Whoops!

I didn't realize our class was doing a collaborative blog, so I'm going to retire this one. Please view our Visual Aesthetics blog by visiting:


http://visualaesthetics.blogspot.com


And while we're at it, here's my blog for Halavais' class:


http://mla251.qublogs.com


Thanks and happy trails!

Good Typographers Make The "Type Taste Good"

Below is a short YouTube film about typography provided by a student at the Vancouver Film School. VFS students have a special place in my heart after viewing another student-produced clip last year, (and if you need a good laugh, this clip is highly recommended). While the typography film is more instructional than humorous, it is a good recap of what we learned in class today, and also a bit inspiring towards the end. The visuals are great throughout the clip and will get your mind into the upcoming week's homework assignment. Enjoy!

Louise Bourgeois

Louise Bourgeois at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
New York, NY 2008

Last month, I went to the Guggenheim Museum in NYC to see the exhibit of French artist and sculptor, Louise Bourgeois. I became interested in her work when a director at my job, Juan Delcan, created a piece inspired by and dedicated to the artist -- aptly titled "The Spider".

In the lobby stood a sculpture of two spiders about 25-feet tall (above). Bourgeois chose to create spiders because they are representative to her mother, who Bourgeois remembers fondly. Also in the lobby hung two silver, cocoon-like shapes (below). If memory serves me correctly, she was fond of this shape because one can start inside and spiral-out or start on the outside and spiral-in.


Louise Bourgeois at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
New York, NY 2008

These were the only two installations where photographs were permitted, but the rest of the exhibit showed her views on family life, sexuality, and why certain shapes were important. For example, she sculpted pieces with a racks parallel lines given the beauty that they will never touch. Some had a horizontal piece across the top, perhaps to demonstrate this concept. However, I (sadly) lack the artful eye to look at pieces with such profundity, and the audio tour was extremely helpful in brining these elements to my attention.

The Louise Bourgeois exhibit is at the Guggenheim through September. While it took me about 2 hours to see everything I wanted, you can add or subtract time according to your needs. I recommend visiting the exhibit to have a look through the walk of life of this artist. Bourgeois is about 97-years-old now, has created work up until 2004, and has a wealth of stories to offer.

The Little Girl in the Norman Rockwell Painting?

Our study of Norman Rockwell's art as an in-class project was my first glimpse at his work, and I was intrigued by it. While I was intrigued by the selections, the girl looking in the mirror was my favorite because I think most of the female population can relate to doing that at some point in her life. This is my second night of attempting to find out who the girl is in the piece, and to my dismay, I have not found an answer. Maybe she is just a girl who posed for the painting and captured the moment just so.

I did find an interesting blog that posted three great Rockwell pieces, including the girl in the mirror. In the "comments" section, someone commented because his/her friend was friends with Norman Rockwell. This person shared an anecdote:

"[O]ne day Norman painted the number '100%' in bright gold at the top of his easel. When asked why he did that, he replied 'That's what Norman expects of Norman.' Good philosophy to live by."

I agree!

1st Post

This is a test post. Hope this works!