I went to the Weisman on Thursday and I reviewed everything. I looked more into depth at some of the paintings and one really stuck out at me. It was a painting that looked very modern and was almost 3D. Then I looked at the description and it was a painting by Charles Biederman from 1937 that is untitled. I thought it was crazy that something that looked so modern was from the 30's.
I really enjoyed everything that the Weisman has and I'm excited to see what it will be like next year.
For my off site exhibition I picked the Weisman and their current pottery display. Pottery fascinates me because most of the time you see manufactured versions in your home that you buy from the stores but when you buy something that has been hand crafter or that you know has been hand crafted it puts a whole new meaning and story behind the piece.
Many people take a pottery class at some point in their life and do not realize the physical labors of the making, forming, and glazing. I myself have taken a few introductory courses and know from first hand that it is not an easy task.
Pottery from all over the world fascinates me because it reflects the time period and culture of where it was made just as a canvas painting does. Other than functional pieces, pottery can also be made of some decorative pieces. Overall I think if you had the time and energy pottery is a media that would be interesting to explore and see the options.
I visited the Leo and Doris Hodroff ceramics collection. Ceramics is not one of my favorite art mediums, but I found the gallery interesting enough. There are ceramics from around the world and from various time periods. I enjoyed trying to guess the culture based on the styles and decorations. I like the older pottery better for some reason. Maybe because of the history that surrounds them, whereas more modern pieces may have less history.
There is a collection of Mimbres pottery I really liked too. These are from a Mexican tribe from about a millenia ago. Much of these were cracked and some had a distinct hole that was broken through after it was already made. To me, the cracks make it so much more interesting than if they were whole. And no one really knows why there are holes, so you could say it's a Mimbres mystery.
Each MFA students work is so unique, it is so cool to have such variety in one gallery. I really liked Benjamin Brockman's woodcuts. His were the "alien rabbit" illustrations. Besides the rabbits, you couldn't really tell what you were looking at. It could have been an alien landscape or the someones insides. I enjoy looking at his style. I also was entralled by the masks. I couldn't find that little information sticker, so whoever the artist was, great job! I think they were trying to show different people. Some looked like they had a certain personality, and some were distinguished by a certain object. Some were animalistic, so I'm not sure I completely understand the idea behind them.
A couple pieces were a mystery to me. That interactive dark hallway one was exciting, but how that is art is beyond me. I also didn't get the point of the Perchance room with the boxes of leaves, feathers, glass, and dirt. I guess it has to do with the four seasons, but I don't know.
The piece I found the most interesting, was the portal that you had to enter and go into a box. It was very experimental and took a lot out of the viewer to be able to walk into the door, even though it had a very ominous warning. I was SO freaked out about walking in there. It was awesome that it was more about the participation of the viewer, more than it was about the artist.
An aspect of it that was terrifying, was the size of the door. It seems like such a simple thing, yet has such a huge affect. The door is actually the size of your body. Which means you are entering through a small portal.
Also, going in by yourself is a very powerful thing. The fact that I had to enter by myself, was a powerful things.
The juxtaposition of this piece, to the creepy masks on the wall, was also a powerful affect. The masks seemed to correspond to this piece. The whole exhibit had a very ominous, stark, and dark feels. Everything was a little dark which gave it a spooky affect. All in all i really enjoyed this exhibit.
The Larson art gallery, on the Saint Paul campus, had it's last opening for the year on April 12th. This show, titled "Urban Earth", explores the relationship of nature to art. This show encompasses the work of three artists: Meghan Karschnia, Jeramy Jensen, and Kari Maxwell. Even though each of their styles is very different, they address the same topic, creating a unique take on a single theme.
Kari Maxwell's soft images of feather, takes a very placid look at nature. These small canvases are very soothing, and seem like something that would be hung in a home or a cabin. The pastels, soft lines, and soft subject matter create a very tranquil image. She did not provide an artist statement, yet as a viewer, it seems to me that she wanted to comfort the viewer, more than challenge the way they view nature. It is a view that instills a sense of peace. This creates a body of work that would be easy to sell to an audience looking to buy for a home.
On the other hand, Jeramy Jensen's work is more violent in it's treatment towards nature. The vivid reds, stark blacks, and harsh lines is an uneasy look at nature, that does not leave the viewer feeling comfortable. There are Pollock like quality to his drips and swipes that evoke a more industrial feel. The tree landscapes do not feel real. Rather, they feel constructed.
Meghan Karschnia is a ceramic artist that depicts pottery with topographical pieces. Her plates, hung on a wall in a line, express the industrial encroachment on the earth. The earth slowly disappears more and more in the center of each plate as black swirls engulf it. This combines the two other artists but addressing the peace of the natural world, and the effects industrialization affects it.
As we prepare for the end of the semester, here is a review of the list of the assignments during the last month:
Installation of MNxNatives on Saturday April 14th
Due April 17th
Reflections on MNxNatives project posted on the blog before 9am Tuesday April 17th
Critique of MNxNatives project on Tuesday April 17th
Due April 24th
Artist Presentations on Tuesday April 24th • 20 minutes
Visit to the Nash Gallery MFA Thesis Show Tail of the Ouroboros
Due April 26th
Reflections on MFA Thesis Show Tail of the Ouroboros
May 1st
discussion of documentation process for MNxnatives
using sound, animation, video, photos
May 3rd
review documentation sketches
Discussion of Chapter 3 Themes in Digital Art [pg 138-246]
Due May 8th
MNxnatives documentation due
Independent Review of Exhibition posted on the blog
Due May 11th
all blog entries and revisions to MNxnative documentation due by midnight
The MNXNatives project was a project the our freshman seminar made to raise awareness of species that used to live in Minneapolis but do not anymore. We raised awareness by posting vinyl on the windows on Washington Ave. bridge. The vinyl was crossing signs that had the species cut out in the middle. I believe the project went very well considering we did not have everyone each time we put the vinyl up. My job of the project is to make a video of the process, so my duty is not done yet. I am very happy that I was part of this project and enjoyed working with everyone.
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