old school

Hi sculptors-- take a look at these two websites, and come to class prepared to respond . First go to Crazy Horse. Click on the link to "Carving the Mountain"and explore the contents. Then look at Mt. Rushmore. Click on the link to "Photos & Multimedia", then "Photographs by Charles D'Emery" . View this slideshow documenting fourteen years of the carving process.
Read the following and come to class prepared to talk about your thoughts . On a notecard I will give you, write two or three comments or questions regarding these quotes:

Lame Deer, a Lakota medicine man, said, " The whole idea of making a beautiful wild mountain into a statue of him is a pollution of the landscape.
 It is against the spirit of Crazy Horse."

 The Lakota activist Russel Means said, "Imagine going to the holy land in Israel, whether you're a Christian or a Jew or a Muslim, and start carving up the mountain of Zion. It's an insult to our entire being."

  'We're promoting all cultures of America. That's what this place is . This is Mount Rushmore. It's America. Everybody's something different here.We're all different. And just maybe that gets us talking again as human beings, as Americans."

Fischli and Weiss

the way things go

Best Bag Contest

we tried making inflatable sculptures. some success, some failure, some revision, much frustration. I asked for photos, and here I will post some. Please weigh in with your vote : post the #s of your top 2 choices. Winners of the Best Bag contest will get a prize that is not packaged in plastic nor wrapped in tape.

                                                                 1.Giant Panda

2. whale

3.Mountain Gorilla

                                                                4.Sea Lion

                                               
                                                                   5.Black Rhinocerous

6. Grey whale

7.Black Footed Ferret

                                                    8. Vaquita

                           
                                                    9. Leatherback turtle

                         
                                                              10. Whale tail

                                                         
                                              11. Hawksbill Turtle

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With the exception of the first two pieces by Robert Arneson, the above ceramic sculptures were made by contemporary artists. Take a look, select one, and post your response explaining what attracted you to this piece? Be sure to identify the artwork by number 1-13.

let's go!

 Welcome Payton Sculptors. Sorry for the delayed blog start this semester. I thought I'd start with a few photos, followed by some questions.   Post your responses by 10/28.

                                                Rush Hour
                          

                                              Breadline
                                                     

  

Don't Walk

                                                                 Man in Bar
                                                           
 We have been making hand casts the past week, and now it's time to transform them into art!

The sculptures above were made by George Segal (1924-2000), an artist who pushed the potential of plaster bandages by using the full human figure as his form. But the qualities of the materials as well as the gestures and placement and context of his sculptures express  more complex ideas.
Who are the people he depicts? Why do you think he chose to keep the figures all one color?What do you think Segal was trying to communicate?

Elegy for Robert Rauschenberg

Since you've been creating morphed sculptures I've been thinking about Robert Rauschenberg--  an artist who pushed the limits of sculpture and painting. He is credited with inventing the art form now known as "Combines" -- you can think of them as morphs. He walked around New York City picking up trashed objects like work boots and car tires,  to be incorporated into his paintings.

When he died in 2008 (at age 83 ) this beautiful video was made of an exhibit of his Combines.

He and a group of other artists and musicians composed the music you'll hear in the background. It, too, was a kind of mophing of sounds and chance arrangements.

Look, listen, learn and leave your comments.