Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Trip to Baltimore Museum of Art

 Last week we went to the Baltimore Museum of Art.  We were able to look at real art up close instead of a picture on the computer screen.  This allowed us to view the details that can not be truly appreciated on the computer screen.  Two examples of this are the brush marks that artists use and the pure size of the actual painting.  Viewing art in person is much more fulfilling than just scrolling through pictures on the internet
    While we toured the museum, we were asked to pick three works of art that we liked the most.  The three I chose were: "Still Life with Pitcher and Plate" by Felix Vallotton, "Basket of Fruit" by Pierre Bonnard, and "Landscape of Beaucaire, near Provence" by John D. Graham.  My personal favorite was "Landscape of Beaucaire, near Provence" for many reasons.  The two main reasons were because the colors were very vibrant and full.  It made the image really pop out and I enjoyed that.  Also, the use of shadows.  I was memorized at how the artist utilized darker colors and angles to make the image of a shadow.  I know many artists do this, but this just stuck out to me.  



Monday, January 30, 2017

Visibility

Every day we see something knew, whether it is with our eyes or with our imagination.  In his article, Visibility, Italo Calvino gives an extensive look at how images play an important role in literature, art, and even religion.  When writing a book, authors often focus on the visual image that is being sent to the reader.  It is very difficult to perfectly construct this image.  In a way, it is about thinking of an image first and then turning that picture into a story.  This makes it very important for the author to choose every word carefully which is difficult and takes time.  Creating a visible image for someone is a talent. 

I have never given it much thought of how difficult it is to write a good story.  Thinking about it now, I remember times when I heard a poorly constructed story or even terrible stories that I have told.  Getting a message across heavily depends on the way it is told.  In the article, it mentions that “imagination as an instrument of knowledge”.  I agree with this because by visualizing something, a person is able to learn or teach something.  As an example, I am a very visual learner.  If I cannot picture the idea in my head, then it is very hard for me to learn it.  I often seek out pictures or examples to help me understand a subject  Being able to imagine an image through words is a talent that many should seek to learn.  

The Whole Ball of Wax

Every day, no matter where you are, art can be found.  Sometimes it is hard to find, other times it is very obvious.  In Jerry Saltz’s article, The Whole Ball of Wax, he argues that art is similar to disciplines such as science and religion.  Art is a necessity of life because it provides pleasure and an energy source for individuals.  This idea is partly inspired by Mary Midgley.  She argues that art is about the experience, not about whether you understand it.  Art can also send messages, such as a political idea hidden in the colors. 

In my opinion, art never has one clear message.  The feelings and thoughts that a person gets from a painting, drawing, or sculpture is very personal.  It is different for everyone.  It is almost certain that everyone will relate a different past experience to the piece of art they are viewing.  In this way, I agree with the article that art provides pleasure and an energy source for individuals.  A painting can help you recall a memory or learn a lesson.  When viewing a painting, I often associate a childhood experience and it draws the emotions that I felt at that time.  Because of this, I believe that art can foster a movement just like science or religion.