Thursday, October 16, 2008
Bridge
Space Designer
When looking at a work of art, for a moment you are able to experience another type of space: a new range of colors, different shapes, or an inspiring line of thought. These spaces become experiences that can ask us to question, provoke curiosity, and tell a story. As an art educator we become a sort of space ourselves. When students walk into the classroom they are being exposed to a wide range of not just visual images, but to thoughts, feelings, and different ways of seeing. Although we often attribute these individual experiences to the artists, artworks, readings, or other students: ultimately it is the teacher providing the experience as a whole. The teacher chooses where to take his or her students, what to expose them to, how to present material, and how to link it all together. A classroom is not just a physical space, but a metal space and an experience built by the teacher. A teacher can be like stunning room where students are drawn into and inspired to explore.
Brainstorming and Sketches:
Conductor
Artist Statement
This collage uses instruments to represent the orchestra. The energy of the piece is found at the center with the sense of movement given by the conductor. From that energy is an explosion of art that is expressed in the swirling of notes through Picasso’s Guernica and continuing up through the composition. The flowing of the musical staffs can be followed through some artworks that were considered both revolutionary and sometimes abrasive in their unveiling. However, art students and musicians alike can find through the process of practice and learning aesthetics, a thoughtful composition can be made.
Dreams
Art is very similar. It is documentation of the world around us, whether it be directly recreated or hidden through subject matter and technique. Art allows us to gain a feeling of how people viewed the world through out history. We can step out of our skin, and view the world through the eyes of the artist.
Imagery is universal; the spoken word can be literally translated into many types of languages, however to convey feelings imagery allows the viewer to make their own personal connections. Symbols are based off of how things are observed in this world, and do not need a system such as language to convey their meanings. Art allows us to shake off our everyday reality and see the world from a different perspective, which will in turn help in development of our global community.
Glass Blower
While practicing glassblowing and gathering experiences in the practice of teaching, I am able to draw many parallels between these two disciplines. In glassblowing, you begin with a molten wad of glass. It could become anything, and your imagination soars with possibilities. This is similar to the way teachers set high expectations for their students. They do their best to guide them to achieving these goals, but there may be unforeseen bumps along the way.
As the flexible, malleable medium is continuously heated and formed with tools, the control that the artist has over the results is limited. Colors could blow out at different rates or your assistant might bump your piece on the glory hole door. For a teacher, these factors may be under-funding or the difficult home lives or poor attendance of students. A glassblower and a teacher must react spontaneously, drawing on their experience and skill to solve problems in the moment. They learn from their successes and failures, always looking to improve the next time. Knowing that these challenges exist, they still attempt to reach their highest aspirations and overcome the many obstacles. The reward is a well formed glass vessel or a more informed student.
Kidspiration Brainstorming
molten glass=formable & malleable
tools=personal power, resources
color=interest, a personal connection & freedom of expression
transparency=truth, honesty & clarity
heat=time restraints, energy
breath=personality & the human touch
pipe=communication
furnace=the environment that makes it all possible
remaking a form=a second chance, learn from your mistakes
cooperation=community learning & sharing
shattering=obstacles & failures
Network of Connetions
Music Jam
Statement
When musicians join together to play much of what happens is like that of a student and teacher because each person is there not only to produce music, but to learn and listen to each other. Respect must be established between individuals as to not play over each other, but create harmony. Music is not easy. It takes practice, time, knowledge, and a willingness to learn, and is ever changing and growing.
Developing these skills gives the musician a voice and ownership of something unique and personally created. Music has a rich and varied history that can be used, like the arts to represent people, movements, time, and progress.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Welcome
Welcome to Art Blogmentary!
To post your metaphoric self-portrait, brainstorming, sketches, and statement, first, you need to be invited to contribute to the blog, accept the invitation (if you don't have a Google account, you need to create one first), and then click on New Post at the upper-right (to create a new blog post). Type the name of your self-portrait metaphor in the Title text field. When inserting images, use Large for the self-portrait, brainstorm ideas, and sketches. Under each image, please type "Click on the image to see an enlarged view." Label your post with your first name so that the people you invite to comment on your work can find it easily. You may include additional statements to explain your creative process and reflect on your own work. All images need to be saved as JPG or GIF format and in RGB color mode. You need to resize your metaphoric self-portrait for posting. If your self-portrait is in portrait orientation, its height should be 800 pixels. If your self-portrait is in landscape orientation, its width should be 800 pixels.
Thanks for accepting the invitation and visiting Art Blogmentary. Please provide constructive suggestions and comments to the work of the artist who invited you. Your comments should help improve the artist’s work technically, formally, and conceptually. At the beginning of your comment, please indicate which group (family and friends, art teachers, or K-12 students) you are representing. You do not need to have a Google account to comment on any work. Feel free to comment on other artists’ work as well. We greatly appreciate your participation.
Dr. Guey-Meei Yang
Associate Professor of Visual Arts Education
Art Department, Eastern Michigan University
P.S.: The instructor and artists will monitor the blog posts and comments. Any post or comment contains unprofessional or disrespectful language will be taken down and the person will be banned from participation. Thanks for your cooperation.