Art Visit #2

Questions about the Place:
1. What is the name of Gallery/Museum you visited? British Museum, London
2. What is the URL of the Gallery/Museum you visited? https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/british-museum/AwEp68JO4NECkQ?sv_lng=-0.1270314987903021&sv_lat=51.51873005020354&sv_h=283.14141248903723&sv_p=-1.941104142031861&sv_pid=0W8UbFM12HMO8heyTJWqkg&sv_z=1

3. Why did you select this Gallery/Musuem? I selected this gallery because I wanted to tour an art museum from another country to explore the structure and space of it. I was curious to explore the differences in museums I have visited in different states compared to in another country. 

Questions about the physical space. (You must use Google Street View to "walk" through the gallery to observe the gallery space.)

1. What type of lighting is used? The museum has natural lighting in some rooms and spot LED lightning in glass cases.

2. What colors are used on the walls? There are neutral colors on walls like brown, white, cool blue, and 1 red room.

3. What materials are used in the interior architecture of the space? The way
4. How is the movement of the viewer through the gallery space? The movement is positioned directly in front of the artwork or aligned left.

Questions about the artwork:
1. How are the artworks organized? It is honestly hard to tell how the artwork is organized when touring virtually so I am unsure. Certain art museums have a specific structure that it set up purposely for the order of the art works, but others have multiple directions you can chose to go towards.
2. How are the artrworks similar? religious work, older models, modern work, sculptures, religious or important figures, and economic and political symbolism
3. How are the artworks different? different forms of art by colors and elements, settings
4. How are the artworks framed? frames or inside of glass for protection maybe, within the wall sculptures
5. How are the artworks identified and labeled? their labeled by where they are from, who the painting is, or labels basically describes what the artwork is about
6. What is the proximity of the artwork to each other? within 2 feet apart by rooms

Purse lid from ship burial at Sutton Hoo, date: c.600/650

unknown artist, medium: gold, garnet, glass, 19cm x 8cm x 4cm

I see a valuable piece of goal, detailed designs, and symbolic figures in this work of art. Line was used throughout this piece along the outline and on the figures, the texture of the white background of the piece appears to be smooth, and patterns exist on cubic boxes in the piece. The piece itself reminds me of several things like the artitech of a door inside of a sacred building or church. The piece is known as being the lid of a pouch that was for gold coins, which the piece seems to be very valuable and the artist was trying to say that it was worthy.

An Asian Elephant, date: c.1637
unknown artist, 179x256cm, medium: black chalk and charcoal
I see a baby elephant surrounded by a family or children, that seem to be a distance from the elephant. Emphasis and texture are both evident in this piece by the details on the elephant's body, trunk, and tail. The symbolism that I thought of when I seen this artwork is wisdom and power. The artist could have been just simply portraying what appeared visually to them or depict a past experience.

Granite statue of Amun protecting King Taharqa, date: c.690/644
unknown artist, medium: gneiss, size: 106cm
I see a metaphoric comparison of an animal protecting their owner or a mother protecting their child. Texture and pattern is shown throughout the sculpture and on the animal. Emphasis is visible on the human body and visual images. It appears that the artist could have been trying to make a statement that an authoritative person had protecting and security around them.

Mask Making

1. Upload the three (3) inspiration images to your Blog. Explain why you selected the inspiration pieces.

The Balaclava, is a mask that originally was designed for cold weather protection in wars or by anyone. The representation of the mask has changed to being for protection, privacy, or used by terrorists'. I chose this mask because it is a mask that I felt is relevant to the culture that I grew up around that suffered with a lot of crime and violence.
The Columbian mask is known for being used for burial purposes of a corpse or worn at ceremonies. I chose this mask because it was differently solid than other historical masks.
The Japanese Noh Masks which are typically made with greater quality than U.S. cultures. Japanese masks were likely made with creativity and workmanship. I chose this mask because it was different from other masks I came across and the proportions were realistic.

3. Upload images of your thumbnail sketches and finished piece.

4. Explain how you used the Elements and Principles in your finished mask.
The elements and principles I used is line, emphasis, texture, and shape. Line and shapes were used throughout my masks to associate with certain objects. Texture is shown on certain parts of my masks representing the strong core that I have developed from experiences in the "culture" that I had. Emphasis is made on the scares across the face to stand out and make a boldness statement representing traumas.

5. Share your opinion of your finished mask and what you thought about creating the mask.
My finished mask name is "Unknown" which I chose because completing the readings about masks, I was not able to identify truly what my culture is. Moving to New York, the number one thing that stood out to me was the culture and unity that I seen by the people around me and events. I was not able to understand why I never grew up with a strong culture that had representational meaning, but I had to simply accept that I did not. With everything that is going on, I have seen two different cultures dealing with this world pandemic. While being back in Ohio and creating my mask I could not help but to think about all things I have grew up around and motivated me to have a better mindset due to me not necessary identifying with culture. 

Module 9 Video Review

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned. (please categorize the comments for each video/reading)

The Great Wave:

• Japanese master Hokusai known for his prolific paintings
•  work of representational art that depicted tools, baskets, animals, clothing, and the human body

Early Photography:

• Louis Daguerre is the technique inventor of daguerreotypes which has more detailed photographic images on a copper plate that were made in factories by mostly women and children
• it has to be polished with rouge power which improves the viewing of images, reflection, and light sensitivity
• the plate is coated with iodine crystals to use for the camera; cloths or leather used to protect daguerreotypes 
• the formula of how to create daguerreotypes was sold to the French government by Louis so that it could be freely used by anyone

Manet:

• A Bar at Folies-Bergere painting; can see visual strokes of painting up close
• in that time era, if women were seen in bars it meant that they were sexually available (an informal rule)

Delacroix:

• mainly contemporary subjects expressed in paintings like the Revolution era
• symbolic meanings and images like the small flag of the revolutionaries that was an example of personification and symbol of freedom 

Monet:

• representational art in paintings with nature (trees and skies); effects of light and reflection shown; texture
• paid a person to not cut down a tree while finishing his painting this confirmed that he was a visual creator

Cassatt:

• elements and principles in the painting were pattern and space throughout the background/on the mother clothing
• a sense of trust or relationship between the mother in the painting while the mother is giving her a bath and the child leans on the mother

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

The videos relate to the readings because they carried a common theme focused on the events in history that has influenced art and artists creations of art.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

The films were ok but if there was more time it could have been more information in depth about them, however, the readings helped better understand the concepts and components that make up art work and reasonings why certain objects or images are portrayed. 

Module 8 Video Review

1. Explain why you selected the video you choose from the selection listed above.
I chose the videos about Florence and the Middle Ages because I am usually intrigued by information I learn about the Renaissance. It is a time that was rapidly evolving and art itself was changing based on humanism.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Florence and Middle Ages:

• the Renaissance began realism and emotion in paintings; and embraced nature and the human body
• Donatello was the first male nude sculptor; which represented a work of art and a celebration of the human body
• Michelangelo examined human corpses to gain knowledge of anatomy to connect it to art
• symbolic objects or pieces relative to religious leaders
• baptistery: individuals could not attend church until you were baptized in medieval times
• Human bodies are seen as beauty, order, and harmony 
• Use of exaggeration in art

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos relate to the readings because it carried common themes on how art and humanism was evolving rapidly. The components about why the representation of holy figures was used to engage viewers and art exaggeration was becoming more common to get the attention of viewers as well. 

4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

The film about Florence was interesting and I learned a lot of factual information that I was not aware of. I did not understand the Middle Ages video besides the art that was shown being explained and reasoning for the way things were portrayed.

Art of Faith Series Video Review

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Buddhism:

• strong spirituality and the purpose of meditating is to free yourself and/or peace
• carved paintings, carvings with symbolic meanings, and the use of stone inscriptions were important for their culture to feel spirituality connected with the Budda or other leaders
• Budda means the enlightened one; represents supreme level of wisdom; gold
• stones of the White Elephant were used by powerful leaders and represented peace
• Temples for Budda architecture was important in order for the purest side of the body to face him which is the right side of a person
• Caves of Lorna were carved from solid rock
• Monks lived in these sacred places and worshiped for the divine care of Gods
• Todai-ji is a place that people go to pray
• Puning Temple: depicts a Chinese and Han Tibetan art style and culture; this temple is dedicated to harmony and peace of their culture

Christianity:

• most important symbols of faith are hoy buildings, form, and sacred functions
• Religious belief mostly expressed through agriculture
• individuals practice collective worship and private prayer; a need for spiritual guidance
• architecture and geometric decoration was identified by Romanesque 
• Sacred building built over saints deceased bodies as a representation of spiritual healing; important for pilgrimages and connections with saints
• Colorful stained glass was used to change one's perspective once a person is in a sacred place and different light

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos relate to the readings based on the information from both that was focused on religious rituals, worship gatherings, or even pilgrimages. They both depicted the important use of symbolic objects in paintings or carvings, which are used often. Also, insight on how sacred buildings or temples were built because of powerful leaders and the representation behind images overtime.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to your understanding?
This time I watched the videos before I completed the readings and it was confusing for me. After I completed the videos, while I was reading the content from Age of Faith I understood the information and notes I had from the videos much more. I thought the films were very informative and I learned a lot of information that I did not know of. I also understood the components that made up the sacred places or temples and how they were used which I was able to relate to images of the places I have seen in movies. 

4. Why did you choose the films that you watched?
I chose the films that I watched because I wanted to gain insight on a culture and religion that I did not know much about; and then I chose the other video based on the one I was the most familiar with on the list to be able to compare what I learned to the first film.