Saturday, October 11, 2008

Wall, Crewdson, and Baldessari Video


The artist I would like to talk about is Gregory Crewdson. After watching this video segment on him, I realized that I have seen in his art before. His pictures are very elaborate and look like as if they are a freeze frame from a movie. I don't think the amount of work that goes into his pictures is really worth it. It just seems like once someone incorporates all of the fancy bells and whistles to get that perfect picture, where is the talent? Anything can be done if there is enough money to do it. His picture are great to look at, but that's it. My question to the class is: Is it fair to compare Gregory Crewdson's work to that of other photographers or should it be in a category of its own?

Chad Miltenberger

Jeff Wall: Artist Response- Midterm


My artist response is on Jeff Wall who's art style was mentioned in Chapter 4 of New Media in Art. We talked briefly about his art in class when we made reference to his popular piece called A Sudden Gust of Wind. Jeff Wall used digital technology to expand the visual possibilities of his work. He used many of the same elements in his pictures that are used in film making This gave some of his pieces the essence of 'cinematography.'The use of many different images in one large image gave it the sense of motion. The piece shown here called View From an Apartment was an interesting piece in that the woman, the items in the apartment, the person sitting on the couch, and the scenery outside were all taken separately. I just love the way it looks!!!

Chad Miltenberger

Robert Rauschenberg Artist Responce-Midterm



Hi, this is Sanjana and it's Saturday. Sorry I'm in a weird mood as I watch football for teams I don't care about, although WSU plays at 3:30... So here is my artist response for writer Robert Rauschenburg found in chapter one of New Media in Art

Robert Rauschenberg was one of the first artists to introduce the intertwining of art and technology. Rauschenberg met several writers including Billy Kluver and Jon Cage along with choreographer Merce Cunningham to complete Performance art pieces like Hommage a New York, and Variations V. In 1966 Rauschenberg along with other colleagues staged Nine Evenings: Theater and Engineering. In these shows, the audience was allowed to see how technology impacts Performance art. A good example of this comes from Rauschenberg’s performance called, Open Score. You can find a clip of Open Score at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQZeZNnW57

Sanjana Pahalad

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Thursday, October 9, 2008

Artist Response | Midterm


The artist whose style interested me was Lillian Schwartz. A famous piece of hers is titled, Mono/Leo, 1987. This work is a digitally altered image of Leonardo's Mona Lisa combined with a portrait of Leonardo. She produced this work by scanning these images into the computer and altering them in a photo editor. I was interested in this work because it is similar to everyday image altering with Photoshop. It shows that almost anyone who knows how to use an image editor can make art.

When art & technology collide.. aka .. "Spring Made Me Do It!! (even though she doesn't realize it))"



When I made my post about HULU last night, I was reminded of Spring's comment about me hijacking the entire page of our blog, so I thought "Hm.. I think I will create a 3d image that does JUST that"! I set about creating an image the exact width of our posting area, and unsure of the height, I just created it at 3000 pixels. As it turns out, it's too short! Which means my next one will be TALLER!!!

MUAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAaaaaaaaaa.........

HULU !!!!

Ok, because I have never heard of the place (and if I did somehow I missed it).... I thought I would share this.

HULU is an awesome website where you can legally watch tv series, full movies, etc. You can watch them streaming in full screen, or partial screen, and it's FREE.

There are some advertisements throughout the show, but you get to find old movies and tv stuff for free, including Koyaanisqatsi (which I highly recommend you watch). I've seen it probably 3 times. It's not your typical 'movie' as such. But it's pretty breathtaking if you watch it and think about what it means. Koyaanisqatsi means "Life out of balance" or "Crazy Life", in the Hopi language. I did a report on the movie over the summer during my video editing course.

Now I want to watch the sequels, Powaqqatsi (Life in Transition), and Naqoyqatsi (Life as War). Also, want to see Baraka, by the same creator of the Qatsi series, Godfrey Reggio. Also, the music for these was done by renowned composer Phillip Glass.

Anyway, that is all, have fun now!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Robert Frank

It was an interesting move for Frank to step away from photography in order to better explore the world of video. I'm not sure if the film we watched in class was completely objective, as it cast both areas of Frank's work in a more-or-less equal light---while I myself may venture to guess that it is Frank's photos that are remembered more than his video. In any event, it's interesting to see strange people make strange comments about a strange man (and I do mean that in the best of ways).

Bryce VanHoosen

Extra Credit Opp for October


So here's your October opp to get some extra points. Check out the Jen DeNike show at Quality Pictures this month. It's timely, with an election on the horizon...and it's video art, so it is the perfect show to see when taking FA331 in an election year. Quality Pictures is putting on a video trifecta for the next three months...so if you're a fan of video art, QP is the place to be.

If you want to know more about Jen DeNike, read her bio here.

The nitty gritty details.....write a one page summary of DeNike's work, attach support materials to prove you were there (postcard from QP, photo you took at QP, or a note signed by Chas Bowie) and turn it in by November 4th.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Robert Frank Video



I enjoyed the video on Robert Frank. His innovation and realism influenced a great deal of photographers, both still and video, for many years to come. Frank took an ordinary art tool, a camera, and turned it into a powerful weapon.

Robert Frank Vidoe


Robert Franks stuff seemed to have a real misfit style to it. Something unique or out of place but always with some style or attitude. The videos he started making though seemed to be a bit to out there for my taste.

Politik --- Left Right Center

On Friday evening I attended the Politik show at the North Bank Artists Gallery. Granted, it may have been the pain killers, but I really enjoyed this show. All the pieces were politically based in some way, even if I didn't get the political message.

I really enjoyed the Fruit Loops, a bowl of fruit with different political figures decoupaged on it. I found it humorous but completely valid in its point. I also enjoyed the Stephanie and Simone wedding, especially their scrapbook of their dating history. I laughed out loud when viewing the pictures of their first IKEA trip-----a huge couple milestone. I also enjoyed a very large multimedia piece that used painting and decoupage. In it were Condoleeza Rice, W, and other political heads sitting at a table with a woman who's face you counld not see. I stood there pondering who the woman was for about 20 minutes.

By far, my favorite pieces were paintings by Brian Cameron, "Picked Them Every One" and "The Answer is Blowing in the Wind." While I am not normally attracted to abstract paintings, "Picked Them Every One" moved me greatly. Well, it just goes to show you that you have to keep your mind open to new things.

El Frank de Robert (silent 't')


An unsuspecting citizen celebrating life.

Robert Frank rocks my socks.

Robert Frank video


Robert Frank obviously influenced a lot of photographers today. He captured the lives of everyday people in the book, "The American's." His work told stories. Robert Frank creatively depicted these stories through film, and still photos. He expressed his emotions through his work which is very profound.  I enjoyed the video and very much so enjoy viewing Robert Franks work.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Nan Goldin

Nan Goldin's work is certainly unique, especially to those that have not been exposed to that type of social atmosphere.  She does however, much like Robert Frank, show us something we are not familiar with.  With a wider vision of the world, her work is shocking, beautiful, and moving.  She and her work, are said to be revolutionary, wich I am able to see.  I chose this picture becuase the first thing that came to mind when I saw it, was Sid and Nancy.  I don't know why but it just reminds me of the movie, and that alternative lifestyle. 

Robert Frank Photo

In witnessing Robert Frank's photography, I realized one must admire and appreciate him for what he did, even if you don't like his work.  On a personal note, I think he was very innovative and revolutionary in his purpose.  After looking at a number of Frank's work, I noticed what appears to be almost a recipe in the structure of his work.  The majority of his photos are black and white, with blurred, or out of focus content.  Frank is seemingly showing us that life is not black and white, there are always the blurred, or gray areas that we deal with.  Most of his pictures seem to be the "shoot from the hip"type, however, the content he chose was deep and well thought out.  By using his camera as the powerful tool it can be, Frank showed people what some already knew, and others didn't want to see.  He wanted to open more doors.  I really like this picture by Robert Frank.  With the black sky, the unidentifiable shapes and spots in the background, and the sand in the foreground, a scifi depiction is felt.  After closer examination I was able to see that it's a man, possibly homeless, asleep on the beach.  Here Frank shows the viewer a level of status and life that they most likely have never experienced.  

Robert Frank



I really liked the work by Robert Frank, not only does he capture people in their rawest forms, he also captures their surroundings. I think this is great in photography because it lets the viewer know what was going on during the time the photograph was taken. The only question that came to my mind during the film is if Robert really wanted to be a photographer or was it because he was still amazed with the view finder his father showed him as a child. Like the firm stated he thought it was like magic and maybe it just continued throughout his life.

Robert frank

Robert Frank was a photographer that photographed what he saw. Originally there wasn't a message or an intent to his work, but through public interpretation it brought up interesting questions about the way Americans live as a society in terms of class and race. His photos weren't particularly gorgeous or in focus in the sense of "academic photography" yet are held in regards as classic works because of their impact.

In love with the camera, he eventually switched to motion picture. His work was highly regarded in the beat culture teaming up with the all time heavyweight beat poet, Kerouac. I would really like to see the film he made with the rolling stones. It's been restricted to such a high degree of censorship that there must be something amazing about it.

Robert Frank's Photography


Robert Frank was a photographer that hailed from Switzerland. His nature was very much like his native country - in the middle of chaos, but remains calm and peaceful. He came to New York during the time considered the golden age of photography. Frank’s ideas for his art came from the raw life that was surrounding him; he wanted to capture the “real.” When he would travel, the purpose was specifically to avoid sightseeing, but to actually see the places that he visited.

In his art, Frank sought out the people who were strange and disturbing; he wanted to show the truth of the civilization in which we are all a piece. One of his most notable collections is the photography book “The Americans.” He created a collection of images of the people he came across as he traveled the United States. This book became a highly political book because it showed to all what a powerful, violent, hypocritical country we belong to. I am not sure if these images are so powerful because they were taken by someone who is not native to the US. Would a person that lived in one area all their lives ever understand the beauty behind their everyday lives? Do we become so blinded by our own surroundings that we are no longer able to see what is there staring us in the face?
-Racheal Johnson-

So the Robert Frank video was a little weird especially the lady that painted him, but it was a fish. Back to what i was saying, his paintings are a glimpse in to the unspoken America, the parts of america that we dont like to talk about. Like Arbus he was consitrated on the part of america that was kept hush hush. Trying to bring a face to them. I have heard that some of his work was out of focus which i dont notice but then again maybe i too am out of focus. Or maybe i want to sound witty. What is interesting is that he did have some tragedy in his life and that can shape who we are and how we think.
Nan Goldin in the same way gave us a look into her personal life, it was described as voyeuristic. The photos showen on the video were of her and her lovers, and friends. The photos them selves show the vunirable states that her subjects were in. Alot of her photos are of intimate moments in time. Which creates a closeness with the modles even thought we do not know them.

Robert Frank


Robert Frank is able to raise many different feelings in the photography that he takes. His legacy has gone on because those feelings are so strong with one little snap shot. People are able to see what he is bringing up in the photography he presents. He adds just a little "spice" to the photos he takes to make it so different than other photographers that are out there. If he didn't add those little features would he be as strong and influential as he is today or would he just be another photographer?

Robert Frank


I really like Robert Franks work.  Many people talk about how his work doesn't always look finished but I really like that about his work especially with his Americans work.  He was taking images of America as he saw it and I think that at the time of his images people were struggling with so much it would be a lie to give pretty perfect image.
-Ortolf

Robert Frank

Robert Frank was an amazing photographer. His images provoked a sense of realness from the viewer and showed a sense of reality that was often unseen, or unnoticed. The video said that his ideas came from the raw reality of life and that's what he photographed. For example, his photobook called, "Americans" was a series of photographs that he took from all over America; it showed the reality of living in America. Many of his photos were out of focus and showed a lot of isolation, and many of the people were withdrawn. That is the reality of America and this video helped me see and understand more of how our country has socially changed and stayed the same over the years. I love the truth in his photographs.

Robert Frank


I love Robert Frank's photography because it captures moments in people's lives is a way that makes it so real. The fact that so many of the pictures are blurred or out of focus gives a very human quality to the pictures. They aren't posed or perfectly captured moments but they seem to be an extension of the photographer; gritty, human, and very real. I prefer photography that doesn't sugar coat things, that is real and beautiful even though its flawed, like life. 

-Jessica Stockton

Robert Frank

I really enjoy Robert Frank's work. I like that his subjects are so natural. All his photography looks real. They talk about his work, like in his book The Americans being controversial, but I didn't see it that way at all. I think it just looks like what was happening at the time and place he was. He's not changing anything, but at the same time I guess I can also see how that can be uncomfortable to some people.

Robert Frank


I don't really know what to think about Robert Frank's work. I recognize the social and political importance and effect that his photography represents, but does that make his work good art? Couldn't the kinds of things that he does be more accurately described as journalism rather than art? His photos can be considered to hold some aesthetic quality. Their gritty, dark, and bleak look do invoke a certain feeling that some people may like. I however am less certain. Judging by many of the photos, the way that the photos would look seemed like a lesser concern than the subject matter that he was studying. It is for this reason that I find myself unable to fully embrace Robert Franks work as good art.

Robert Frank


I'm not comfortable calling Robert Frank's work great art, but I see it as captured reality. From the photos I've seen I believe that Frank had a magnificent sense of timing. The photos aren't taken when they will have the most artistic value, but when the scene could be captured. This timing brings about the reality that I see in his work. Like in the photo above, he could have made it more artistic, in my opinion, if he had captured the man from a profile while he was exhaling smoke. Instead Frank takes a picture while the mans hat covers most of his face and his hands are messing with the cigarette. His work The Americans is the perfect example of his sense of timing. He photoed people doing what they do, while they were doing it, making it real. So to me Robert Frank's work wasn't really art, but more of a documentation of American life when it was happening.

By Derek Klayum

Robert Frank's America


When watching the video about Robert Frank's photography in class, I accepted that his work wasn't "pretty" to look at because it presented a very harsh reality. His work wasn't depressing, it just wasn't sugar coated like some other photographers, and I think that makes it easier to digest. His work for the book, The Americans, sends a real message about the truths of American life that have not always been glamorous. His pictures give subtle messages from everday life about political and cultural issues Americans struggle with, such as the picture to the left with whites in the front of the bus and blacks in the back. I like his work because of its simplicity and subtle cues.