Art Gallery Visit #2

 BURCHFIELD PENNEY ART CENTER

Questions about the exhibit:
1. What is the title of the exhibit? 3-D WIT
2. What is the theme of the exhibition? emotion through with and satire


Questions about the physical space:
1. What type of lighting is used? natural lighting
2. What colors are used on the walls? white walls
3. What materials are used in the interior architecture of the space? mainly drywall, some exposed brick. The floors were a light wood and the ceilings throughout the building were very high
4. How is the movement of the viewer through the gallery space?The movement was quite windy. I ended up at a couple dead ends. Also, it involved a lot of movement between floors. 

 Questions about the artwork:
1. How are the artworks organized? The artwork was all in one square room. It didn't seem to have any sense of particular guidance other then that it was lumped together.

2. How are the artworks similar? The artwork of 3-D wit was all quite modern, and all statues.
3. How are the artworks different? The artwork varied depending on the artist. Some art was more "cartoony"such as Christy Rupp's Runaway Factories become a Bobsled-Rust Belt . Where others are more literal like John McQueen's Four Food Groups. Yet, because the theme was very centered- the art all followed a common theme even though it was done by different artists.
4. How are the artworks framed? Most of the artwork in this exhibit was statues so they were either free standing or in glass boxes
5. How are the artworks identified and labeled? Each artwork had a small description next to hit printed on a white piece of sturdy cardboard. The description listed the artist, work, media, and a little about the piece.
6. What is the proximity of the artwork to each other? The artwork was very close together since the room was only about 8x11. 

Artist:  John McQueen

Title of work:  Four Food Groups

Media: sticks, string, bundle ties, hot glue

Date:2006

Size: not listed, about 4 feet high

1.   Be receptive - I was immediately attracted to this sculpture. I think it was the crows that stood out.I also was attracted to the use of sticks and hot glue to form a really modern sculpture 

2. Description- I see three crows eating and guarding the words cake, bacon, beer, and coffee. They words seemed to be piled on some sort of table made of sticks that are sticking out in various directions.

3.   Formal analysis – McQueen uses the principle of movement by having words intertwined in the art that the viewer must read in order to grasp the concept. The artwork also has harmony because very few medias were use to create the statue, giving it an uncomplicated and streamlined look. The artist used the element of form because he created a 3-D piece of work. Also, The statue has texture because it is created out of sticks.

4.  Bracketing - The statue is definitely a symbol because the theme of the exhibit was satire and wit. The crows seem to represent people and the words embody all life choices that may not be the right choices. 

5.  Interpretation - I think McQueen is trying to caution us about the choices we make. His statue features the words bacon, beer, cake, and coffee. The description says that McQueen is trying to cautioning people about the choices they make that will affect their lives and although it seems to be referring to eating habits I think McQueen is talking about life choices in general. 

Artist:  Christy Rupp

Title Of Work:  Runaway Factories Become A Bobsled- Rust Belt

Media: steel, cardboard, wood, and paint

Date: 1986

Size: no size given about 2 feet tall and 2 feet long

1.   Be receptive - I liked the cartoonish elements of this work it gave an upbeat additude to a sad idea, which of course is where the satire lies. 

2.   Description –I see factories disguised as bobsleds on a track that is actually a rusty belt, that comes to an abrupt end with no safe landing. The track begins in Ohio and ends right over Pennsylvania.

3.   Formal analysis - Rupp uses color, form, and space to compose her 3-D statue concerning the downfall of big factories in the rust belt. 

4.  Bracketing - I think the symbolism behind this work is that the factories are on a ride that ended in a big crash. The factories are riding on a very rusty belt. She seems to be very concerned with the factories of the rust belt. 

5.  Interpretation - The artist seems to be sending a message about corporate disregard for the effect on the lives of the people living in these factory towns, such as Buffalo. 

Artist: Allison Wilton

Title of work: Spam

Media: Artists' book, mixed media, hardcover, screw-post bound
Date: 2008

Size:  not listed, size of small book.

 














1.   Be receptive -The colors of the front cover immediately caught my attention, I was very interested to explore the piece 

2.   Description – I saw two books covered with string that made up a picture of a smiling sun and a rainbow. 

3.   Formal analysis – Artist used form, texture, and color to compose these books. 

4.  Bracketing - The smiling sun and the rainbow seems to represent the really interesting ideas that cover-up the actual hoax that spam truly is.

5.  Interpretation - It was difficult to interpret the book because it was in a glass case, but according to the information provided the book describes her house spend on the internet, social networking, and spam mail. The artist finds spam interesting and humorous. She says that the falseness of the smile that the sunshine portrays represents the idealism and false advertising that spam represents.