For my museum of choice, I decided to check out the Long Beach Museum of Art: Hartman Pavilion.

 

The museum was close by, and admission only cost $6. And on exhibit today were works by Rafael Soriano, which included photographs, paintings and sculptures. Soriano was born on November 23, 1920 in Cuba and died April 9, 2015 in the United States. The cool thing about him is that he is a geometric painter, and he escaped from Cuba during the communist regime because of its dissent towards art. He fled from Cuba to Florida, and continued his art work there, which include many art works based off of surrealism. From geometric painting to painting that is “spiritual”, his finished projects come out just amazing!

Below is a picture of Rafael Soriano

Throughout the exhibit I couldn’t help but marvel at all of his art work! But two of his art pieces I really liked were his gouache on paper “Interior”, created in 1953 (pictured on the left) and his oil on canvas “Frente Al Infinito” (“Facing the Infinite” if translated), created in 1992. (pictured on the right).

First off, both art pieces take on qualities of art works that portrayed surrealism. Both portraits leave a finished and lasting impression on the audience, where people are left to gaze at it and question as to what exactly is going on. Both paintings are abstract in its own nature and incorporate the use of color, texture and contrast. However, as in terms of surrealism,  his “Interior” art piece takes on more geometric properties while his “Frente Al Infinito” takes on a more “Spiritual” reveal. They are abstract in their own ways, which was a constant theme throughout his art work and it is apparent that Soriano was heavily influenced by Surrealist movement.

Here are some more of his art works, and as you can tell they are quite abstract in their own ways.

This one is titled “El Profeta” (“The Profit”)

This one is titled “La Visionaria” (“The Seer”)

This one is titled “Sueno Guardado” (“Guarded Dream”)

About the Artist

Chris Jordan was born in 1963, and is an artist and activist based in Seattle, Washington. As in terms of mediums, he has had a fair amount of installations and also practices photography. His works and photographs are created around or with the usage of garbage. His aim with his art is to cause awareness to how much people consume and waste, and tries to acknowledge the audience of the detrimental effects it has on the planet. And not only does he acknowledge of how much humans damage the planet, but the wildlife as well.

Formal Analysis

The photograph below is an art piece titled “Running the Numbers: Portraits of Global Mass Culture”. It is a generated image and portrait of what seems to be a woman curled up in a ball. The image consists of 78,000 water bottles, and come from many different brands from around the world. If you google it, it starts off with a wide shot, but then zooms in to reveal all the different kinds of water bottles. Previously noted, most of his art works include using garbage or even his own utensils that he uses to create a lasting image.

Content Analysis

Throughout all his art works, he incorporates garbage as his tool. He does this to bring awareness to the amount of things people consume in their daily lives. A lot of his pieces pose the notion of how Americans (as well as other counties) are very materialistic. By looking at “Running the Numbers: Portraits of Global Mass Culture”, you can see all the water bottles he used to emphasis just how much we consume and waste. Also by looking how the person (in my mind, I see a woman) is presented with the water bottles, she seems to represents Mother Nature, our planet, and reveals the shame that humans should feel from performing these ways of consumption and littering. From using water bottles, phones, cans or even crush cars, he tries to bring awareness of how much we consume, and the detrimental effects it has on our planet.

Thesis/ My Experience

I really like Chris Jordan, and the way he causes discussion for environmental preservation and conservation, as well as acknowledging the audience of how people around the world (for the most part) are materialistic creatures. I feel many people should view his art work because of how it shows the audience of how much we consume and waste, and in turn are hurting our planet. His art work could pave the way for future generations to be more politically involved with issues regarding the environment and pave the way for a more “green” environment.

Pre-Home Page

Pre-Home Page (Blog Post Header)

Pre-About Information:

Now, here is the edited edition of the website:

First, I really wanted to change the sub-title of my website, to give more of an insight of not only of my blog posts of my art, but of my other hobbies and skills that are actually aimed towards one of my career goals: being involved with marketing for a motocross industry. Such industries on my wish list are joining companies such as FOX racing, Yamaha, Troy Lee Designs or really anything that get me a foot-in-the-door to the motocross universe. So, I decided to also change the theme of my website to a picture of a dirt bike rider on a KTM, as well as the font designs. I also changed the color theme to match my theme picture color to provide more flow.

I Also updated an EXPERIENCE navigation bar to provide others of my experiences and skills. This will explain why I chose such things as my sub-titles to be MOTOCROSS, MARKETING, and ART DESIGN because they represent what I do for a living, as in terms of interests, hobbies, skills and is work related.

Now I don’t have a whole lot done yet to reflect my motocross side for my hobbies or career (because currently my bike is blown up), but I’m going to be getting a bike soon for riding, and hopefully racing. But if I recieve sponsoring or notability for my marketing and/or my riding, this will help bolster my chances of success in the motocross or marketing world.

About the Artist

Marina Abramovic is a Yugoslav-American performance artist born in 1946 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. She first got more involved with art when she started studying painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade in the 1970s. For her art mediums, she is considered a pioneer in the performance arts community and she has had 50 works completed in a time spanning 4 decades incorporating works involving photography, interventions and sound pieces, solo performances, video works and collaborative performances. For her in particular, the body has always been a subject and medium prevalent in all her art works, where she would explore the physical and mental limits of her being, where she would absorb pain, exhaustion and danger to obtain an emotional and spiritual transformation.

 

Formal Analysis

Above is one of her first art pieces titled “Rhythm 0” created in 1974. The art piece included Abramovic herself standing before the crowd where she allowed the participants to use any of the 72 objects she had displayed on a table before the audience and allowed them to use them on any way on her body. Such items included clothes, bras, scarfs, fancy hats, make-up, and even a loaded gun. The participants would take these items and did as they pleased to Abramovic. Participants would sometimes dress her up, put make-up on her and make her look pretty. But others had negative intentions where some would write on her with markers or even just stripped her half naked. Some would even try to harm her and point the loaded gun at her while others would try and protect her. Below is a picture of a man analyzing and choosing one of the items on display and at the audience’s disposal.

Content Analysis

I really like this art piece and how Abramovic tried to obtain an emotional and spiritual transformation. Like noted before, some participants would try and dress her up, displaying and releasing positive energy. But others had negative intent, where people stripped her nude or threatened her with a gun pointed at her. There was a dynamic exchange of energy between the performer and the collaborators, and throughout all of this she would endure all the pain and exhaustion. Also, whats important about this piece is how it transforms the observers into collaborators, where they become part of the message behind this art work.

My Thesis/ Experience

I really like Marina Abramovic, and I also like her collaborative art pieces and interventions. I feel a lot of people should look at “Rhythm 0” and understand the idea and process of what Abramovic is trying to argue and display. I really like how her art piece exemplifies what it means to go through pain and exhaustion, where she further argues that through these what may seem very painful, hurtful and frightening situations one may finally find a spiritual and emotional transformation. It only fair to say that life isn’t always nice and their may be occasional disasters, tragedies, genocides and so on. But through these awful and terrible events, it is only natural for humans to perservere, learn from their mistakes and, perhaps, undergo a spiritual and emotional transformation.

About the Artist

Allan Kaprow was born on August 23, 1927 in Atlantic City, New Jersey and passed away on April 5, 2006. He passed away in Encinitas, California. He is an American painter, assemblagist, and a pioneer of the concepts of the performance arts. He was influenced by John Dewey’s literary work Art as Experience, and in the following years he would be responsible for having the term “happenings” coined, and utilized as a method of art. Happenings are finished art pieces taking on the forms of arts media (paintings, music and dance) through the use of ordinary objects or actions (such as using news paper, noise, and body movements).

Formal Analysis

Going back to the term “happenings”, this new style of art was created by Kaprow. And by observing his works, primarily his happenings, he does in fact use people and just ordinary things to create his finished art works. For example, the above illustration is where Kaprow used a bunch of car tires and women to act as models essentially. But he also has what it seems to be some action, where in this particular art piece the girl is running from tire to tire. Also, most of these were taken as early as 1958, so the most of his finished projects lack color.

Content Analysis

Kaprow’s happenings brought in an entirely new method of creating art. With the utilization of everyday objects, he was able to create works of art that are still being studied by other artists practicing in the field of happenings. Specifically looking at Koprow’s happenings, there is a great sense of variety of interpretation of what’s happening behind his art works. In the above art piece for example, it raises many questions: why is the woman wrapped up in aluminum foil in a car? Who is the man with this woman? Where is this car going? All in all, the interpretation that is a resultant of these happenings is in fact a part of the finished art work.

Thesis/ My Experience

I really like Allan Kaprow! Although he is a much older artist, he is the person responsible with the creation and utilization of “happenings”. A new method of art while using just ordinary objects to create legit arts media, Kaprow revolutionized the art world. I think it’s important for a lot of people to use happenings as a technique to create art for it is a great way to send messages and makes people be resourceful when it comes to creating art.

About the Artist

Nadezhda Andreyevna Tolokonnikova, known professionally as “Nadya Tolokonnikova”, was born on November 7, 1989 in Norilsk, Krasnoyarskiy kray, RSFSR, USSR (now Russia). Her main art mediums resides in music and performance, and she is also a political activist. She is in a music group called “Pussy Riot”, which is based in Russia and has received a lot of criticism, backlash and even imprisonment from the Russian government where at one point Nadya Tolokonnikova was sentenced to 2 years in prison for one of her performances in the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. She was charged for “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred”, but would be released early with another member after serving 21 months due to an amnesty bill being passed.

Formal Analysis

By analyzing the early development of their band, they had a very rebellious look. As you can see from the above image, all the band members including Tolokonnikova wore ski masks, and wore leggings and dresses. By looking at one of her songs to be produced in the years to come, “Make America Great Again” had a very dynamic and revealing choreographing, where the theme was set on some of the issues residing in America and discussions of the intentions and credibility of Donald Trump. Through out the music, there is a lot of “skin” reveal, and had a lot of recordings from Trump, or samples, of what he had to say on the social and political issues occurring in America.

Content Analysis

By listening to “Make America Great Again”, you can tell that Tolokonnikova is very politically active and engaged with not only issues residing in Russia, but the social and political unrest that is occurring in the United States today. Throughout her song, she mentions issues regarding immigration, feminism and discrimination by utilizing a specially designed wardrobe of choice and carefully selected samples from Donald Trump. Also, throughout the song Donald Trump (played by Nadya) uses force by hired thugs to enforce his power among its citizens, particularly with immigrants and women. With such phrases placed in the beginning, like the “Speak English Only” label on the Police Station door and a specially selected samples from Donald Trump, the song  illustrates not only the attitude residing in Trump, but reveals the attitude of the United States towards these political and social issues. This revelation is significant because it shows how these issues such as racism, sexism, healthcare and government corruption are still alive today and is conflicting with a significant portion of a marginalized population.

Thesis/ My Experience

I really like Nadya Tolokonnikova! I’ve been drumming ever since I was in high school, and one of my favorite of genres to play with is punk rock. Her music in particular is really good, as it not only has really good musical qualities, but it is also engaged politically. Throughout her music, she has challenged the corruption and discrimination practiced by the Russian government and the United States government. Personally, I think a lot of people should take a minute and just listen to one of her songs, or watch one of her performances. Her art works is not only really fun to listen to, but is also great for people to observe and analyze when discussing politics occurring in the real world.

This art activity actually turned out really fun, and also quite revealing, for me personally. First, I noticed I drew a lot better and faster than how I would typically draw in my apartment (or at least in less natural atmospheres). I really felt in tune with my hand when I was performing my sketches, as if I was more in “flow” when trying to create my quick finishes. Also, I think my 30 second sketches got me prepared to do my 5 minute sketch. Below are my 30 second sketches I finished as my “warm-up”.

Some of the objects I was trying to draw, such as sketch #5 “the Dog”, were difficult to mirror on my canvas because the object would move sometimes. This really got me trained on my eye-to-paper drawing, where I would use lighter stroke marks on my other sketches, to at least get a basic framework for my object to draw so I could at least finish a piece to look (at least) remotely similar. And when I was able to get the framework down, I was able to use more and more additional time to add in details, making the quick sketches as realistic as possible. Also, I did a blind contour drawing of my hand. This is where I had to keep my eye trained on the hand I was going to draw while moving the pencil with the other hand. This drawing technique is important to use, especially when you’re trying to draw living objects because those objects may move and people might miss important details. Personally, I was surprised to see how my hand turned out and I really liked it! I think other artists, or artists in training, should utilize these drawing techniques to become more effective artists.

About the Artist

Scott Tyler, known professionally as Dread Scott, was born in 1965 in Chicago, Illinois. His art works are focused through the mediums of installations, photography, paintings, performance, print and video. His art works, often participatory in nature, are directed towards the experiences of African Americans in the contemporary United States. His art is derived from his passion to uncover injustices, and to uncover and discuss political and social issues residing in the world. However, he has received backlash for his art works from certain audiences and the government, where some of his installations were seen as “disrespectful” to the nation.

Formal Analysis

After analyzing his art pieces, you can see how some people would see them as bizarre or offensive. In the above piece called “On the Impossibility of Freedom in a Country Founded on Slavery and Genocide”, you can see the artist being hosed down by a local firefighter. If you google the art piece, you can find a video of him as he walks closer and closer to the firefighter, continuously being pounded by gallons and gallons of water. He does this piece as a public showing, where the audience are just 20 feet away from the spectacle. And as he pushes against the rushing water, you can see as he grimaces against the force of the water, leaving expressions of urgency and anger. Although this art work involves his personal participation, he also allows the audience to participate in his other art works and installations.

Content Analysis

His art works are aimed at challenging societal norms of people of class, age, gender, etc. His aim is to bring about awareness to certain political and social issues residing in America, where he shows through his art work the challenges that marginalized groups have had to experience. For his “On the Impossibility of Freedom in a Country Founded on Slavery and Genocide”, this demonstration showed the hardships and discrimination placed before African Americans living in the United States. By looking at the piece and observing his behavior and expressions, you could get a sense of frustration towards the government, as well as a strong will to continue to fight against the oppression (that being the continuous pounding of water from the fire hose). Also, the above installation titled “What is the Proper Way to Display a US Flag” has received many criticism from his peers, the United States government, and even President George H. W. Bush. The piece asked for volunteers to step on the flag to “comment” in a book or diary. The installation essentially requires its participants to somehow cross the boundary which is the physical obstruction of the flag and voice their opinion, which resides in the comments left behind by the audience. The flag being a strong symbol to the nation and held dear by many people, it is understandable why people would be upset by such an installation. However, by analyzing it more you can look at the other side and see the frustration from marginalized groups and their anger towards society. For those that have stood on the flag, they may have had feelings of resentment towards the nation and how it’s addressing and modifying its current domestic policies. Ultimately, this piece shows exactly what the flag means to everyone, and how it’s a powerful installation.

Thesis/ My Experience

Dread Scott is an activist, and now my idol. He has shown (and continuous to do so) the past and current issues residing in America. Some of these issues, such as discriminatory laws, racism, and political injustice that Scott illustrates in his art work are typically avoided topics or issues that are still ignored to this day to the general public. I believe everyone should take a look at his art work, his installations in particular, and become more informed and aware of the political and social injustices that are placed among marginalized groups, our fellow citizens. For me personally, I’ve already have been aware of most of these issues, and observing his work has only made me more informed and enlightened with the way society treats certain individuals. Hopefully if others view Dread Scott’s works, they too can be aware of these potential threats towards people and their civil rights.