Advanced Painting
Halloran: Spring 2015
Art21 Practices
Catherine Opie -
When watching Catherine Opie's practice in her studio of selecting her subject matter for her photography series, I found it intriguing how she has so many options to work with. Opie would lay out her photographs all around the studio, and switch out certain ones after making constant decisions. I also appreciated Opie's statement about how she captures the setting of her photograph in the emotion that she is experiencing right in the moment that she is taking it. I think it would be beneficial if I were to experiment and see how my pieces would come out if I were to try to capture the mood that I am in when painting the piece in the piece itself.
** Opie's series on "ice houses and surfers" was a very interesting concept behind how you can capture two completely different subjects in the same light, in order to highlight their connecting meaning (ice houses and surfers are always waiting on a body of water, able to slow down time and wait in that moment).
El Anatsui-
"Broken Pot" series, when a pot is broken it is not the end of its life. Regeneration, new life, new hope. Taking ones' lowest point and making it an opportunity for growth. "Destruction as a prerequisite for new ideas or new growth."
I found this concept explained by Anatsui to be extremely relevant as an artist, because at times when creating a work, it may fail. However, scrapping the piece does not mean that you wasted your time on it and nothing came out of it, because in the end you probably learned something in order to continue onto the next piece and experiment with a new technique.
**When Anatsui was re-installing one of his pieces in a gallery or museum, he was explaining how each time the piece is installed, it changes. He stated that there were "limitless possibilities" that can come from each piece if you allow it to change.
John Baldessari-
Interested in taking things that aren't art and making it into art in order to change people's minds. I found that Baldessari's take on what is art entertaining, because he seems to take the practice as something that shouldn't be taken too seriously. I especially was intrigued when he stated that "making art is about making a choice. " I agree that if one makes the effort to make something with artistic meaning, and present it as their own attempt to create art, then it should be considered art.
I also found it relevant when Baldessari said that he quit painting because it was only about doing what is "tasteful." I often find myself painting what I think is tasteful and will appeal to an audience, and it is difficult for me to paint something that may be disagreeable or difficult to understand.
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