My Experience As An Art Curator

Before creating a project, I had to first figure out what it meant to become an Art Curator. First I watched a few videos, such as Art Curator, Interview: Josh Yiu Assistant Curator of Chinese Art, Interview Wayne Baerwaldt curator Montreal Biennale, Felicity Fenner, curator at the Venice biennale and Peter Alter, Curator. After watching the selected videos, I had to choose a theme. This was one of the hardest steps because I did not know what to base my project on. I searched on the Internet for a few days, and I also looked at pervious project that the Professor has posted. I came across my theme by listening to Beyonce’s song called, “Who Run The World? Girls!” After choosing my theme I had to choose which women I will focus on. I wanted to have a representation of all women who contributed to society, whether they were activist, slaves, educator or first lady. When I chose my fifteen women, I had to do research on them so I can figure out how well they relate to my theme. After gathering the research, I search for pictures that I felt highlighted their achievements best. When I got my pictures, I then brainstorm the principles of arts and elements I found and then related it back to my theme. This was an interesting experience because I was able to learn that it takes patience and time to create a project as an Art Curator. As an art curator you not just an artist, but a historian and educator.

M13&14: Video Reviews

          In the Lowdown on Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art video I learned how the punk rock generation propelled Lowbrow art culture. Artists were able to get their work to the masses in the form of album covers and fliers. I learned that they gained more recognition and acceptance after being featured in a book about female Lowbrow artists.

         In Displaying Modern Art” The Tate Approach video I learned how modernist ideas reshape the presentation of art in museums and galleries and how it has evolve in the postmodern era. I learned that art should be more than entertainment and how abstract artists tried to make paintings that were not dependent on figuration because they wanted to covey emotions, aesthetic effects, or social vision.

       In Bones of Contention: Native American Archaeology video, I learn about the laws regarding archeology and Native American burial grounds and how upset that this must of made Native Americans feel.

       In An Acquiring Mind: Philippe de Montebello and The Metropolitan video, I learned how some procedures that one must take in order for artworks to be placed in galleries and museums.

       The videos does relate to my art Exhibition project because my project is based on how the convergences of different cultures can influence an artist and its work. Watching the films I knew that I must understand the history of the works and how people feel about it. Because my theme was focused on cultures I knew understanding the history was significant. The films were interesting and added depth to understanding art concepts while creating my curation project. It was interesting to get to understand about how different arts are formed.

M12 VIDEO REVIEWS

I decided to watch Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the ‘50s and ‘60s and Uncertainty: Modernity and Art because I wanted to learn more about modern art, pop art and abstract expressionism. In the Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the ‘50s and ‘60s video, I learned how abstract expressionism was born from a joining of attitudes in American art and European avant—grade art, but were later rejected for its nonfigurative and seemingly egocentric character in favor of the ultra-objective phenomenon known as Pop Art. In Uncertainty: Modernity and Art I learn about modern art is contemporary society’s version of the Delphic Oracles. I learn how modern art documents the metamorphosis of mankind. Both videos relate to the readings because it analyzes the different themes, such as pop art, modern art, and abstract expressionism. The films were interesting to watch. They added depth to understanding both chapters twenty-two and twenty-three. 

Aminata Touray's M11 Video Reviews

I chose to watch Expressionism because I wanted to learn more about its contribution to the 19th Century. The book itself does not elaborate fully on the movement, but watching the video I have learned more about its role and impact. The video discussed color’s emotional properties, and significant individuals who value it. Edward Much’s Aches depicts a modern Adam and Eve in the moments after their fall from grace. He has created a visual equivalent of his inner emotional experience.  The video relates to the reading because it describes styles in where the artist’s subjective feelings replaced objective observation. The film was an excellent source that added depth to the Expressionism movement.

I chose to watch Dada and Surrealism because these two movements were new to me. I wanted to learn more about its significance. The video discuss how the Dada movement was born as a reaction to World War I, and Surrealism allowed artists to bypass their reasoning process and tap directly into the unconscious mind. I learned how Hannah Hoch, a Dadaist used art to attack society. For example, Cut with the Kitchen Knife attack the political figure of the Weimer regime. After leaving Berlin and the Nazi burning his art, George Grosz paints how mankind has become. The video relate to the readings in the text, because it emphasis how the protest art movement, Dada and Surrealism, appreciation of logic of dreams. The film was interesting and appropriate. The theme connected well to the readings and added depth to understand both the Dada and Surrealism movement.

M10. MASK: BEAUTY IS UNDEFINED

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b574/artishappinessaed200/Punu_female_okuyi_a_zps16bb1261.jpg

Female Mask, Punu People- This mask is used to represent the beauty of a female. It portrays Punu ideals of feminine beauty: rounded forehead, highly arched eyebrows, almond shaped eyes, narrow face and small chin.

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b574/artishappinessaed200/India-Mask-God-2a_zpsefe2d179.jpg

Hindu Festival Mask- This mask represent unity of all the gods, and as well as the unity of humankind and all creation.

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b574/artishappinessaed200/Indian-Dhumma-Mask-2a_zps40af7f3f.jpg

Nepalese Dhumma mask- This is an old mask that depicts the god Dhumma. It is beautifully detailed and colored.

The first mask highlights a particular way of how a group of people perceives beauty. The second mask demonstrates how diversity of the different gods are all apart of humankind. The old mask depicts a particular god. These three masks have inspired me to design a mask that highlights different forms of beauty. In today’s world, people tend to change their appearance in order have beauty features of what society thinks its beautiful.

                                                     ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES: 

Female Mask, Punu People - This mask demonstrates line, shape, form, a white color, texture, and balance. Compared to the other mask, this particular piece did not have a diverse usage of colors. It was white and had black curve lines. The artist used this element in order to demonstrate one form of beauty and the whiteness of the spirit world.

Hindu Festival Mask - The mask highlights lines, shapes, forms, colors, texture, pattern, rhythm, movements, balance and unity. The principle of balance is emphasis in order to highlight the significance of unity. 

Nepalese Dhumma mask - This mask demonstrates a few elements and principles of art. The artist used colors, lines, shapes, and forms. It also demonstrated patterns and balance. These elements and principles were used to show the beauty of their God.

BEAUTY IS UNDEFINED 

                                                                        1^st sketch: 

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b574/artishappinessaed200/photo1_zps2c9b9fd8.jpg 

                                                                        2^nd sketch:

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b574/artishappinessaed200/photo2_zpse4541566.jpg

                                                                        Final sketch:

 http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b574/artishappinessaed200/photo3_zpseca41362.jpg

             I used the elements and principles of line, color, perspective, rhythm, movement, scale, balance, unity and emphasis in order to achieve my goal. My mask was created in order to send the message that beauty comes in all form and shapes. I used the element of line to emphasis that one can have a rounded, fat face or a narrow face but both face can portray beauty.

            Creating a mask was difficult at first because I did not know what message I wanted people to convey. After figuring out the theme that I wanted to demonstrate, I had to be creative in using the different elements and principles in order to achieve my message. Overall, it was interesting in creating a mask that symbolized a meaning or theme. I found it unique that one can use a mask in order to persuade others in one’s belief and values.