Title: Art Collective Figure Drawing Session
Date and Time: April 20 2023 at 7:30pm
Location: Drawing Studio in Holmes Hall
Type of Event: Live Model Drawing Session
Evelyn Pierce – Art21
Within one of the videos I watched, Louise Bourgeois stated that, “a work of art does not need to be explained.” This idea seemed to be a common theme throughout the videos I chose to watch. I decided to only watch videos of female artists seeing as the artistic industry is often male dominated. Diana Al-Hadid stood out to me because, while most other female artists focused on theme and intentions behind their work, she was material and process based, and wanted the viewer to interpret the piece based off of the materials it was created with. Other female artists that stood out to me were Louise Bourgeois and Doreen Garner. Bourgeois uses her own personal experiences to create her pieces, and does not explain their meanings, hoping that her audience is able to connect to them in their own personal way. Doreen Garner’s work leans more politically, and also gets the audience to make connections on their own in order to deepen their understanding of the subject matter. The constant theme I noticed between all the videos were the artists not spelling out the meaning, and instead letting the viewer figure it out for themselves.
evelyn- artsXpose
evelyn pierce- chat gpt and ai research
here is a document to my visual research- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WKx7BCDxcTNESCV-H6uOzSKbpWXHYqvTW_3PHksn34U/edit?usp=sharing
Evelyn Pierce – talisman
I profoundly want security in the thought that everything is going to be okay. Growing up, my mom always told me that everything happens for a reason, and that the universe has a plan for me. Since these ideals were instilled in me from a young age, I have grown to use them to stay secure and stable when life takes unexpected turns. I pride myself on being able to handle hard situations, and I owe it all to my trust in the universe and my confidence that it will all work out. I want to keep this aspect of my thinking, and my worst fear is losing it. For my project, I want to embody my want to preserve my line of thinking, but connect it to my Jewish identity as well, since that additionally shapes my outlook on life. Within Judaism, there are many forms of talisman already. One of the most notable is the evil eye. This eye serves to protect against negative energy and overall ward off bad spirits. Another example is the hamsa, or the hand that represents hospitality, generosity, or the power of God. Within my project, I want to take my own spin on one of the established talismans in the Jewish religion. It would represent the power of the universe that I want to have hope in, and tie it to the religious ideals I grew up with as well. I do not know exactly what I want to do stylistically, but Joe said that it’s okay that my idea is still “a soup.” Further evolution to come…
Ten keywords:
- Hope
- Trust
- Stability
- Need
- Connection
- Universality
- Something.
- Purpose
- Identity
- Alright
Teapot Research: Evelyn Pierce
For my object, I have chosen a teapot decorated to look like a cross section of a watermelon. Teapots have been used since as early as 1500 AD, and are essential in many cultures. They are utilized to steep tea leaves, or boil water to then make tea. When I think of a teapot, I think of comfort and relaxation, such as curling up by a fireplace with a good book on a winter day. Teapots also remind me of the traveling I have done with my family to Tokyo and London, two countries that are closely connected with rituals of having tea.
Within my project, I want to connect the teapot to its literal use rather than my figurative and emotional connections. I want to analyze the actions that go into lifting the pot, tipping it over, and having a stream of tea or water pour out. As outlined in my sketch, I am interested in suspending a teapot in a pouring position, and below it having partial casts of a teapot, each one getting larger as it ascends. This will give the illusion that the teapot is pouring out another teapot. Casting the pot out of wax would provide a pouring effect, and melted wax could be used to create a “stream” coming out of the spout of the pot and falling onto the teapot segments beneath.
Evelyn Pierce, Balloon Swan
Jeff Koons, Balloon Swan
- Immediate Response
The artwork Balloon Swan by Jeff Koons initially brought up memories of childhood. I recalled going to carnivals or street fairs as a kid and getting balloon animals from performers or clowns. People would walk around with balloon animals, balloon hats, and even balloon swords. My immediate response therefore, was one of nostalgia and comfort. Following the sense of nostalgia was an appreciation for the scale of the work, as well as the shine on the material. The sculpture stands over three meters tall, and is entirely made of coated steel. I immediately made the connection between a delicate, lightweight balloon and this heavyweight, steel structure balloon representation.
- Objective Description
Balloon Swan appears to be a long, tubular, blue balloon folded and creased into the form of a bird, specifically a swan. The base is vaguely repetitive, with the “balloon” appearing to be folded and looped back and forth onto itself to create a basket-like structure. The balloon then extends upward into the neck of the swan, more than doubling the height of the base, and ending in the beak, which appears to be the nub end of the balloon with no air in it. The entire “balloon” is steel, polished with a chrome blue coating, giving the sculpture a mirror-like finish and straying away from the realistic interpretation of a carnival balloon animal.
- Technical Decisions
This work is large scale and made of pure steel, so the element of construction is especially pertinent when analyzing technical decisions. I believe that Koons took on a challenge when making the decision to create a sculpture representing a flexible material, but creating it out of one of the most inflexible materials possible. The sculpture appears to be folded and twisted easily, yet the process of manipulating steel was most likely strenuous. The presentation of the structure additionally contrasts with the chrome coating applied to the exterior. Balloon Swan sits on a plain white base, accessible for viewing on all sides. The chrome of the swan pops out against the white base, and the all-accessible sides allow the view to take in the full dimensionality of the work.
- The Work in the World
Koon’s Balloon Swan draws connection to two seemingly mundane objects or animals: balloons and swans. The connotation these chosen things hold contribute to the implied meaning of the work. Swans are considered to be graceful, much like the grace in which a balloon is carefully twisted into something it’s not. But while swans are beautiful, they can also be stubborn and feisty, which alludes to the choice of material as steel, which is harsh and unforgiving. Balloons are delicate and playful. The element of delicacy is juxtaposed with the metallic material, as well as the metallic chrome effect. The playfulness is apparent in the association with balloons, and the connection they have to celebrations, carnivals, or parties. Koons makes numerous works of art surrounding the idea of balloon animals, each animal representing something different, such as his balloon rabbits which make statements about Playboy magazine and sexualizations within art.
- The Story it Tells
Although appearing to be simply a representation of a common object, the messaging behind the work is clear. Koons focuses on juxtaposition of the everyday and the monumental. By taking well known, pop culture, everyday objects and placing them in a gallery or museum space, he is elevating the object to a new level of importance, similarly to the Readymades of Duchamp. The imagery of a balloon itself ties into notions of fragility, commenting on how delicate objects can be impermanent. He reassures us to not feel overwhelmed by this by implementing steel as his main media: structure in an otherwise flimsy object. The final note Koons hints at is our personal human condition. To blow up a balloon, it requires air. Like humans, these balloons need air to exist, and Koons draws this connection quite literally with his choice of subject matter. Overall, Koons portrays the idea that, although nothing will last forever, we need to keep breathing and keep going, trusting that as fragile as things may seem, they are always stronger than they appear.