I have been researching my project on Japanese art and have found some interesting things that I have never really thought about before. For instance, I had never taken the time to realize what and impact government and social systems have on art. During the years 1466-1590’s, Japanese art consisted of many warriors and “masculine” paintings. You could say, “That was just their lifestyle,” but that is not entirely true. During those years, series of civil wars were held in the city of Kyoto; however, war was not a major part of their society. During “peaceful” times, art depicted their landscape and beautiful animals. When the art of dance grew, so did the paintings depicting dancing women. I learned that art does not just depict one lifestyle, but the many changes it goes through, and depending on the artist portrays a specific area of that life. (“Japanese prints” by: Gabriele Fahr-Becker )An example of this could be if a king hired an artist and told him to paint the city. Naturally the artist would only paint the “good” because that is what the king would want to see. The painting might include the castles and lavish filled areas, while excluding the poor lives of the peasants and lesser peoples. Maybe this is just me, but for some reason I found it very interesting. What are your thoughts, and do you agree with art being affected by society and the perspective of the artist?
Having art in reality television is a good idea, especially right now because of the writers’ strike. But without the strike I do not think art in a reality television would make a new hit Television show. The new upcoming show called ARTSTAR is a new reality show trying to find the next big artist. They start with an open call with 400 artists, lined up for three blocks around the Deitch Projects gallery on Wooster Street for the chance (if they got lucky) to get 30 seconds of attention from Mr. Deitch or one of the critics and writers he had enlisted as judges. 30 seconds is honestly not long enough to judge an artist or even to appreciate a piece of art to be chosen for a reality television show. Not only did the artist have maybe 30 seconds to show off their work, but their personality had to shine through to win Mr. Deitch over. They did not just want people on the show who were good art, but artist that would make good television. The producers of the show want an artist with more personality because it would make a for a more interesting television show. However, it will not be like a standard reality television show with all the normal drama. “There weren’t any sort of caustic moments that I remember,” reported Virgil Wong, one of the artists. The artists were picked not solely on their artistic ability but on how well they would fit on a reality television show. Is that fair to the true art lovers? By making Art Star, they are not creating an “art” reality television show, just another reality television show. They all follow the same path in drama and different types of personalities living together trying to get along. Filming this type of art would be every hard because they have to make the process of making a portrait fun and interesting unlike watching paint dry.
Another form of art in reality television is Project Runway. Project Runway is seems totally different then Artstar. It actually appeals to a wide range of people because the show is about fashion design. Knowing, learning and watching designers make different articles of clothing is amusing. The contestants are chosen based on their talent and their talent clearly shows within each competition. Only the strong can survive. Also with Project Runway the host of the show, Heidi Klum, is a well-known model which helps bring more people in to watch the show. Who doesn’t know who Heidi Klum is? In addition to having an extremely well-known host, Project Runway has famous judges and in some challenges the designers are designing for someone famous. For example, in season four, they have made outfits for former football player Tiki Barber and for Sarah Jessica Parker. The designers are always trying to prove their talent to the judges by their exquisite outfits. Every week is different; sometimes not even designing for a human Project Runway is constantly keeping you guessing what will they design next?
Art in reality television is not a bad idea, however I do not think the world is ready for Artstar. Project Runway is art in reality television that is not boring and has a strong reputation of being a great reality show based on talent. Personally, I think people would rather watch the design of an outfit for anyone come to life on screen other than a painting. What is your opinion? Do you think America is ready for a show on television like Artstar? Will Artstar ruin reality television?
When people hear or think about Urban Art, they usually think about graffiti, which is a classic form of it, but Urban Art is so much deeper and more intricate. Urban Art is a great form of Art as it literally encompasses everyone around it. An amazing form of this, that is also really fun to do is called LED Throwies. This is a quick guerrilla form of Urban Art where you get an LED diode, a lithium battery, a rare earth magnate and tape it all together, forming a sticking glowing light of several colors. Now the fun part comes where you get a group of people together with around 500 of these throwies, you find a metal building or sign and everyone throws them on it, creating a wonderfully colorful giant piece of art.
Another great example of Urban Art gets its roots from old school spray paint graffiti except this style isn’t permanent, making it very appealing. This form is called projector bombing. You need a very strong projector, a computer with a free open source software and a giant building which will serve as a canvas. Here, in the video below, you can literally paint anything on to the side of any building or object, saying whatever you want in a stylized way. If you can manage to afford a 2500 lumen projector it is an incredibly fun project to do.
Videos of the LED Throwies and Projector Bombing after the jump.
The last thing I want to touch on to wrap up this delve into Urban Art is not an art form or style but a man. This man is named Banksy, he is considered the best at Urban Art and guerrilla forms. This man has never been photographed, videotaped and his identity is unknown to the public except by his sudo name and artwork he leaves all over the UK. He forms the most thought provoking Urban Graffiti art anyones ever seen. He leaves his mark on every street corner and even a few times in respected museums using what is called viral art. To learn more about Banksy which I could not cover completely in this short post you can head over to his website at http://www.banksy.co.uk/menu.html
Should Art and Reality Televison be considered as one?
By Lindsie
The question “what is art?” sparks much controversy. The term art is used to describe a particular type of creative production generated by human beings, and the term usually implies some degree of aesthetic value. An artist makes a work of art for various purposes, such as creating an experience for others or as a part of a ritual. Personally, I believe that anything that is created by human beings would be considered some form of art. Who is to really say what art is? Art is determined by the individual not as the human race as a whole.
Extreme Makeover Home Edition, is something that I consider a form of art. Extreme Makeover Home Addition is an ABC reality television show that aired in 2003. Extreme Makeover Home Edition works with family homes, including all interior rooms, exterior design, and landscaping. The home is redone over a seven day time period while builders and designers work diligently. The team sends the family on a vacation while they “makeover” their home.
During the forth season of the show the team set a goal of visiting all fifty states in the United States where they would makeover a home. I believe that art and reality television should be connected in the fact that art is everything, if the two were not connected I do not know how we would have anything to watch. The show is a great way to show what designers, a person who specializes in designing architectural interiors and their furnishings, do on a daily basis as well as express their talents. Individuals who are in the landscaping business have to have a keen eye for perfection and detail. To me landscape (all the visible features of an area of land; approved appearance of a piece of land.) is definitely considered art. I think that the whole idea of Extreme Makeover Home Edition is a great idea. It gives families with very little opportunity the chance to take pride in their home and be happy with their living conditions. I also think that this is a way to give back to the community, even though they are only taking one home in a certain area it allows them to show that people still care. I truly believe that humans are works of art, the reactions of the families who are having their home made over, is beautiful.
This show has opened new doors so that art is being put out there for people to actually see it in a new light. I think that shows like this make it on television because it is kind of different, rather than having something with no meaning to it, for example The Real World; this kind of show does not add extra drama to a person’s life, but makes them feel better about themselves. I believe that most would prefer to watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition than sit and look at an art book. This allows for a different perspective of art! This show has created a new way for what is popular now and what was popular a long time ago. Combine them together and you make a wonderful hit reality television series.
Sand Art/Sculptures can come in many different shapes and sizes. Many of them are huge and ornate, while some can be small and just drips of sand on top of each other. Sand Sculpting is a very different way of using sand. They often are huge and most of them are very, very detailed and life like to some degree. These sculptures can take days to build and are usually around for a long time if it doesn’t rain. There are many competitions around sand sculpting and it has become a viable form of art over the past few decades. It begins with just a handful of sand, and is slowly formed into the beautiful sculpture that is shown above and in the videos below. There are many ways to form the sand and many tools to form it but the main way you sculpt is with your hands. The tools that can be used are shovels, spades, and other handheld devices to manipulate the sand. It takes a creative streak to make the sculptures that are seen above but you can easily make a sand castle with a little imagination and vision.
Art is said to be everywhere, and I believe that. I have now found it in the everyday necessity for the lovers of coffee. Yes, coffee. A style of art that is fairly new and recent to the world is Latte Art. I believe it was started in northern Italy. To make Latte Art you must use milk. First, froth the milk and pour into a cup of espresso coffee. While pouring the frothed milk start shaking the pitcher to begin a design. Lastly, use a “wand” to etch in your design on the frothed milk. It has gained world wide popularity. Etching design competitions are held around the world even on the Internet. There are even courses to take to learn how to become a professional Latte Artist.
Below is a Youtube video on some latte art in action.
Due to growing technology today, our “virtual world” has expanded considerably. Virtual art museums have even been invented and are circulating on the web. These “museums” have 3D buildings that contain art from many collections all in one place. One of these includes: http://muva.elpais.com.uy/. There is underlying controversy however, about the lack of the “art experience” that comes with viewing art online, as opposed to standing in front of the “real thing.” Some people who claim they are
“true” art lovers say that there is a big difference between standing in font of the actual art and viewing it online. Some people argue against it saying it is for lazy people, due to the fact that you never leave your house.
The people that do like virtual museums say there are benefits to these virtual art galleries, such as beings able to view a complete biography of the artist and an analysis of their artwork. You can also avoid the crowds that may block your view of the artwork you are looking at. Another benefit to the virtual side is that you don’t have to wait in those long lines that wrap around the side of the museum. A benefit for the elderly is the fact that they can view art from the relaxed environment of their home, rather than dealing with many the hassles of the actual museums as just explained. However, the most important factor for virtual art lovers is the price. On the web, you can view that art for free, without long lines, or crowds.
My opinion is that you can “experience” art virtually. Art is subjective and different for everyone. People have their own opinions, and what seems to be art for one person may not be for another. I personally feel that virtual museums are helpful in many ways and that they are just as good as the “real thing,” and that it is just another form of expression, as all art is.
What is art? The dictionary says art is the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance. What purpose does it serve? Its purpose varies. Some art is meant to be beautiful, some art is meant to be completely disturbing or shocking, and some art is meant to simply make one think a bit more or dig a little deeper. What is considered art and what is not? Firstly, I believe art is everywhere. Secondly, I also believe trying to determine whether or not something should be considered a piece of art makes very little sense. So the question to me is actually whether art is successful or unsuccessful. Is it important? Most definitely, and not for some romantically rousing reason, either. After all, art isn’t always some lofty dream or deep meaningful theory that has been put to paper or carved out of stone, nor is it just something pretty at which to look. Art can be extremely practical. One perfect example is art as historical documentation. We would not have an understanding of numerous traditions, societies, and governments without it. Art can solve mysteries, explain evolutionary gaps … art tells a story. So why then is art measured as a mere second hand play thing when it serves such important purposes?
