MOPA Visit

While experiencing Flor Garduno’s exhibition at MOPA, I most connected with Santuario de Las Mariposas (Butterfly Sanctuary). I think that I most connected with this piece because butterflies have always been a representation of my abuelita after her death a few yeas ago and the piece not only displays beautiful butterflies, but it is also titled in Spanish. I saw my abuelita in this work – a piece that was so simple, yet so meaningful. The somberness of the black and white photography brought about a sense of peace in the photo, however seeing all the butterflies together in the air also made it seem a little chaotic. When I first saw the piece, I did not know I was looking at butterflies – it wasn’t until I read the title did I recognize that those dots were, in fact, butterflies. Most of my connection to this piece has to deal with my relationship to my abuelita, and I think that I mostly saw her in this picture because of the type of artist Garduno is. Her Mexican heritage and intricate, yet general, photography style are very similar to the life of my abuelita. Then there is also the fact that I associate butterflies with her, which was obviously relatable in this particular photo. Overall, the image gave off a powerful message to me, and that was that life is short and to enjoy time. Although I feel that Garduno may have intended a different meaning, I think that a big part of art is recognizing that there is always the possibility of multiple interpretations.  This photo was a part of Garduno’s Silent Natures collection, and that makes me wonder if the photo was supposed to represent the butterflies in nature as a species, or of they were to portray something different? Nonetheless, at the end of the day, it is really about the connection to the piece that was formed, and for me, personally, I found myself emotionally connected to the piece; as it reminded me of my abuelita – a simple Mexican woman with the highest of values and heart of gold.

As well as recognizing Garduno’s work, I also saw some of Brett Weston’s photos (in the museum as well as online). One of my favorite works of his is Mendenhall Glacier, which is a landscape photo he took in Alaska. The state of Alaska has always boggled me, as most of its lands seem to be uninhabited, and all of it is always cold and always snowy. I have never found out if either of those preconceived notions of Alaska is true. Nonetheless, Weston’s landscape photo of a piece of Alaska is absolutely breathtaking. Right form the start, I questioned what I was looking at and had to rely on the title of the work to help me figure that out. As well as that, the photo is so dark, a sense of mystery is stirred from it, and I can’t help but think that was entirely intentional – because, as I said before, Alaska is one big mystery to those who don’t live in or near it. When looking at this image, I see a part of the mystery that makes Alaska so gorgeous. Its simplicity and jaw-dropping structures captivate our eyes and have us questioning nature. Are we looing at water or something else created by nature? If it is water that I am seeing, why is it pitch black? What intention was there behind that? Putting all of this together has given me the opportunity to search more into the image and try to grasp an understanding of Alaska, and I am enjoying that journey.

Response To Stephen Shore’s “Letter to Young Artist”

After reading Stephen Shore’s letter to a young artist, something that he said has really stuck with me: “I believe that art is made to explore the world and culture, to explore the chosen medium, to explore one’s self.” Shore makes a great point in which he is explaining that creating art is a journey in itself, because you are not only exploring what you are creating, but you continue to explore all that is around you – and yourself. It seems to me that when creating art, it’s all about self-expression and a journey in which you find a way to portray something in particular. Shore continues to then states that art “…is made in response to personal needs and demands.” Whether it may be your own need or your own demand, YOU create something for YOU. When an artist begins to create a piece of art, why do they? Is it to present a controversy occurring in the community? Is it to represent a familiar cliche? Is it because they want to convey a certain purpose? None of that matters when answering that questions, because really an artists creates a piece of art because they want to, and the only way to find out why, is to ask them. Ultimately, the main point here is that artists create works of art because they feel like it – something in them is calling them to use their talents and create something .

Shore also talks about ambition, and how it is is both a negative and a positive when pursing a career in the arts. He goes on to explain that although ambition is great to further inspire you and push you to get out there in world, it can also bring you down as an artist because of the ongoing competition and lack of respect/appreciation in the art world. Therefore, I think finding the right balance of ambition will allow for young artist is key to their ultimate success in the art world!

Finally, I want to mention that Shore also touches a little bit on the idea that no young artist (aged in their early twenties) knows who they are and can express themselves. He rhetorically asks how can someone express themself if they do not even know who they are? This is a valid, yet confusing, point. Although it is true, in our early twenties we are all still growing and finding ourselves, how can we then express ourselves? Ever? Do we wait until we’re in our late twenties? What if we never find ourselves? I found myself asking all these questions and then I kind of understood what Shore was doing – by further making us ask these questions, we are learning more about ourselves as artists and what we want. Questioning the world and ourselves is essential in becoming a successful artist.

Works Cited:

Amenoff, Gregory, Peter Nesbett, Sarah Andress, and Shelly Bancroft. Letters to a Young Artist. New York: Darte Publ., 2008. Print.

Environmental Portrait: Monte

Monte is still trying to find his calling in life, but as of now, he knows it will have something that involves his passion for art. After looking at his different art pieces and spending sometime with Monte, I realized that no matter what he decides to do, his passion for art and determination for success will get him there!

As well as a love for art, Monte also enjoys playing and watching soccer! His favorite team is the French National Team – and he’s sporting on of the player’s jersey in this portrait.

Getting to know Monte was a great experience, and I am excited to see more of his work as the semester progresses!

Response to “Silver and Light” by Ian Ruther

Ian Ruther is a truly phenomenal artist. Not only because of his talent, but more importantly because of his devotion to his trade. Ruther was not satisfied with the mediums that the art world already had, and so he set out to make his own new medium – and he did so in an extraordinary manner. Ruther, essentially, created a new form of camera and a new method of developing those photographs. He calls himself an Alchemist which “comes from [the word] alchemy…meaning ‘art of transmuting metals.” Instead of developing his photos on traditional film or photo paper, Ruther is finalizing his images onto sheets of metal. With the use of various types of chemicals, and numerous trials and errors, Ruther was able to create a solution that worked for what he wanted. He has put his lifetime savings into making these pieces come alive, and in the video, we saw the mental toll that this whole process has had on him. At many points, he found himself questioning his work, his methods, himself as an artist, and whether or not he was doing the right thing. The video made me, as a viewer, feel as if I was taking the journey right along side Ruther and his team, as they travel across America finding people and places to take pictures of. Through the lens of a self-made camera, they are on an adventure to capture the beauty and richness that is our world.

I loved the video and how it captured Ruther’s talent and passion. To see an artist, like Ruther, experience this incredibly journey is inspiring, to say the least. He lets his passion drive him to be better and to produce only the most worthy of photographs. Ruther is a true artist and seeing him has made me to want to continue to find m passion and to take the risk of pursing it because of the fact that I love it and want it more than anything else.

Works Cited:

“Alchemist – Dictionary Definition.” Vocabulary.com. Web. 03 Mar. 2016. https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/alchemist

 

Walnut Grove Park Shoot

I would consider this my fist nature shoot, because I wasn’t taking pictures with anything particular in mind, rather I was capturing the beauty (or trying to) as I saw it plainly because it was beautiful.

Following the Growth

Old Barn Ruins

Never Alone, Always with Nature

An Even Divide

Bare

Peaceful Serenity

Diptych & Triptych

Inspired by nature, I came across the sun and a flower as my diptych and my triptych. As the earth rotates each day, it appears as if the sun moves, therefore I took a picture of the sun in two different locations. As well as that, I also saw the three stages of a flower present itself to me!

Triptych: The three stages of a flower!

Diptych: The sun in two different places!

Response to Jerry Uselamann and Maggie Taylor

In response to watching Jerry Uelsmann & Maggie Taylor: This is not photography, I have a more profound respect for the type of art that both Jerry Uelsmann and Maggie Taylor create. Their amplitude of patience, as well as profound attention to detail, create some of the most interesting works that I have ever seen. Uelsmann’s works are created through photo editing all done by hand. This method of creation was something that he created himself, which is one of the reasons that makes his artwork so unique. However, as Uelsmann says in the video, “the technique is not the image, the technique supports the image.” By this,Uelsmann is saying that although the manner in which he creates his artwork is very different and diverse, it is not the only thing that make sup the image; rather, the way he creates pieces only further supports what the piece is conveying. Therefore, each of his pieces contain an underlying meaning that is represented through the art itself, not how it was created – although that is somewhat of importance. Furthermore, the video also touches on Taylor’s artwork, which were explicitly comparable to those of Uelsmann immediately. Both artists create works with seemingly dark characteristics and almost uncomfortable qualities to have an end result that leaves viewers with questions. The main difference between the two is that Uelsmann creates this pieces by hand and with a special machine, whereas Taylor’s images are partially computer generated, if not fully.

Overall, both of these artists are very good at what they do, and I can definitely say that their work is interesting. I have never seen photography like that, and was intrigued throughout the video by not only their techniques, but also by the purpose they each found when creating the pieces. I feel that each of these artists understands something about the world in a manner that not many others can easily come to relate to. However, after looking at their photos, one can understand the meaning of their works when thinking about society as a whole community. I am glad to have learned of these two artists and am interested to see some of their most recent work.

Ways of Seeing

Leading Lines

Format Horizonral

Rule of Thirds

Format Vertical

Contrast

Birds Eye View

Balance

Distance to Subject

Worm’s Eye View

Repetition of Form

National Geographic – Proof of Photographers

Listening to the Video:

Only having the video to listen to gave me the opportunity to understand photographers on a deeper level and understand the purpose they serve in society. The following words are only some that allowed me to further appreciate photographers and their works: powerful, inspiring, time-stopping, historical, misunderstood, underestimated, universal language, weapon, engaging, addiction, emotional, nature of humanity, captivating, magnificent, patience, complexity, not one right way of living, find the passion, and connections. The most influential words for me were “universal language.” This phrase opened my mind to further grasp the fact that photography is a language that all human beings know. Any person can look at a photo and connect himself to it in his own way, as well as understand it from his own perspective. Hearing the video allowed me to comprehend the idea of photography from a more appreciative and open mindset.

Watching the Video:

After establishing a further respect and appreciation for photography, I watched the video and understood the emotional aspect of it as well. Seeing the photos next to the photographers and connecting words like “time-topping,” “misunderstood,” and “magnificent” to them, I grasped the concepts the photographers were presenting. I saw what the photographers were saying and actually understood what they meant because I not only heard them, but I listened.

I now have a genuinely deeper understanding and appreciation of not only photography, but also for photographers!

What About Debbie Sanchez?

Hi! I’m Debbie! Well my real name is Deborah but only my parents call me that when they’re lecturing me about spending too much of their and my own money….so you can just call me Debbie! I am currently in my third year here at CSUSM and I am double majoring in Liberal Studies & Arts and Technology. I started with just Liberal Studies because I really want to be an elementary school teacher – I’ve had this same dream since I was in the third grade. I love kids and I cannot wait to be a part of that environment – adults stress me out! I decided to declare my second major after realizing how much I missed making videos and being creative with different art media. My parents think I’m crazy for adding another year of schooling onto my plate, but this just means I don’t have to be a real adult for an extra year! I really have a passion for making videos and making people laugh, so I hope to incorporate that into my career as an educator. I am super excited to learn how to take better photos since I’ve never really done anything with still photography!