Discuss the Form, Aesthetics , and Content of your art.

The art my group found on campus was on the side of brick wall. The art is inside the blue frame. The form of the artwork is rigid, retangular, red, and visible. It contains multiple bricks, grey cement, and white spray material. The aesthetics of this artwork show dark earth tones with white light as its balance. It’s a bit sad as sunlight barely hits the subject. The content of the art is an abstract man-made wall. I didn’t really figure out what exactly the white material is but I view that as nature trying to remind us of it’s existene. We tend to always be on the go and can overlook the beauty of simple things around us. The white material on the brick wall is nature trying to balance out the life we have on this earth. It’s a reminder to us to be with nature and not against it.

Was your Art, Art before you put a rectangle around it? Why or why not?

The art my group chose could’ve been art before to someone else. Again it would depend on the perspective of the person viewing it. I can see how someone can view as a wall with white spray on it. Others can ponder a bit more on it and try to view the art on the brick wall. We decided to put a rectangle on a part of the brick wall to highlight a certain portion that stood out to us.

Will your Art be Art after the rectangle is gone? Why or why not?

In my opinion our art will still be there after the rectangle is gone because I now see it in a whole new perspective. This art piece is now here. I can explain to my peers what I think about it and what I think it means. One of the reasons we chose it was becasue even though it’s a man-made it looks nice in it’s own way. As I said earlier this art shows us how nature will always find a way to put a mark on earth. That’s what makes the piece special and that’s what I will share with people everytime we pass by.

Does art reside in the body of the object? So that some objects are art and some objects are not art? Explain. How do we know which objects are art and which are not?

I believe some art does reside in the body of the object becasue object is the center of attention. When others look at art they tend to focus on the body and what’s inside the frame. Now on the sbuject of what is art and what isn’t that would depend on the person viewing it. I can see certain objects as art becasue I have learned to think beyond the surface level. Others may have the same thought process but others won’t. If we want to easily distinguish which objects are art then people should look for color. They should consider the piece by asking is it in or outside my own frame, is it abstract, and what’s it’s shape or figure. If the object makes you think and you can find artistic like qualities, then it’s art in your prespective.

Can art be something other than an object?

Art can be a thing of any sorts, but that would be up the person viewing it. If a person can view something as art and see a unique perspective then it’s art to them. They can share the knowledge with others so they may think beyond the general “norm” of what art is.

Does art reside in the experience of the viewer? So that it isn’t an object per se, but a way and a choice of taking the time to have a viewing experience? Explain.

Art defenitly resides in the expereince of the viewer no matter if it’s on campus, on the street, or in the muesum. Every single person has their own person and they can find art in whatever they please. I can find colors, abstraction, beauty, and uniqueness in a sunset. In my opinion, all sunsets are art because they’re creative and diferent each time. Sunsets light up the sky and make our day colorful. Others may see a sunset as a natural experience of the sun going down and evening starting. So art is differnt to everyone and we all have different viewing expereinces of it.

What was the experience like?

This experience was honestly cool. In pervious art classes I have always had some sort of structure or guidelines to follow. I believe this my first assignement without any rules. So I was as creative as I wanted to be.

Was it easier, harder, or different than you expected?

It was hard in the begining because I wanted to start but didn’t know how. There was freedom but I had to think about what colors I wanted and where to start. After a minute of thinking I just ended grapping whatever colors and went with what I felt.

How was the experience of making a painting with no subject? Confusing & Frustrating? Liberating & Inspiring?

The expereince with painting no subject was great. It made happy because there was no structure to be creative. I did whatever I felt like doing. It was liberating and freeing. I had full control of whatever I wanted to paint.

How does this compare to other paintings you have seen?

This looks somewhat similar to paintings I have seen in museums. Especially the splatter paint with multiple colors. After I hung the painting, I took a step back from it and it looked cool on my living room wall. Hanging it up felt like I was hanging it in an art museum.

How did you feel performing Maintenance Art in the area around the USU?

I felt good and different. It felt a little strange because we were out in the open. I also did see a lot of people looked confused as they walked by. Overall maintenance art was out of my comfort zone and I feel like Ukeles.

How are Mierle Laderman Ukeles cleaning the steps of an art museum and Richard Serra flinging molten lead against the walls of an art museum different? How are they the same? Are one or both “art”? Are one or both “not art”?

Ukeles is cleaning the steps of an art museum shows appreciation towards the art space and the craft. Serra is showing other emotions like reeling and stepping out of the art “norm” when flinging molten lead against a wall. The difference is Serra is breaking down the art structure to show that there are many ways to interpret art. They are both the same because they both appreciate art in their own way. They just show it differently. Both are art because both artists are creating and showing art through their own perspective. Art is unique so each artist is expressing themselves.

Was Mierle Laderman Ukeles’ Maintenance Art performance at the Wadsworth Atheneum “art”? Did the fact that her performance was at an Art Museum make it art? What if instead, she had simply gotten hired as a janitor at a factory somewhere and performed that job for 6 months? Would that have been art? What makes an act “art” or “not art”?

Ukeles’ Maintenance Art performance was art because she was expressing herself through this unique lens. I think Ukeles performing at an art museum does make it art because the space around it was related to the art world. If it was a job like a janitor then I view it as a daily task that. It think what would have made it art would’ve been if it meant something more than just being a daily task. If the person was expressing their own thoughts into a piece then its art. If the action is a apart of a job then it is limited to forms of expression.

Is an object or an action Art or Not Art because of some intrinsic property of the medium? Or because of the intention of the person performing it? Are all paintings on canvas art because paintings on canvas are exhibited in art museums? Is all house painting not art because we don’t exhibit painted houses in art museums? Can a painting on canvas ever be not art? Can painting a house ever be art?

A object or action is art because of the intention of a person performing it. As stated above, maintenance art is shown with Ukeles’ performance piece. But it art isn’t shown when a janitor is doing their job. In my opinion it would depend on the action, the environment, and the type of art being created. Art is varies because it exists in different mediums. It doesn’t have to exist in a museum specifically.I have seen art in the streets, in homes, in offices, and in schools. Art doesn’t have a set location to exist. It exists beyond a canvas. It all goes back to the intention of the art piece.

Has Mierle Laderman Ukeles, or Jennifer Lopez, made you think differently about “Women’s Work”? Is “Women’s Work” ever art? If yes, when? If no, why not?

Women’s Work is any work done by women. Ukeles and Lopez have echoed my thoughts. Women’s Work can be art when the intention and uniqueness is shown though their actions. Each person has can find beauty and art in their own work.

In class we discussed the woman who cleaned Donald Trump’s Star on Hollywood Blvd. Whose Star would you get down on your hands and knees to clean?

I would clean Selena Quintanilla’s star on Hollywood Blvd. She is a Mexican-American singer from Texas. In the 90s she tragically passed away. Her legacy lives on today and I would love to get on my hands and knees to keep her star clean.

What is Abstraction?

Abstraction is the opposite of representation. Abstraction makes you think outside of the box because there is nothing to compare it to. Abstraction is in its own lane of thinking.

Do you prefer Representation or Abstraction?

I prefer abstraction because I like the complexity of it. Abstraction goes beyond the surface. It challenges me to think of other outcomes and being limitless. There is not one direct form it’s suppose to be.

Texture & Configuration

Texture, in my opinion, means the feel and layer of a certain object or art piece. While configuration means the knowledge and arrangement of an object or art piece. Texture leans more towards abstraction. Texture can display various things in art and can amplify the uniqueness of a piece. Configuration leans more towards representation. As there is more definite art piece to be displayed.

“Getting It” vs “Being With It”

“Getting it” means making sure I understand what image I am analyzing or looking at it. I must have a clear definition of what I am seeing. “Being with it” means that I am together with the image and absorbing its existence. There is no rush in discovering it’s certainty.

What is “Women’s Work”?

I believe women’s work is any work that is specifically done by women. This type of work includes cleaning, cooking, nurturing, creating, birthing, organizing, or troubleshooting. These actions are mainly performed by women. Some specific jobs titles that fit women’s work include nurses, teachers, secretaries, assistances, counselors, hostess, or maids.

What is “Art”?

I believe art is form of expression that is shown through a unique lens. Art can come in many forms for example, a drawing, painting, statue, building, or photos.

What does “Women’s Work” is also Art mean?

The phrase “women’s work is also art” means that there is beauty and uniqueness in the work women do. Women’s jobs aren’t easy as they are cartakers and cleaners. These jobs are very demanding yet it’s a form of art becasue each women has her own unique way to do the work.