Part 3 Final-Painting Record Player

Before the project parameters were completely assigned and described I knew I wanted to have a painting record player. At first my idea was to somehow, have the record playing on one side, while painting the other side. Since I wasn't sure how it would sound through a cone-perhaps too quiet, and because I wasn't sure how I would get it to spin, I decided I should use the record player. After talking to others and Patrick we decided building a platform would make more sense and be more practical. Then I added in a paint catcher, and spray painted all pieces. I also needed a platform to hold up the paintbrush that was going to paint it, but then found a perfect moving Santa that has a constant back and forth motion, and glued a paintbrush to his hand. The project worked perfectly, with the exception of Santa's pressure making the record sound very slow here and there. I chose a gold and red theme for the holidays and also put that in Santa's clothes to further tie him in. Overall, I am very pleased with how this project turned out!

Part 2 Final-Record Reconstruction

I had picked the sounds of a piano, a deep mans voice, and a chorus, simply because I wanted it to sound somewhat cohesive. Then, I thought the glue had dried to fast, but after testing out my record I realized I had created a jump. When the record spins it leads up to little jump then progresses after. I then spray painted it out of curiosity as to if I could since I just so happened to buy spray paint the previous day. I had no idea you could cut them apart and have them work, it really amazed me. I think it was also to hear how everyone's records also sounded very different from each other whether it was constructed that way or the choice of song influenced it. I liked Serena's choice of songs and Andrea's construction of a little circle cutout and fill in.

Part 1 Final-Projector

 

The projector project was a lot of fun because it didn't feel like I had finished my video until it was combined with the rest of the videos! My video had been projected onto the ceiling. I did this because I wanted the room to be covered from top to bottom so it was either the floor or the ceiling. By using the ceiling I could have a winter sky, and thought that would be fun as well be a nice transition and visual for my classic movies and their audio. While viewing the clouds the audience can hear the various classic movies, such as The Grinch or Home Alone, as well as see them here and there instead of the clouds. Although it was hard to hear when all the other videos had played I thought it was still visually nice to watch and different because of it's placement and idea. The projector project had a lot of interesting components. Every time I walked into the room I felt so welcomed and it never got old, however each time I was in that room I was so overwhelmed from the chaos that surrounded me I would have to leave, but like I said was always happy to come back.

Gallery Viewing

Andrea Borsuk’s Gallery, Leap of Faith

            This particular exhibition caught my eye immediately. It was specially created and personalized for The Nevada Art Museum. Borsuk is originally from Santa Cruz and moved here to Reno. Leap of Faith portrays the journey she took as well as other hidden meanings. Borsuk has a unique and noticeable medium in that she also includes objects to further enrich her work.

With the works there are paintings on canvas, paintings on cloths, and objects to enhance her symbolization. There are throw ropes and ring buoys which are said to be recurring objects she uses in other works. Borsuk finds it interesting that there are cultural obsessions with objects or rituals for protection, good luck, or the feeling of safety from these objects and rituals. To symbolize this she has horse shoes and rabbit ears. Borsuk is also trying to portray the journey of life as a whole, not just her journey. She wanted to show life is unpredictable and ever changing for everyone, which is a point that all people can relate to. When observing her work it is mostly composed of cool colors with highlights here and there of a vibrant orange. Then, there are people leaping and flying through the paintings, hence the title, Leap of Faith. Other objects in her exhibition that I found interesting were a magic eight ball, feathers, and pearls. In her artist statement it also says she is trying to represent Greek goddesses by showing the jewels, for a representation as another safety device that people would look up to for protection or their personal needs

I really enjoy the thought put into this work as well as the objects that really enhance and complete the exhibition. The objects further solidify all of the hidden meanings she has in her works, although to fully understand this exhibition one would need the artist statement. Visually Borsuk’s work is very pleasing because of these subtle touches as well as use of color.

Lecture #2

Carmelo Ortiz de Elgea

This lecture was about Carmelo Ortiz de Elgea, who is a contemporary Bask artist from Spain. Carmelo’s medium is painting, which he usually will jump right into without sketching which is out of the ordinary for painters. His work is based off of nature, which ranges from the landscape he has around him in the Bask country as well as what he has observed in the United States.

Carmelo is from the southern part of the Bask country, however he does not speak Bask but instead Spanish. Although Carmelo identifies himself as Bask culturally and in his art, he was not allowed to learn the Bask language because when he was growing up there was a war going on and the Bask people were not allowed to practice their culture.  However, this didn’t stop Carmelo from observing great Bask artists around him as he was growing up.

When viewing Carmelo’s exhibition it is easy to see his attention to color and detail, as well as the texture he gives to it. Carmelo has said that he wants to create nature, but not just any nature, his nature. Carmelo successfully creates his own nature with his use of color and his style of painting which is slightly abstract due to his choppy brushstrokes. Carmelo has also teamed up with other famed Bask artists such as Basterretxea and Zumeta in exhibitions, combining their ideas with his.

Based on the fact that he does not sketch and jumps right into his paintings shows his unique way of thinking as well as his talent. Viewers of his art can easily get lost in his paintings of nature in that they are so different from reality yet calming in their differences. I admire Carmelo’s take on nature and his art, it is beyond stunning and irreplaceable.

Lecture #1

Framing Identity-Faded Glory
Rafael Blanco de San Roman

Rafael Blanco de San Roman’s work and its unique relevance were discussed in this lecture on Framing Identity, Faded Glory, as well as his history as it pertains to his work. Rafael is also celebrating his graduation for his MFA from the University of Nevada, Reno. Originally Rafael is from Spain, where there is a lot of tension due to different believes between regions, both currently and historically. Rafael’s two passions in life are art and tennis; he pursued both when he moved to the US, although he had a tennis scholarship Raphael had fallen more in love with Art. After moving from Florida to California Rafael eventually chose to finish out his schooling in the Arts in Reno, Nevada. Rafael’s, Faded Glory, is a depiction of his journey as well as his views on the differences in cultural as well as patriotism.

Raphael’s work encompasses so much more than meets the eye. Although his previous works were painting portraits and flamenco dancers, he eventually had many mediums as well as content, but was mainly focused on American art. To Raphael the patriotism in the US is much more prominent than in Spain. He also finds it interesting how much more sacred our symbolism of the flag is looked at. So for Faded Glory, Raphael would make giant flags as well as other patriotic pieces and over exaggerates what we usually see so that we may understand just how much it stands out to him. Rafael also has many paintings and photographs of similar content. Then he also thought it was funny that a Spaniard was making art so invested in another culture. So, Rafael decided to also film himself while he created his art. His passion can be seen through his art to successful portray just how another culture may view the US. Raphael’s exaggerated art is beautiful and unique in that there is so much more meaning to it than would be originally thought when looking at his work.

Faded Glory has such a beautiful meaning as well as demonstrating to be very visually successful. Raphael’s background is very important in his work in order to show how his past has intertwined with his present life. Raphael’s work also makes one realize how important it is to value your country and its patriotism, as well as not to take it for granted since other countries are not as lucky as we have been.