Step 1: The Exhibition
Questions about the exhibit:
1. What is the title of the exhibit?
Contemporary Portraiture is one of the current exhibitions on view at the Burchfield Penney.
2. What is the theme of the exhibition?
The theme of this exhibition is the use of portraiture in modern day. The way in which identity of diverse people are shown in this exhibition. In contrast with traditional ways to go about portraiture, this exhibition demonstrates different materials, themes, and added elements to the bust length images.
Step 2: The Gallery
Questions about the physical space:
1. What type of lighting is used?
There are many lights across the interior of the ceiling in the Burchfield art gallery. These lights are projected at different angles to emphasis, hide and communicate with the viewer. With this exhibition, the lighting most commonly used was to shine upon the portraits to make the art stand out and emphasizes the details. The interior of the first hallway that you walk into has a dimmer light than when you walk to the open area. This creates an effect on the larger portraits in the main part of the gallery. The light carries you through the space, there are also other exhibitions with less intense light in different rooms.
2. What colors are used on the walls?
The walls are white for this exhibition, there are other works on view where added color was used but not this exact exhibition. The white walls accentuate unconventional materials that were used for the portraits of these various artists. The collaboration of styles, techniques and materials all using portraiture is all brought out by the calmness of the white walls. There is one room, which is enclosed on all three sides besides for the opening on the fourth wall. These works by Chuck Tingley are hung on a medium toned grey wall. His works use a lot of warm, skin tone colors, including red, contrast the grey making the art distinct. There is a contrasting values of tone and color used in this space.
3. What materials are used in the interior architecture of the space?
The materials used in the architecture of the building are white marble-like flooring. Majority of all the walls are white, except for he added paint to certain exhibitions. There are wooden stairs, the wood is light in color and is used in two different stairwells in the Burchfield Penney. There is the use of glass in the second story of the art gallery. There are also very tall ceilings in the centrally planned building. There are lower ceilings at various heights surrounding the main gallery space in the center of the plan.
4. How is the movement of the viewer through the gallery space?
The movement is very playful in this space. The gallery begins with a hallway where you can go left, right or straight ahead. To the left is an exhibition of Charles Burchfield's work that circles around, connecting to the central gallery space. If you choose to go straight ahead, there are areas to the right and straight ahead with wall space of art. The plan of the gallery then extend to the right further connecting various opened rooms, where an artists work can be hung. If you walk through that space, there is the work of Chuck Tingley to the left, wall space straight ahead of another artist and other works to the right. To the right, there is also a space, completely closed off besides two openings, one to enter and then to exit. Through the exiting door, there is a maze like structure to the walls that brings you through other exhibitions. This will then lead you through to the starting point of the first hallway that you enter the gallery in.
Step 3: The Artwork
Questions about the artwork:
1. How are the artworks organized?
The artworks for the exhibition are all organized by artists, material and move you through the space using light, direction and artistic pulls. There are ways in which color is used to direct one's eye to the more difficult turns and walls. This is a tactic that provides the viewer direction is through the use of light upon certain walls and the placement of diverse materials next to each other.
2. How are the artworks similar?
The artwork is all tied together by using portraits. The meanings, narratives, materials and added elements are different for each artists, so the unity is within the subject matter. Many of the artists produces bust-length portraits, these were mainly placed next to each other. The artworks by Chuck Tingley, that are separated from the rest of the exhibition are full-body paintings. These are in contrast, and are placed in a diverse environment in the gallery.
3. How are the artworks different?
The works are different when concerning materials. For an example, Jack Edson used cotton patchwork quilting and Tricia Butski used charcoal on paper. These materials are very different in nature and are displayed on neighboring walls. Materials such as pencil, acrylic, oil on wood and spray paint make up this exhibition. Along with Tingley’s differences, the artist Bruce Adams style is very different than the other artists on view. He produced portraits of various people and scenes depicting a certain period of time in oil on wood. The portraits are also shown as if they are displayed on a roll of film. The artist who is displayed in the first hallway that you enter the gallery into is Henry Schmidt. He portrayed animals in portrait form as humans would be, at bust length.
4. How are the artworks framed?
Majority of the art is not framed, especially the renderings on paper. These are hung upon the walls with pins. The other paintings of oil on wood are hung on the walls using objects behind the panel so the viewer can not see them. The framing that is used is a solid clean line of solid paper or wood of the same lane as the painting all the way around the composition.
5. How are the artworks identified and labeled?
All of the artwork is identifiable through the wall texts provided to the right of each painting or drawing. This indicates the artist, year produced, title , dimensions and medium of the work. In some cases there will be added contextual information, country it was made on or other useful information. At the beginning of each exhibition there will be a wall text which provides the viewer to understand the groundwork of the artists, theme and what the artists intentions are.
6. What is the proximity of the artwork to each other?
The relationship of the artwork is kept through the use of portraiture throughout the exhibition. The art works are about a foot/foot and a half away from the neighboring artwork. There is more space to separate the artists work, and identify the change in style. The use of another wall is also used in some cases, one wall will be filled with one artist and the perpendicular wall, of other work.
Step 4: Art Criticism Exercise
Select three of the artworks from the show and use the Art Criticism worksheet to desribe, analyze, bracket and interpret the work using the 5-step Art Criticism Process described. (see the sheet in the module folder)
Artist: _________Jack Edson___________________________________________
Title of work: ___________Self-Portrait (Young) and (old)______________________
Media:_______________Cotton patchwork quilt_________________________
Date:__________2018_________________________________________________
Size:Dimensions not given___________________________________________
Source of picture (URL):_____Took picture myself______________________________
Description – Describe what you see. (subject matter)?
The subject matter is himself, both as a younger man and then adjacent to that is a portrait of him as older. This is an interesting rendition of himself, using diverse pieces of fabric throughout the composition to make up his face. These are just of the face, so no neck is showing in these quilts. When you stand close up to the fabric, you can see many pieces sewn together mechanically and by hand. Then you can notice the detail of shapes that were used to create the contours of the face and other features. The background is filled with geometric design centered around the shape of a square. Compositionally, with these two portraits the younger image is to the left and the older portraits face, line sup with the right side of the fabric.
Formal analysis – (form) What principles and elements were used and how are they used?
Color is a huge component of these works. These works of art are hard to understand when up close, but when you step back the colors make e=sense to your eye and shapes come together. The use of shape is another important aspect of this piece, each square of fabric is a color that when you step back makes sense to the human eye. The use of geometric shapes in the background make the natural face stand out and creates a clear contour of distinction. There is a fabric border around the artwork. Shape is also used in the collection of multiple squares together, making larger shapes in the composition. There is a directional pull throughout the composition that is created through light and darker tones, There are also emphasis in the lighter colors in the background. There is unity within these pieces due to the scatter of bright colors throughout the face. Pattern is evident throughout this whole composition.
4. Bracketing - Is there anything in or about this work that reminds you of anything else? Do you see any symbols, metaphors, or allegories? (iconography)
When I saw these works, I personally saw a connection between Chuck Close and this artist, I believe it was the style and the way in which both of them went about portraits. Chuck Close, after suffering from a health condition was unable to paint realistically, so he began to use shapes in collections that would make an image when you stood back from it.
5. Interpretation - (content) What do you think the artist was trying to say?
I think that this piece is reflecting identity for the most part. He is wanting to show himself as a younger man and then as an older man. This could portray passage of time, wisdom, changes, life and perhaps the physical changes over time.
Artist: _________Tricia Butski_________________________________________________
Title of work: _____________Specious___________________________________________
Media:__________________Charcoal on paper
Date:_______________2015_________________________________________
Size:Dimensions not given ______________________________________________
Source of picture (URL):_____________I took the picture myself_________________________
Description – Describe what you see. (subject matter)?
The subject matter is an enlarged rendition of a female, face with added elements to it. There are specific use of scale that draws the viewer into this piece. The use of line and value is another captivating part of the composition. There is also the use of water elements in the piece of art which distorts the female face into something that is not of biological nature.
Formal analysis – (form) What principles and elements were used and how are they used?
There is a border around the entire work of art, this gives your eye a lift to the image. There is an extreme use of contrast here in values. The use of the dark charcoal is contrasted with areas that were not touches by the medium. There is directional pull to the viewer's eye throughout the piece using the different values. There is movement throughout the piece when discussing the water, smoky, mysterious element that take up the contours of the face. There is also pull from the outside of the paper to the interior, that goes from dark to white.
4. Bracketing - Is there anything in or about this work that reminds you of anything else? Do you see any symbols, metaphors, or allegories? (iconography)
I have not seen anything like this before, I think that is why i was immediately drawn to it. I truly appreciate the artist's ability to render not only the face but the added elements to make it look realistic to the touch. There may be a connection that the artist is trying to convey through the use of this mystical element integrated with the human face.
5. Interpretation - (content) What do you think the artist was trying to say?
I think that the artist is trying to either show a hidden aspect of identity, an overflow of emotions, loss of oneself, or perhaps the water elements as cleansing. There are many opportunity of interpretation here, but overall I believe it is meant to show identity.
Artist: ___________Joseph Radoccia ______________________________________
Title of work: ______________Joe Weber_________________________
Media:_________Acrylic and pencil on paper__________________________________
Date:________________2016______________________________________________
Size:_________dimentions not given_________________________________________
Source of picture (URL):__________Took myself ________________________________
Description – Describe what you see. (subject matter)?
THis is a more traditional portrait in the sense of the bust length portrait and the realitc features. Contrasted with the other portraits, those were more modern. Although this has added elements that are not as realistic as the portrait itself, it is more traditional than the others. There is a woman, with a pink hat on in this image, wearing a hoodie. Her hair is curly and falls on her shoulders.
Formal analysis – (form) What principles and elements were used and how are they used?
This painting is bordered by a, not so straight line which makes up the portrait. The portrait is in proportion to the size it was drawn, a little larger than life size. This drawing uses darker grey tones in the face with the use of beige and other warmer colors. The hat is very realistically shown, as well as her jacket. The hat is the most concentrated element due to the color. If you stand closer to this portrait you will soon realize the line work added in a carefree way, creating texture to the piece. The background blends in with the tones used throughout the entire portrait.
4. Bracketing - Is there anything in or about this work that reminds you of anything else? Do you see any symbols, metaphors, or allegories? (iconography)
I think that this piece has a lot to do with identity, perhaps this is someone that the artist knows. There is a grey tone to the painting so I do not get a cheerful feeling from this painting.
5. Interpretation - (content) What do you think the artist was trying to say?
I think that this piece is meant to shown an important person to the artist. Perhaps they meant to render this in a way that shows the person very serious because it reflects the person they are. Perhaps the artists was to commemorate this person, say thanks or maybe has a certain opinion about them.
Step 5: Document Your Visit
Take some pictures (no flash) if it is accepted at the Gallery you are visiting.
Make sketches if you are not able to take photographs.
Bring home brochures and other materials for reference.
Questions and Topics for Your Blog Posting:
1. Make sure all questions/answers from Step 1-3 are posting to your Blog.
2. Make sure you upload images of the 3 pieces of artwork you are interpreting to your Blog or Photobucket account. (If in Photobucket, be sure to hyperlink to Photobucket from your Blog posting).
3. Make sure you upload images that document your visit and experience of the physical space. If you cannot take pictures, upload your pictures, scan in the brochure images, or hyperlink to the Gallery website from your Blog.
4. Answer this question:What did you think of visiting the Gallery and purposefully looking at the exhibition from a different perspective - the physical space, the architecture, theme, etc.?
Personally I really enjoyed the exhibition at the Burchfield Penney. The content and diverse works they had was amazing. There was use of textiles, painting, charcoal, pencil, canvas, and other materials throughout the gallery. It was modern, relevant and was such an interesting array of styles. The abilities of the artists that were chosen for the show are incredibly talented and it honestly blew me away. I thought that the theme of media and cameras in our society was brilliant by Chuck Tingley. The way he depicted humans fearful of themselves being seen , or exposed through technology was amazing. There was so much content and interesting aspects to the exhibition that the space just naturally pulled me around each corner.
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