Series Assigment: Photography

These are the photos for my final assignment in photography. We were assigned to do a series, meaning that the images are co-dependant, but can also stand on their own. I was having a hard time with this idea and tyring to think of something profound to photograph. I was talking to my teacher and he said that I was thinking too hard about it. He told me to pick my favorite of the two last assignments and do it. So I did. I picked the object assignment and did it over again with a different object. I used my husbands old dress shoes. My idea was that I wanted to photograph his shoes in places that they might have walked. I also like the worn quality that they have and the way that textured made the shoes look in black and white.

Update on Metals Final Project

So I have started on my project and have changed it up a bit since my last post. Instead of doing a round or oval shape I decided to do a square shape. Part of this decision change was spurred by our hinge demo in class. Soldering a hinge to a circular plane would have been much more time consuming and difficult so I changed the design to something with flat sides to make less work for myslef. I actully like the square better anyways. It works better with the design I wanted on the top of the locket. I was going to have to cut out my own dye in acrylic and use the hydrolic press, but while I was talking with my teacher and she was showing me one of her dyes as an example and it was the exact size and shape of what I wanted so she let me use it. It was an antique jewlers dye. She was very adamant about me using it carefully. It was amazing how fast and perfect they turned out. I decided to use sterling silver for the backing and brass for the front. That way when you look through the brass the silver is shinning through. Here are some pictures of how is is going so far.

Metals final project

The title to my final project in metals is "Contained Sound". I have been having a really hard time with this one and trying to generate any ideas at all. I finally came up with the idea of making a locket. I am really excited about this, but my next dilemma is what shape to make it. I have debated back and forth between round and oval...maybe even a slight egg shape. I think I am leaning towards Oval...

So the photos above are some ideas of designs for the top that I really like. Since the idea is contained sound my thought was that I wanted a design that had movement to it. Music/sound is always changing and moving so I wanted my design to reflect that. I also think that I want to pierce the design out so that you can kind of see the inside of the locket without opening it even though you will be able to open it. I haven't really decided if I want to put anything inside of it or not. I will keep you all updated as my ideas get solidified.

Van Gogh

We briefly talked about Van Gogh in my art history class and there were some interesting things that I learned. He was not crazy, which is a common misconcption. They think that he mostly likely had epilepsy, which would have been very frustrating to try to deal with without any medical support. The style that he used was all very purposful. I am a big fan of Van Gogh. I love the flowing feel of the brushstrokes that creates such interesting movement.

Portrait: Metalsmithing

So I have finally gotten my portrait back and have finally taken a picture of it. If you can't remember what I am talking about go back to the post titled "Art Metals Self Portrait" from February. If you compare these two posts you can see how much this really looks like me and the whole process of taking a photo and transferring it to metal. Enjoy...

Finished Portraits assingmnet

Here are my portriats for my photography class. The pictures of these aren't the greatest, but you get the idea. The people that are pictured are my two sisters Danielle (the one in the car) and Jenna (the one sitting down), me (in the bath robe), and Felecia Bowen just after she got married. I think that they turned out really well. This assignment was a harder one for me though...

Amber Conger

Amber Conger is an artist that I found on another persons blog. She is a local artist from Nampa. I really like her work. Ever since I have been in this metalsmithing class I have had more of an interest in metal work and sculpture. I really like her work. I actually found her blog and so if you want to see more of her stuff click her name Amber Conger . I don't even know where to start with her work. I'm not sure exactly why I liker her work so much. It is really fun to look at I guess.

book assignment

For 108 we were given the assignment to make an accordion style book. So I found some pictures of my family to put on one side and then on the other side I wrote words that describe my family or make me think of my family. I think it turned out okay. I wish that I had used heavier paper so that It would have stood better, but all in all I was fine with the results. It was fun to go through my photos and find some really silly pictures of my family...which really isn't that hard. :)

Museum Display Assignmnet #2

Title: "Earnist Hemmingway"

I found this display in the Hemmingway building on campus. It is meant to be an educational display about Ernest Hemmingway and why this building was named after him. The display is set up in a tall standing glass case. The case is divided into three vertically. The left and right sides are divided into three horizontally and are full of books by Hemmingway and picture of him. The middle is divided into two. The top part has a bust that was donated to Boise State by Hemmingway and has most of the information in it. The bottom part has more books and information. This has a very museum-like feel. It is very upfront about what it is about and what you are supposed to get from it.

muesum display assignmnet #1

#1



Title: "Designated Play Area" -Anonymous



This display was located just outisde of the Liberal Arts Building underneath a tree. It consisted of three crate like wooden squares, each filled with different things. The first box was full of rusty metal parts, the second empty pill bottles and the third broken glass bottles. The only information given wa the title and it was on a plaque on a wodden stake, very much like a roadside historical site display. I think that this was meant for everyone and is meant to be a comentary on our culture and socoiety and what kind of world our children are growing up in.

anne frank memorial assignment

1. describe: There are lots of rocks with words and pictures engraved on them. The pictures are of people. It is outside near the Boise Public Library and two major roads. There is a pond. There are hand cranked generators that talk about wars and teach you. There are benches with names engraved on them. There are trees and plants everywhere. Plaques with Universal Declaration of Human Rights engraved on them. There is a bronze statue of Anne Frank in the center of a stage surrounded by stone seats. She is life size. There are also plaques with the names of donors and amount given.

2. Is it representational: The statue of Anne is very representational, but everything else doesn't seem to be meant as representational. There are just names and quotes that have been pulled out of there original place and placed here with no background.

3. The outdoors is emphasized by the use of rock. There is learning through text and audio.

4. Is this site specific: No, I think that it could have been placed anywhere and still be as effective.

5. Who funded and sponsored it: The Human Rights Education Center sponsored it and was funded by many citizens and businesses around Boise.

6. What is it made of: They used primarily rock, cement and brick.

7. Where does the information come from: There are a lot of quotes and poems about human rights that are supposed to get the viewer to think about human rights and its role in history and life today. There is a lo of information about war also. The audio is where you get more of the historical facts.

8. What is it trying to say: It is trying to communicate equality and freedom to all no matter what their skin color of life situation. Wars are fought over freedom and equality so why don't' we just celebrate our differences instead of looking down on them.

9. It is successful: I think that it is pretty successful. The point is made very readable, but the location could have been better suited to meditative thought if it was enclosed or placed somewhere quieter instead of by busy roads.

tord boontje

Tord's philosophy is that he wants to "create a marriage of design with emotion that is as broadly accessable as it is enticing." His "work draws from a beleif that Modernismn does not mean minamilism, that contemporary does not forsake tradition, and that technology does not abandon people and senses." I really liked these couple of quotes from Tord's website. I think it is interesting to keep his philosophy in mind when looking at and thinking about his work. His work is very enticing and wonderful to look at. Here is a link to his website:

Tord Boontje

anna skibska

Anna Skibska is a glass artist. All of the above pieces are in fact made of glass. That is so amazing to me!! You would have to be so very careful to make these intricate pieces. I think it is interesting the way that she displays they very fragile pieces. She almost always has them hanging. That fact gives you as the view a feeling of unease. Her work kind of reminds me of spider webs...

Anna Skibska

Michelangelo

Michelangelo is probably one of the best know artists from the high renaissance and an amazing sculpture. Michelangelo believed that subtractive sculpture was the truest form of art. He did paint also, but didn't like to. Michelangelo's sculptures definitely show his mastery. The first photo is of an unfinished sculpture and it gives you an idea of how hard it would be to have a huge slab of marble and then slowly carve away until and image is made. Michelangelo was amazing and millions of people have enjoyed his art including me.

Brylee Romney

Brylee is my sister in-law and we have been friends since high school. Brylee has always been artistic and I have always been impressed with her art. Above are some of her more recent stuff that she has been doing in her classes. She is currently going to school at BYU-Provo. I think she is wonderful and that her art is getting better and better.

Carl Faberge

Carl Faberge is a pretty famous metal worker. He is most know for making these Easter eggs every year for the Tsar who then gave them to his wife. They are very intricate and beautiful. A lot of the eggs open up, like the top one which had a miniature of the palace. It is really fascinating to think of the fact that these are "eggs" but he spare no expense in the materials he used. These photos are just a tiny view of the many eggs that he actually made. Carl did more than just eggs, but this is what he is most know for.