Unit 2- Symmetry in Greek statues

Greek artists created sculptures using a pattern method to contribute to their uniqueness. They always used symmetry, mainly in the human body. Greek artists used and created unique patterns, textures and shapes in their work. The artists were achieving balance and the use of the same shape and different scales. The Greek artists were going for their piece to resemble naturalism. Looking at the ancient sculptures you can see the balance and symmetry they portray and also how they are very real and natural looking. The detail in their work shows. The sculpture Kritios, created a new technique and style using a more natural technique to the body. Making the sculpture come to life. The sculpture of Kritios shows us how instead of just symmetry you can create works of art with a unique touch. They used a more natural look to the sculptures and not as much symmetry. They wanted to portray realism in the figures. They slowly developed and relied on the form of movement and expression. Greek statues always have a face, legs, arms, and body facing forward. Egyptian and Greek sculptures are both abstract and different in their own ways.

Unit 2- Power of Art

Art is an expression. Art can portray happiness, sadness, excitement, or can even tell a story. Many artists express their feelings or what is going on in their life. Many created very depressing pieces and later on killed themselves. Art can open people’s eyes to the real world. Art is everywhere, even in surprising places. This is evident with all the art in cities. Alot of cities are now adopting this use of art to brighten common areas. Art can enhance or beautify anything. In Coral Springs they erected a large brightly painted bowling pin shaped sculpture. It caused alot of controversy, people felt strongly about it both strongly and negatively. The Importance was it started a conversation about art in our town. The citizens started to notice other sculptures around the city. It made people realize and learn more about art and how it can make a powerful statement. Also, in Philadelphia they installed a 13-foot gorilla statue made out of car doors. This shows art can be made out of anything surprisingly. Art can change the world, one sculpture at a time.

Unit One-Peeing in a Fountain

Marcel Duchamp is a known painter and artist whose work is known for its humor and media. He makes an average item “useless” in the sense that he can take something that is useful and alters it to be something useless. Duchamp’s works are known as a “ready-mades.” The ready-mades are products of Marcel creating a new kind of art. His artwork is something that confuses viewers and makes them think. He created known works such as “Bicycle Wheel” and “Fountain.”  Bicycle Wheel was Marcel’s first ready-made. It is a bicycle wheel attached to a stool with no purpose. It is a very interesting piece to me because it shows movement but the actual object cannot leave the spot it’s in. Another piece is “fountain” which is a urinal but placed upside down. After the exhibition  “fountain” had been misplaced and never found again. It may have been because it didn’t seem like actual art and someone threw it out. I don’t think I would personally want “fountain” hanging in my house because it is something out of a bathroom, but it is art and I feel someone who enjoys “ready-made” art pieces would have it. Duchamp’s work is very eye-catching to the right audience.

Unit One-Is Narcissism important?

Orlan, a French artist, is known for her performance art using plastic surgery. In the 1990’s, Orlan had an ectopic pregnancy and conceived the idea of making her body into a work of art. Orlan was on the operating table 9 times, to transform herself into her representation of art. She undergoes the surgeries to work on the concept of “self image” stating “ I tried surgery not to better myself or to become a younger version of myself.” She had bumps placed on her forehead and are meant for eyebrows to look like Mona Lisa. Her overall influence of the surgeries was to look like women of the renaissance. Orlan received the most attention when she had undergone the surgeries.  Orlan stated “Narcissism is important” and what she means is to be a good artist you have to be a little narcissistic. I feel many artists have to know their abilities and express their selves in their artwork. In Orlan’s work you can see she is very narcissistic. Frida Kahlo presents herself in all of her pieces of art, but does that make her selfish? Not all artists have to be narcissistic. I find Orlan’s art concept interesting but not inspiring.

Unit One-Selfie Queen Before Her Time

Frida Kahlo was born in 1907,and was known as a Mexican painter. She did many self-portraits that are known around the world today.  Frida became a painter after a bus accident. Frida was married to Diego Rivera for many years and is still admired as a feminist icon. Frida Kahlo painted many self-portraits of herself depicting her thoughts and events in her life. Frida's painting "Diego in my mind" portrays her with her husband Diego on her forehead. She is displaying her love for her husband and how she could not withdraw the thought of him from her mind. Kahlo described that she never painted her dreams but only reality. This art piece is beautiful in a sense that it tells a story. Another art piece of Frida is "Self portrait of cropped hair."  This portrait conveys a story of divorce. Frida had cut off her hair that Diego loved, she is holding her hair and scissors in the portrait to signify sacrifice and her femininity that is now gone. This entire portrait signifies her desire for freedom and after the divorce it shows her independence from men. Frida Khalo was ahead of her time as a feminist, which is evident in her paintings. She could be considered a "selfie artist" of her time.