in art. It helps to understand the different styles.

Module 10

Video Review: Key Concepts

Olmec Masks

• Created 1500+ years before the Aztec civilization
• Far in both time and geography
• Similar to us looking back at ancient Roman civilization
• Mask is polished and created with greenstone
• Aztecs collecting objects and ritually burying them for an offering
• Aztecs had reverence for cultures that came before them
• Olmec is the mother culture of Mesoamerica
• Teotihuacan: "city of the gods"

Feathered Headdress

• Sent to Europe by Hernan Cortes, the Spanish conquistador
• Speaks to long-distance trade and tribute items: paid by conquered cities to the Aztecs
• Luxury items sent to Tenochtitlan (Aztec capital, present-day Mexico City)
• Costume was important to the Aztecs as well as many Mesoamerican cultures
• Amanteca: feather workers, highly-regarded
• Shift to Christian iconography

Bundu/Sowei Helmet Mask (Mende people)

• West African phenomenon, several ethnic groups participated in masquerade tradition
• Masks were worn not on the face but on the head
• Only known masquerade tradition where women wore the masks
• Made by male carvers to be worn by females for initiation
• Women were taken to secluded forest area where girls were initiated, instructed on how to be good wives
• Artists create an image of morality that young girls should strive for
• Down-turned eyes indicate that women should be reserved, and the small mouth indicates that women should be quiet
• Artists suggest that woman is full-figured which indicates she should be ready to bear children

Female (pwo) mask (Chokwe peoples)

• Danced by a male dancer despite the mask representing an ideal woman
• Meant to honor young, fertile women who had successfully given birth
• Culture is matrilineal
• Eyes and mouth being closed suggest a looking inward and a deserving of respect
• Had trading relations throughout Africa

Mask (Buk), Torres Strait, Mabuiag Island

• Torres Strait is a body water between Papua New Guinea and Australia
• Masks made out of turtle shells with multiple pieces stitched together
• Possibly represents the face of a hero or ancestor
• Likely danced at initiation, funerary, and harvest rituals
• Connected the wearer and culture to the supernatural
• Missionaries made the masks obsolete and even asked that the existing masks be burned

Module 9

1) Key Concepts

The Great Wave

• Toward the end of his life, Hokusai experienced a final burst of creativity which he channeled into painting.
• Hokusai's depiction of a woodcutter may be based on a form of Japanese theater called Noh plays in which an imperial emissary sent to find the spring of eternal life and the woodcutter shows him the way.
• There is an ancient Chinese story in which a woodcutter and fishermen discuss the meaning of life because both are men of nature who are in tune with the world and represent balance.
• In the depiction of Hokusai's fisherman, the feathers in the basket upon which he is sitting have puzzled scholars and could be another Noh play reference, possibly stolen from the robe of a heavenly being.
• Hokusai exhibited movement and texture within his art.

Early Photography: making daguerreotypes

• Louise Jacques-Mande Daguerre was the creator of the formula for daguerreotypes which he sold to the French government so that it could be made available to the public without patent restrictions. 
• Daguerreotypes as a new medium swept across Europe and made an impression on the populations.
• Viewers took daguerreotypes as "completely faithful depictions of nature."
• Daguerreotypes became perhaps the most popular in America and allowed for all types of people to be able to have their portrait done.
• Producing daguerreotypes was a laborious process.
• Early exposure times were often uncomfortably long.
• The assembly work of daguerreotypes was often done by women and children.

Death of Marat

• The Death of Marat was painted during the French Revolution and depicts a contemporary event.
• Jacques-Louis David was a proponent of the French Revolution and a "minister of propaganda."
• David was asked to depict three martyrs- there was an important shift from Christian to political martyrs.
• The French Revolution was meant to secularize the nation and abandon the superstitions of the church.
• The Death of Marat has a stark background which is in contrast to Rococo paintings.

Manet

• A Bar at the Folies Bergere by Manet depicts a woman standing at the bar and she is positioned in front of a mirror and he reflection is also visible.
• The woman's gaze is a typical Manet depiction with it being direct yet also unreadable.
• The painting features open brushwork which is loose, visible strokes of paint that do not create clear contours.
• Manet also features willful distortion in his artwork which upends expectations and muddles the relationship of the viewer to the painting.

Delacroix

• Liberty Leading the People is a depiction of romanticism.
• The painting has a contemporary subject but large paintings such as this were typically reserved for religious subjects.
• Liberty is an allegorical figure; a symbol of an idea that lead the revolutionaries.
• The depiction of Liberty is a classical profile that pays homage to ancient Greek and Roman art.
• The painting subjects symbolize all classes coming together for the sake of revolution.
• The entire scene of the painting is filled with chaos and energy, showcased by loose brushwork and brilliant colors which is in contrast to the muted colors which were prevalent at that time.

Monet

• Monet sometimes had as few as seven minutes to create a depiction on canvas before the light changed the effect he was looking for was gone.
• Monet had a hypersensitivity to specific effects of light.
• Monet worked to forget what he knew to create shapes and colors.
• Monet's paintings represent the momentary but have been built up over time which is visible by thick paint from multiple layers.

Cassatt

• The topic of mother and daughter and the intimacy of their relationship is uncommon throughout art history.
• The attention of the subjects in The Child's Bath is on each other which draws the viewer into the experience.
• The unexpected angle of the painting depicts how we might actually see the scene in real life.

2) The videos and text both give information into the artists' renderings and the symbolism, techniques, and subject matter they used.

3) I enjoyed the films because it gave insight to things I would have never noticed among the artwork.

Module 8: Exploring Line

1) Using a hand as the subject matter was extremely difficult. I am not talented at drawing and attempting to make the hand look realistic on paper was very challenging.
2) I used a pencil because I felt that it would be easier to make smaller, more detailed lines.
3) Drawing with my non-dominant hand felt very clumsy and like I lacked control of it.
4) Although neither are of great quality, I believe you can tell just by looking which was created with my dominant hand. The dominant hand rendering looks more controlled and deliberate.
5) I would probably not consider using my non-dominant hand to create artwork because it was somewhat frustrating to not be able to control what I was doing with the precision you would expect when using your dominant hand.

Module 8

1) I chose these films to watch because I felt the topics would be something that would interest me and help me to understand the history of art.

2) Florence: Heart of the Renaissance Key Concepts

• Florence was the home of the Renaissance and the birthplace of the modern Western world
• In Florence, there was a rebirth of the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome which swept across Europe
• Capitalism was replacing feudalism- Florence was "middleman of trade between East and West"
• Renaissance was an age of humanism- escaped from the church's shadows
• Sculptors, painters, and poets during the Renaissance turned to ancient work for inspiration.
• During the Renaissance, as in the ancient world, people saw the glory of God in the beauty, order, and harmony of the human body

Art and Life in the Middle Ages: The Luttrell Psalter

• The Luttrell Psalter is a prayer book containing scenes from the Bible and everyday life, as well as plants, animals, birds, and even monsters.
• The pictures in the Psalter reveal a lot about the Luttrell family as well as medieval life in general.
• The Luttrell Psalter is one of the few surviving pieces of evidence as to how people in England lived in the Middle Ages. 
• People in the Middle Ages, whether wealthy or peasants, depended on the success of the harvest.
• Peasants worked in exchange for a piece of land as well as a portion of the harvest.
• The rich and poor would celebrate the bringing in of the harvest together.
• People had a very literal belief of heaven and hell in the Middle Ages.

3) The films related to the readings by helping to give context as to the history of these time periods and how art was influential.

4) I appreciated the films because as mentioned, it is helpful to understand the time period outside of just the art styles. By understanding more of the history, it creates a more complete picture of how art evolved.

Module 7

Christianity Key Concepts:

• For centuries after the crucifixion, Christians in the Roman Empire were forced to worship secretly, away from the centers of civilization as they were fleeing persecution.
• Sinai is a place where both Muslims and Christians live in harmony despite their different beliefs and cultures.
• In 1504, Christianity was divided in half, forming the Western and Eastern branches.
• Romanesque churches have rounded arches.
• Christian architecture is renowned for its beauty across the world and among all faiths.
• St. Peter's took 120 years to build and began a symbol of the strength of the Counter-Reformation.
• The construction of St. Basil's Cathedral was tied up with the politics and philosophy of the 16th century.
• Within Orthodox churches, there is always an iconostasis which is a wall of icons and has a tradition of being a "book for the illiterate" because not everybody during that time was able to read the gospel.

Islam Key Concepts:

• It is believed in Islam that the prophet Mohammed declared whoever builds a house for Allah (mosque), Allah will build him a house in paradise.
• Jerusalem has been a site of complex religious conflict between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. 
• The Dome of the Rock is considered the first Muslim monument. Most of the monument has been replaced but the structure remains the same.
• Kairouan is the center of Islam because of its strategic placement.
• Muslims believe there is a direct relationship between those who pray and God and therefore there is no need for those who pray to look directly at the imam. 
• There are no figurative representations or sculptures in mosques. 
• Islam is a monotheistic religion and regarded as a continuity of Christianity and Judaism. 
• The Cordoba Mosque was not just a place for worship but also one for knowledge and learning. The interior of the mosque focuses on the spirituality of the individual. It allows Muslims to concentrate and prepare to speak with God. 
• As Catholicism dominated Europe and Spain, the tolerance period between the religions ended.
• The fall of Constantinople, the Christian capital of the Roman Empire, in 1453 to the Ottoman Turks was an important progression in Islam and to Christianity, as well.

2) The videos relate to the readings because we are able to see from this content how religious and art history are interrelated. The readings discuss periods of art history and how religion affected its development while the videos provide examples.

3) I enjoyed the films because it was interesting to learn just how much religion has affected aspects of art and its history. From the videos, we learn about how religious art, including architecture and sculptures, held political and philosophical importance.

4) I chose Christianity because I grew up in a Roman Catholic family and felt it would be interesting to learn about the ancient religious relics. I chose Islam because it is the second-most practiced religion in the world, behind Christianity, and we often don't hear about it much living in the western world.

Module 6: Video Review

1) Beyond the Classical: Byzantine & Later Greek Art
This video discusses how developments in art did not stop after the Hellenistic age and did, in fact, continue to flourish through the rise of Christianity. We learn about the profound religious influence on Greek art which has persisted despite an "increasingly secular Europe." It was from these art forms that modern contemporary artists were able to replicate and expand on, thus creating a continuity in art history.

The Greek Awakening: Art from the 5th Century BC
From this video, we learn that Athens is the birthplace of western civilization because of a revolution in art, architecture, philosophy, and theater which took place during the 5th and 6th centuries. The influence of this revolution is evident even in our present-day society. Many attribute this to the Greeks viewing themselves as the center of their universe, rather than the gods. One such representation of this humanist movement is the construction of the Parthenon. 

The Measure of All Things: Greek Art & the Human Figure
This video discusses how Greeks became focused on representing the human form in their art during the Great Awakening. This focus leads the way to produce realistic renderings that are still valued today and have developed the artistic style of realism. The video describes the Greek art as shifting the focus from religion to anthropocentric: with the focus on the human being, especially female. 

2) The videos relate to the readings through mutual expression of the lasting impact of Greek art and civilization on modern-day society. The content discusses how Greek influence is found all throughout the western world, lasting for centuries. 

3) I enjoyed the films and learning about some of the history of Greek civilization. The videos provided various examples of monumental Greek art which helps me to understand just how profound Greek influence has been over centuries. 

Module 6: Reviewing Peer Responses to Artwork

1) I reviewed the following blogs for this project:

https://visualgemsbymikayla.blogspot.com/   &   https://findingsthroughart.blogspot.com/


2) While looking at the Elements and Principles projects, I liked being able to see how other people interpret these concepts and where they are able to find them in the world to convey through photographs. I was able to see from their point of view and saw the elements and principles through a different lens. I was also able to see other elements and principles which the photo did not represent for the sake of the assignment. For example, I really enjoyed Charlotte's "Shapes" which could have also represented "Space."

3) I didn't choose any of the same artworks as my peers from Project #2. However, I did visit the Burchfield Penney Art Center for this project, as did Mikayla. I was able to see the pieces that she chose during my visit and after reading her descriptions as to why she chose them, I have a new perspective on these artworks.

4) I really enjoyed the pieces that Charlotte chose for Project #2 at The Andy Warhol Museum. I've also visited there and would really like to return again someday. I like contemporary art and I believe Andy Warhol's work is a great embodiment of this. As I mentioned in my comment on her blog, I like that Charlotte picked Make Him Want You to include in her project. I would like to know what exactly was the inspiration and message behind this piece. 

5) I personally enjoyed reviewing my peers' reflections. It was an interesting lesson about interpretations of art and how much they can vary from one person to the next. Being exposed to these different interpretations helps when learning about art.

6) I enjoyed reading the comments posted on my blog because it is nice to make connections with other individuals through shared experiences in art. 

Module 5

Artworks that made an impact/impression on me:

1)Charles E. Burchfield, December Storm, watercolor on joined paper mounted on board, 1941-1960

This piece made an impression on me because of the foreshadowing made by Burchfield, unbeknownst to him. This piece was created one day prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

2) Arthur Kowalski, Sunshine and Cloud Shadows, oil on canvas, 1940

As I was walking through the gallery, this piece stood out to me and I mentioned to my sister it reminds me of a scene that we would've come across in our small hometown, Springville. As we approached the piece and read the description, we realized it was based on a scene in Boston, NY, which is another small town close to Springville. This made the piece have a significant impact on me, creating a sense of homesickness. 

Artworks I felt a connection with:

1) Thomas Mickell Burnham, The Port of Buffalo, oil on canvas, 1835

I connected with this piece because it is a depiction of what the city that I live in looked like before it was what it is today. The city served different purposes to the residents of that time and it's interesting to know that so many people living in the same place can have such different experiences. 

2) Charles E. Burchfield, Wild Sweet Peas in a Summer Rain, watercolor on paper, 1965

I felt a connection to this piece mostly for the title. The flower associated with my daughter Odessa's birth month is the sweet pea. I've always used "sweet pea" as a pet name for my daughter and the artwork is beautiful and made me think of her.

Artworks I would like to know more about:

1) Charles E. Burchfield, Song of the Telegraph, watercolor on joined paper mounted on board, 1917-52

I would like to know more about this piece because I feel that it has a type of psychedelic quality to it that makes it intriguing to look at but also gives me an eerie feeling. I also think it stood out as an atypical work when compared with Burchfield's other pieces which were mostly portrayals of landscapes and natural beauty. 

2) Donald Whitney Burns, Bethlehem Steel, oil on canvas, 1935

I think it would be interesting to know more about the background of this piece of art. Bethlehem Steel was a very important manufacturing plant that supplied jobs to a large number of residents in the area. Its eventual demise was a reflection of the direction in which the American economy was headed. 


How Art Made the World Part 1: More Human Than Human

1) The most interesting section of the video to me was the experiment done with seagulls. Even when presented with a stick with three red lines, which does not bear any resemblance to their mother's beak, the babies were still attracted to it. It shows that we are stimulated by overly exaggerated representations. 

2) The world is dominated by images of the body which are unrealistic because artists choose to emphasize features of the body which are important to the context of time and culture. For example, to the nomadic peoples who created the Venus of Willendorf, being fertile and fuller-figured was a sign of being able to reproduce and obtain food which were the main objectives of their lives.