Grid project

I chose to do a mailbox as my grid art project.  Grids originally started out as an organizational tool but in the 1920's it evolved as an artistic object. In the WWII era, they referred to other aspects of the paintings as opposed to the pure tangibility of the paintings.  They referred to the humanist, rationalist, and spiritualist side of the artwork.  I decided to take a similar approach to my art.  I decided to use a mailbox to shed light on a couple different qualities the postal service shares with our society. As we experience this corona circumstance, there is one thing people rely on and look forward to no matter what.  That's mail, whether it be e-mail or regular mail, we all count on it.  One thing it does is bring us together, it keeps us connected.  I believe that is one quality the postal service provides for the society, togetherness. Another quality the postal service and mail provides is perseverance.  Through rain, sleet, hail, and snow is one thing, but they have been delivering through the quarantine circumstances as well.  I created this art piece to show how the postal service is likely overlooked in the value they actually offer to our Nation and the world in that matter.  The postal service brings us together, mail brings us together.

The materials I used were a blank sheet of drawing paper and crayons. I chose these materials because they were on hand and would allow for the most versatility with colors.  

History of Computers

The history of computing has helped the modern day computer develop into what it is by the input and contribution of many different people and concepts.  Over time, there have been numerous additions to the technologies that have made computers what they are today.  

In 1948, the first program to run on a computer was introduced by Frederic Williams, Tom Kilburn, and Geoff Toothill which was their Small Scale Experimental Machine, (SSEM).  The "Manchester Baby" was built to test the first technology used for RAM.  It was called the Williams Tube. This is interesting and significant to me because now, RAM is a basic aspect of computers that we look for and evaluate with how we choose a computer that works for us in why we're purchasing one in the first place. Computers can be used for many things but if your primary use is to write papers for school, as opposed to online gaming, the RAM is something that will be considered and make a difference in performance.  

In 1956 a direct keyboard concept was introduced to computers by researchers at MIT.  Before this it was normal to use punch cards to input information for computers.  This is absolutely a revolutionary introduction because now, a keyboard is pretty much an essential aspect of computers and is a normal inclusion of computers when you buy one.  This goes for desktops and laptops and there are even ways to attach keyboards to certain devices like tablets.  

These discoveries are important in my opinion because upon their introductions and the evolution of computers, they are normal inclusions/considerations when buying a modern day computer.  

Muybridge

Muybrige is considered one of the great photographers/artists.  He didn't start out in photography, he was initially working in a library but after a stagecoach accident, he suffered damage to his frontal lobe. This is said to sometimes cause a type of personality change. When he came back taking up photography, he changed the way things were done completely.  He was extremely artistic and popular with the images he created.  One piece he photographed was a lighthouse and people placed in particular spots of the lighthouse and its surroundings.  The creativity really came in when he created the clouds and skyline himself. The image was taken without clouds but he added them in to bring a certain emotional feel to the photograph.  

One thing he is very well known for was his work with Leland Stanford and trying to figure out whether or not horses run picking up all four legs off of the ground at the same time.  The scientific portion of his work kicked in when he was actually taking the photographs and setting up to get the appropriate shots for his images.  He used chemicals with his photography, carried his own darkroom with him, and intelligently made his settings to try and capture the appropriate images.  The shutters on the camera was his challenge with the horses because he had to get the shutter to close fast enough to capture the images.  At one point, he set up a background of white sheets so the horses could run in front of it illuminating the horse itself.  He wanted to basically create stop motion.  He came up with a solution for the shutter issue, which tapped into the scientific side of things.  He lined up multiple cameras, used trip wires that were connected to the shutters, and when the horses would trip the wire running, it would trigger the shutter snapping a photograph.  This is how he caught the four legs of the horses off the ground all at once.  This made a stop motion type of creation and is how a cinema-like piece of art was introduced to the world.  

Stop Motion-Dedication to Ahmaud Arbery

https://youtu.be/auKvR4PC1Uo


This stop motion video was created in remembrance of Ahmaud Arbery.  The items used were a set of white headphones and a set of black headphones.  I worked to portray the story as I've heard it happen.  The white truck with the white headphones portrayed the father and son cutting Ahmaud off as he ran.  When being chased he turned to go the other way, there was another truck that pulled up and cut him off.  He turned to face the person who was chasing him, they fought and I portrayed him being shot by laying the headphone flat.  The two trucks fled the scene and he was left alone.  The end showed black headphones and white headphones coming together demanding justice for Ahmaud.  It showed the yelling at the Statue of Liberty which stood for America and the Freedom that we are all supposed to have.

Pierre Huyghe

This type of art really shows how people can use everyday things and call it art.  Art is interpreted however the viewer sees. Things like doors, broomsticks, wires, and much more can be viewed as art.  In this respect, I believe this is one of the concepts that most shows us that we can all be creators and anything we feel can be art, is art.  I admire the way he described the desire to build a world with his art.  This is significant to me because essentially we are all in the same world but having different worldly experiences. This is people like Pierre are able to take puppets and create their own worlds providing an experiences for viewers.  

Pipilotti Rist

I have witnessed art like what this artists has to offer before and I believe we are slowly transitioning into this being a new norm.  This type of art is inclusive to its viewers. It submerges you into the experience making it more about the experience and less about the art.  Some artists, we look at their work, and try to interpret what they were thinking, but Rist has art that explains what her thoughts were behind creating it.  I like this kind of art because of the way it portrays the artist's feelings and also gives the viewers an experience of these feelings at the same time.  

Raul Cuero

Raul Cuero One of the main things I took is that you have to be a good observant of nature.  Your creativity comes from within and how you perceive things/nature.  Nowadays people are bogged down by their technology but your own experience with things in life is what makes you a creator.  The kids today spend a lot more time indoors and less time outside which limits their exposure.  Another aspect of your creativity comes from your interactions with others.  I like the way he mentions "Good things take time".  This is important with success and in life.  Nothing immediately happens for you so you have to persevere through circumstances and continue moving forward.  This gives you experience for your creativity.