Response to ART21 "Play"

Jessica Stockholder:  Vortex in the Play of Theater with Real Passion: In Memory of Kay Stockholder

Jessia Stockholder uses different media in her work “Vortex….”to represent the different processes used in the creation of the installation.  The duplo blocks represent the playful side of the installation, and aerated concrete blocks represent work in the same installation.  Stockholder says that this juxtaposition represents the question:  “What is play?” and “What is work?”

The artists speaks of her concern of scale and her observations of how sculpture has become a part of the environment of the viewer.

I am extremely interested in her work and views, because I plan to create an installation that is roughly the same size.   I am searching for experience from artists thast will help me with my project.

Arturo Herrera in “Play”

Herrera, although he speaks about the composition of his art, is strongly influenced by process.  Toward the end of the piece, he says that development and ideas come through work.  The process, the work, becomes a type of meditative state which helps focus the artist on ideas about art.

Herrera also speaks about the importance of the importance of memory in art.  He uses many cartoon shapes, and says that people connect strongly to the cartoon images, because the images remind the viewer of childhood.

Audience: Response to Reading from Text

Response to the Introduction--Scoping an Audience

The piece entitled "Scoping an Audience" in the Introduction to the first chapter, makes several assumptions about people, and uses stereotypes that are trite and archaic.  The chapter refers to "privileged" art consumers and proposes that a person who is "privileged" could not be familiar with "ghetto" themes and traditions.  The use of the term "ghetto" demands the question:  Is the author referring to the Jewish ghettos of Nazi era Europe, or to the American low income projects and neighborhoods which inherited the name?  I am somewhat disturbed by the assumptions expressed by the author in the Introduction.

Response to "One-for-All:  Thomas Kinkade"

I am truly conflicted by this Kinkade chap.  I NEVER heard or was familiar with the artist, Thomas Kinkade, until the class discussion and the reading in the text.  Since my classmates and instructor say that Kinkade "...is in every mall..." I believe that my ignorance of his name and his works is a testament to how little interest his work sparked in me--if indeed I have walked past the paintings and not noticed the work or the artist.

I certainly feel that art can and should make people feel happy, and cheerful.  In my photography, I often focus on beautiful landscapes, and beautiful people--such as fashion models.  I believe that the emotion that a work elicits is the primary function of the art.  If works are created to exude cheerfulness and many people choose to purchase those works because they feel "good" about the work--I feel that the art has successfully delivered the message of the artist.

However, I am troubled by the aspirations of Thomas Kinkade, as described in the final paragraph of the reading.  Kinkade explains his brand of houses and furniture as an alternative to what is on television.  My biggest concern with Mr. Kinkade's stated idea of creating an idyllic neighborhoods, which reject the ugliness of the outside world, is Americans' apathy toward other people in other cultures and countries now.  Many Americans are oblivious to the troubles of the world outside our borders.  I feel strongly that surrounding ourselves with perfect paintings, in perfect houses, with perfect furniture, built in perfect neighborhoods only serves to isolate the American people.  We are becoming an island of spoiled children, consuming the world's resources, and looking down on other cultures.

Play: An Excercise 8-21-14

Thursday, August 21, our Conceptual Practices class participated in an exercise to explore the concept of "play."  We were given materials, or toys, and told to play with them for ten minutes.

As an artist, in an art class, I felt constrained by what I expected to produce.  This pressure to create a "work" was totally internal.  I put the pressure on myself and the first half of the exercise was more work than play.

During the second half of the exercise, I was able to relax a bit and enjoy the play dough more than the previous toy which I had never seen before.  However, I was not totally free of the anxiety, centered on making "art."

These pictures are some of the shapes and creations that I made during the exercise.

Conceptual Practices

This is my first post for ART1206.

Additional artwork can be seen at my Tumblr:  http://tomnailmedia.com

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