Ôåäåðàëüíîå àãåíòñòâî ïî îáðàçîâàíèþ Òóëüñêèé Ãîñóäàðñòâåííûé Óíèâåðñèòåò
Àâòîðû: Âàëèóëèíà Ò.Í. Ãðå÷èõèí È.Å.
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Ôåäåðàëüíîå àãåíòñòâî ïî îáðàçîâàíèþ Òóëüñêèé Ãîñóäàðñòâåííûé Óíèâåðñèòåò
Àâòîðû: Âàëèóëèíà Ò.Í. Ãðå÷èõèí È.Å.
English Reader for Designers Õðåñòîìàòèÿ äëÿ ÷òåíèÿ ïî àíãëèéñêîìó ÿçûêó
ÒóëÃÓ 2005 1
Ñîäåðæàíèå Ïðåäèñëîâèå ............................................................................ 3 Art Styles ................................................................................... 4 Bauhaus ..................................................................................... 6 Art Deco ................................................................................... 1 4 Pop Art ..................................................................................... 2 2 Home furnishings .................................................................... 2 9 Gustav Klimt ............................................................................ 3 0 Art ............................................................................................. 3 2 Haitian Art ................................................................................ 5 2 The Definition of Design ........................................................ 7 4 Typography .............................................................................. 7 8 Career Management for the Independent Graphics Professional .................................................................................... 8 0 Tessellations ........................................................................... 9 5 Ceramic Design Group ......................................................... 103 Journalism ............................................................................. 106 Photography .......................................................................... 108 Home decor ........................................................................... 113 Arriving in Vienna ................................................................. 120 Definitions for the Elements and Principles of Art ........... 128 Cultural Entomology ............................................................. 130
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Ïðåäèñëîâèå Êíèãà äëÿ ÷òåíèÿ íà àíãëèéñêîì ÿçûêå Reader for Designers ïðåäíàçíà÷åíà äëÿ ñòóäåíòîâ, îáó÷àþùèõñÿ ïî ñïåöèàëüíîñòÿì «Äèçàéí», (ïðîìûøëåííûé äèçàéí, ãðàôè÷åñêèé äèçàéí, äèçàéí êîñòþìà, èçîáðàçèòåëüíîå èñêóññòâî, èñêóññòâî èíòåðüåðà) è øèðîêîãî êðóãà ÷èòàòåëåé, çíàþùèõ è èçó÷àþùèõ àíãëèéñêèé ÿçûê. Êíèãà âêëþ÷àåò â ñåáÿ òåêñòû ïî èñòîðèè ñîâðåìåííîãî èñêóññòâà è äèçàéíà, áèîãðàôèè õóäîæíèêîâ è äèçàéíåðîâ, à òàêæå ðåêëàìíûå è ïîçíàâàòåëüíûå ìàòåðèàëû.  íåé òàêæå èìååòñÿ áîëüøîå êîëè÷åñòâî èëëþñòðàöèé. Ñîâðåìåííûé, æèâîé è âûðàçèòåëüíûé ÿçûê òåêñòîâ ïîìîæåò ÷èòàòåëÿì ðàñøèðèòü è îáîãàòèòü çíàíèå àíãëèéñêîãî ÿçûêà. Òåìàòèêà êíèãè ðàñïðåäåëåíà ïî ðàçäåëàì. Ïîìèìî ðàçäåëîâ, ïîñâÿùåííûõ îòäåëüíûì íàïðàâëåíèÿì èçîáðàçèòåëüíîãî èñêóññòâà è èõ íàèáîëåå âûäàþùèìñÿ ïðåäñòàâèòåëÿì, â êíèãå èìåþòñÿ òàêæå ðàçäåëû, ñâÿçàííûå ñ ñèñòåìîé õóäîæåñòâåííîãî îáðàçîâàíèÿ â àíãëî-ãîâîðÿùèõ ñòðàíàõ, èçäàòåëüñêèì äåëîì è ìèðîì ìîäû. Àâòîðû êíèãè íàäåþòñÿ, ÷òî ïðåäñòàâëåííûå ìàòåðèàëû ïîìîãóò ðàñøèðèòü è óãëóáèòü ÿçûêîâîé êðóãîçîð ÷èòàòåëåé.
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Art Styles Pop Art Although thought of as distinctly American, Pop Art actually began in London during the mid-1950s. Nevertheless, the central figures among the Pop artists are all Americans, and the movement reached its zenith in New York during the 1960s. Marcel Duchamp was still active at this time and exerted strong influence on the new gereration. Pop derives much from Dada, born from a similar period of frustration. The term Pop Art was first used by English critic Lawrence Alloway in a 1958 issue of Architectural Digest to describe works celebrating mass production, advertising and consumerism. The leading Pop pioneers include Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg and, of course, Andy Warhol. Warhol (1930-87), perhaps the greatest Pop artist, specialized in the boring and everyday. He burst upon the public consciousness with meticulously painted Campbell’s soup cans and three-dimensional Brillo boxes. His innovations have greatly affected art in the 90s.
Impressionism As a major movement in art history, Impressionism followed the Realist movement and the invention of photography. The movement developed primarily in France during the mid 1860s and throughout the 1870s. Although it lasted only about fifteen years in its purist form, it determined in one way or another nearly every artistic manifestation that has taken place since. Impressionist artists became fascinated with the transformation light brought upon natural objects and surfaces. Color is no longer seen as the property of the object itself but of the moment of perception of light, and thus changes with the time of day and density of the atmosphere. The Impressionists were the first to render the full intensity of natural light and the glow of natural colors. To quote Paul Signac, a painter of the nineteenth century who helped transform the Impressionist style in the 1880s, «the entire surface of the [Impressionist] painting glows with sunlight; the air circulates, light embraces, caresses and irradiates forms - it penetrates everywhere, even into the shadows it illuminates.» The princlple Impressionist painters were Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley and Berthe Morisot. Edgar Degas and Paul Cezanne also painted in an Impressionist style for a time in the early 1870s.
Dada Attacking every cultural standard and every form of artistic activity, the roots of Dada can be traced to the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich in 1916. Dada, a name which was intended as nonsense, soon became international. The movement sought the discovery of authentic reality through the abolition of traditional culture and aesthetic forms. A group was quickly organized in New York by Marcel Duchamp, centering around Gallery 291, which had been founded by photographers Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen. The ferocity of the Dada offensive unleashed a tremendous amount of creative activity. The leading spirit of Dada was Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968). His greatest work, The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even executed between 1915 and 1923, is a nine foot long construction of superimposed plate glass layers. This creation has exercised enormous influence on later art, up to the present time.
Abstract Expressionism Perhaps America’s greatest contribution to the history of modern art is Abstract Expressionism, which dominated the New York scene for a decade and a half subsequent to World War II. Though 4
less cohesive as an art movement, its common thread centered around an opposition to the strict formalism characteristic of much of abstract art at the time. The movement, which owed its existance to a new evaluation of the individual, spread quickly following the defeat of totalitarianism in the Second World War. The founders of Abstract Expressionism include Arshile Gorky, Hans Hofmann, Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, and Mark Rothko.
Futurism Futurism developed in Italy during the first decade of the Twentieth Century. The movement emphasized the energy and speed of the machine and was strongly opposed to existing notions of Italy as vast museum of times past. As early as 1909 Futurists launched a program advocating the destruction of academies and monumental cities as impediments to progress. The rhetoric was intended to inspire public anger and to arose controversy. The members of the Futurist group included Carlo Carrà and Umberto Boccioni. One of the last Futurist artists was Joseph Stella, whose Brooklyn Bridge series pays homage to a structure that had become a symbol of industrial achievement.
Surrealism As the nihilism of Dada gradually lost favor, Surrealism took the next step - that of exploring the workings of the subconscious mind with free association of imagery and juxtaposion of subject matter. The French author Andre Breton published «The Surrealist Manifesto» in 1924. Initially a literary movement, artists were quick to see the possibilities afforded the emphasis on subconscious association. The first Surrealist exhibition took place in 1925 at the Galerie Pierre in Paris. The painters most closely associated with Surrealism were Max Ernst, Joan Miró, Rene Magritte, and Salvator Dali.
Art Deco Art Deco refers generally to the decorative arts of the 1920s and 1930s in Europe and America. The style derived its name from the Paris Exposition des Arts Decoratifs in 1928. With an emphasis centered around individuality and ornate workmanship, the movement rebelled against the contemporary doctrines of the Bauhaus and the prototypes for machine production which were the ideals behind the Deutscher Werkbund. Art Deco, known for its streamlined style, was hailed as the ultimate in modernity during the 1930s. It drew inspiration from eclectic sources including Art Nouveau, Cubism, and fashion design. The style reached its greatest heights (literally) in New York’s Chrysler Building (1928-1930) and in the drawings of Erte, who has since become known as the “father of Art Deco.”
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Bauhaus Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) Born in Moscow in 1866, Kandinsky spent his early childhood in Odessa. His parents played the piano and the zither and Kandinsky himself learned the piano and cello at an early age. The influence of music in his paintings cannot be overstated, down to the names of his paintings «Improvisations», «Impressions», and «Compositions». In 1886, he enrolled at the University of Moscow, chose to study law and economics, and after passing his examinations, lectured at the Moscow Faculty of Law. He enjoyed success not only as a teacher but also wrote extensively on spirituality, a subject that remained of great interest and ultimately exerted substantial influence in his work. In 1895 Kandinsky attended a French Impressionist exhibition where he saw Monet’s «Haystacks at Giverny.» He stated, « ...it was from the catalog I learned this was a haystack. I was upset I had not recognized it. I also thought the painter had no right to paint in such an imprecise fashion. Dimly I was aware too that the object did not appear in the picture...» Soon thereafter, at the age of thirty, Kandinsky left Moscow and went to Munich to study lifedrawing, sketching and anatomy, regarded then as basic for an artistic education. Ironically, Kandinsky’s work moved in a direction that was of much greater abstraction than that which was pioneered by the Impressionists. It was not long before his talent surpassed the constraints of art school and he began exploring his own ideas of painting - « ...I applied streaks and blobs of colors onto the canvas with a palette knife and I made them sing with all the intensity I could... « Now considered to be the founder of abstract art, his work was exhibited throughout Europe from 1903 onwards, and often caused controversy among the public, the art critics, and his contemporaries. An active participant in several of the most influential and controversial art movements of the 20th century, among them the Blue Rider which he founded along with Franz Marc and the Bauhaus which also attracted Klee, Geiniger, and Schonberg, Kandinsky continued to further express and define his form of art, both on canvas and in his theoretical writings. His reputation became firmly established in the United States through numerous exhbitions and his work was introduced to Solomon Guggenheim, who became one of his most enthusiastic supporters. In 1933, Kandinsky left Germany and settled near Paris, in Neuilly. The paintings from these later years were again the subject of controversy. Though out of favor with many of the patriarchs of Paris’s artistic community, younger artists admired Kandinsky. His studio was visited regularly by Miro, Arp, Magnelli and Sophie Tauber. Kandinsky continued painting almost until his death in June, 1944. His unrelenting quest for new forms which carried him to the very extremes of geometric abstraction have provided us with an unparalleled collection of abstract art.
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History The Bauhaus was founded in 1919 by an architect named Walter Gropius. Gropius came from the Werkbund movement which sought to integrate art and economics, and to add an element of engineering to art. The Werkbund movement was unable to achieve this integration, but the founding of the Bauhaus saw the solution that had previously been overlooked. The Bauhaus was founded by the combining of the Weimar Art Academy, and the Weimar Arts and Crafts School. Students at this new school were trained by both an artist and a master craftsman, realizing the desires of Gropius to make "modern artists familiar with science and economics, that began to unite creative imagination with a practical knowledge of craftsmanship, and thus to develop a new sense of functional design," (Bauhaus 1919-1928 p. 13).
Ideologies The school had three aims at its inception that stayed basically the same throughout the life of the Bauhaus even though the direction of the school changed significantly and repeatedly. The first aim of the school was to "rescue all of the arts from the isolation in which each then found itself," (Whitford p.11) to encourage the individual artisans and craftsmen to work cooperatively and combine all of their skills. Secondly, the school set out to elevate the status of crafts, chairs, lamps, teapots, etc., to the same level enjoyed by fine arts, painting, sculpting, etc.. The third aim was to maintain contact with the leaders of industry and craft in an attempt to eventually gain independence from government support by selling designs to industry. With these at its basis the Bauhaus began and influenced our lives immensely in ways that most people probably take for granted.
Innovations and Acheivments Since the school tried to combine art with engineering and craftsmanship, innovation ran rampant through the Bauhaus resulting in a multitude of advances affecting the most basic aspects of life. "Everyone sitting on a chair with a tubular steel frame, using an adjustable reading lamp, or living in a house partly or entirely constructed from prefabricated elements is benefiting from a revolution in design largely brought about by the Bauhaus;"(Whitford p.10) getting up from this chair looking at the lamp on my desk, and the dry wall in front of me, I feel a new respect for the work of the Bauhaus. The practical innovations developed by the Bauhaus have profoundly effected designs favored by industry as shown by the desks and chairs that fill offices, lobbies, and lounges across America, not to mention the portable classrooms that seem to be favored today, delivered on trucks, propped up and bolted together and filled with those ubiquitous tubular steel and plastic chairs. The effects of the Bauhaus stretches beyond our furniture and light fixtures, into the realms of architecture, theater, and typography. where the designs and style of the Bauhaus are still spoken of today.
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The New Man The New Technigue A seat of learning in modern art, industrial art and architecture is restored to life in Dessau, Germany. Staatliches Bauhaus, the institute for experiments and education of German architecture, industrial art and handicraft was founded in Weimar by the architect Walter Gropius in 1919. In the middle of the 1920s Bauhaus moved to Dessau into a radically modern edifice designed by Gropius. The new Bauhaus art institute was inaugurated on 4th December 1926. The building complex was made of steel and glass. It was considered an architectonic wonder. The origins of Bauhaus were far from the earlier methods of education in industrial art, art proper and architecture. Its programme was based on the newest knowledge in pedagogy. The idealistic basis of Bauhaus was a socially orientated programme. An artist must be conscious of his social responsibility to the community. On the other hand the community has to accept the artist and support him. But above all the intention with Bauhaus was to develop creative minds for architecture and industry and thus influence them so that they would be able to produce artistically, technically and practically balanced utensils. The institute included workshops for making models of type houses and all kinds of utensils, and departments of e.g. advertising art, stage planning, photography, and typography. The neoplastic and constructive movements of art did to a great extent steer the form lines of Bauhaus. Teachers were such masters of modern art as Kandinsky and Klee. The Bauhaus idealogy was spread by periodicals and a notable book series called Bauhausbücher.
New Direction Walter Gropius (1883-1969) came from the school of industrial art 'Grossherzoglich-Sachsische Kunstbewerbe' founded by Henry van de Velden in 1906. The influence of artists on the German industrial produce had remained rather modest and the forces had to be united. At the beginning of October 1907 a hundred architects, designers, factory owners, and friends of art met in Munich. They together founded the 'Deutscher Werkbund'. Its aim was to improve the form and quality of utility wares. Werkbund had partly got its influences from the English movement of Arts and Crafts. It was, however, more open to machine production; but at the same time it had almost a missionary character. The openness to the industrialized society still was one of the mainstays of Werkbund's success. Nevertheless, there was no real break-through before World War I. Deutsches Werkbund arranged a large fair in Cologne in 1914. Instead of new ideas there were many variants of old solutions. Gropius saw the situation.
The Influence of the War After World War I industrial art was not any longer an individualistic phenomenon. Goals for the activities were set collectively inside industrial art and at the same time there was an endeavor to give new arguments for the necessity of a change. Naturally, the opposing forces had also been strengthened by the upheavals caused by the first world war. On the other hand quite unpredicted forces were turned free. Thus the twenties were full of contrasts, both fruitful and destructive. The move from abundance to poverty - especially in the subdued Germany struggling with great economical problems - created a new kind of consciousness. To begin with it appeared in the 8
late expressionistic emotional manifestations and before long also in a formal asceticism. Bauhaus was a reaction to these social changes. Social starting points and new esthetic goals were not easy to combine with the new human being. The result was sometimes a puritanism that emphasized squareness. On the other hand smooth, tensely stretched or softly flowing forms could be combined with brilliant, pure colours. After the mid 1920s a certain hygienic freshness also filled the furnished rooms, and all kinds of abundance had to step aside. No wonder, then, that the shining tubular steel was invented as furniture material. The education of art proper and applied arts had to be reformed. You had to have the courage to tackle the problems of technicality and machination. And at the same time, as Henry van de Velde pointed out, 'In his inner the artist is a glowing individualist, a free spontaneous creator'.
Startling Goals On the basis of the experiences gained at the Weimar Bauhaus, Gropius summed up his central starting points in 1925: 'Bauhaus wishes to serve the actual development of housing, from simple utensils to the complete dwelling house. Convinced of the fact that a house and the utensils have to be in a sensible relation to each other, Bauhaus tries to find the form of every object in its natural functions and presuppositions by systematically experimenting in theory and practice - in forms, in the technical and economic spheres... a subject is defined according to its being. In order that it - a dish, a chair, a house - could be designed in such a mode that it will function well, you have to study its nature to begin with... the study of this nature results in ?; when all the modern production means, construction, and material are strictly observed, the result are forms that - differing from the common ones - often feel strange and startling'. To Gropius changing the form of a product also meant a new definition of the requirements presented to the designer: 'Bauhaus wishes to... educate a new type of worker for industry and handicrafts, so far missing, who simultaneously has the command over techniques as well as form... in the future, handicraft will show in a new function unit as a supporter of industrial experimental production. Speculative experimentation in laboratory workshops create models - types - for the production to realize'. By the mid 1920s Gropius had defined more exactly the starting points of modern design and its doctrines. Thus the Bauhaus curriculum combined theoretic education (a primary course and composition theory) and practical training in the educational workshops. As teachers, Bauhaus Masters, Gropius engaged among others Lyonel Feininger, Vassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Johannes Itten, Oscar Schlemmer, and Laszlo Moholy-Nagy.
The Preliminary Course Most Important In the focus of the basic education that everybody had to attend was the Preliminary Course. It was the Swiss painter Johannes Itten that brought the idea and method of a preliminary course to Bauhaus. Hungarian Laszlo Moholy-Nagy and German Josef Albers developed the preliminary course further. Only after having passed the Preliminary Course successfully, a student was accepted to professional studies in the workshops. The basic education was also supported with some obligatory courses in which - for instance the ones held by Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky - the emphasis was merely on pictorial questions. Model drawing was also included in the basic education. The Bauhaus method of preliminary courses was adopted by art and design schools all over the world.
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Johannes Itten had the idea of preliminary courses with him from Vienna. He had developed it in his art school there. He let the students take into their hands wood, bast, glass, wire, plate, and coal - often. The material characteristics of the stuffs were studied together. The materials that were considered suitable for it were formed into plastic figures, often works reminding of Dadaistic art, that was modern at the time. The characteristics of the different materials, their suitability or unsuitability for artistic use were discussed during the practical adaptation. Works by old masters were analyzed. Their structure, composition, colour, and use of light became objects of study. The study of colour yielded particularly essential knowledge. Itten's colour theory was based on physics as well as psychology. It was the colour theory of a sensitive artist. Its most important aspects were the complementary and contrary effects. In these respects Itten has remained exemplary up to present times.
Own Responsibility The Preliminary Course aimed at removing the limitations of professionalism. Having passed the Preliminary Course the students were ready to choose the main lines of their studies. They could choose the workshops they wanted. In this way, the best possible starting point for progress along the student's own capacities was given. At the same time a path was found to their own necessary specialization, development of their own skills, and adaptation of an innovative hold to their work. It was noted that removing the limitations of professionalism was not in conflict with the claims for specialization. The Bauhaus system allowed for a work practice built on varied social, technical, and methodical basic knowledge. Specialization together with solid basic knowledge was not a risk when the students were employed by the production. They were able to follow the changes in technology and society in a flexible manner. Homogeneous professional roles started to dissolve in practice, or at least to change radically. At the same time it seemed necessary for the student to take personal responsible for his studies and the development of professional skill. This new pedagogic approach did, of course, motivated both in vocational subjects and practical workshop work. The Bauhaus workshops were the birthplaces of new industrial designs. First of all an industrialization of the handicrafts was realized. The results also showed in the field of textile art. Thousands of experiments with textiles were performed. Many of them were adopted by the factories for production, and they were also eagerly copied. Likewise photography was taken more seriously into the curriculum at the end of the 1920s. Oskar Schlemmer lead the work of the exhibition department. He trained painters, technicians, actors, dancers, and directors. One of the main goals of Bauhaus was to renew architecture. The leaders of Bauhaus, Walter Gropius, Hannes Meyer, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, were architects. The Bauhaus Master Josef Albers taught in the Preliminary Courses 1923-1933. Before this he had been a pupil of Itten. To begin with he lead the work instruction, the special aim of which was to instruct in the use of tools. From 1928 onwards the responsibility of the complete two-term course was Albers's. Kandinsky's part of the preliminary education was a seminar on analytic drawing and colour. Kandinsky was one of the central personalities of Bauhaus.
Problems Ahead Personal relations in Bauhaus were not as harmonious as they may seem half a century later. Itten left after strong disagreements. Moholy-Nagy quit in 1928, Klee in 1931. Some, for instance Kandinsky and Albers, stayed loyal until the closing of Bauhaus in 1933. It was not easy to get general allowances for the new type of art education. A political pressure was felt from the beginning. In 1925 the Thuringer government withdrew its economic support from the 10
education. Bauhaus found a new location in Dessau. The city gave Gropius building projects: a school, workshop and atelier building (1925-1926) has remained in history by the name 'Bauhaus Dessau'. To the Bauhaus building also belonged dwellings for the Masters. They were planned to be models for a way of living along the style of the new machine era. On the other hand they were built in a very casual manner. These appropriate houses that have received much praise, could be used as models for similar projects only in a limited sense - their cost of building was very high. Oskar Schlemmer wrote petrified to his wife: 'I was frightened when I saw the houses! I imagined how homeless people would stand here some day while the Master Artists were sun-bathing on the roofs of their villas'. In spite of the successes, Gropius left the Bauhaus leadership in 1928. His successor was the Swiss architect Hannes Meyer. He promoted the scientific development of the design training with vigour. However, Meyer failed as leader due to political disagreement inside Bauhaus. He was dismissed in 1930. The German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was invited as director. He was compelled to cut down on the educational programme. Practical work was reduced. Bauhaus approached a type of 'vocational university'. It began to loose the splendid universality that had made it so excellent. Training of vocational subjects started to dominate the initial steps of education. As a matter of fact this tendency became stronger after that Mies van der Rohe had transformed the school into a private institute in Berlin in 1932. The Nazi majority of Dessau suspended the seat of learning. Bauhaus was even as private institution so much hated by the National Socialist government that the police closed it up on 11th April, 1933.
Work Goes On Bauhaus radiated its effects outside Germany already in the 1920s. The significance of Bauhaus was perhaps greatest in the United States. In Finland its direct influence between the wars does not seem to have been very great in the light of present day research. Not until after World War II the Finnish industrial art education has taken more impression of Bauhaus. For the purpose of a critical evaluation of the Bauhaus ideology and its influences, an archive and museum were founded in Darmstadt in 1960. It was moved to the western zone of Berlin in 1971. An initiative was taken in 1986 for creating a new, independent Bauhaus-Dessau. The New Bauhaus has approached art and technology from the ecologic angle. The questions of environment and dwelling and problems connected with them have been taken up for development in cooperation with the inhabitants of Dessau. In the town surrounded by gravely polluted industrial areas the school to begin with is looking for new solutions of the environmental problems and redevelopment of the worn-down dwelling areas. This autumn the theatre is in turn, and next year design. Through the reunion of Germany Bauhaus is again beginning to open up windows towards the rest of Europe and to the New World. ILKKA HUOVIO University of Industrial Arts Helsinki, UIAH
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Josef Albers Josef Albers (1888-1976) Study for Homage to the Square, Early Diary 1954, oil on masonite 15 by 15 in. Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska Art Association Collection - Thomas C. Woods Memorial 1963.N-151
The Artist: Josef Albers (1888-1976) was born in Bottrop, Westphalia, Germany. As a young man, he taught the primary grades in Bottrop; then, following study in Berlin, received certification to teach art. During this time Albers began to think of himself as an artist. In 1920, at age 32, he enrolled at the newly-formed, progressive Bauhaus school in Weimar. (The Bauhaus, a design workshop formed by architect Walter Gropius, was "dedicated to merging the traditionally separate disciplines of the fine and applied arts in an effort to improve the quality of modern life in all its aspects and, ideally, at every social level. At the Bauhaus, the design of a teapot was as important as the architecture of a building, and the craft of furniture making as serious an undertaking as mural painting."1) After finishing his studies there, Albers joined the faculty to teach the preliminary course on material and design. It was during his time with the Bauhaus that Albers came into his own as a creative talent. Eventually becoming Assistant Director and Director of the Furniture Workshop, he retained his position with the Bauhaus until it was forced to close, under Nazi pressure, in 1933. In America, the organizers of Black Mountain College, a utopian experiment in education in the mountains of North Carolina, asked Philip Johnson, then director of the department of architecture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to recommend an art teacher. He suggested Albers, who, though he did not speak a word of English and did not know where North Carolina was, accepted. (Albers's wife, Anni, thought perhaps North Carolina was in the Philippines.) According to Marcia J. Wade, "His [Albers's] influence at Black Mountain was seminal. He emerged there as one of America's most important and original teachers of art--a reputation solidified by the publication decades later of Interactions of Color, the definitive work on color theory."2 Albers remained at Black Mountain until 1950 when he became head of the Department of Design at Yale University School of Art. He remained there until 1958, when he assumed the position of Visiting Professor until 1960. As a teacher, Albers influenced many younger American painters, among them Robert Rauschenberg and Neil Welliver, whose work has been included in past Sheldon Statewide exhibitions. Albers lived a highly disciplined life, always at work. He seldom socialized--much like a cloistered monk; he simply worked. In 1971 he was the first living artist ever to be the subject of a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Albers died in 1976 at the age of 88. Albers's earliest works were figurative drawings and paintings. His style became increasingly abstract at the Bauhaus where he began to explore abstraction and color, his primary lifelong preoccupations. He was fascinated by the ambiguities of visual and spatial perception. This preoccupation is central to his famous Homage to the Square series begun in the 1950s and continuing until his death. In this series, color assumes the main role of producing deceptive and unpredictable effects, causing multiple readings of the same hue depending on what colors surround it. Albers did not mix colors, putting the colors on the painting right out of the tube. He forced his viewers into a 12
changing and dynamic relationship with his work, rather than accepting one visual truth. © Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden
Mies, Politics and the Bauhaus Closure Abstract Berlin police taking Bauhaus students to headquarters, April 11th, 1933. Mies's main task was clear. He had to restore the reputation of the [Bauhaus] school in the eyes of its opponents and that meant, above all, freeing it from the taint of politics. To do this, he was forced to keep the more radical students under control, to introduce a degree of authoritarianism that was quite foreign to the original Bauhaus idea.
Frank Whitford Mies, Politics and the Bauhaus Closure The turmoil of the Bauhaus' final years under Mies van der Rohe's direction and the school's ultimate collapse at the hands of the Nazis are well known. Mies, consummately "a-political" in outward appearance even as he busily curried Nazi favor throughout his final years in Germany, took immediate steps upon assuming control to cleanse the school of political factions, both left and right. After having the school briefly cleared and locked, he called each student into his office individually and threatened expulsion if the rules were not adhered to. A follow-up letter informed each student "to not stay late in the canteen in the evening, to avoid political discussions, and to take care not to make any noise in the town and to go out well dressed." Hannes Meyer, Mies' immediate predecessor, somewhat sadly described these changes thus: ". . . the Bauhaus, under the direction of the architect Mies van der Rohe, is characterized by the return to the school of instruction. The influence of the students over the way life was lived at the Bauhaus was wiped out." Mies' approach seemed to work for a while, until the police trucks appeared on the morning of April 11th, 1933, for loading. What is less well known is the exact nature of the changes in actual pedagogy that Mies made during his time as director. What were the specific steps toward a "school of instruction" in contrast to a school rife with political activism? And what ramifications did these changes have, or not have, for the aesthetics previously taught and practiced at the Bauhaus? As Mies seemed to continue, at least to some degree, the Bauhaus' emphasis on modern spatial principles--even in the face of Hitler's and Rosenberg's obvious preferences for monumental historicism--was he trying to save the aesthetics of Modernism as a style even while jettisoning its political content? And, if so, did this nonetheless leave clear and identifiable traces in the character of the work itself? Was a political hollowness of the work now apparent? This paper is a study of these questions, and their potential relevance for the interjection of, or--as some might have it--the eradication of political content in design education today.
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Art Deco Credits George Gershwin. Rhapsody in Blue: Earl Wild (piano), Pasquale Cardillo (clarinet), and Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra. Copyright, BMG Music, 1987. Ella Fitzgerald. Someone to Watch Over Me (George & Ira Gershwin), with Ellis Larkins (piano), Copyright MCA Records, 1994. Ella Fitzgerald. Star Dust (Mitchell Parish/Hoagy Carmichael), with Ellis Larkins (piano), Copyright MCA Records, 1994. Ella Fitzgerald. Photo, Frank Driggs Collection,as reproduced in "Ella Fitzgerald's 75 Birthday Celebration, Copyright MCA Records and GRP Records, 1994. Billie Holiday. Swing! Brother, Swing! (W. Bishop/L. Raymond/C. Williams), Copyright, Sony Music Entertainment, 1991. Billie Holiday. Pennies From Heaven (A Johnston/J.Burke), Copyright, Sony Music Entertainment, 1991. Billie Holiday. Photo, Copyright, Sony Music Entertainment, 1991.
Fred Astaire."Top Hat, White Tie and Tails" (Irving Berlin), from the 1935 RKO film "Top Hat." Copyright, Turner Entertainment Corporation, 1988). Busby Berkeley. Excerpt from the "Gold Diggers of 1933," Copyright, Time Warner.
The Chrysler Building. Photo, Ronald Grant Archive, as reproduced in Klein, Dan, Art Deco (London: Octopus Books, 1974). The Empire State Building. Photo, Jeff Bleckman, as reproduced in Weber, Eva, Art Deco in America (New York: Exeter Books, 1985). The Collins Park Hotel. Photo, Steven Brooke, as reproduced in Capitman, Barbara Baer, Deco Delights (New York: E.P. Dutton, 1988). Art Deco District of Miami Movie. From the TV series "Great Drives." Copyright, Public Broadcasting Corporation, 1996.
Walter Dorwin Teague. Photo, Balthazar Korab, as reproduced in Art Deco Calendar, 1988 (New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1987). Raymond Loewy. Photo, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, as reproduced in Bayer, Patricia, Art Deco Interiors (London: Thames and Hudson, 1990). Eliel Saarinen. Photo, Balthazar Korab, as reproduced in Art Deco Calendar, 1988 (New 14
York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1987).
Henry Dreyfuss. Photo, as reproduced in Klein, Dan; McClelland, Nancy A.; and Haslam, Malcolm, In the Deco Style (New York: Rizzoli, 1986). Kem Weber. Photo, as reproduced in Art Deco Calendar, 1988 (New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1987). Fada Radio. Photo, as reproduced in Weber, Eva, Art Deco in America (New York: Exeter Books, 1985).
The Nord Express. Photo, as reproduced in Kery, Patricia Frantz, Art Deco Graphics (New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1986). Normandy Poster. Designer: A.M. Cassandre. Copyright, ADAGP, 1985. Normandy Movie. From the film "Floating Palaces." Copyright, A & E Entertainment, 1996. The Flying Scotsman. Photo, as reproduced in Kery, Patricia Frantz, Art Deco Graphics (New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1986). Fiat Automobiles. Photo, Peter Roberts, as reproduced in Sparke, Penny; Hodges, Felicia; Coad, Emma Dent; and Stone, Anne, Design Source Book (London: QED Publishing Ltd., 1986).
Dancing figures. From an enamel cigarette case, c. 1931, as reproduced in Klein, Dan, Art Deco (London: Octopus Books, 1974).
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ARCHITECTURE
From the tiered skyscrapers of New York to the hotels of Miami Beach, the architecture of the period contributed to the language of Art Deco design. Crisp geometric patterns, surface ornaments and exotic materials were present in many of buildings of the era. New York’s Art Deco skyscrapers are more than buildings; they are monuments to the technology and financial power that created them. The buildings of Miami’s Art Deco district, on the other hand, reflect the Hollywood style, with their striking facades and colors. Continue your tour of Art Deco architecture through the images above.
THE CHRYSLER BUILDING The Chrysler Building is considered an archetypal American Art Deco skyscraper. Designed in 1930 by William van Alen, the exterior of the building reflects the Chrysler automobile. The building is faced with Nircosta metal, which resembles platinum, and is decorated with sculptural ornaments similar to hood ornaments. The radiating curves on the building's dome mimic giant sunbeams, a popular Art Deco theme.
THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING The Empire State Building, finished in 1931-32, ended the era of Art Deco skyscrapers. The building's tiered structure, reminiscent of the Egyptian and Aztec pyramids, reflects the popular skyscraper style of the period. The building is topped with a mast for mooring dirigibles, an expression of the machine age and its focus on transportation.
THE COLLINS PARK HOTEL The Collins Park Hotel is one of the many fine buildings in the Art Deco District of Miami Beach. Designed by Henry Hohauser in 1939, the building's circular entry is dramatized by the vertical columns, chevron designs and vivid colors characteristic of many buildings in the district. Visit the Art Deco District of Miami Beach in this QuickTime movie. 16
ART DECO During the period between the two World Wars, an eclectic design style developed that later became known as Art Deco. The name was derived from the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs Industriels et Modernes, held in Paris, which celebrated living in the modern world. Today, "Art Deco" is used to refer to a mix of styles from the 1920s and 1930s. The Art Deco era was one of contradictions. Through the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Art Deco style infused the everyday world with an elegant style of cool sophistication. Singers and songwriters entertained audiences through the new medium of radio, and Hollywood musicals offered the hope of better times and a temporary escape from daily troubles. Travel was in the news with ocean liners racing the Atlantic and trains crossing continents, as speed became a metaphor for modern times. What characterizes Art Deco design? The architecture and applied arts of the period reveal a varied mix. However, most share the hallmarks of geometry and simplicity, often combined with vibrant colors and simple shapes that celebrate the rise of commerce and technology. From luxurious objects made from exotic materials to mass produced, streamlined items available to a growing middle class, the world of Art Deco represents a "graciousness of form" from a simpler time. Explore the world of Art Deco by starting your guided tour below.
FILM Dancing was a mainstay of Hollywood musicals during the 1930s. The syncopated rhythms of tap dancing, popularized by Fred Astaire and others, mimicked the asymmetric geometry of many Art Deco designs. Busby Berkeley's geometric patterns created by large ensembles of dancers were popular with audiences and are clearly related to the formalism of Art Deco design. Sample two of the Hollywood musicals of the 1930s in these QuickTime movies. Fred Astaire performing "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails" from the 1935 RKO film "Top Hat." Busby Berkeley's "Gold Diggers of 1933"
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GRAPHICS
Art Deco graphics are a product of their age, and reflect a spirit of modernity and industrial ingenuity. The graphic style of the period often used geometric formality and simplicity to transform or distort reality, reinterpreting the world in the Deco style. Elements of Cubism and Futurism are apparent in many works, and travel and transportation are popular themes. The posters above will lead you to more information.
FIAT AUTOMOBILES This Fiat Automobile poster was designed by Riccobaldi in 1928. Hard edges, slabs of color and undulating curves emphasize the car's maneuverability while echoing the Art Deco theme of speed and transportation.
THE FLYING SCOTSMAN Leo Marfurt's poster for the Flying Scotsman was designed in 1928 to advertise a train in the London Transport system. Marfurt helped revive Belgian poster art through the work of his graphic design studio. The influence of Cubism is clear in this poster, whose fragmented figures evoke the hustle and bustle of one of London's busiest train stations.
THE NORD EXPRESS This Nord Express poster was designed by A.M. Cassandre in 1927. One of the great poster artists of the period, Cassandre won several awards for his posters and later designed magazine covers for Harper's Bazaar. This poster reflects Cassandre's mastery of type and perspective. Focusing on the train's wheels and rendering them in a fragmented style, Cassandre reflects the train's power and speed. A. M. Cassandre also designed this famous poster for the Normandy, a transatlantic ocean liner. Learn more about the ship in this QuickTime movie. 18
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Industrial Design made a name for itself during the Art Deco era. During the 1930s, industrial design consultants were commissioned by manufacturing companies to produce variety of goods. Influenced by efforts to develop a more aerodynamic automobile, industrial designers adopted streamlining for a number of objects. Made from the latest materials, such as plastics, chrome and aluminum, domestic goods had a modern, high-speed look and were available to everyone due to mass production. Learn more about Art Deco industrial design by continuing your tour through the images above.
KEM WEBER Kem Weber, a native of Berlin, visited America in 1914 and settled in California after the outbreak of World War I prevented him from returning to Germany. He established his studio in Los Angeles in 1927, where his approach to design was "to make the practical more beautiful and the beautiful more practical." This clock designed for Lawson Time, Inc. in 1933 was one of Weber's many distinctive designs epitomizing his approach, resulting in a streamlined object that is both elegant and utilitarian.
HENRY DREYFUSS Henry Dreyfuss was one of the pioneer American industrial design consultants. Engaged by a number of companies to design everything from telephones to locomotives, Dreyfuss was inspired by the machine aesthetic. This water cooler and tray designed in 1936 combines streamlining and the use of metallic finishes, popular touches on mass-produced products in the 1930s.
FADA RADIO The Art Deco era was an age of mass production, with a number of new consumer items, such as radios, being produced in large quanities. During the 1930s, radio manufacturers took advantage of several new synthetic materials, including plastics, which were cheap to use, easy to mold into attractive shapes and available in a variety of colors. One such material, bakelite, found wide application in a number of objects, including this popular radio by Fada. 19
INTERIOR DESIGN Interior Design during the Art Deco era reflected a unified approach. Indeed, the line between Art Deco interior design and industrial design is often difficult to distinguish, with many of the era's top industrial designers and architects often designing interiors as well. Many of the furnishings incorporate industrial materials such as glass and metal and were designed to create a cohesive environment reminiscent of a fine-tuned machine.
The images above will guide you through several Art Deco interiors.
WALTER DORWIN TEAGUE Walter Dorwin Teague (1883-1960) was one of several versatile industrial design consultants in the United States. Teague designed cameras for Eastman Kodak, glassware for Steuben and Texaco gas stations, among other things. In addition, he was known for his interior designs. Designed in 1938 for the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, the Modern Room is an excellent example of Teague's combined use of metal, wood and leather and a good example of the period's unified approach to interior design.
RAYMOND LOEWY Raymond Loewy was an industrial designer well-known for designing the Coca Cola bottle and several advertising icons. His work in interior design also earned him a reputation for dramatic but practical interiors. This mock-up of an industrial designer's office was put together for the Contemporary American Industrial Art show of 1934 at New York's Metropolitan Museum. Loewy's use of streamlined chrome furniture and sleek black surfaces gives the office an efficient look.
ELIEL SAARINEN Eliel Saarinen left his native Finland for the United States in 1923, after gaining attention for his work in a design competition sponsored by the Chicago Tribune. A few years later he became the first director of the Cranbrook Academy of Art, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, an influential artistic community and school of design. As chief architect of the school's buildings, Saarinen was aided by his wife, Loja, who designed its carpets and other textiles, and his son, Eero, a furniture designer. This interior from Saarinen House, his residence at Cranbrook, exemplifies his unified approach to design. The room is simple and airy, using clean, straight lines and complementary colors to create a harmonized interior. 20
MUSIC America contributed jazz and swing music to the Art Deco era, and many songwriters and singers became household names as their music became available to millions through the new medium of radio. George Gershwin, who, alone or with his brother, Ira, wrote some of the most memorable music of the era. Singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday not only popularized the works of others but developed their own recognizable styles. Sample some of the music of the Art Deco era below.
George Gershwin’s «Rhapsody in Blue»
Ella Fitzgerald · Someone to Watch Over Me (George & Ira Gershwin) · Star Dust (Mitchell Parish/Hoagy Carmichael)
Billie Holiday · Pennies From Heaven (A. Johnston/J. Burke) · Swing! Brother, Swing! (W. Bishop/L. Raymond/ C. Williams)
Norwest Collects Modernism The Norwest Corporation, one of the nation's largest mortgage companies, has a large collection of 20th Century art and industrial design objects. This site offers information about the company's collection and exhibitions at the corporate headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa.
Russel Wright was one of the premier American industrial designers. Starting his career in the 1930s as a set designer, he quickly moved into designing furniture and other items for the home.
Deco Echoes is a site for collectors of 1930s-1960s style and design. The site offers online shopping for collectibles and information about publications by Deco Echoes. 21
Pop Art The Styles of Pop Art Pop Art reacted to the phenomenon of depersonalization in mass society with styles which were equally impersonal, with pictures which had an equally objectivizing effect. The media had changed the relationship between individual subjectivity and mass consciousness, and Pop Art therefore also wished to redefine the role of individuality in art. Pop Art conceptions of style stem from one of art’s central themes, namely its concern with its own medium: l’art pour l’art, the work of art as an object, the image, the act of painting, the painting itself, painting materials, packaging, art history, parody, abstraction, composition. Pop artists saw their work as anti-art, at least in relation to traditional notions of art. The styles of Pop Art were the product of the artists’ development of technique and choice of subject matter. Their stylistic subjectivity and individuality, however, were neutralized by the anonymity of the environment to which their art responded. Pop Art followed various paths, some of them leading in opposite directions. The following were particularly significant: work whose forms and subject matter referred to the structures and methods of the mass media - by actually using mechanical techniques of reproduction, or industrial methods of manufacture; or paintings in which the reference to the media takes place primarily through an analysis of their content, and the formal reference is simulated by means of various painterly techniques. Both these methods exemplified the intellectual, objectivizing side of Pop Art.
The Signs of the Time The «myths of everyday life» which surface in consumer culture, in the mass media and in the euphoria surrounding technology are ambivalent: they express the general syndrome of decay; a belief in progress, but also a fear of disaster - they stand for both dreams and traumas, luxury and powerty. Civilizaton has come to feel the nightmare of its own destruction. The total availability of consumer goods has turned into the waste-disposal problem of a throw-away society in which the desires and fates of individuals disappear in the mass. The New Wave, the idealism of the Kennedy era, had stood for a belief in the future which now had to be measured against hard facts. Reality had come unexpectedly, and in a form which was not easily digested: the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, the outbreak of the Vietnam War in 1964 and the race riots in the USA revealed the vulnerability of what had purported to be the perfectly calculated affluent future. The star cult of the era was also a sign of its sufferings; made-up faces, adapted to their functions as the icons of the sixties, were a source of compensation for the feelings of frustration and impotence of consumers suffocating in their anonymity. The image projected by these stars, the personal element feigned in their facial expressions, hid their real fragility and vulnerability to the hard realities of everyday life. Liz Taylor’s depressions, Marilyn Monroe’s suicide in 1962 and the loneliness of Elvis Presley are features in the true face of an era permanently running up against the boundaries of its supposed «boundless possibilities».
The Mass Media and the Arts «The medium is the message» - this was Marshall McLuhan’s diagnosis of the psychological and sociological consequences of the mass media. In the sixties his thesis became a slogan. A generation later, McLugan took this analysis a step further. His investigation of the signs of the times describes the birth of a new media landscape. He found that the mass media industries changed 22
the culture, art and behavioral norms of a society by changing the consciousness of the people. Media dependency produces externally controlled human beings who can be shifted around like chessmen on the great chessboard of society. The manner in which art was transformed by the mass media is worth mentioning here. Pop Art influenced advertising, design and bric-a-brac industry and was therefore returned to the everyday world in the form of seedy, secondhand junk produced by a parasitic mass comunication industry. The image of the mass media, of the newspaper, the radio and television, was itself a theme of Pop Art. Pop artists thus developed their own extensive, contemporary iconography. In their paintings and sculptures they show that the media have become an ominous and unavoidable reality which has radically changed our consciousness and our perceptions, our sense of values and our relationship to the world and to ourselves.
Pop Art Design One sign of the times with far-reaching consequences was design: consumer goods design, media design and fashion design. Various branches of business expanded, creating their own «types» in acccordance with the patterns of taste and norms dictated by demand - advertising stereotypes engineered in close cooperation with marketing departments, statistical research and behavioral science. These «types» were then portrayed in relation to certain accessories, to things they (supposedly) loved. They were shown applying make-up or perfume, doing their hair, reading, driving, smoking, eating, drinking and travelling, shown surrounded by the objects of their preference. They were, in fact, shown just as they really were - externally controlled human beings caught up in the image-dependent web of a perfectly functioning, integrated system of brand names. In the course of the sixties - with America well out in the lead - design was professionalized and perfected in such a way that it became no longer necessary to link specific characteristics with a product in an obvious way. Instead, the creative aspirations of designers were applied to forging such links psychologically at a subconscious level - to making inroads into the private sphere of the addressee at a sublimal level. This exploitation of depth psychology - though difficult enough to grasp in any concrete sense - enabled design to out-manoeuvre the consumer’s freedom of choice. The «unlimited freedom» of the consumer society was thus built upon the seducability, lack of independence, lack of freedom and indeed addiction of the consumer. Many artists were stimulated to take on work designing requisites for domestic, enviromental and consumer product promotion; the homogeneity this process encouraged, the loss of everything personal and vital, was felt as a challenge to their whole sense of being and art. For their part, the artists were able to perfect certain aspects of consumer goods design, of layout, and of the adaption of subjects to the photographic process, thus acquiring techniques of communicating the more suggestive and brash elements of trivial behavior. This development in the language of images corresponded to a similar development in vulgar colloquial language, whereby advertising slogans were viewed as a kind of literature and ghostwriters’ and copywriters’ texts assumed the status of art. Similar reactions occured in the cinema, in music and in other art forms.
Pop Art in the Continent In England and America, Pop Art had been articulated with great vitality by a whole generation; fine art, music, literature and popular and mass culture had become intermeshed. Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones, the beatniks and the hippies had started a «cultural revolution». The European mainland stretched out its cultural antennae as far as possible to pick up these new signals. European Pop Art tended to be a heterogenous and intractable affair. Its iconographical aspects, its formal techniques and, more especially, the quality of the latter, varied quite considerably. As a result, the struggle of the artists to impose their own originality upon the (art-)historical traditions 23
within which they were working also varied in intensity. By the end of the sixties, pluralism in Europe had led to a fashionable Pop internationalism whose reflections of commonplace subject matter and styles had degenerated into formalistic attitudinizing. Nouveau Realisme brought together artists of quite different backgrounds and direction. The theoretical foundations of this movement were formulated by the Frenchman Pierre Restany. During the New Realists exhibition in New York in 1962 Restany grouped European and American artists along with the Italians Enrico Baj and Gianfranco Baruchelo, the Swede Oyvind Fahlstrom and the English Peter Blake and Peter Phillips under the term «popartistes». Nouveau Realisme can therefore be seen as a parallel development of Pop Art in Europe in as far as it also included popular culture, junk, technology, the world of advertising and consumer goods and the notion of the object in its general concept of art. In the Continent, Pop Art may be understood as a synonym for certain phenomena of the sixties, but not as a period style. Continental Pop Artists: Arman, Christo, Raymond Hains, Richard Lindner, Gerhard Richter, Wolf Vostell.
Pop Art in Britain British Pop Art arose of a new understanding of contemporary life. It was intellectual, interdisciplinary and programatic in character. In the early fifties artists and intellectuals began to realize that their culture was increasingly determined by the mass media, by new technology and by social change, and that this process was also leading to the increased Americanization of Europe. This cultural transformation was not reflected in the introverted, expressive, abstract-figurative art of the older generation of British artists, such as Henry Moore or Graham Sutherland. It was, however, with these new conditions in mind that the Independent Group was convened in 1952 to hold informal discussions and cultural events at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. The topics discussed at their meetings can be listed as follows: the expansion of artistic techniques beyond traditional forms of representation, action painting, helicopter design, car-body design, nuclear biology, cybernetics (a new science at the time), folk culture, the mass media and municipal culture, machine aesthetics, advertising, the cinema, comics, science-fiction, pop music, fashion and the theories of Marshall McLuhan. These themes were indeed remote from the preoccupations of the cultural establishment of the time! The influence of Pop Art spread quickly, both in geographical terms (Cambridge University) and among the younger generation. It was due to young painters’ influence that British Pop Art responded with such intensity to American imagery and the early phase of American Pop Art. This phase of British Pop Art developed and made its presence publicly felt for the first time at the exhibition Young Contemporaries in 1960 - the first exhibition to provide a general survey of the new art movement. British Pop Art stepped outside the traditional boundaries of artistic development to tread the path of self-analysis within a consciously perceived and reflected present-day existence. British Pop Artists: Clive Barker, Peter Blake, Derek Boshier, Patrick Caulfield, Richard Hamilton, David Hockney, Allen Jones, R. B. Kitaj, Eduardo Paolozzi, Peter Phillips, Richard Smith, Joe Tilson. American Pop Art was a child of the newly found self-confidence with which American art had asserted itself in the fifties against European influence. The subject matter which provided the initial impulse was Americanism itself. The idea of progress, the media industry and the star-cult were experiencing a boom in Hollywood and, more especially, in New York, the cultural center of the USA. During the upheavals of the forties and fifties, the generation which preceded Pop Art brought forth 24
a new tendency in realism using contemporary subject matter, which paved the way for the American art of the sixties. The development of American Pop Art occured in several phases, marking different responses by artists to the challenge of their times. The first was the pre-Pop phase, in which the painters took their leave of Abstract Expressionism. Then came the heyday of Pop Art: this phase saw the emergence of a numer of important artists whose work was rooted in the fifties and partly founded on experience acquired in commercial art, design and poster-painting. With the sponsorship of certain committed and experimental New York galleries, this phase of Pop Art quickly - despite clearly voiced protest - achieved success and recognition as a new art movement. The exhibitions were accompanied by Happenings, theater performances, counter-demonstrations and street actions. By the middle of the sixties Pop Art was widely known. During this phase, American Pop Art spread from New York to the West Coast and Canada, and later to Europe and Britain, which had already had its own Pop Art for some time. The last of the phases was characterized by an acerbic, radical realism, largely of American origin, whose subject was urban social relations. Outside New York, the earliest exponents of American Pop Art were from California. The center of West Coast Pop was Los Angeles, a city whose sub-culture not only had an enduring influence on this variant of Pop Art, but which was later to conquer the world in the form of the hippie culture and lifestyle. American Pop Artists: Richard Artschwager, Billy Al Bengston, Allan D’Arcangelo, Jim Dine, Joe Goode, Red Grooms, Robert Indiana, Jasper Johns, Ray Johnson, Howard Kanovitz, Edward Kienholz, Roy Lichtenstein, Marisol, Claes Oldenburg, Mel Ramos, Robert Rauschenberg, Larry Rivers, James Rosenquist, Edward Ruscha, George Segal, Wayne Thiebaud, Andy Warhol, Tom Wesselmann, H. C. Westermann.
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Popart Erte ABOUT THE ARTIST Throughout a long and distinguished career, Erte had a major influence on the style and design of the 20th Century. While designing at Harper’s Bazaar, the artist created sets of costumes for extravagant silent films including Ben Hur and went on to create sets and costumes for theater and opera. These achievements earned him the title «Father of Art Deco.» In 1967 the Mertopolitan Museum of Art purchased and exhibited some 200 Erte gouaches. Shows in London followed, bringing more recognition. His success was summarized by the noted art critic John Russell who wrote, «If Michelangelo were to come back from the dead he could hardly have greater or more eulogious publicity than has been afforded to Erte.»
Bacchante Bronze sculpture wIth polished embellishments 21 x 6 x 6 inches © Chalk & Vermilion and Sevenarts Ltd.
No. 1 Bronze sculpture with white gold and polished embellishments 20 x 8 x 6 inches © Chalk & Vermilion and Sevenarts Ltd.
Mermaid Bronze sculpture with gold and yellow gold leaf 20 x 9 x 8 inches © Chalk & Vermilion and Sevenarts Ltd.
Andy Warhol ABOUT THE ARTIST Clearly the most important and influential artist of the past quarter century, Andy Warhol, the master of Pop Art, maintained a level of creativity which is already legendary. In the early 1960s Warhol adapted the commercial process of silkscreening to the world of fine art, creating masterpieces such as 210 Coca-Cola Bottles. It was also at this time that Warhol first painted the Campbell’s Tomato Soup Can, which was to become his most famous image. Warhol matured into Modern Master status with major works of art such as Myths, Cowboys and Indians, and the Campbell’s Soup Box paintings. Throughout his life, Andy Warhol was truly the artworld’s greatest celebrity.
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Mickey Mouse Screenprint on Museum Board 38 x 38 inches © 1981 Andy Warhol
Ingrid Bergman Screenprint on Museum Board 38 x 38 inches © 1983 Andy Warhol
Marilyn Monroe #28 Screenprint on Museum Board 36 x 36 inches © 1967 Andy Warhol
Mark King ABOUT THE ARTIST Mark King, a champion of Impressionism and the Ecole de Paris, was born in Bombay of British parents. He is the product of an exotic upbringing in India, where he lived until the age of sixteen during the last days of the British Raj. After spending seven years as scenic designer at the Oxford Playhouse Theatre, King decided to concentrate on painting and moved to Paris to study at the Ecole des Beauxs-Arts and the Louvre. King meticulously layers colors, as substrata for the small percent of the acrylic paint that floats on top and forms the finished composition. The underpainting filters through to the surface creating depth and texture. King is the rare artist who is able to meld the traditions of Impressionism with a myriad of subjects, isolating the elements of a scene with dramatic waves of color on canvas.
The Old Mill Garden Serigraph, 34 x 42 inches © 1996 MLLE, Inc.
Augusta #12 in Fall Serigraph, 20 x 24 inches © 1991 MLLE, Inc.
Waterlilies Serigraph, 37 x 30 inches © 1997 MLLE, Inc.
Mark Kostabi ABOUT THE ARTIST Mark Kostabi is one of the world’s most controversial artists, making no secret of the fact that he neither paints most of the works that bear his name nor conceives all of them. Generally, they are designed by Kostabi or one of his idea people, executed by painting assistants, titled by poets, approved by committees and then signed by Kostabi. His work is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the Brooklyn Museum and the Groninger Museum in Holland. 27
The Mitsukoshi Museum held a 100-painting retrospective of his work in Tokyo. Kostabi has been featured in The New York Times, People, Vogue, Playboy, Forbes, New York magazine, Domus, Artforum, Art in America, ARTnews, Arts, Flash Art, and Tema Celeste.
Cellist Screenprint, 20 x 15 inches © 1998 Mark Kostabi
The Early Nerd Gets the Worm Screenprint, 34 x 34 inches © 1993 Mark Kostabi
Conversation Pieces Screenprint, 20 x 16 inches © 1997 Mark Kostabi
Thomas McKnight ABOUT THE ARTIST Thomas McKnight is one of the most accomplished artists of this century. His instantly recognizable images, phenomenally popular with the public, have placed him in an elite group of contemporary artists. Gene Thornton, noted critic for The New York Times, called McKnight’s stylistic representation «Visions of earthly happiness that are almost celestial.» Over the past twenty years McKnight has exhibited his work in over one hundred and fifty one-man shows throughout the United States, Europe and Japan and has received numerous distinctions including White House commissions.
Ravello Balcony Serigraph, 32 x 35 inches © 1999 Thomas McKnight
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Stockbridge Serigraph, 32 x 35 inches © 1999 Thomas McKnight
Tropical Gazebo Serigraph, 29 x 32 inches © 1999 Thomas McKnight
Home furnishings FROM THE HISTORY OF FURNITURE STYLES by Russell Bienenstock, Editor Copyright 1998 Towse Publishing Company
ART DECO STYLE INFLUENCE ART DECO (1920) French style originating in the 1920’s, the rise of Art Deco marked a departure from the ornate, asymmetrical, curvilinear ornament which characterized the Art Nouveaux style (1900-1910). Art Deco has a neo-classical flavor, using disciplined decoration within the outlines of a piece of furniture. Art Deco draws on Egyptian and Mayan art, Cubism, Fauvism and Expressionism using exotic looking materials, rich woods, novel veneers or inlays, generous stuffing, bright lacquers and colors. Art Deco furniture and architectural designs are made up primarily of geometric patterns. Furniture pieces were generally made to be luxurious. The Art Deco movement developed at the same time that the Bauhaus architects were at their creative peak, and although there are some similarities in form, Art Deco furniture is much more decorative and was created to be made by traditional methods of furniture production. This in contrast to many Bauhaus designs which pioneered the use of technology to make simple, functional yet architecturally appealing furniture.
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Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) «Gustav Klimt first made himself known by the decorations he executed (with his brother and their art school companion F. Matsch), for numerous theatres and above all (on his own this time) for the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where he completed, in a coolly photographic style, the work begun by Makart. At the age of thirty he moved into his own studio and turned to easel painting. At thirty-five he was one of the founders of the Vienna Secession; he withdrew eight years later, dismayed by the increasingly strong trend towards naturalism. «The coruscating sensuality of Klimt’s work might seem in perfect accord with a society which recognized itself in those frivolous apotheoses of happiness and well-being, the operettas of Johann Strauss and Franz Lehar. Nothing could be further from the truth. Far from being acknowledged as the representative artist of his age, Klimt was the target of violent criticism; his work was sometimes displayed behind a screen to avoid corrupting the sensibilities of the young. His work is deceptive. Today we see in it the Byzantine luxuriance of form, the vivid juxtaposition of colors derived from the Austrian rococo - aspects so markedly different from the clinical abruptness of Egon Schiele. But we see it with expectations generated by epochs of which his own age was ignorant. «For the sumptuous surface of Klimt’s work is by no means carefree. Its decorative tracery expresses a constant tension between ecstasy and terror, life and death. Even the portraits, with their timeless aspect, may be perceived as defying fate. Sleep, Hope (a pregnant woman surrounded by baleful faces) and Death are subjects no less characteristic than the Kiss. Yet life’s seductions are still more potent in the vicinity of death, and Klimt’s works, although they do not explicitly speak of impending doom, constitute a sort of testament in which the desires and anxieties of an age, its aspiration to happiness and to eternity, receive definitive expression. For the striking two-dimensionality with which Klimt surrounds his figures evokes the gold ground of Byzantine art, a ground that, in negating space, may be regarded as negating time - and thus creating a figure of eternity. Yet in Klimt’s painting, it is not the austere foursquare figures of Byzantine art that confront us, but ecstatically intertwined bodies whose flesh seems the more real for their iconical setting of gold.» - From «Symbolism», a Taschen art book by Michael Gibson.
Art Nouveau «An international style of decoration and architecture which developed in the 1880s and 1890s. The name derives from the Maison de l’Art Nouveau, an interior design gallery opened in Paris in 1896, but in fact the movement had different names throughout Europe. In Germany it was known as “Jugendstil”, from the magazine Diejugend (Youth) published from 1896; in Italy “Stile Liberty” (after the London store, Liberty Style) or “Floreale”; in Spain “Modernista”, in Austria “Sezessionstil” and, paradoxically, in France the English term “Modern Style” was often used, emphasizing the English origins of the movement. «In design Art Nouveau was characterized by writhing plant forms and an opposition to the historicism which had plagued the 19th century. There was a tension implicit throughout the movement between the decorative and the modern which can be seen in the work of individual designers as well as in the chronology of the whole. Its emphasis on decoration and artistic unity links the movement to contemporary Symbolist ideas in art, as seen in the work of the Vienna Secessionists, but the movement was also associated with Arts and Crafts ideas and, as such, Art Nouveau forms a bridge between Morris and Gropius (recognized by Pevsner in his book, Pioneers of the Modern Movement, 1936).
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«In Britain the style was exemplified by the architecture of Rennie Mackintosh, and the design work of the Macdonald sisters. The lingering impact of Morris in England slowed down the progress of the new style in design although Mackmurdo, Godwin, Townsend and even Voysey were influenced towards Art Nouveau. It was in illustration that the ideas were most keenly felt, through the new periodicals and presses - the Yellow Book, the Studio, the Savoy, the Hobby Horse - and though the work of Beardsley, Ricketts and Selwyn Image. «In France, despite Guimard’s famous glass and iron Metro designs, the movement was best expressed in the applied arts, especially the glassware of Lalique (1860-1945) and Galle (18461904). In Belgium, the style was promoted through the Societe des Vingts (Les Vingt) established in 1884, and including Ensor as well as the more characteristically Art Nouveau architects Horta and Van de Velde in its members. In Spain the style was concentrated in the eccentric hands of Gaudi in Barcelona. In Vienna, architects like Wagner, Hoffmann and Olbrich, and artists such as Klimt gathered to promote the style through the Secessionist magazine Ver Sacrum. In Germany, the movement split between the decorative tendencies of Otto Eckman (1865-1902) and the Pan magazine, and the streamlined design of Behrens. In America architects like Sullivan and Wright were influenced by European ideas but conceived Art Nouveau in different terms, whilst designers like Tiffany enthusiastically embraced the movement. - From «The Bulfinch Guide to Art History»
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Art
ANXIOUS ART COLLECTIVE: «explanation #23» Anxious Art Collective is an ongoing project that seeks to take over and transform a space to create environments of absolute and provocative beauty by installing the works of artists of all mediums working in collaboration to develop existing ideas that reflect the spontaneity of the moment. We are a collective of creative minds based on concepts exploring the limits of expression or chance happening from all ends of the spectrum: creatively, politically, sexually, etc. The end result invariably succeeds in illuminating the collaborative process and the varied and infinite forms this may take. We have found this to be imperative to the future of art and thinking in general. Since AAC’s presentation for the Opening of the NYC International Independent Film and Video Festival will include both installation and performance, we intend to make the two presentations recognizably cohesive in theme and aesthetic. Anxious Art Collective has always tried to make full use of the space involved, and the size of this event can only enhance this motivation. We like to refer to this experience as a «premeditated emergency». We expect that our combined efforts as part of the festival will be remembered...
ANXIOUS ART COLLECTIVE: Justin M. Troust, director/curator Rachel Haluska, associate director Michelle Lemagnen, associate curator Brian PJ Cronin, associate director MAY 3, 1999 - Madison Sq. Garden NY International independent Film & Video Festival Performance: «Bethsheba Explains» written by Justin M. troust
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directed by Brian PJ Cronin Bethsheba - Michelle Lemagnen Violinist - Anne Champion On the main stage, AAC presents an original piece of theatre about a woman in flux. Between the rational and the very distinct possibility that she does not exist at all, Bethsheba finds her situation (in this instance onstage at a large festival opening) to be curious and somewhat confusing, but what else is new? Installation: «explanation #23» Art by: Suzanne Fedor Painting; William Bredbeck Painting; Coleman-Sculpture The History of Surveillance: Parts 1,2,3" video by Steve Bartoo (1990, 25 min.) AAC presents a multi-media installation including three artists working in tandem to create a space of «unbeleagured contenance» with a free-form statement of non-intent. This installation will include oil on canvas, sculpture and video. AAC will create the space, keeping in mind the whole of the exhibit within which this installation stands, and hopes to complement the work beside our own. We hope that our installation will add to the whole, and the random chance events possible at a large exhibit such as this will work to enhance the images and (lack of) concepts presented by the artists. All inquiries to: Anxious Art Collective 700 E. 9th St. storefront #3 «It was a large room full of people - all kinds - and they had all arrived at the same place at more or less the same time. And they were all free. And they were all asking themselves the same question: What is behind that curtain?» - Laurie Anderson
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KARIM BEASLEY I was born in New York City in 1972, shortly after I moved to empsted, Long Island. I have been drawing all my life, her parents made sure she had good art supplies. On her ninth birthday she was given a desk.. In 1978 at age 6, I did a picture of king tut in pastel for school. My art teacher assigned me to the project , convencing my first grade teacher to have me work on it during class time. It was latter exhibited in the ampstead Art Museum. In 1980 I received a trophy from the Uniondale Fire Department for the drewing of a Dalmation on a fire truck, visualizing the flames in his head. In Junior High, I did the artwork for my graduation yearbook.I received runner-up for the Amelia A. Wallace Award in Art Education. From 86-91 I worked for the Kidssday section of Newsday as a staff artist.My last picture was of kids hanging yellow ribbons on lightpoles during the Gulf War crisis. I entered The School of Visual Arts as an illustration major in 1992 and graduated in June 1996 with a bachelor of fine arts.
Wayne Carvajal HOTEL WINDOW Hips rising, we watch, some one fall, hips sinking, and we come.
GOING In the rigor mortis stillness Death’s stiff phallus pisses on his shadow, fool! He’s drunk infuriate, bombed on a bottlefield of self loathing. Memories landscapes burning, putrid smoke curling, the black clouds of nights full of anger of screaming mortars, pounding reason into doubt but he will not surrender, he says he’ll never surrender with death splashing on his heels. This life is war immortal to be a nuclear warhead of a man made to linger a millennium or longer, the sad figure of a man folding hands over face of his mistakes, mistakes everyone laughing as bombs dropping, his body collapsing. (mine exploding) Death’s jaundiced urine running down his back, he turns and laughs, after all, he wears a clown face in camouflage colors, a necklace of labia spaced with penises, another of tongues, a choker of eyes. Displaying these trophies of war with hope, the hope you taste the bitter taste at the back of my throat and say to yourself, I am not alone. 34
Corey Ann Brown
Man Charcoal
Girl Charcoal
CICCI Make-Up Artist Cicci 212. 877. 4599 Cicci was born in Malmo, Sweden on September 10, 1970. When she was fifteen, Cicci became the first make-up intern at MalmoTV, the third largest television station in Sweden. For the next Twelve years, Cicci learned what she calls the «Swedish Esthetic»: high quality products, applied in small amounts and thin layers, to create the desired effect. This technique can be used to achieve either dramatic or subtle results, for various media, and in any lighting. Cicci’s association with many Swedish, Danish, and American Photographers has produced the works seen here. Her apperance in this years Film Festival is dedicated to her mentor, Monika Krumlinde, and her family in Malmo and Stockholm. Cicci is managed by her husband, Mark Sean Panzarino. Bookings for any kind of work can be arranged by calling 212-877-4599.
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Print Camilla Bjorvig-Fraas November 1997 Present Anders Kavin Photography January. November 1997 Richard Warren August 1997 Imaginarium Magazine November 1997
Television «Talk Show - Kista!» April- May 1995 «Larmet Gar» February 1995 Malmo TV September 1986-1992
Theater Ivanov by Chekhov September 1996. Little Shop of Horrors May- June 1995. Arturo Ui by Brecht January-August 1995
Film Innan Dagen January 1996 Rosenkavaljeren May 1995 Tore & Svampen April-May 1995 arr February-March 1995 Book, education, and references are available.
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DAVID A. CLEMEN Artist
PAUL DUPLESSIE
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Paul F Duplessie, Sr. Age: 27 Interests: Drawing- (Fantasy Art, Children's Art, School/Church Logo's); Automotive Work, Handling and owning Reptiles i.e. nile monitors), CB communication- Handle =>GHoST Rider 1428 and the Medieval life Future- Hopes to work in the Art Field, i.e.. Cartooning and freehand drawingPresent- Drawing tattoos for others and personal, freehand drawing and cartooning Past Experience- School art work for shop. Drawing for church of Christ on the cross with his disciples and Mary Magdeline dressed in black. Drawing and Painting for school and cover of graduation pamphlet. Drawing for family and friends, mostly for son i.e.. Noah's ark and race cars Design for local band named "Twist of Fate"
Genna Evanson
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Cherine Ghabour Discipline Cherine Ghabour: Twenty-two year old artist Cherine Ghabour was born in Egypt, and is currently based in Los Angeles. Having studied under strict religious disciplines, the artist was greatly influenced by religion and its control - and by the control we exert over one another as individuals. Most of her art is a satiric depiction of this control as seen in a family setting, and includes elements of the American diseases seen on some talk shows.
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ERICA MOLACEK
Although I have always loved art, I have been drawing seriously since graduating from C.S.U.N. in 1996. My work depicts great detail with ambitious intentions to create new forms and reveal emotional truth. I strive to create an intimate topic on the page with understandable content.
«Innocence» is typical of my work. The object on the page works to entrance the audience through the lack of boundaries in the picture, drawing attention to the middle of the picture: the center plays an important part of all of the work. The images are deceptive in that they try to be ordinary, simple depictions of human form, yet they hope to contain an emotional underpinning and a personality relative to any soul.
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The sincerity of the subject is caught in the grey halftones and the piece’s personalities are demonstrated through the arrangement of the work on the page. The work is often off balance or cut off from one side of the page guiding the audience to look into the piece.
I have shown work at street festivals, community showing, and fairs. It was also honored in a local magazine this past year, «Valley Living».
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«LE FEMME» LAWRENCE PIZZI April 22 “1998 After 6:00 pm Madison Square Garden In conjunction with the New York Independent Film Festival Opening night Self-Stated elegance Timeless and inspiring, Lawrence Pizzi’s Haute Couture Collection for Fall 1998 features the best of the season, tastefully refined by the designer’s hand. Garments cling softly to the female form, creating a shapely cleanness bringing new meaning to sexy-chic. Fun-N-Frivolous is the way to describe the first group of gowns. Each one is completely different in feel and attitude. The one common factor is the fabric, durable denim. From the Disco floor to the Harley, here there is truly a dress for each mood or lifestyle. Smart Suits quietly tasteful, simple lines allow the female figures to speak for themselves. Long, lean looks in fluid silks or in classic wool with finely tailored jackets make a lady feel at home in both New York and Provance. Easy Elegance is second nature to the little black dress. Only now that dress has entered the CybreAge and has mutated into a weapon of destruction (tearing men’s hearts into little pieces). Stretch crepes and failles help out in this field of «Winner taking it all». Grand Gowns can bring around a romantic air once felt by Renaissance lovers. They can be worn with the full circle hoops underneath, or they can become full flowing clouds of fabric. Again, the unexpected will be at hand with fabrics usually associated with Menswear are transformed into fabrics feminine enough to be worn to meet a Queen or King at a ball. True artisan craftsmanship is seen in how the fabric is manipulated to fit each figure. This is tailoring like very few people dare to approach. The designer’s natural instinct for purity of form and dynamic vibrance for life is evident in every line, every stitch, and every fabric choice. Throughout each garment, attention to detail is the key in creating this alluring Collection with a diverse appeal. Elegant, worldly, refined, unpredictable: what else would a woman expect from Lawrence Pizzi’s Haute Couture Collection for Fall 1998.
JASON TIRENDI «I’ve managed to develop a deep (and somewhat disturbing) love for ink on paper. It is the simplest of mediums — yet has the potential for unlimited complexity. I am enamored of ink for this reason. And also, because a good IV of 35 - 40 cc’s of quality India ink really gets the day started right.» Jason is currently employed at ArchStreet Design in Greenwich, CT as their Graphic Designer / Illustrator / Swashbuckler. He prays for a professional life of pure illustration — void of computer manipulation or typography.
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Jennifer L. Newman Jennifer L. Newman: «The images and sensations, the cityscape of my childhood, exist in the deep spaces of my mind. I want to recapture the smells, sounds, color, light, and movement. At the age of seven, I moved away from the grids of the buildings. The loss of the buildings, windows, and noise, determined my visual perspective. How did the concept of a horizon line effect me? I am intrigued by the notion of a «space» or «place» as an extension of one’s «self». My medium is collage and assemblage. I work with painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, found images, found objects. The shapes formed by the grid in my work, frame or hide the figure(s). I do not limit myself to dimensional restrictions. Permitting the grid to exist in both two, and three dimensional space allows me to reflect the images in my mind. The grid (hidden or revealed) is the constant throughout my work. The abstract notion of a grid helps me push and pull my images through space and time. The end product is the unification of the two and three dimensional work.»
Lou Netter My work reflects my intense interest in the bizarre and wonderful. 1 love the absurdity of modern life especially that of modern America, have a degree in illustration from Loughborough College of art and Design in England and have spent some time in London. My interests in the field of illustration are focused oil editorial, reportage and storyboard art. The tradition satire is strongly present in my work and I am looking for publications brave enough to try me.
Nadim Kurani Abu-Tassi is a lamp series handmade from off-the-shelf bits and pieces of plumbing hardware, nuts and bolts, bathtub strainer, conduit entrance cap, 40 watt vanity type bulb, toggle switch...and 15 pounds of concrete. Nadim Kurani is the founder of untoys products; an idea factory responsible for the invention, creation, design development and fabrication of numerous concepts in industrial art, toys, and computer accessories . . . so far. Some of Abu-Tassi’s clients include Warner Brothers Batman & Robin, Summer of 1997; Lava Films, CBS David Copperfield’s 15 Years of Magic; WIRED Magazine May 1997 issue; and many galleries, coffee houses and more. Abu-Tassi retails for $350.00
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NILUFER SEN NECEF I graduated from Marmara University in Istanbul, Turkey in 1996 with a BFA degree. In 1997, I moved to the USA to continue my career. Since then, I have displayed my art work in several galleries in Red Bank, New Jersey, and at this moment I am working on opening my own show in Turkish Consulate in Manhattan, New York. I enjoy working with mixed media and installation, where I can transfer my thoughts and ideas to people. In «Don’t go crazy!» I used mixed media to express my concerns about over fishing. Since I came to the USA I have been taking computer art classes, so that I can use the advantages of technology in my art work. In the mean time, my next project is finding a good graduate program to continue my art education. I can be contacted at;
THE BOID SERIES pastel on paper BOTH "THE KACHALIENS" AND "THE BOIDS" ARE AVAILABLE FOR LICENSING IN ALL MEDIA
THE KACHALIENS by: Meadow "The Kachaliens" are a group of mysterious beings, humorous figurative symbolic representations of ourselves. They were influenced by American Indian Kachinas and Outer Space Aliens hence "Kachaliens". Created originally as pastel and mixed media collages, (1989 to present), each one has its own identity and name. "The Kachaliens" possess ancient wisdom and special powers, they have come back to earth from outer space and other planets to share their knowledge. They deliver short messages and lessons clearly understood by children about how to care for themselves and the environment. "The Kachaliens" are available for licensing in all media, especially animation and children's books.
THE BOIDS by: Meadow "Boids", or bird with a New York accent is the title of a series of surrealistic drawings and paintings with social commentary as the underlying motivation. The larger works reflect the fast and glitzy world of the New York club scene during its heyday, and document the patrons who frequented each particular establishment. Begun in 1981 this continuing body of work depicts "Boids" as people involved in the sophisticated activities of humankind, all with the appropriate attitude. Each single "Boid" or social environment chosen, is established and made recognizable by the heroes, heroines and fashions that highlight each era. The "Boids" offer us the ability to heal ourselves by granting us permission to laugh at our own absurdity. The stories of these characters are perfect for animation and print, especially for teaching valuable lessons in a humorous manner. The "Boids" are available for licensing in all media.
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The Dynamic Designs of Robert F. Kauffmann
ARTISTS IN THE 1990”S
By Gordon Dane Robert F. Kauffhmann's educational background in both Animation Arts and Computer Science have nurtured his unique perspective and manipulation of design. The dynamics which inject his works with visual drama are the contrasts and harmonies of negative versus positive space, detail versus simplicity, and intuition versus calculation. Mr. Kauffmann says his original drawings and prints, "illustrate a visual conundrum and mathematical paradox." Division of Plane with Dragon is an engaging work in which the dragon is divided into multiple sections as is the surface plane on which it rests; the image suggests a split screen with different measures of time. The top portion of the dragon hovers in space above its lower counterpart The red color and undulating rhythm seduces and intrigues the viewer into probing the myriad ambiguities in the design. Mr. Kauffmann has created illustrations for books, including Robert's Rhymes by Robert Morse, and he has been a cartoonist for the Rutgers University newspaper. He has won several awards and his work has been published in The Encyclopedia of Living Artists and American Artists Illustrated.
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BIOGRAPHY Robert F. Kauffmann was born in Willingboro, NJ, and currently resides in Cinnaminson, NJ. Kauffmann received a BA in Computer Science from Rutgers University in 1987. Since 1990, he has been attending Animation Arts in Cherry Hill, NJ, an institute which promotes ongoing studies in traditional cel animation. His first animated film, entitled "Animated Shorts", was completed December, 1995, and won a number of awards and has been screened in various venues nationwide. He currently is working on a new film called “The Masque of Ollock". Mr Kauffmann is also a Software Engineer at CSC and a printmaker whose award-winning work has been shown and published in NYC, and nationwide.
ARTIST'S STATEMENT My present style is a synthesis of my knowledge of applications in art, computer science, and mathematics. Just out of high school, I became interested in M.C. Escher's methods of employing mathematical concepts to create designs. Around the same time, I became aware of fractal geometry, which is a branch of mathematics used to describe objects and processes in nature using forms which are recursive and infinitely complex. I was drawn by the beauty of these mathematical forms to develop techniques which would employ them in making visual compositions. Most works are hand-drawn originals from which are made serigraphs via photo-emulsion technique. They typically portray visual paradox using mathematical structures as expressive tools. My style can best be described as Mathematical Surrealism. High-level designs come about when I devise a way to divide space in a way that generates an image which is a complex mathematical pattern which portrays an everyday object (or not-so-everyday object) which is recognizable to anyone. Once I devise a method and lay down an initial design. The method of adding detail is algorithmic (though done by hand, not computer). Rendering each design by hand typically requires between 2 and 13 months. Virtually all the important works that I have created to date are based on mathematical concepts such as recursion and fractals. These are effects typically generated with the aid of computers, and so my work often has the quality or appearance of computer graphics. Though my work is not created with the aid of computers, it can rightly be stated that it has been influenced by computer imagery. Computer graphics have facilitated the visualization of things which were never seen before computers were invented (much like film). As stated above, a major goal of my work has been the exploration of mathematical forms as expressive tools for visual art. Same of my initial and continuing explorations of-this theme have involved programming and generating some images via computer. When it actually comes to producing finished pieces, however, traditional media (mainly drawings and serigraph prints) have served me better for gaining satisfactory results. This is because, up until now, computers and output devices with sufficient color and resolution have remained Prohibitively expensive.
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Sunnie Lee Abrahamson Print Making, Monotypes and Multi Media Originally from South Korea, Sunnie Lee Abrahamson has studied all forms of art extensively, both in Korea and the United States. As a result, her work reflects her life -- a distinct melding of East and West. She concentrates on monotypes with an emphasis on abstract and impressionistic works. "I especially like this technique because it allows me greater freedom in creativity." Monotypes (one print; singular impressions) are created by directly drawing on a smooth, non-absorbant surface with etching ink, water color, pastel, or other medium. "I use metal plates for these pieces." The image is then transferred to damp print paper by using an etching press. Since most of the image is transferred in the printing process, only one strong impression can be made. Thus monotypes are considered 'one-of-akind original prints. The "Loppestre Series" consists of 15 monotypes. Loppestre is an Old English word for lobster and this abstract series takes the lobster as its central theme. The works were inspired by a trip through the costal regions of Maine. The "Rite Of Passage" series was prepared with the concept of Cultural Bridges as a central theme. The work has a luminous square in the center. This symbolizes both the ancient Korean Confucian ancestoral altar as well as a secret and personal place for self examination. The combination of warm and cool colors represent life's ups and downs. Collages inpart symbolic meanings. Applicable too is the Korean saying, "I have crossed many mountains and rivers."
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A Little About Assemblage "Pop Art began in London in the mid-1950's, but from the very start its imagery was largely based on American mass media. Some artists associated with Pop embraced in their work the entire range of their physical environment... They usually found the flat surface of a canvas too confining; in order to bridge the gap between image and reality, they often introduced three-dimensional objects into their pictures... utilizing every conceivable kind of material. These "environments" or "assemblages" combined the qualities of painting, sculpture, collage and stagecraft.""Pop Art produced not only paintings but constructions and "environments"...being three-dimensional, the latter two can claim to be considered sculpture. Our habit of using "sculpture" in this sense is only a few hundred years old. Antiquity and the Middle Ages had separate terms to denote various kinds of sculpture according to materials and processes. No single one to cover them all. We must put "assemblages" (that is, constructions using mixed mediums) in a class of their own -- probably a useful distinction... Conversely, an object may deserve to be called an assemblage even though composed of essentially homogeneous material.. carefully selected for their shape and color, and composed in such a way that they form a new entity."
Malka S. Benoff Oil
«Safed, Israel View»
«The view from the Phillips»
«Island Retreat»
Malka S. Benoff has an extensive background in art expression. She began exploring a myriad of arts and crafts in Israel and continued in the United States. The mediums she has become proficient in include: Decoupage, needlepoint, knitting, crocheting, latch-hook, fashion design, culinary arts, ceramics, hand built stoneware, and wearable art. Increasingly, oil painting has been her primary focus and concentration. Malka has participated in juried art shows throughout Northern Virginia and has had several solo exhibitions as well. Her paintings hang in numerous private and corporate collections in Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, Florida and Israel. While Malka's earlier paintings tended to be photo-realistic, most recently she has been exploring a looser, more painterly, and impressionistic style of painting. She uses a full palette and works both from direct observation and from photographs. She is fascinated by the interplay and effect that changing lights and shadows have on objects and their hues. Her paintings take the viewer into a frozen moment in time and space and invite him or her to linger, ponder, and perhaps pretend...
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«On the Porch»
«Canal Reflections»
«By the Potomac, W. Va» Oil 35x14 inches
Brie Combs Watercolor, Oil, Colored Pencil
«Believer» Monotype 6.5" x 6.5"
«Sacrifice» Watercolor 22"x15"
I paint what I felt at a given moment. What begins as a purely personal, seemingly uncomplicated statement, often turns out to be not so simple. Often it evokes mixed or paradoxical emotions: loss and joy; fear and hope; faith and doubt. I start with a figurative outline, then flood in saturated color. Between washes, I may add texture by blotting or scraping back, or by applying various 49
acrylic mediums and texture gels. I like to use pumice paste over watercolor, then paint into it. Sometimes I use resist techniques, either at the beginning of a piece or to preserve different layers of color throughout. At times the colors almost contradict the image - I may use painful colors on what would otherwise be a joyous form. My goal is to capture the moment and express what I have to say as clearly as I can. I feel I have succeeded when people tell me they react emotionally to my work.
Kathryn Higgins Watercolor, Oil Kathryn Higgins, a multi-media artist, paints for the sheer joy of creating aesthetically beautiful glimpses of nature and the endless variations of growing things and familiar objects in sunlight and shade. Mrs. Higgins uses oils, acrylics and watercolors but considers the latter the most demanding. The artist has traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Orient. While living in Europe for eight years, she studied privately with French and German teachers and has studied with teachers of the Corcoran and with outstanding local and nationally recognized teachers. Painting has been a lifelong interest of Kathryn Higgins. Her love of the outdoors, as well as the influence of her travels, is reflected in her landscapes, seascapes, and city scenes. Her paintings are exhibited in galleries and in private collections here and abroad.
Penelope Packard Strand Photography Possibilities... Penelope has been recently experimenting with the alternative photoprinting processes. These non-traditional photographic works include three different types of Polaroid images: transfers, emulsion "lifts" and TimeZero prints. They are one-of-a-kind images made from Polaroid photos which have been manipulated before, during and/or after the printing process. Transfers have been printed on art paper or other non-photographic materials before they have had time to transfer onto their original photo-paper.On the right is a photograph entitled "Midnight Chamber" which has been transferred to rag. Emulsion "lifts" are photos which have been soaked in hot water, lifted off their photo-paper base and "printed" onto various surfaces. Penelope shows her lifts on art paper, frosted glass, ce50
ramic tile, cloth, wood and marble. The emulsion lift example on the left is entitled "Underwater Garden". This work is on marble. Time-Zero prints, made on a Polaroid SX-70 camera, have been manipulated by drawing with blunt tools on the acrylic surface of their chemical-containing "envelope", enlarged and further enhanced with color and art work, creating impressionistic/surrealistic effects.The photograph on the right is an example of time-zero printing and is entitled "Gun Point Chapel". Other non-traditional printing techniques used for Penelope's Possibilities images include "sandwiching" and rear-projection/ manipulation. Sandwiching involves printing from double or multiple slides. An double-image sandwiching example to the left is entitled "Spirit of Wild Poppies". Rear-projection/manipulation involves projecting slides through a translucent screen and modifying the image passing it through various materials, such as textured glass and fabrics. The resulting images represent a unique vision of reality. The rear-projection example at right is entitled "Trembling Trillium II".
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Haitian Art The largest collection of Haitian art outside of Haiti.
Experience the Sequin Arts of Haiti!
Alexandre Gregoire
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Adam Leontus
Roi David Annisey Magic, Mystery, Emotion The sound of drums... The voices of spirits...
The suffering of a people... The eyes of a visionary... The passionate heart of an artist...
...all these things are embodied in the intense and distrubingly beautiful work of Roi David Annisey. This young artist, who learned about the mysteries of Voodoo from his aunt, a voodoo "servitor", uses his understanding of the spirit world to create his intricate images. These paintings are far more than representations of voodoo mythology. They become a visual lexicon for the political and personal struggles of the Haitian people. They are also lush, complexly patterned and completely original. It is no wonder that the University of Indianna included his work, along with Haitian Masters Wilson Bigaud and Voltaire Hector, in a special 1995 exhibition. More recently, Annisey was a part of "Island on Fire" exhibition, organized by collector Jonathan Demme.
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Andre Pierre
Schools, Styles And Artists: The Artibonite Valley Saincilus Ismael is considered the father of the Artibonite style of painting. These distinctively colored and detailed images are often painted on a black ground to emphasize their colors. Traditional Artibonite work depicts scenes of country life. However some of Ismael’s students, such as Carlo Jn.Baptiste and Michel-Ange Altidort, have gone on to develop distinctive individual styles. These artists have retained a love of detail and sense of color, while exploring themes of fantasy, politics and human relationships in addition to the traditional subject matter.
Michel Ange-Altidort
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Edmonde Jn.Baptiste
Joseph Francois
Artibonite Artists · Altidort, Michel-Ange
· Myrthil, Benson
· Estigene, Kedson
· Jn.Baptiste, Carlo
· Estime, Alain
· Jn.Baptiste, Edmonde
· Francois, Joseph
· Jn.Baptiste, Michel
· Francois, Serge
· Guy, Joachim
Schools, Styles And Artists: The City of Cap-Haitian Cap-Haitian is a colonial town on the northern coast of Haiti. Artists from this area follow in the footsteps of Haitian master, Philome Obin. The painting style of Cap-Haitian artists is characterized by refined linear elements, meticulous paint handling , and subject matter that encompasses both daily life and the area’s rich history.
Artibonite Artists · Altidort, Michel-Ange
· Myrthil, Benson
· Estigene, Kedson
· Jn.Baptiste, Carlo
· Estime, Alain
· Jn.Baptiste, Edmonde
· Francois, Joseph
· Jn.Baptiste, Michel
· Francois, Serge
· Guy, Joachim
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Schools, Styles And Artists: The City of Cap-Haitian Cap-Haitian is a colonial town on the northern coast of Haiti. Artists from this area follow in the footsteps of Haitian master, Philome Obin. The painting style of Cap-Haitian artists is characterized by refined linear elements, meticulous paint handling , and subject matter that encompasses both daily life and the area’s rich history. St. Louis Blaise
Andre Blaise
Rony Leonidas
S.E.Bottex
Cap-Haitian Artists · Anatole, Charles
· Obin, H.C.
· Blaise, Andre
· Bottex, S.E.
· Blaise, St. Louis
· Leonidas, Rony
· Blaise, Sterwin
· St.Croix, Jn. Claude
· Obin, Michaelle
Celestin Faustin Erzulie’s Own Ezene Domond, Celestin Faustin and Edger Cayo in Jacmel, January 1979 Celestin Faustin was born in 1948 in LaFond, Haiti and even as a child was known as an artist. Apprenticed to Wilmino Domond at age 19, he grew quickly bored of the imposed limitation and began to work independently within a year. He soon became known as one of the most extraordinary Haitian painters. Faustin’s grandmother Celestina, who Faustin was named after, was a wellknown «wise woman» and communicated with the loas. She believed that Erzulie Dantor (goddess of love, beauty and dreams) had claimed her grandson as her own and that was where his exceptional artistic abilities came from. But Erzulie is a harsh mistress. Maya Deren, in The Divine Horseman says that «Erzulie is the loa of impossible perfection which must remain unattainable». And Faustin struggled both with the impossibility of her demands and his own religious ambivalence towards VouDou. His paintings are dreams and self-portraits reflecting this troubled obsession. The conflict resolved itself in 1981, when after returning from a trip to New York he died in his Petion-Ville studio from a heroin overdose. 56
Ezene Domond The Country Life Ezene Dumond studied painting with his Uncle Wilmino Dumond, as well as world famous Voodoo artist Celestine Faustin. He lives and works in the remote rural community of La Fond. His love of nature and the county life is reflected in his work: wonderfully rendered landscapes, markets and animal paintings.
The consistently high standards of this artist are evident not only in his beautifully composed and executed paintings but in his exquisite museum quality screens.
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Dr.Francois L’Amerique Bellante Dr. Francois L’Amerique Bellante is a self-taught artist and a selfappointed doctor of herbal medicine. Bellante loves to paint and says that he wants to show things he has seen so others can understand. These visions are not concerned with the day to day. They explore the world of Voodoo spirits and practitioners and, not incidentally, the human psyche. His work is primitive, raw, wild, and from the gut—a personal private view of the spirit world.
Schools, Styles and Artists: Vou Dou (Spirit) Flags Hand sewn spirit flags are an art form unique to Haiti. These intricately sequined and beaded flags honor the loas or spirits and are used in temples, home altars and in Voodoo ceremonies. Their purpose can be likened to prayer cloths, stained glass windows or medieval icons. At the start of the Voodoo ceremonies, the flags are brought in by «Reine Drapo» (flag queen) who performs a ritual dance that helps to invoke the spirits and to set aside the ceremonial space from the everyday world. The dazzling display of the flags transports worshipers to a mystical plane. For collectors, the aesthetic beauty of the beadwork parallels their spiritual significance, and makes them doubly appealing. (VD-413) Jn. Joseph Jn. Bernard
(VD-496) Constant
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George Paul Hector Artist and Poet George Paul Hector was born Feb. 7th, 1938 in Petite Riviere, Haiti He died in 1993. Hector joined the Centre d’Art in 1952 (teaching) and also studied with L.Poisson. By profession he was a poet, journalist and artist. And throughout his life, was active in forming various artistic and writing groups including; Koumbit studio in 1968, becoming the first general secretary of the National Association of Haitian Artists, founder/editor of Courier des Arts and in 1979 he created the group Third Generation, devoted to arts and crafts, painting and literature. Hector has exhibited internationally, including Senegal, Jamica, Puerto Rico, the U.S. and Dominican Republic.
Levoy Exil One of the best known of the Saint-Soleil artist community , Exil taps the sources of Voodoo and finds his roots in his dreams. He has a complex spiritual life, believes in past lives, and relates more to the Arrowak Indians than his African ancestors. His work is poetic, almost calligraphs of the inarticulatable. He has exhibited all over the world, and collectors prize these highly expressive works.
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Montas Antoine
Michaelle Obin
Petion Savain
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Schools, Styles And Artists: Haitian Realism Realism in Haitian painting is essentially a social realism, focusing on the people and activities of daily life. These artists are less interested in pattern and stylization and more focused on the individual and his or her context. In the paintings of the realists beauty is not found in dreams or fantasies. Instead, it resides in the eloquence of Haitian life observed.
Haitian Realists · F. Clervil · Gerald Decilien · Soliman Delva · Simeon Michel · Josue Saintyl Gerald Decilien
Wilson Bigaud Bigaud joined the Centre d’Art in 1946, and is considered a first generation Haitian master. He was a major contributor to the St. Trinity Cathedral murals with his masterpiece «The Wedding at Cana». His work is included on the Museum of Modern Art collection. Between 1957 and 1961 he suffered a series of nervous breakdowns, and was unable to paint. However, he has recovered and as Haitian art connoisseur Michel Monnin states: «Wilson Bigaud is in the flourish of his second career. Very few artists of any era have approached the ability to render the beat, the humor, the exuberance of everyday life that makes Haiti so unique...it is in this very detail that validates him a prime witness of his epoch.»
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Haitian Art The largest collection of Haitian art outside of Haiti. Varieties of Haitian Art Few countries have as rich a variety of cultural influences as Haiti. Revolutionary slaves took the island from the French in 1803, blending their West African heritage and religious customs with the colonial French culture. The unique artistic enviroment of Haiti arises from the contrasting social elements such as Voodoo, Catholicism, natural beauty and crushing poverty. The range of Haitian Art is wide. These pages present only a few ways to begin to explore this world.
Ferdinand Molin Born in Cuba, May 15th, 1925 Ferdinand is the son of Luseus Lusamart and Melicia Molin. He came to Haiti with his mother in 1938. He lived in Port-au-Prince and went through primary grades at Jean Francois Calvin and secondary at the Lyce Petion. He quit going to school as a junior in high school. At a young age he began his artistic work and painting at Foyer des Arts Plastique with Dieudonne Cedor. He also studied a bit at the Centre de Art. When life became difficult to care properly for his children, he «repented» and became evangelic. Now, at 76, he has four children and is married to Stamene Molin.He studied and obtained a diploma at the Theological Institute of John Calvin of Piety five years ago and currently is the 2nd pastor at the Church of God on Thurman Street.
Gesner Armand Master of Light
Gesner Armand is clearly one of Haiti's finest non-primitive artists. Although difficult to reproduce here, the beautiful luminous light in his paintings echo the brilliant Caribbean colors of Haiti. Armand joined the Art Center at a young age and originally worked in watercolor. His very first show at the Center, after a summer spent studying in Mexico City, was an instantaneous suc62
cess. Continuing his training, he spent 2 years in Paris on a French government scholarship. After Pierre Monosiet death he became the director of the Musee d'Art Haitien, retiring in 1995 to be with his family. He exhibits in Haiti, Mexico, the U.S., Paris, Spain, Jamaica, Martinique, Venezuela, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe and Israel.
Carlo Jn.Jacques
Carlo Jn. Jacques was born May 1st, 1943. Jn.Jacques was attracted to art at an early age; taking correspondence courses from Ecole ABC in Paris, and later studying under Bernard Wah and Dieudonne Cedor. Depression and alcholism entered his life in his late 20's.
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So disturbed by the pain and hardship that surrounded him, Jn.Jacques was consumed with a sorrow that was transferred to all the work he had since created. His paintings, characterized by muted colors, proud postures and strong emotion both expose and condemn social injustice. Depictions of the city’s slum quarters have never been executed quite so gracefully.Carlo Jn. Jacques died in September, 1990.
Jacques Enguerrand Gourgue First Generation Master With the death of Gourgue in 1996, Haiti lost one of its leading modern painters. The son of a French psychiatrist and a Haitian woman, said to be a "mambo" (Voodoo priestess), his creativity surfaced early. He joined the Centre d'Art in 1047 at the age of 17. That year he completed "The Magic Table", now a part of the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection. His visual vocabulary includes the mountains of Haiti, skeletal trees, peasants and their huts and all the accoutrements of voodoo. By juxtaposing familiar objects in surprising ways, he creates a surrealist style that invites the viewer to meet him on the level of the subconscious, giving free reign to emotion and fantasy. Haitian Art Co. is fortunate to own several of this Haitian Masters works.
Dieudonne Cedor Living Haitian Master Cedor was born March 8, 1925 in Anse-aVeau and was educated at the Collere Beaubrun Ardouin. He joined the Art Center in 1947 and the following year served on its administrative committee, both as a teacher and member of the board of directors. In 1950 he was one of the founding members of the Foyer des Arts Plastiques Cedor's work has been extensively exhibited and collected at home and abroad. It was exhibited in Miami in 1969 and from 1971 has been shown in the United States, Venezuela, Colombia and Panama. He executed a mural for the International Airport of Port-au-Prince in 1967 that still greets visitors today. There is a permanent display of his work at the Museum of Haitian Art at St.Pierre's College in Haiti. Cedor is a professor at the Art School of the University of Haiti. Information on him can be found in Selden Rodman's, "Where Art is Joy", "La Peinture Haitienne by Nadal and Bloncourt, and virtually every other book about Haitian Art. Cedor is considered one of the greatest living Haitian artists. 64
Jn.Voltaire Hector: A Visual Diary Jn.Voltaire Hector is a rising star among self-taught Haitian artists. He began painting simple landscapes in 1977, but soon moved on to depicting intimate scenes of Haitian life. Hector is a sensitive and passionate artist. His paintings serve as a sort of visual journal, illustrating his personal life and the life of his community. Whether presenting domestic scenes, Voodoo ceremonies, or political events, his narrative paintings always engage the viewer. Even the world of the spirits feels real and immediate in Hector’s work. The constant thread running through this prolific artist’s works is emotion. Gentle or intense, joyous or painful, the feelings evoked always ring true.
Fritzner Chery Fritzner Chery was born in Petionville in 1947. He is a framer for the Monnin Gallery in Petionville. Chery originally started painting in 1976, and then stopped for some time because he was too busy making frames. He started painting again in 1997. He has no formal training, but working at the Monnin Gallery, enabled him to absorb and appreciate the art surrounding him. His favorite artists include Franz Zephirin, Gourgue and Paul Beauvoir. The raw primitivism of his paintings make him a favorite of the Haitian Art.
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Soliman Delva Emotional Realism Delva began painting at the age of 21, and in the last 8 years he has shown a remarkable progression in both skill and sensitivity. His special brand of social realism has an amazing empathetic quality. In spite of his youth, he understands and portrays a wide range of human experiences, from birth to death. Although he struggles with health problems (he was diagnosed with TB in 1993) Delva remains one of the most dedicated and dynamic artists represented by the gallery. Delva has been training another young artist, Josue Saintyl
Andre Blaise Heart-warming Humor Under the Sea With the help of his famous brother, St. Louis Blaise, Andre Blaise began painting in 1977. His delightful "bourgeois fish" series, begun in 1988, de-picts well dressed fish behaving in a strangely human manner under the sea. Along with his mystical landscapes, these paintings have become highly collectable and Blaise's reputation has grown along with his popularity.
Carlo Jn.Baptiste «Maitre Inconnu» Carlo Jn. Baptiste attended local schools up to the Jr.College level. In 1978, he began an apprenticeship with Saincilus Ismael. Ismael speaks of Carlo as the best of his apprentices, numbering more than one hundred and fifty. Other successful artists and art critics express astonishment at the quality of his work and speak of him as a «maitre inconnu» i.e. an unknown master. Boris Kravitz, our purchasing agent, commented, «Carlo Jn.Baptiste is the most exciting artist I’ve encountered since being in Haiti» (20 years). He has the combined technical skills, discipline, talent and creative forces that make him a remarkable artist with an exceptional potential.
Rameau Cameau Contemporary Haitian Master The highly textured and stylized work of Cameau finds it's source in both his training (with internationally known Calixe Henry) and his individual interpretation of the Haitian experience. From his early work, depicting Voodoo scenes, to his more recent presentations of landscapes and daily life, his painstaking "razor" technique has a look that is both bold and contemporary. Cameau is able to create paintings that inspire interest in both his paint handling and his narrative. 66
Harry Jacques “Arijac” Arijac's portraits are highly romantic and lyrical. His medium is acrylic or encaustic, which is an unusual one for Haitian artists. The pieces offer an almost European sensibility while retaining the vivid color of his Haitian contemporaries. Arijac's paintings are valuable collector's pieces.
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Charles Anatole Born November 4, 1922, died 1979. Charles Anatole was born in the countryside near CapHaitien and lived most of his life on a busy street in that city. He began painting in 1940; four years before DeWitt Peters opened the Centre d'Art and the Haitian art scene exploded. He is one of Haiti's original naive painters contemporary with Hector Hyppolite and Philome Obin. Anatole's work an excellent example the unexpected beauty so often expressed by "self taught" artists. His work is highly collectable.
George Paul Hector Artist and Poet George Paul Hector was born Feb.7th, 1938 in Petite Riviere, Haiti. He died in 1993. Hector joined the Centre d'Art in 1952 (teaching) and also studied with L.Poisson. Professionally he was a poet, a journalist and an artist. Throughout his life, he was active in forming various artistic and writing groups including; Koumbit studio in 1968, becoming the first general secretary of the National Association of Haitian Artists, and he was founder/editor of Courier des Arts. In 1979 he created the group Third Generation, devoted to arts and crafts, painting and literature. Hector has exhibited internationally in many places, including Senegal, Jamica, Puerto Rico, the U.S. and Dominican Republic.
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Georges Auguste
In the rich and intricate patterns of George Auguste's painting, his background as a tapestry maker is evident. Indeed he weaves elements of daily life into paintings that become atmospheric naratives, shown from a "birds eye" view.
Gesner Abelard Gesner Abelard was born in 1922 in Port-au-Prince. He first began his artistic career as a sculptor, studying with Ulberman Charles. In 1946 he joined the Art Center. He is best known for his paintings, which are often characterized by their depiction of unusual birds and trees.
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Jasmin Joseph Born in 1924 in Grande Riviere du Nord, Jasmin Joseph has gone through many phases of development in both his private and artistic lives. He began as a sculptor and has continued as a painter. Born to extremely poor peasants, he did not receive any formal education. In 1948, his talent was recognized and encouraged by Jason Seley, an American sculptor teaching at the Centre d'Art, who had been bringing work for firing to the brick factory in Port-au-Prince in which Jasmin worked. Through his example, the American inspired the young man to create. Today Jasmin is famous for the fine terra-cotta sculptures he did for Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-au-Prince. Great dignity and a lyrical contemplative mood distinguish his stations of the cross as well as his openwork blocks for the choir screen. In 1950, upset by the increasing damage done to his sculptures while in the factory awaiting firing, Jasmin gave up sculpture and began to paint. About the same time, he converted from voodoo to Protestantism. This change was echoed in his work. His first paintings were representations of voodoo scenes; the bulk of his work now concentrates on Christian themes. Jasmin retained his love for the depiction of animals, out of which grew elegant pictures with moral overtones Jasmin's technique has changed from thickly applied oils and heavily textured surfaces to a delicate application of color with a smooth, velvety appearance. Joseph's artistic universe is filled with vegetation, but he is a humorist: these animals are most often satiric representations of well known people.
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Robert St.Brice Born 1893 in Petionville, Haiti.Robert St. Brice apparently came from a background of poverty and had no schooling at all. Accepting all sorts of jobs to survive, he reached the turning point of his life when he took the American artist Alex John into his house as a paying guest. Fascinated by the act of painting, St. Brice followed John's example. He joined the Centre d'Art in 1949. He was deeply involved in Voodoo and claimed to be a houngan. To St. Brice, the inner eye was all-important; he felt no need to depict the visible world around him. He conceived of painting as a mystical act, perfect for the transmission of his religious convictions. He used his dreams as a source of inspiration. His dreams were messages from his Indian and African ancestors. He is considered one of the dream painters. His tadpole men, mermaids and loas-trinity have a power of primitive expression comparable to totems or Indian amulets. His images seem always in a state of transformation, appearing and disappearing like shooting stars. The organic forms are only roughly outlined, ready to dissolve into the void of the background. Depending on the strength of his vision, the shapes can have expressive3 features such as eyes and mouth. The eyes especially hint of Voodoo-they are of snakes. St. Brice himself, however, was quite the contrast of his paintings: jovial, affectionate and articulate, finding friendship and love the most important things in life. St Brice died in 1973 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Calixte Henry International Sophistication in the Haitian Milieu Born in 1933 in Port-au-Prince, Calixte Henry began his painting career in 1955 at the Centre d’Art. Four years later, he had opened his own studio where he pursued his interest in cubism and impressionism. Inspired by Braque’s elegant sense of design and Suerat’s mastery of color, Henry manages to combine European style and Haitian subject matter. Painting entirely with a pallete knife, he captures the vivid light of the tropics and the beauty of the Haitian landscape. Henry has exhibited in both Europe and the United States. He won a special mention in Switzerland’s Guggenheim Contest.
«The Shore»
«Twilight»
«Still life»
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Petion Savain Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on February 15, 1906. Considered one of the fathers of Haitian painting, he was the first Haitian painter to receive recognition when he was awarded medals at the Gallery of Science and Art in 1939-five years before the opening of the Centre d’Art. He started painting in 1927 while teaching cabinet making, tin smithing and wrought iron at the same school. Savain studied at the Haitian School of Agronomy and earned a law degree. He decided to learn painting in 1931, and in 1939 published his first book, La Case de Damballah . He studied at the Art Student’s League in New York in 1941, where his second book, Les Oeuvres Nouvelles, was published a year later. His quest for knowledge was insatiable. A lawyer, painter, author and teacher of the arts, Savain was also a student of mural and fresco techniques, tempera, wood sculpture. He even found time to become a newspaper columnist from 1950 to 1956 during which time he appeared in over six art books. Savain’s very personal style has been copied by many Haitian artists, but his pinks and purples are instantly recognizable, as is his use of semicircles and triangles in which painted figures crouch or sit. His work is on exhibition in the US, including the Corcoran Gallery and Grand Central and Riverside Museum. The opportunity to buy Savain’s work is rare, but an aesthetic joy as well as an invaluable investment. Petion Savain died in 1975.
First Generation Masters and Collector Pieces In 1944 DeWitt Peters, an American watercolor artist, established the Centre d’Art in Port au Prince. No one could have predicted that it would serve as a catalyst for such an incredible explosion of the Haitian creative spirit. Artists who joined the Centre close to its inception are known as First Generation Artists. These artists and other major figures continue to exert an enormous influence over the development of Haitian Art. Their work is prized and of particular interest to collectors.
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J.E. Gourgue
Gesner Armand
Carlo Jn.Jacques
Haitian Art Company: Promoting the art of Haiti for over 20 years Located in the historic district of Key West, the Haitian Art Company is owned and operated by the father daughter team of Boris and Ruth Kravitz. Boris resides year round in Haiti and purchases all the paintings, sculptures, paper mache and spirit flags directly from the artists. Because he has become a part of the Haitian community, the gallery is able to support emerging artists as well as to maintain close ties with well known artists.
Ruth created the gallery space in colorful old town Key West. The «gallery grrlz» Jenny, Shari and Erin are friendly and eager to share their knowledge about the art of over 350 artists. Our paintings look wonderful in their wood frames hand crafted in Haiti.
Services offered by the gallery include layaway, shipping and an excellent art through the mail program. Selections from the extensive photo library can be tailored to your interests in a «Photo Pack». Photo Packs make our collection of over 4000 paintings available to our customers who live far away!
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The Definition of Design by William R How we define design forms the basis of both our theoretical and pragmatic expressions as designers. Without a clear understanding of what we mean by «design» we are apt to find ourselves the victims of arbitrary thoughts and styles, unconsciously mimicking the misrepresentations of aesthetics, form, and function advocated by others.
Definition The word «design» is commonly used as either a noun or a verb. As a noun, «design» generally refers to some object or other entity. As a verb it is usually used to refer to a process, or series of activities. For the purpose of this definition the word «design» will be used solely as a verb, thus drawing attention to the fact that design is a process. Simply put ... «Design is the thought process comprising the creation of an entity.» This concise, seemingly sterile, and yet deceptively simple definition of design, is built on a solid foundation of ideas and concepts that will serve as the very root of our philosophy of design. To dismiss this clear, simple definition as being overly generic, obscure, or even obvious, is to miss its value to us in our everyday world as designers.
Thought «Design is the thought ...» It is «first thought,» or that type of thought we call insight. It is the mental synapse that instantly sees the potential connection between problem and possibility; that sees the capacity for order in the midst of chaos, or for improvement amid inefficiency. Design is also intuition, that form of subconscious thought that leads us to a deeper sense of knowing, often in the apparent absence of rational confirmation. Intuition is akin to an elongated insight that tells us we are on to something. It is the hunch that often underlies our efforts to perform rational analysis. Design also involves reason, that fully conscious form of thought that assesses the problem and analyzes the possibilities for solution. It is the analytical process that relies on method and mathematics to assess, refine, and verify its various hypotheses. And finally, design is the synthesis of all three of these aspects of thought (insight, intuition, and reason) that forms the complete, and verifiable, conceptualization of possibility. To assume that thoughtfulness in design is limited to one or two of these aspects is to stifle the power of our creative potential as designers. Those who argue that «design,» or perhaps even «creativity,» is limited solely to the intuitive, or to the rational, often do so based more on a limitation of their own skills or interests than on any well-founded epistemology. Regardless of what talents we may have, or lack, what interests may motivate us, or where we find our own personal comfort and satisfaction as designers, design involves the utilization and synthesis of all three aspects of thought: insight, intuition, and reason.
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Process «Design is the thought process ...» As presented in this definition, design is the activity of creation, as opposed to the product of creation. It is a sequence, or set, of thought-filled events and procedures that lead to the creation of that which is being designed. This thought process also involves the various activities associated with thought (contemplating, speaking, writing, drawing, modeling, constructing, etc.) that are typically used to carry one’s «image of possibility» from initial concept to completion. In other words, design is not «product»; «product» is, rather, the output of design. That which has been created is not «a design,» it is what it is (a house, an automobile, a computer, a health care program, a piece of music, etc.); it is an «entity» unto itself. Design is the process used to create that entity. The nature of this process, which is often modeled as a linear sequence of events, is in reality a highly complex, multifaceted set of thought-filled activities. While design is linear, in the sense that it is sequenced in time as one moves from initial concept to a completed product, it is also nonlinear. Design thought often jumps in discontinuous association from one aspect of a problem to another as it searches for solution. It is multileveled, in the sense that overall systems, subsystems, and even minute details often need to be considered simultaneously. Design thought is also iterative. Prototypical forms need to constructed, assessed, and then reformulated to develop the understanding necessary for the next higher level of solution. As one can see, this process called «design» can be discussed and described in many ways. This is not to say that a specific description of design (linear, iterative, etc.) given at a particular point in time can not be helpful, for it can and is often necessary for the effective development and management of the overall design process. What is important is the fact that the total thought process of design involves a wide variety of procedural structures and thus can not be restricted to a particular methodology.
Comprising «Design is the thought process comprising ...» That is, it includes, or contains, every thought and action required to create that which is being designed. The whole of design comprises all the individual parts of that thought process leading up to, involved with, and even following the creation of the entity being designed. Depending on the type of entity being designed, this process can include the following: · the identification of a set of needs, · the initial conceptualization of a way to meet those needs, · the further development of that initial concept, · the engineering and analysis required to make sure it works, · the prototyping of its preliminary form, · the construction of its final form, · the implementation of various quality control procedures, · selling its value to the consumer, · its delivery to the consumer, · providing for after-service, 75
· and obtaining feedback regarding its utility and value. Each of these steps contributes to the generation of form and is thus part of the design process. Frequently, designers — those responsible for the creation of an entity — limit their definition of design to the early phases of this overall process and thus abdicate their responsibility, as designers, to others. In doing so they relinquish control to others who are often less committed to their «image of possibility» or their «sense of continuity» concerning the final product and how it relates to the user. This abdication is one of the primary causes of inferior products. Quality design (the process) and quality products (the output of that process) require a comprehensive definition of design that comprises the whole «thought/activity» design process and not some limited, however well-intended, subset of that process.
Creation «Design is the thought process comprising the creation ...» This comprehensive «thought/action» process is directed toward, and culminates in, creation. That is, it leads to the tangible realization of a mature completion of the «image of possibility» that originally served to initiate the process. Without this realization the original «image of possibility» becomes an unfulfilled dream, or a frustration, and in time can vanish altogether. This is not to say that the original image does not change during the design process, for it does and often quite drastically. What is important is that this change is a natural part of the maturation process and that the successful completion of this process, which often begins as a mere figment of our imagination, culminates as sensible reality in time and space. The creation of this reality serves as the pivotal point in the overall design process; for without creation the process is either incomplete, or fallacious. It is incomplete when the process stops prior to creation, fallacious when creation is replaced by one of its impostors. All too often the act of creation is replaced by either copying, or mimicking, the results of some previous design process, which itself may have been fallacious. While the results of similar processes may themselves be similar, they are never the same, and should never be taken for granted. Each design process must include its own act of creation.
Entity «Design is the thought process comprising the creation of an entity.» An entity, that is, the product of the design process, can be · physical, such as an object that occupies space (e.g., the house we live in, a car, or a piece of art), · temporal, such as an event that occurs in time (e.g., a musical concert, a political rally, or a birthday party), · conceptual, such as an idea (e.g., the theory of relativity, the concept of cybernetics, or even the definition of design), or · relational, such as a relationship that describes, or specifies, the interaction between entities (e.g., the procedures for operating a computer, or even the friendship between two people). Each of these entities can be designed. The design process is not limited, as so many of us have been lead to believe, to that narrow 76
class of objects or events that are supposed to have some sort of special «aesthetic» appeal. Any entity can be designed, that is, can be created with intent and purpose. The total thought process encompassing the creation of that entity, the process that gives it its form, be it physical, temporal, conceptual, or relational is design.
Conclusion While the contents of the preceding paragraphs elaborate the intent of our definition, it is the definition itself that provides the clarification of its meaning. This simple definition ... «Design is the thought process comprising the creation of an entity.» ... summarizes the essence of design. More importantly, however, it provides the foundation for a substantial extrapolation of this essence that can, through our efforts as designers, lead to more purposeful designs. This paper is not meant to be conclusive, but rather catalytic. Its purpose is to initiate a broader conversation about the definition of design and its importance to all fields of design.
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Typography Typography is said to be the passion of graphic communicators. It is one of the most complicated and studied principles of graphic design. Why would anyone care to make type their passion, you ask? Well, the graphic designer’s ultimate goal is to translate an idea, message or feeling into a visual communication that the targeted audience will easily understand and remember. Type is the most basic element of this communication. There are several elements of type that combine the reate a unified picture, or feeling, called the typeface. Type has two faces, just like a lot of people I know. The first expresses the written word. For example in a Marlboro ad, the word «Marlboro» means Marlboro, the cigarette brand. The second face is to relate an emotion. In the same Marlboro ad, the typeface is large, bold and very squared, relating to the feeling of strength. This underlying feeling contributes to the imagery of the product which is the ever macho «Marlboro Man». Any typeface can say «Marlboro» but only a few back up the literal meaning with a visual punch. Type must fit into its society which we call «the page». Your job as a typotherapist is to decide whether it does, or does not.
Here’s the guidelines to being a typotherapist: Clarity. How easily type can be seen through the smog of the page. Can grandma read it? Do you want her to? First, we look to see if the type fits the most basic criteria, readability. Are the words on the space of the page easily read? Here, many physical aspects of the type is important. Is the size large enough to read without distrubing the balance of the page? Visually, are the letters spaced equally from each other? Is the type laid out in columns? Does this make it easier to read? Basically, the human eye and brain are attacked by millions of messages per minute. If your message is important it better be clear and concise or the eye/brain unit will pass right over it. It’s that simple. Creativity. Next, we look to see if the designer uses the type in a creative way. This is not always necessary and can sometimes detract from a good graphic design. Are the forms of the letter put together to create a picture? How is the picture made by this negative space related to the overall piece? Next, the type must be analyzed. Don’t dust off the microscope, yet. If there is a large block of text we look at the texture that block of texture makes. Text that is light and spread out over a large area gives a gray texture, however, if it is bold and compact it gives a black texture. Does this texture contribute to the composition, or is it detracting from the piece? As a general rule in graphic design, type, or any other element, must be absolutely necessary to convey the message. If the piece could convey the same message without some particular element, that element is usually detracted from the piece’s overall design. Connotation. Or how to be a typotherapist. Personality. Just like people, families of type have personality. And, just like each member of the family stereosypically plays a role, each member of the type family, also has a role. If a member of the family takes on the wrong responsibility, the dishes won’t get done and the trash won’t go out. If the wrong type personality is put into a piece, the personalities of the overall work will create conflict. I find evaluating this layer of the design is most easily done by assuming the role of the illiterate typotherapist. Pretend that you cannot read the word. Now, what does the picture of the word say? For example, is it set in bold, giving the feeling of strength or importance? What type face is used can only be evaluated by the trained eye or by using a reference. However, the connotation of the type face can easily be examined by anyone. Believe it or no, connotation of the typeface is impacted on us from out first Sesame Stree episode. For example, you may not know that Garfield, the cartoon is set in Cooper Black. However, when you see the word 78
Garfield typed in Cooper Black, you will not get confused with Garfield, the late president. The most important thing to understand here is that type personality must fit with the rest of the picture to project one image.
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Career Management for the Independent Graphics Professional Tips for Seasoned and Novice Professionals Because of the boom in technology, a growing demand for quality visual communication, and corporate downsizing, these are the glory days for independent contractors in the graphic arts. So, what differentiates one artist from the next in the client’s mind? Mostly, it’s a combination of hard work, smarts, a knowledge of technology, and an understanding of how the new labor marketplace works. One avenue many freelance graphic artists have explored is the staffing agency world. Working through a temp agency, you can leave the administrative and marketing chores to the agency and receive «corporate level» benefits, while you concentrate on creating good work. An agency also offers solo practitioners a valuable connection with other like-minded professionals. A good agency will answer your questions, help you improve your skills, and fill you in on the latest gossip around town. Whether you work through an agency or not, there are some good lessons to be learned from veterans of the field. Here is a «hot list» of do’s and don’ts for anyone interested in or currently working in the freelance graphics world.
KNOW WHAT YOU WANT The graphics and production worlds are diverse. Anyone starting out needs to know where his or her interests lie. To begin with, are you sure you want to work as an independent and not inside a structured environment? «Temping and contract work isn’t for everyone,» says Maureen Stuart, director of creative staffing for MacTemps (http://www.mactemps.com) in Philadelphia. «We often see people who are excellent in the full-time corporate setting, but find the freedom and lack of structure in the independent world unsettling. If you’re striking out on your own, it has to be a lifestyle you thrive on.» If you aren’t sure of your career goals, temping offers real benefits. «Temping gives you the chance to sample many different kinds of industries and work environments before you choose one to stay with,» says Stewart. «If you’re looking for a full-time job, temping provides you with a slew of experiences. You work with small and large clients, on the production side, the prepress side, the design side, and so forth. «Moreover, in an economy like ours, in which business is growing quickly and companies are choosing to hire permanent as well as temporary graphics people, you can work through an agency like MacTemps in a “temp-to-perm” capacity. You and the client get the chance to test each other out and decide that the working relationship is a good one for the long term. If not, you’re both free to try other opportunities and no one loses.» .
PROFESSIONALISM According to Stuart, the most important thing to focus on, whether you’re working through an agency or as an independent contractor, is professionalism. «We look for the professional when we screen candidates,» she says. «Self-image, a pride in your work, and a professional attitude are the most important. No matter how good designers are, if they can’t work well in a team, they won’t 80
work well with a client.» Adds Kim Schaefer, Philadelphia market manager for MacTemps, «You must also be flexible and adaptable. In any graphic communication environment, you’re going to be challenged to find solutions to your clients’ problems. As a temporary or freelancer, you’ll have to expand your knowledge and experience into fields you may not have worked in, and it stretches your capabilities to make you a better designer. If you’re not willing to stretch, temping or freelance is probably not for you.» Positions often arise on a moment’s notice, so many temps and freelancers carry pagers or other devices to help agencies or clients reach them quickly.
HEALTH AND OTHER BENEFITS There’s more to independent work than a powerful computer and a good visual sense. As anyone who’s ever needed stronger eyeglasses after staring at a computer screen for six months can tell you, health and wellness are also important. You have to figure into your fees enough profit to cover medical insurance, as well as office equipment, living expenses, quarterly tax payments, and perhaps an unsightly surprise from Uncle Sam on April 15. One of the benefits of working through an agency like MacTemps is that payroll, taxes, and withholding are handled for you, and benefits are provided, including health, dental, 401(k) retirement, vacation and disability, and dependent care reimbursement. You retain the freedom of freelance work while collecting a single paycheck with taxes already paid out—and your paycheck comes to you at the end of each week. You don’t have to wait for a client to process your invoice.
YOUR VALUE IN THE MARKETPLACE As technology demands that artists become trained in computers, people with these skills become more in demand as well. For example, according to MacTemps, some of the approximate rates you could expect working through an agency in greater Philadelphia area include: · Simple production, one-to three-color work, such as display ads: $15.75 to $21/hour. · Complex production, such as magazine and catalogue publishing, prepress work, four-color work, preflighting: $16.50 to $23.50/hour. · Complex design such as design comps: $17.50 to $26.50/hour. Presentation graphics, $14.75 to $16.50/hour. · Simple multimedia, such as simple assembly using Director: $15.25 to $20.50/hour. Complex multimedia, ranging from Director to advanced Lingo: $16.50 to $44.00/hour.
EXPERIENCE STILL IN DEMAND In the Philadelphia marketplace, in which traditional publishing is a strong force, there is still a great need for individuals with traditional experience, including typesetters, prepress production experts (with 5 to 10 years of experience), people familiar with sheetfed offset and web presses, second-and third-shift personnel, and image retouching. Anyone entering the field as either a temporary or independent should have a strong command of the major software applications, including: QuarkXPress, PageMaker, Photoshop, FreeHand, Illustrator, Word, WordPerfect, Persuasion, PowerPoint, Excel, and Lotus 123. People working in advanced multimedia should be familiar with Director, Strata Studio Pro, Infini-D, Sound Edit 16, Authorware and other major new media programs. Web development is also in demand, so pro81
grammers in HTML, Java, C++, and other relevant languages can command competitive salaries. Graphic Arts Monthly On Line, September 24,1996
The University of Arts Foundation Program Robert McGovern & Michael Rossman Co-Chairpersons The Foundation Program in the College of Art and Design provides incoming freshman with a year devoted to a basic understanding of principals and concepts in the visual arts. During the first semester each student is a member of a Foundation section and takes Two-Dimensional Design, Three-Dimensional Design, and Drawing. During the second semester students select a minimum of nine credits (3 courses) from the four courses offered by Foundation in Two-Dimensional Design, Three-Dimensional Design, Drawing, and Time and Motion. Each class meets for three hours, twice a week. Each section of students is taught by a team of faculty who are professionals in their various fields of art and design; many hold the rank of Professor and Associate Professor. In Foundation courses, faculty stress not only the independent qualities of a discipline but its interdependent character. Through these basic studies and their interaction, students discover the underlying values and principles important to all visual arts. Classroom work is enriched by home assignments, critiques and reviews, guest artists, films, slides, and class trips. One faculty member from the section's team is designated as the advisor to that section. Students meet individually with the advisor to discuss concerns, the registration process, and their choice of major. The student chooses an additional course offered by the major studio departments each semester. These elective courses are designed to acquaint the student with the practices of the major studio areas. Students also register for two Liberal Arts courses in each semester as indicated by the University core.
Crafts James Makins Chairperson The Crafts Department seeks to develop artists of originality and resourcefulness who can excel in the most competitive professional environment. Studio experience is provided in five major craft areas: ceramics, fibers, glass, metals, and wood. There are also offerings in plaster and papermaking to complement the curriculum. Each crafts area offers a balanced concentration in both the technical and aesthetic aspects of the medium. While practical training and specialized skills are necessary for creative ability, the conceptual and expressive evolution of each student is the essential focus of the department. An ongoing study of the contemporary crafts movement is seen as an integral element for those involved in the program. The range of faculty in each area provides the student with exposure to a diversity of professional perspective and experience. Through an incisive and rigorous curriculum, the department is devoted to preparing students for professional involvement in their craft. Upon graduation, students elect to become independent artists, teachers, or designers, or find employment in industry. Individuals often combine these occupations in order to meet their individual needs and goals. 82
Graphic Design Dera Drodvillo Chairperson Graphic designers play a key role in our information-based society. They give form to the interface between users and our culture of rapidly proliferating products, places, processes, information, and services. The graphic design department, since its beginning, has sought to give students the basis to solve problems in communication in a way that merges concerns for fidelity to content, for the visual aesthetic, and for engaging the reader-viewer’s rapport. The faculty and students are engaged in a collaborative process of exploring the New as it emerges. For graphic design the New has meant especially the transformation of media, effecting how we create messages, how they are transmitted, and understanding the changing landscape of design where media and culture intersect. Throughout the three years of major concentration, problems in graphic communication are combined with exploratory and experimental studies in drawing, color, photography, typography, and emerging technologies. The curriculum is supplemented by special lecture programs; workshops with invited design firms; and on-site studio seminars in selected design offices and studios, paper and printing plants, museums and libraries, and with film and computer graphic producers. Opportunities for additional study in fine arts, illustration, photography, animation, filmmaking, and emerging technologies are available. Designers work across several media and venues-from handmade images to digital images, from still images to time-based communications, from print-oriented problems to communications in cyberspace. With successful completion of the program, students are prepared for entry-level positions as graphic designers with design studios, publishers, corporations, nonprofit institutions, governmental agencies, architects and planners, network or cable broadcasters, film and video producers, or advertising agencies. The faculty are practicing professionals with distinguished records of accomplishment, sensitive and responsive to the changes in the field of design, yet not limited by its current practices.
Industrial Design Anthony Guido Chairperson The Industrial Design Department provides a professional education for those wishing to bring beauty and appropriateness to the products, presentations, and settings of modern society. The program prepares students for careers in product, packaging, and exhibit design, as well as for the design of communications, furniture, equipment, vehicles, and interiors. It also addresses problems of human factors research, computer-aided design, product development, manufacturing, marketing, and a host of other considerations related to the humanistic uses of technology. The department places emphasis on the development of graphic, sculptural, and spatial design skills as a complement to creative problem solving, technical innovation, and effective communications during the solution of actual problems of design. After initial coursework to introduce basic design and production processes, including computer-aided design and model making, students begin to develop and apply theory, skill, and knowledge to actual design problems, many brought into the studio by industry. Visiting designers also 83
bring knowledge of current design, manufacturing, and marketing practices into studio and lecture courses, and visits to industry provide opportunities for direct observation and firsthand knowledge of manufacturing processes. Based on this foundation of skills, experience, and information, emphasis in the final year shifts the responsibility for knowledge of design to the individual student, who works directly with a client/ sponsor on a thesis project prior to graduation. During the final semester the instructional focus also shifts to career planning, portfolio preparation, and the development of information gathering and business communication skills to better prepare the student to enter the job market. Due to the wide scope, and creative yet practical character of an Industrial Design education, many career opportunities await the graduate: with consulting firms, corporate design staffs, manufacturing firms, exhibit houses, retailers, advertising agencies, research organizations, museums, educational institutions, and government agencies, all of whom recognize the need to constantly improve the appearance, manufacture, performance, and social value of their products.
Illustration Mark J. Tocchet Chairman Illustrators give visual substance to thoughts, stories, and ideas. The Illustration Department seeks to prepare its students for entry into the fields of book and periodical publishing, promotion, education, advertising, and specialty fields. Illustrators must call upon a broad range of traditional and up-to-date competencies to respond to today’s visual problems. As visual problem-solvers and communicators, illustrators need to be open-minded, eclectic, flexible, and imaginative. The illustrator’s solution should be appropriate, intelligent, expressive, and visually engaging. In order to prepare for a career in this competitive field, The University of the Arts Illustration student develops skills that encompass two-dimensional media: from painting and drawing to photography, technical image-making, reproduction processes, and emerging opportunities in electronic imaging. Students may concentrate on either a design oriented or pictorially oriented curriculum. These skills are nurtured within a stimulating cultural climate provided by the resources of the faculty, visiting professionals, the University, and the city at large. Each student progresses from general competencies to a personal viewpoint, clarified career goals, and a professional attitude.
Master of Arts in Art Education Janis T. Norman Director The Master of Arts in Art Education program at The University of the Arts is designed to develop the studio, intellectual, and professional education background of art educators, enabling them to meet advanced professional goals. Coordinating professional education courses with work in liberal arts, graduate research and a concentration in studio, the MA in Art Education Program offers custom-designed programs of study to meet individual needs. A series of graduate education seminars addresses historical and contemporary issues in art theory, criticism, and education. Drawing on the wide range of studio departments, nearly half of the program is reserved for work in one or more studio area, depending upon the student’s particular background and career needs. The independent thesis or graduate project, which is normally completed in two semesters, may take the form of either an academic 84
research paper or a graduate project in an appropriate format. Designed for established or new teachers, the degree may satisfy credit accrual requirements for Permanent Certification or lead to other career advancement. Graduates have also found the program relevant to positions in museum education, college (especially junior college) teaching, arts administration, educational media, and other related fields. Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with no less than 40 credits in studio work with a «B» or better cumulative average. A teaching certificate is not required. Students not holding degrees in the visual arts can expect to complete 18 credits of foundation studies and/or up to 40 credits of studio work, depending upon faculty review of their portfolio. The degree may also be taken in conjunction with the Certification Program in Art Education thereby allowing the student to earn their Masters plus Certification. The difference between this combination and the MAT, Masters of Arts in Teaching, being the concentration in graduate studio work and the research and thesis required for the MA degree. Full-time students may complete the MA program in one academic year plus a summer. Parttime students may take coursework over as many as five years. Depending on the needs of the individual student, professional education courses and selected studio and liberal arts courses may be taken in the evenings and summer. Certification may also be earned by combining the MA in Art Education with a non-degree certification option. A museum concentration may also be combined with this degree.
Master of Arts in Museum Education Anne El-Omami Director The Master of Arts in Museum Education is a concentrated program focused on the development and implementation of appropriate pedagogical practices and critical/interpretive skills for communicating to the public about culture and the arts. Coursework comprises three distinct areas: a broad art and education core addressing theory and methods, a concentration in museum studies and practices, and a professional core including research and an internship with a cooperating museum. Applicants should have had a core of at least 40 credits in the arts, liberal arts, and/or communications, with a minimum of 18 credits in art history (or 12 credits in art history and 6 credits in anthropology or communications). This degree is an appropriate option for those with a strong commitment to providing educational programming within a museum context, as well as for teachers who wish a concentration in museum education so they may utilize museum resources more effectively within the classroom. Museums and galleries worldwide are becoming more dependent upon their audiences for support. Consequently, the role of museums is changing to meet audience demands, including expectations for more relevant and accessible public educational programming to promote cultural knowledge and interests. This growing trend has created a greater demand for well-trained professionals with special knowledge and expertise in planning and implementing museum programs. Additionally, current educational theory and methodology embraces the inclusion of art history, criticism, and aesthetics as critical components of the arts education curriculum, all areas heavily dependent upon museums for exemplary resources and reference. The MA in Museum Education focuses on a wide variety of museums and institutions with similar missions and operations and prepares educators to function within the changing context of contemporary schools, museums and related institutions. The MA in Museum Education may be completed in two semesters and a summer or in three semesters. The Museum Studies core may be taken separately or in conjunction with another Master’s Program at The University of the Arts. The core includes courses from the museum studies core and may also 85
include the Graduate Museum Project and Internship with special approval. This series of courses may be combined with the Master of Arts in Teaching in the Visual Arts or the Master of Arts in Art Education. This option may be completed in three semesters and a summer, depending upon fulfillment of the prerequisites and scheduling considerations.
Master of Arts Teaching in Visual Arts Janis T. Norman Director The Master of Arts in Teaching in Visual Arts is a professional degree program incorporating preparation for the Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate to teach Art K-12, including a student teaching practicum. Additional coursework includes the history, theory, and practice of art education. Depending on the completeness of the student’s background, the MAT Program provides a flexible mix of professional education, advanced studio, and liberal arts study in a 36-credit program which may be completed in a summer and two regular semesters or in three full semesters. Although the program normally leads to certification upon receiving the degree, all candidates must, in addition, successfully complete the National Teachers Exam, PRAXIS Series with satisfactory scores to qualify for State certification. This unique degree program allows a student to obtain his/her certification requirements for teaching while also earning a master’s degree recognized by potential employing school districts and educational institutions. In many cases this enables the MAT recipient to qualify for a higher salary and often preferred placement. Applicants to the MAT Program should possess a BFA or BA degree in studio art with a minimum of forty (40) studio credits with a «B» or better cumulative average. They also must have satisfactorily completed the coursework and/or acquired competencies in fields relating to teacher certification described below. If any deficiencies exist, up to 12 corequisite credits may be completed concurrently with the degree and applied to elective requirements.
Media Arts: Photography, Film/Video, and Animation Harris Fogel Chair The Media Arts Department offers major concentrations in photography, film/video, and animation while providing elective classes to the University at large. The three-year curriculum of each major is built around a sequence of classes designed to move the student to a position of independence within the discipline. An introduction to the intrinsic conceptual and material concerns of the medium fills much of the sophomore year. Within the two remaining years, the student is expected to develop and expand a sense of personal vision, practice, and goals. Philadelphia’s professional resources have allowed the department to develop an extensive internship program for advanced Media Arts majors. This program allows students to gain professional experience while earning credit toward their degree. Internship sponsors have included commercial photography studios, galleries, film and video production houses, hospitals, medical laboratories, and multi-image and special-effects houses. The Media Arts Department also offers minor concentrations in all three of its programs-film/ 86
video, animation, and photography. These minors are available to students majoring in studio areas outside of the Media Arts Department. Those interested in this option should consult with their major advisor as well as the Media Arts Department.
Master of Fine Arts Museum Exhibition Planning and Design Jane Bedno Director Recognized formally by the American Association of Museums since 1981, the field of exhibition planning and design has become a demanding, fast-growing profession as museums respond to the demand for exhibitions addressed to public needs and interests. With the cooperation of a group of major regional museums, following the guidelines established by N.A.M.E. (National Association for Museum Exhibition), The University of the Arts offers a two-year, 60-credit Master of Fine Arts degree which prepares students for professional careers in the planning and design of exhibits for museums and other interpretive centers, focusing on methods of presentation for collections and information, while exploring the full range of exhibition communication and methodology. Representatives of cooperating museums and the University faculty offer a curriculum that addresses the conceptualization, research, organization, design, and production of museum exhibits and educational presentations, utilizing a variety of techniques and media. It also explores exhibit programming, evaluation and management methods applicable in a wide range of museum situations. Visiting experts teach many aspects of museum presentation, education and management, and students make formal visits to design departments, production shops, galleries, exhibits and programs in numerous museums in Philadelphia, the Mid-Atlantic Region, Washington, and New York. Students undertake a thesis project and a supervised museum internship related to their career interests during the second year of the program. To preserve the intimate contact with museum professionals and to guarantee participants studio facilities, the program is limited to ten entrants per year. Most candidates for this program will have previously completed a baccalaureate degree in industrial, graphic, interior, or architectural design and demonstrate an acceptable level of professional accomplishment through a portfolio or another appropriate means. Alternatively, they may seek admission with a baccalaureate in a discipline related to a particular career direction, and take courses to develop the necessary background in design. Students from non-design, non-art backgrounds, are also encouraged to apply. The first year provides a basic understanding of the exhibition process, with the first semester focused on conceptual development, planning, systems, and intellectual analysis of problems, and the second on the practical implementation of concepts and on understanding materials and meth87
ods of exhibition design and production. The second year is dedicated to practice of skills learned during the first year, and practical exposure to actual exhibition development practice in museums and museum consultancies. All activities during the final semester are focused on thesis development and completion.
Master of Fine Arts Book Arts/Printmaking Patricia M. Smith The Master of Fine Arts Degree in Book Arts/Printmaking is built upon the University’s fortyyear tradition of involvement with the book and printed image. Open to all qualified students with an undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts, Design, Photography, Printmaking or Fine Arts, the program emphasizes the artist’s demands upon the book as an art form. The course of study, based upon each student’s interest and level of experience, allows for the advancement of conceptual abilities while developing technical proficiencies in both traditional and state-of-the-art processes. Investigation of related fields of study in studio arts and liberal arts encourages an approach that is experimental, interdisciplinary and reflective of a broad range of personal and professional involvement. The sixty-credit, two-year program is offered within the Printmaking Department and draws upon the expertise of a faculty of professional artists and a full complement of technical facilities. Visiting artists, field trips, and guest lecturers supplement the studio experience. Access to Philadelphia’s rich heritage of public and private collections furnishes a unique opportunity to study rare and contemporary manuscripts, prints and books. Internships in professional book and print-related organizations and libraries are available for qualified students.
Master of Fine Arts Ceramics, Painting, or Sculpture Summer Program Carol Moore Director These studio-based Master of Fine Arts degree programs are intended to broaden and advance the conceptual, critical, historical, and practical knowledge needed to sustain a contemporary studio. The programs have been designed to meet the needs of artists holding BFA or BA degrees who are interested in pursuing an MFA in either Ceramics, Painting or Sculpture within a time frame that accommodates their employment or academic year schedule. Departing from the more traditional semester format, students complete the major portion of their work during four annual seven-week summer residencies of intensive, individually focused studio experience. Interdisciplinary graduate seminars address contemporary critical issues common to each major area of concentration. Students attend an annual on-campus winter review weekend and complete two independent studios per academic year. A final thesis review and exhibition is held during the fifth summer session. In addition to well-equipped studio space, students have access to the University's extensive arts facilities that include: the Greenfield Library, whose visual arts collection ranks among the largest of the nation's visual art schools; state-of-the-art electronic media labs; numerous galleries and performance spaces; and the more than 100 museums and cultural institutions that comprise the extended campus of the City of Philadelphia. 88
Students will be challenged by the broadly diverse aesthetic and critical opinions of distinguished studio faculty and notable visiting artists and critics who are invited to participate in the program each summer. Recent visiting artists and critics include: Barry Bartlett, Paul Bloodgood, Tom Butter, William Daley, Arthur Danto, Larry Day, Patrick Murphy, Elaine Reichek, Judith Stein, Stephen Tanis, and Ursula Von Rydingsvard. MFA candidates are expected to follow the curriculum as structured in order to complete the program within four years and present a final thesis exhibition during the fifth summer.
Master of Industrial Design Thomas S. Bley Director This unique, two-year, 60-credit Master of Industrial Design degree focuses on the new role of the profession of industrial design in a post-industrial society. With respect to the international student body, the diversity within the design profession and the wide range of global issues in design, this program focuses on the individual profile of its graduates. It offers a wide platform of knowledge and expertise in areas of significance to the future of design development, design research and design education. Current changes and future trends continue to shift our understanding of where and how design can make a difference and requires the continuous reconsideration of the designer’s role, capabilities and education. · Future designers will humanize technologies and invest them with cultural values. · They will belong to or lead multidisciplanary teams working in highly commercial and competitive business environments. · They will operate at a national and international level creating and developing products, systems and services for diverse cultures. · They will be flexible integrators in the development of processes and a major source of creative guidance and inspiration to other professions. · They will be effective in dealing with the concepts and implications of many different technologies as they affect both users and the environment. · They will understand and play a significant role in managing design development processes; recognizing and acting upon issues of social and environmental responsibility. · They will understand and communicate the psychological, semantic, behavioral, interactive and cultural significance of their design strategies. The MID Program as part of the Industrial Design Department, offers learning experiences balanced between theory and practice, seminar and practicum, academe and reality, ecological and economical, and humanistic and technological concerns. Students can expect to explore important and challenging issues, technologies and techniques at the forefront of humanistic design today with expert faculty and industry sponsors. They may have the option to complete part of their program of study abroad, if it is appropriate to their study goals to do so. During the fall terms (semesters 1 and 3) of the two-year program the focus is on inter- and 89
multidisciplinary team-oriented projects, while during the spring terms (semesters 2 and 4) the focus shifts to an emphasis on individual exploration and the development of student based career objectives. Candidates must have a bachelor’s (or equivalent foreign degree) in a design, engineering or scientific discipline and be qualified to undertake independent, tutored study. At least one year of professional experience is recommended. Foreign applicants must be proficient in English. Qualified candidates with significant, well conceived study objectives are preferred and applicants with programs sponsored by government or industry are welcome. Each candidate is carefully selected to assure a comprehensive balance of disciplines in the program. Within this collaborative framework, each candidate is tutored in the knowledge, software and systems appropriate to their needs. In addition to a University Grant covering part of tuition and fees, the program supports individually tailored thesis study in the second year via funding for consultants, tutors, conferences, visitations and materials.
Painting/Drawing Gerald Nichols Coordinator The Painting concentration provides a firm basis for students to develop a professional involvement with their work. A balance is sought between the acquisition of studio skills and the development of a critical intelligence. Students are encouraged, through the rigor of studio activity, to understand the breadth of art in both its traditional and contemporary forms, and to gain increasing authority in their own work. Courses evolve from the study of basic working methods and fundamental issues of image making to the subtleties of complex pictorial organization and the refinements of aesthetic judgment. In the final semester of the senior year, each student is required to complete a thesis project, which includes a formal presentation of a paper and an exhibition of a coordinated body of work. The faculty of practicing professional artists represents a diversity of attitudes and ideals. Through the format of studio instruction, dialogue, and critique, they seek to instill in each student a habit of self-instruction which will serve far beyond the program at the University. The Painting/Drawing Department features its own gallery space where faculty, students, and invited artists have an opportunity to exhibit their work. Students have an opportunity to show their work and a student exhibition committee is formed each year to invite artists, manage and install the exhibitions. Studio activity is augmented by lectures, seminars, visiting artists, and field trips to museums and galleries.
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Philadelphia College of Art and Design Stephen Tarantal Foundation Program and Majors All freshman students enter the Foundation core program that includes courses in drawing, two-dimensional design, three-dimensional design, and time-motion studies. The Foundation program introduces the basic language and processes of the visual arts and prepares the students for entry into a major department. Through freshman elective course offerings students are introduced to major course options and opportunities offered at the College of Art and Design. Students enter a major in the sophomore year. The major studio concentration is augmented by required and elective courses in other departments in PCAD and PCPA to encourage an awareness of the productive interaction that can occur between the many disciplines available at the University. Alternative career opportunities are often developed by students stimulated by courses outside their major. Many departments offer opportunities to study off-campus during the junior and senior years. Frequent field trips to museums, galleries, artists’ studios, and design studios in Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, D.C. supplement their regular work in studios and workshops. Class Size and Structure Each department is unique, with its own curriculum and structure, but in every department classes are small and informal. Faculty advisors and the generous student/faculty ratio assure close individual attention and assistance throughout a course of study. One of the important teaching modes in the college is the critique, or «crit,» an evaluation of student work by the instructor with the participation of the class. Given informally to the class or individual as often as once a class, crits have proven to be an invaluable method for the development of critical thinking and self-awareness, which are major educational goals in our programs.
Printmaking/Book Arts Lois M. Johnson Coordinator The Printmaking concentration bases its instructional program on the development and realization of visual ideas through multiple image-making processes. The primary objectives are to develop conceptual abilities and technical proficiencies leading the student to acquire personal imagery and professional competence in printmaking media. The department provides the expertise of a faculty of professional artists for study in traditional and contemporary methods. The major graphic media explored include relief processes, etching (intaglio), lithography-stone, metal plate, and offset and waterbased screenprinting and non-silver photographic printmaking. Courses in book and typographic design stimulate experimentation in unifying the elements of paper, prints, typography, and bookbinding. Visiting artists, field trips, and guest lecturers supplement the studio experience. Using the city as an extended workshop, Print students attend seminars and museum collections. The Print Study Seminar is held in the Print Room at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and furnishes a unique opportunity to study original prints from the fifteenth through the twentieth centuries. The main emphasis over the three-year undergraduate period of study is on the evolution of students as artists who make individualized demands upon the media. As with any study in the fine arts, the experience should be multidimensional, reflective of a broad range of personal and profes91
sional involvement, and reinforced with stimulation from related areas of interest, including drawing, painting, photography, graphic design, illustration, sculpture, and crafts. The undergraduate curriculum is enhanced by the graduate program in Book Arts/Printmaking. This two-year course of study of 60 credits culminates in a Master of Fine Arts Degree. The program provides the opportunity for individual artist’s expression in limited edition bookworks. Undergraduate students work alongside MFA candidates in studios, workshops, and some major and elective classes. (Students interested in the MFA degree in Book Arts/Printmaking should contact the Department of Printmaking or the Office of Admissions.)
Sculpture Barry Parker Coordinator Sculpture reflects one of the deepest creative impulses of artistic endeavor. Sculptors today are called upon to create images that range in size from coins to monuments. Usually working as independent artists, sculptors make objects for exhibition and sale, or work on commission for architects and planners. The Sculpture concentration offers instruction and experience in both the traditional and the most innovative aspects of the art. Resources are available for work in clay, wood, stone, ferrous and nonferrous metals, plaster, wax, and plastic. The department’s instructional aim is to provide a sound, balanced exposure to the formal technical and intellectual aspects of sculpture, in preparation for continued professional growth beyond the undergraduate years. The curriculum is carefully designed to provide both disciplined instruction and time for individual creative development. At the introductory level, fundamentals of sculpture are taught along with technical procedures in a variety of materials. At advanced levels, students may specialize and are increasingly expected to initiate and complete works reflecting their own artistic interests under critical supervision. Studio and shop facilities are comprehensive and include air tools for carving, a foundry for bronze and aluminum casting, a wood and fabricating shop, a complete metal shop for forging and three types of welding, and a moldmaking shop. Technical assistance and supervision in the facilities is provided by a full-time shop supervisor who is in charge of maintaining the equipment. Faculty members are chosen from a variety of backgrounds, and field trips to New York, Washington, and neighboring museums serve to expand students’ visions.
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Art Education Janis T. Norman Chairperson and Director Pre-Certification Concentration in Art Education The teaching of art is a profession that allows for the artist-teacher’s continued growth while nurturing the aesthetic and creative experience of others. Recent national as well as statewide attention to education and to the role of the arts in education makes this an especially good time for students to consider becoming an art teacher and artist. In preparing students for careers in art education, the University is committed to the ideal of exemplary teachers who are also able to produce their own competent works. To that end, the University offers a flexible program of competency-based education at the undergraduate level to prepare students to complete a professional certification program after graduation or within a nine-semester undergraduate program. The Pre-Certification concentration is designed to be taken in conjunction with a regular studio major in the BFA program. In addition to meeting the requirements of a major studio department, students enrolled in the teacher certification program take courses in the Art Education Department, plus prescribed courses in Liberal Arts, Photography, Electronic Media, and other studio areas. These courses are taken within the general Liberal Arts and studio electives requirements. The Art Education concentration provides a strong theoretical and practical foundation for teaching as a career. Through field experiences starting in the sophomore year, the student is able to explore teaching in a variety of traditional and alternative settings. Students are also provided with the necessary competencies in teaching discipline-based Art Education through special studies in education combined with Liberal Arts coursework in Art History, Aesthetics, Social Sciences, and Psychology, plus studies in studio production and criticism. The Pre-Certification Concentration may be taken in its entirety or in part to fit individual plans and needs. Students who satisfactorily complete the program will be able to enroll directly in the Professional Semester, completing the student-teaching requirement, the PRAXIS National Teachers Exam, and qualifying for the Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate to teach Art K-12 in as little as one regular semester beyond the bachelor’s degree. Another viable alternative is that qualified graduates may enter the Master of Arts in Teaching program in which it is possible to earn a Masters degree and certification in as little as one additional year. The Pre-Certification program, if taken in conjunction with the BFA degree, allows for the majority of the concentration in Art Education to be completed within the four years required for the bachelor’s degree. Following graduation, remaining course requirements for certification may be completed in one additional professional semester, in which AE 659 Student Teaching Practicum is taken, along with AE 552: The Art of Teaching. Academic Regulations Students working toward certification are required to maintain a 3.0 cumulative average in certification coursework. Admission to the Student Teaching Practicum is by permission of the department based on satisfactory completion of all prerequisites and on evidence of promise as a teacher shown in prior coursework. A grade of «B» or better in the Student Teaching Practicum is required for recommendation for certification.
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Art Therapy Karen Clark-Schock Director Art Therapy is a new discipline within the human services professions that offers an opportunity to explore personal problems and potentials through verbal and nonverbal expression. Physical, emotional, and learning skills may be developed through therapeutic art experiences. Therapy through art recognizes art processes, forms, content, and associations as reflections of an individual’s development, personality, and conflicts. An undergraduate art college is the ideal place to begin the study of Art Therapy. At The University of the Arts the student is equipped with practical experience in art while acquiring a background in psychology, behavioral science and art therapy. While majoring in one of the studio departments of the college, the student is introduced to Art Therapy on the undergraduate level. Students who wish to enroll in the Art Therapy program register for Art Therapy courses as studio electives. Students complete all requirements in their chosen major department. At graduation, Art Therapy Concentration students will receive a certificate of completion in Art Therapy. Interested students should request an interview with the Art Therapy Director.
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Tessellations In this section, you will learn about the Dutch artist M. C. Escher and his famous tessellated designs.
Introduction Maurits Cornelis Escher, master artist and creator of tessellations, was born in Leeuwarden, Netherlands in 1898. After an aborted attempt to become an architect, Escher studied graphic art at the School for Architecture and Decorative Arts in Haarlem. Over the years and throughout his travels, he created a number of fascinating landscapes, portraits, and geometric designs, but the work for which he is most famous, his tessellations, were his main preoccupation. Since his first visit to the Alhambra in Spain in 1922, Escher was intrigued by the Moorish mosaics. Escher animated his own versions of the abstract geometrical designs he had seen. Through his extraordinary creativity and an inate understanding of the mathematics involved, Escher created hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of tessellating shapes in the form of fish, birds, dogs, crabs, insects, horses, humans, and other beasts. In this section of Totally Tessellated, you will find a variety of information about M. C. Escher, but by no means all that is available. When there is a particular reference that will supplement your studies of Escher and tessellations, the reference will be noted. Here you will find a brief bibliography, and introduction to Escher’s collective works, and a section on his tessellations, including an analysis of a selection of Escher’s best, and instructions on how to create some of your own.
Escher’s Self-Portrait
An Escher work of art
Glossary This glossary includes definitions and examples of basic terms. Please resize this window so that it is narrow, and keep it visible on your screen. It will be very helpful as you browse the site. Angle: the figure formed by two line segments meeting at a point; also refers to the space between such lines
Axis: a reference line used by a transformation such as a reflection
here, the dotted line is an axis of reflection—the line over which the shape has been reflected 95
Centroid: the «center-of-balance» of a polygon or shape; for regular polygons, the centroid is the center of the circle that could be inscribed in (drawn to fit inside) or circumscribed around (drawn to fit outside) the regular polygon
Centroid Technique: a technique for modifying existing tessellations that involves doing the following for each polygon in a tessellation: drawing a line from each vertex to or through the centroid of the polygon Congruent: the property of being identical in form, shape, and size; two figures are congruent if they can be made exactly alike through transformations (Note: Although the terms congruent and symmetry are very similar, congruent refers more to the property of being identical, while symmetry refers more to the means by which two shapes can be shown to be identical.) Cool Color: a mostly bluish or greenish color; tends to be seen further away from the eye than warm colors Degree: unit of measure for angles; amount of rotation needed to match one line segment of an angle onto the other
Demiregular Tessellation: a tessellation composed of more than one type of regular polygon such that exactly two or three polygon arrangements exist; there are fourteen semiregular tessellations
two possible diagonals Diagonal: a line between two vertices of a polygon that is not also a side of the polygon Diagonal Technique: a technique for modifying existing tessellations that involves drawing the diagonals of each polygon in a tessellation Distinct: different; two objects are distinct if they are not identical Division: a technique for modifying tessellations that involves dividing a certain shape into smaller shapes; this modification is repeated throughout the tessellation the change indicated
Dual: the tessellation formed by connecting the in orange is applied at centroids of adjacent shapes of an existing tessellation (the the bottom of the tessellation (look orange and black tessellations are duals of each other) carefully)
Equilateral Triangle: a triangle (three-sided polygon) with sides of equal lengths and angles of equal measure) Glide Reflection: a transformation performed by a reflection and a translation. Whether the reflection or translation comes first does not matter. Glide Reflectional Symmetry: symmetry when obtained by a glide reflection (animated) 96
Grids: treating tessellations as simple outlines; overlapping, rotating, and other similar modifications of grids can result in new tessellations
Heptagon: a polygon with seven sides; shown here is a regular heptagon which has sides of equal length and angles of equal measure Hexagon: a polygon with six sides; shown here is a regular hexagon which has sides of equal length and angles of equal measure; regular hexagons are very common in regular, semiregular, and demiregular tessellations Interior Angle: an angle facing the interior or inside of a polygon or shape Joining: a technique for modifying tessellations that involves joining several adjacent shapes into a larger shape; this modification is repeated throughout the tessellation
a straight line
Line: the path traced by a moving point; in tessellations, «line» usually refers to straight lines
the change indicated in orange is applied at the bottom of the tessellation (look carefully)
Midpoint: the point on a line that is the same distance from each endpoint of the line
inside of each black polygon, there is an orange polygon formed by joining the midpoints of adjacent sides of the original black polygon
Midpoint Technique: a technique for modifying existing tessellations that involves joining the midpoints of adjacent sides of each polygon in a tessellation Octagon: a polygon with eight sides; shown here is a regular octagon which has sides of equal length and angles of equal measure Offset Polygons: a technique for creating new tessellations that involves placing copies of a shape such that the sides and vertices do not align—in other words, the shapes are offset
Offset Technique: a technique for modifying tessellations that involves moving rows or columns of shapes independently of the rest of the tessellation Pattern: repeating figure; all tessellations are patterns because they repeat, but not all patterns are tessellations Pentagon: a polygon with five sides; shown here is a regular penta- this pattern is not a tessellation gon which has sides of equal length and angles of equal measure Point: a geometric object that has no length, width, nor breadth and that exists to define location; we represent points as dots
because it is not composed of distinct shapes
Polygon: a closed figure bounded by three or more straight line segments 97
Quadrilateral: a polygon with four sides; squares and rhombi are two important types of quadrilaterals Reflection: a transformation performed by plotting corresponding points on the opposite side of an axis of reflection. A corresponding point must be the same distance from the axis as its original point. Reflectional Symmetry: symmetry when obtained by a reflection Regular Polygons: polygons that have sides of equal lengths and angles of equal measures Regular Tessellation: a tessellation composed of only one type of regular polygon; the arrangement of polygons at every point is the same; three regular tessellations exist: 3.3.3.3.3.3, 4.4.4.4, 6.6.6 Rhombus: a quadrilateral (polygon with four sides) that has sides of equal lengths Rotation: a transformation performed by turning a shape around a point. This point is called a center of rotation.
Rotation Technique: a technique for modifying tessellations that involves rotating a group of shapes without disturbing the rest of the tessellation; this rotation is usually repeated throughout the tessellation Rotational Symmetry: symmetry when obtained by a rotation (animated) Semiregular Tessellation: a tessellation composed of more than one type of regular polygon such that the polygon arrangement at every vertex is the same; eight semiregular tessellations exist Shape: a closed figure or form; has a definite interior (inside) and exterior (outside)
Square: a quadrilateral (polygon with four sides) with sides of equal lengths and angles of exactly 90 degrees Symmetry: the property of being identical in form and configuration usually across a line or point (Note: Although the terms congruent and symmetry are very similar, congruent refers more to the property of being identical, while symmetry refers more to the means by which two shapes can be shown to be identical.) Tessellation: a repeating pattern of distinct shapes (see the Gallery or any part of the site for examples) Transformation: a method of changing one set of points into another; three transformations important to tessellations are reflection, rotation, translation, and glide reflection Translation: a transformation performed by simply moving a shape Translational Symmetry: symmetry when obtained by a translation
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reflectional symmetry is shown here; the black and orange shapes are identical
Trapezoid: a quadrilateral (polygon with four sides) that has two parallel sides Triangle: a polygon with three sides; an important type of triangle is the equilateral triangle which is used in many regular, semiregular, and demiregular tessellations Unit Cells: a technique for creating new tessellations that involves drawing a design within a square, equilateral triangle, or other simple figure, and duplicating this pattern in the simple gridlike fashion suggested by its outline Value: the level of brightness of a color Vertex: a point at which two line segments meet; usually associated with an angle
Warm Color: a mostly reddish or yellowish color; tends to be seen closer to the eye than cool colors This section describes techniques for creating tilings from scratch. However, it does not include the basic techniques of creating tilings from regular polygons.
Unit Cells - using equilateral triangles, squares, and regular hexagons as skeletons for new tilings Parallel Lines - using sets of parallel lines to create tilings
Offset Polygons - joining simple non-adjacent polygons to form new tilings Grids - treating existing tilings as grids and using this grids to create new tilings
This section describes techniques of modifying tilings in order to create new ones. Joining Technique - merging several polygons into a single shape Division Technique - dividing a polygon into smaller polygons Duals - connecting the centers of adjacent polygons of a tiling
Offset Technique - moving polygons slightly so that they are offset
Rotation - rotating an entire group of polygons without disturbing the rest of the tiling
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Combination of Techniques - using two or more of these techniques to create very interesting tilings
Dissection Tiling Another type of tiling of the plane, though little-known, is known as dissection tiling. Like simple tiling, dissection tiling uses polygons to tile the plane, without gaps of overlaps. But unlike simple tiling, dissection tiling has an added restriction. To form a dissection tiling, begin with a polygon. Partition or break this polygon into a collection of smaller polygonal pieces, then use these pieces to tile the plane infinitely—use them to create a standard tiling. The frequency of each smaller polygonal piece, that is, how often it occurs in the dissection tiling, must be in proportion to its area. Otherwise, one could take the original polygon, cut out a small square from the middle, discard the remainder, and just use the square to tile the plane. We hope you enjoyed the splash page. All of the images on the splash page have connections to the topic of tessellations and can be found somewhere on this site. Hopefully, your interest in the world of tessellations has been excited! In short, a tessellation is any repeating pattern of interlocking shapes. Tessellations are also sometimes known as tilings, but the word «tilings» usually refers to patterns of polygons (i.e., shapes with straight boundaries), which is a more restrictive category of repeating patterns. The definition sounds fairly simple, but the ideas involved in designing and understanding tessellations can grow very complex and interesting. This site will give you a comprehensive introduction to tessellations. It will explain the basic mathematics underlying tessellations, as well as allow you to browse through many examples of tessellations in real life. M. C. Escher and his well-known tessellations are also covered in this site. Tessellations are quite graphic-oriented, and the many images and animations throughout the site are crucial. Thus, you need a color monitor capable of displaying at least 256 colors and a web browser capable of displaying animated GIFs to make the most of this site. Such requirements are not steep, and the vast majority of users should be able to use this site without any problems. A note about animations: animations are substantially larger in file size and download time than normal images. Please allow pages to complete load before clicking on links in order to make sure that animations are loaded fully. You may scroll and read text, however, at any time. If an animation seems to be broken, click the Reload button in your browser and let the page load completely. Simply browsing this site is not enough if you want to really understand why tessellations work and how to create your tessellations. Make use of the many hands-on activities and templates provided in this site for your personal exploration of tessellations. For these, you will need access to a printer.
In Mathematics Although tessellations have been traced back to ancient human cultures and can also be found in the natural world, they have had a relatively short history as a topic for serious mathematical and scientific study. One of the first mathematical studies of tessellations was conducted by Johannes Kepler in 1619 who wrote about the regular and semiregular tessellation, which are coverings of a plane with regular polygons. However, about two hundred years passed before new scientific progress concerning tessellations was made. 100
Near the end of the nineteenth century in 1891, the Russian crystallographer E. S. Fedorov proved that every tiling of the plane is constructed in accordance to one of seventeen different groups of isometries (i.e., methods of repeating tilings over the plane). His study marked the unofficial beginning of the mathematical study of tessellations, occurring only about a hundred years ago. Progress beyond this point has resulted in advanced mathematical analyses of tilings (e.g., extending tilings to more than two dimensions and to non-Euclidean geometrical systems) which can be only hinted at in the Beyond section of this site. Prominent names and dates in this research area include the following: Shubnikov and Belov (1951); and Heinrich Heesch and Otto Kienzle (1963).
In Science Aside from being studied in mathematical or geometrical research, tessellations and tilings have been linked with x-ray crystallography. X-ray crystallography is a field of science concerned with the repeating arrangements of identical objects as found in nature, a description very similar to the geometrical definition of tessellation. Interestingly, the discoveries made in x-ray crystallography during the mid-20th century are similar to many of the discoveries the Dutch artist M. C. Escher made while formulating designs for his tessellated artwork. (See the Escher section for more details.) The symmetry issues that are so important in tessellations have shown to be relevant to quantum mechanics, the study of particles smaller than atoms. Several other scientific and engineering applications have been found for tessellations. For instance, tiling research has benefited the conservation of sheet material and reduction of scrap metal. How? The closer fitted that the objects to be cut out are, the less waste material produced. Since tessellations are perfectly fitted patterns of shapes, no waste material would be produced if the template resembled a tessellation. Other fields of research associated with tiling include geology, metallurgy, biology, and cryptology (the study of using secret codes in communication).
Introduction Suppose you were to cover a large surface (such as a floor) with little pieces of material. You would probably choose to design a repeating pattern since repeating patterns are usually more beautiful than a haphazard non-repeating one. When you finished, you would have designed a tessellation! Any repeating pattern of shapes that cover a plane without overlap is considered a tessellation. Thus, it is not surprising that tessellations and tilings can be found in many cultures, both ancient and modern.
General Information Tessellations are thousands of years old and can be found all over the world in a variety of cultures and in a variety of forms. They can be traced all the way back to the Sumerian civilization (about 4000 B.C.) in which the walls of homes and temples were decorated by designs of tessellations constructed from slabs of hardened clay. Not only did these tessellations provide decoration but they also became part of the structure of the buildings. Since then, tessellations have been found in many of the artistic elements of wide-ranging cultures including the Egyptians, Moors, Romans, Persians, Greek, Byzatine, Arabic, Japanese, and Chinese. The kinds of shapes used in the tilings vary between culture to culture. Coloring techniques, which can make tremendous differences in the overall visual effect of a tessellation, also vary from 101
culture to culture. Finally, the amount of embellishment added to the tilings varies among the artwork in each culture. For example, the Islamic religion forbids the representation of living objects in works of art. The Moors have consequently created only abstract geometrical works composed of simple shapes. Nevertheless, their works of intricate design are nothing short of breathtaking. On the other hand, Romans and other Mediterranean peoples have incorporated detailed illustrations of humans and natural scenes into their designs.
Examples Probably the best known example of tessellated patterns has been the Alhambra palace, an Islamic architectural marvel located in Granada, Spain. Its floors, walls, and ceilings are literally covered with tessellations and other repeating patterns. In recent times, tessellations have appeared on floors, walls, ceilings, and buildings, and in ceramics, clothing designs, rugs, wallpaper, and stained-glass windows. They have continued to be an art form with artists such as Maurits Escher, Victor Vasarely, and Bridget Riley, who have explored variations and extensions of tilings on the plane. Visit the historical gallery for many examples of tessellations as they have appeared in everyday life. A floor-like tiling:
Variation of actual uses of tessellations:
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Ceramic Design Group PRODUCTION SERVICES Ceramic Design Group LTD., Steamboat Springs, Colorado. We are a full service design and manufacturing facility for artists, designers, and companies requiring multiple ceramic reproductions of their work. Our range of products and services include all types of plaster and mold work, including, but not limited to, modeling, block and case molds, and working molds for your production. We can work in all types of plaster, gypsum cements, and rubber compounds. Our specialty is contract manufacturing. We can produce the necessary prototypes and samples, along with the required tooling to produce your products in bisque, or to completion as glazed ware. We can work with any available clay and at any firing temperature and atmosphere. Our extensive manufacturing abilities include jiggering, hydraulic pressing, and slip casting. A complete range of shipping options and carriers is available. Each job is quoted on an individual basis for your specific needs and requirements. Consulting, design service, tooling, mold costs and freight are separate line items and are billed above the unit cost for each piece. We respect and insure complete privacy and confidentiality of your designs, samples and products. Our confidentiality agreement extends over the complete project, whether it be an initial inquiry or an ongoing enterprise. We are a service-oriented business, dedicated to providing quality work for our clients. If we can be of further service to you, please contact us. There is no cost for a product evaluation or quotation.
A DESCRIPTION OF OUR SERVICES AND PROGRAMS DESIGN SERVICE We offer a complete design service for creating ceramic products. Often, this usually starts with your concept or idea. Perhaps you might have an object or a piece that might be incorporated into a new product of your own design. Our designers can furnish sketches, concept drawings, renderings, or full mechanical drawings for your project, as well as work with you, providing skilled input for both ease of manufacturing, as well as design. We bill on an hourly rate for this service.
PROTOTYPES Prototypes are developed from your designs, and if requested, from our input working with your in-house designers. Prototypes are hand assembled from start to finish, and all operations pertaining to this are hand done. We use a variety of forming methods, whether hand -throwing on a potter’s wheel or hand building from clay slabs. Design revisions are included in our proposal, and can be accomplished at this stage of the 103
design process only. Included in our hourly rate are all materials, firing, and finishing. Packing and shipping are additional costs.
SAMPLES After we design and build your prototypes, samples can be provided from tooling that we produce for you. In some cases, our clients provide their own tooling. Generally, samples can be manufactured in a variety of glazed surfaces to your requirements. Samples are traditionally 2-4 times the unit cost for production. Packing and shipping are, again, additional costs.
CONTRACT MANUFACTURING We offer manufacturing of your products in either bisque or glazed form. Our services include manufacturing, firing and finishing, packing and shipping. If necessary, we can inventory and warehouse your products. We can also drop ship to your vendors. We work closely with you to develop a timeline that works for you, with built-in turnaround for re-orders. A standard packing system is used for most of our clients, but in some cases, custom packing systems can be designed at an additional cost to your specifications. We offer a variety of shipping options and ship by the most economical method.
TOOLING Many clients have in-house production capabilities, and require tooling for production. We can provide tooling ranging from model only, to block and case, to working molds for casting. Jigger tooling can be provided, if your machines conform to JB Ratcliffe specs. Tooling costs are billed both by the hour, as well as by the piece, for working molds.
CONSULTATION We are pleased to offer our services for clay and glaze development, as well as for ceramic problem-solving. These services can be provided by telephone, fax, or e-mail. Our base rate applies, with a billable minimum of one hour. Credit cards are accepted.
ONLINE GALLERY
The Gallery at Ceramic Design Group Architecture and geometry are important influences behind my ceramics. This body of work, 104
entitled Neo Industrial Art Objects, includes teapots, vases, halogen lamps, platters and decorative art objects.
These pieces are all slip cast in terra cotta clay. Some forms are derived from found objects, others are hand modeled. Plaster molds are made and the pieces are cast in limited editions and then assembled. While the majority of objects in this group are decorative, they are all based on some common pottery archetypes, e.g., a teapot, a vase, or a covered vessel. References towards functional forms serve in both a historical and a contemporary context.
The surface on this body of work is built up by first spraying multiple layers of ceramic underglaze and glaze. By varying the air pressure, distance of the spray gun, and the color sequence, depth, color, and surface texture are produced. After an initial firing, the surface is further embellished with additional glazes, wax-based metallic pigments, gold and silver inks, graphic transfers, or acrylic paints. Patterns are produced by airbrush, using stencils, masking, or resists.
The work is fired in excess of 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, which causes the ceramic colors to fuse permanently on the surface of the clay. While these colors are vitreous, they differ from glossy glaze in that their surface is mat and dry. They are a different type of fired glass.
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Journalism Unsurpassed health care journalism When you put your name on one of Coffey Communications, Inc.’s, publications, that’s a decision you take very seriously — and so do we. It’s not enough these days to just present information in an attractive, easy-to-read package. That’s why the writers and editors at Coffey Communications go the extra mile to make sure the health and health care information we offer follows exacting standards of scientific accuracy and depth of coverage. Coffey Communications’ original, copyrighted stories are never «clipped» from other sources. Our team of medical journalists always takes the time to research and interview only the best sources, then we write reader-friendly stories with your intended audience in mind. Our editorial services staff includes more than 30 editors, writers, researchers and fact checkers. Here some of these staff members will show you why you can be confident in quality when you put your name on HEALTH SCENE®, KEEPING WELL®, SENIOR EDITION® or any of Coffey Communications’ other publications. · Editorial philosophy Meet Barbara Kaplan, our Pulitzer Prize-winning editor in chief. She will introduce you to an unmatched editorial philosophy and process. · Sources and writing Marjorie Reece, a staff writer, will explain the writing process and the importance of sources and experience in providing effective content. She will also tell you how attending up to 40 medical conferences helps us develop our stories. · Ensuring accuracy Kevin Waite, one of our senior staff editors, will walk you through the steps we take to make the story clear, enjoyable and accurate. · Design and art styles Dave Dougherty is an art director and illustrator. He will outline the process of developing compelling art and page design, including links to several art styles.
Selecting the best art styles Sometimes conveying complex information in simple sentences and pictures is the most challenging task of all, say writers and editors. That’s often where Coffey Communications’ artists, designers and illustrators come in. These talented staff members produce eye-catching pages that actually help readers understand story ideas. Meet Dave Dougherty, senior art director. All of Coffey Communications’ publications contain original art, illustrations and photos. And Dougherty is a part of the process from beginning to end.
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Sometimes conveying complex information in simple sentences and pictures is the most challenging task of all. Q: Explain the process of art creation for a publication. A: The process is really not complicated. Generally I start with a stack of articles from the editor, although occasionally I will get involved before the article is written. I try to spend the better part of a day coming up with graphic ideas. That can be the challenging part. Then the editor, a photographer and sometimes the writer, as well as myself, get together for an art conference. We’ll go through each article and everybody throws out their ideas. When everyone has agreed on an idea, I take it from there. I may refine the idea a bit more on my own, and as I go through the layout process, I try to visualize how the art is going to look on the page. Once I’ve got an idea of proportions and size of art, I will sit down and give out photo and art assignments. Generally I like to assign a certain amount of art to myself, because for me, that’s the most enjoyable part. As the art and photos come in, there may be changes. Photos may need to be reshot. But with our inhouse photographers, it makes it a little bit easier to reshoot or even go on a shoot with a photographer. After all of the artwork is in, we have what is called a page review conference. Here the page proofs are presented to representatives from other departments who will be involved in some manner later on. The purpose is not only to catch potential problems but to find ways of making the publication even better. Then you hope and pray that the clients are thrilled with the final product. Q: What is the goal when designing a page? A: It’s got to somehow make the article come alive. It needs to illustrate what the article is about so it’s more understandable and easier to read or relate to. Here are some sample illustration styles we might use: Conceptual art As you can imagine, some topics are much more difficult than others. I start with the wording and try to get some clues by how the article starts out or by the headlines. Words in the story or creative angles in the headlines are often springboards for conceptual art. Infographics Some articles are more technical in nature and it seems quite apparent that an infographic, showing the mechanics or process of how something works, is what is needed. Medical illustrations This is becoming a larger share of the type of art we do. Partly because we’ve got some excellent freelance medical illustrators as well as good in-house illustrators who are very capable of handling this type of art. Contemporary styles If the subject doesn’t necessarily point to a certain style, it leaves the door open to try something that’s a little more on the contemporary side. Or even a nostalgic look. My goal is to have as broad a variety as possible within the limits of that publication’s character. Photography A photograph captures feelings and emotions that people can quickly relate to. Photographs can be stylized as a part of a dramatic illustration or presented realistically to provide a human touch in a layout.
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Photography Fine Art Photography
How to «Read» a Photograph
Nancy Schieferstein
Southern Images
Tom Wachs
Kelly Eckel
Basic Strategies in Reading Photographs Of course, you know what you like. But would you like to know more about how a photograph is composed? By learning what visual elements the artist uses to communicate with you, you may appreciate better why you like or don’t like a particular work of art. In the presentation below, the concepts are illustrated with photographic works.
Objective: · To develop visual literacy · Learn the basic vocabulary used in formal analyses in the visual arts · Combine content information with formal analysis to «read» (analyze) photographs To enhance your appreciation of photography it is necessary to develop the skills to make careful visual analysis. While everyone can easily discuss the contents of photographs («what you see»), most need more training to learn about formal analysis used in the visual arts. Formal analysis focuses on an artwork’s «formal» qualities, or those visual elements that give it form. These include: shape, size, texture, line, space, etc. Formal analysis provides a basic common language in the visual arts. However, a description of a photograph based only on formal analysis would be incomplete. Photographers make decisions both about composition (arrangement of visual elements) as well as content (meaning) when taking photographs. Consequently, it is important to consider the artist’s intentions for making a photograph of a particular subject. Finally, the historical and social context in which a photograph was made must also be carefully considered. An important note: each image offers a variety of interpretations. Therefore, the information provided in this resource for each photograph should be regarded as a starting point for discussion and not as a conclusive interpretation. There is no one correct answer when interpreting works of art. We encourage you to carefully examine photographs to develop your skills for analyzing photographs and to explore your own personal interpretations.
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General Vocabulary Used in Photography The following words are the basic vocabulary used in describing photographs. abstract: an image that emphasizes formal elements (line, shape, etc) rather than specific, recognizable objects.
content: the subject, topic or information captured in a photograph.
direct approach: confronting a scene in a straight-forward manner, without using unusual angles or distortion. Documentary photography: photographs whose main purpose is to record a place, person(s) or event. Expressive: concerned with communicating emotion.
Geometric shape: simple rectilinear or curvilinear shapes found in geometry, such as circles, squares, triangles, etc. intention: reason(s) why the artist made a work of art.
Landscape: an image that portrays the natural environment.
objective: a point of view free from personal bias, which attempts to consider all available information with equal regard and fairness.
organic shape: shapes based on natural objects such as trees, mountains, leaves, etc. representational: an image which shows recognizable objects.
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subject: the main object or person(s) in a photograph.
theme: a unifying or dominant idea in one work of art or in a collection of works.
Visual Elements Practice the use of these words by asking the following questions: focus: what areas appear clearest or sharpest in the photograph? What do not?
light: what areas of the photograph are most highlighted? Are there any shadows? Does the photograph allow you to guess the time of day? Is the light natural or artificial? Harsh or soft? Reflected or direct?
line: are there objects in the photograph that act as lines? Are they straight, curvy, thin, thick? Do the lines create direction in the photograph? Do they outline? Do the lines show movement or energy?
repetition: are there any objects, shapes or lines which repeat and create a pattern?
shape: do you see geometric or organic shapes? What are they?
space: is there depth to the photograph or does it seem shallow? What creates this appearance? Are there important negative spaces in addition to positive spaces? Is there depth created by spatial illusions?
texture: if you could touch the surface of the photograph how would it feel? How do the objects in the picture look like they would feel?
value: is there a range of tones from dark to light? Where is the darkest value? Where is the lightest?
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Composition of the Photograph The words here will allow you to think about how visual elements combine within a photograph to create a composition. angle: the vantage point from which the photograph was taken; generally used when discussing a photograph taken from an unusual or exaggerated vantage point.
background: the part of a scene or picture that is or seems to be toward the back. balance: the distribution of visual elements in a photograph. Symmetrical balance distributes visual elements evenly in an image. Asymmetrical balance is found when visual elements are not evenly distributed in an image.
central focus: the objects(s) which appears most prominently and/or most clearly focused in a photograph. composition: the arrangement or structure of the formal elements that make up an image.
contour: the outline of an object or shape.
contrast: strong visual differences between light and dark, varying textures, sizes, etc.
framing: what the photographer has placed within the boundaries of the photograph.
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setting: actual physical surroundings or scenery whether real or artificial.
vantage point: the place from which a photographer takes a photograph.
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Home decor The Americas : San Francisco - Guadalajara THE AMERICAS 1100 Folsom Street San Francisco The Americas is a San Francisco based wholesaler, retailer and manufacturer of quality home decor products designed and produced by us at our facility in Guadalajara, Mexico. The Americas has been providing hundreds of retail outlets and restaurants with solid pine furniture, wrought iron, pottery and glassware since 1986. We can custom manufacture to specification and also stock thousands of handmade home decor items at our outlet in downtown San Francisco. We search all over Mexico for the very best in hand made home decor and accessories. On the pages below you will find what we think are some of the best values in home decor. Everything is hand made, hand finished and we always buy direct to get the very prices for you. The Americas stocks thousands of home decor items everyday in our San Francisco location. Pine furniture, metal furniture, glassware, pottery, metal accent pieces, wine racks, mirrors and more. While much of our stock is one-of-a-kind or limited production items, we have chosen some of the most popular items to display here. Furniture - We stock hundreds of solid pine furniture pieces in our warehouse everyday. Some of our best sellers are featured here. Solid pine tables, chairs, armoirs, dressers and more. Glassware - We work with 10 different glass blowing factories to bring you the best prices on handblown drinking glasses, pitchers and vases. As all pieces are handblown, sizes and colors may vary slightly from the photos shown. It is all part of the charm of quality glass! Pottery - Pottery has been produced in Mexico for all most 500 years. Completely hand painted, each piece is an unique work of art. Suns, moons, flowers and complex geometric patterns make Mexican pottery some of the most beautiful pottery in the world for the price. Accessories - We travel all over Mexico looking for the very best in home decor. Working with hundreds of artists, we produce the very best items on the market, hand produced with techniques hundreds of years old. Browse this section for a taste of the best of Mexico.
CHAIRS Our chairs are made of 100% aged pine. There are no pressed woods or laminates, only solid pine chairs that will give you years and years of enjoyment and use. Our chairs are made by a group of carpenters that produce quality chairs at very reasonable prices. We buy every chair that they make and lovingly finish them here in San Francisco. All chairs include our custom finishes and all chairs are available for only: $70.00 Each! Styles are listed below. Custom manufacturing available on orders of 100 or more. Price breaks available at 20, 50, and 100 chairs.
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TABLES Old world craftsmanship and our manufacturing process make our tables a great deal in two ways. First, our tables are hand crafted by a single workshop that produces nothing but various designs of dining tables, coffee and sofa tables. Hand turned legs, extra thick tops and useful side drawers all add up to functional and beautiful tables that will last for generations and wear wonderfully. Second, because we control the workshop and production, we are able to keep our costs down and offer all this quality for a fraction of what you would pay in a regular store.
Each table (and our table/chair sets) include custom finishing. All tables are normally sanded very smooth before the final color/wax finishing. We are able to provide more rustic finishes upon request. Some of our most popular styles of drinking glasses are featured on this page. We stock over 60 different designs of drinking glasses in our outlet everyday, and we have featured the most popular designs here. All drinking glasses come in sets of 4 and are matched as closely as hand blown glassware allows. Prices include shipping within the 48 States.
Blue Rim Tumblers - Large tumblers that hold over 16 ozs. of your favorite beverage. Each is hand blown with a cobalt blue rim. Green Rim Tumblers - Just like the blue rim except these have a rich green color to the rim.
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Confetti Wine Glass - Not your average wine glasses. These wine glasses have specks of blues and green mixed throughout the glass. Each one is unique. Confetti Goblet Glass - Extra wide mouth and overall large drinking glasses perfect for water during the meal and desserts after! Tortoise Wine Glass- Amber color and dark specs give these glasses the look of tortoise shell. Perfect for your favorite red or white wine, or any other drink too! The Americas sells merchandise to hundreds of retailers in the United States. Sometimes we produce special orders that have been made solely for that company, in large quantities. Every so often we have overruns on a particular item. The items featured on this page are overruns and the original per piece retail that the chain store charged is listed.
Alebrige - Hand carved from wood and approx. 10" High. Made in Oaxaca in Southern Mexico. Original retail: $65.00. Cat Frames - Hand painted in Oaxaca, Mexico. Each holds a 4x6" Picture. Assorted colors. Original retail: $15.00 ea.
Ant - Hand carved from wood and hand painted, these ants measure approx. 5" long. Each is unique. Original retail: $20.00 ea. Pigs - These pigs are big, almost 10" long from snout to curly tail. They come in assorted colors and will lighten up any decor. We have 150 pigs left in stock. Original retail: $28.00 Ea.
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Miracle Frame - The frames are produced in a small village north of Mexico City. There are 20-30 small metal pieces each representing prayers for miracles or "milagros". We purchased these from a wholesale client who over ordered. The original price tickets are still on them showing a $24.00 retail each. Each frame holds a 4x6" photo. Original retail: $24.00 Ea. Talavera Sun/Moon Candle Sticks - Oops! We forgot to cancel the balance of an order we had placed for 1,600 of these handpainted candlesticks from Central Mexico. Each is slightly different, but all have a sun/moon design and stand about 9" high. We have 200 sets left and are selling them at 50% off the retail price (which is still on the bottom of each piece) of $15.00 ea.
Gecko and Armadillo Candleholder - These candleholders can hang on the wall or rest on the edge of a table. Made from handcut and handpainted tin, each candleholder is about 12" long and has dozens of tiny holes in the design to allow the light to come shinning through. We made these for a national garden store and have about 150 sets left. They were sold in the chain for $15.00 ea. We are selling them in sets of two, one gecko and one matching armadillo for $ 15.00 for the pair. Order 3 sets and we'll ship for the same price! Original retail $15.00 Ea. Many times while producing orders for our wholesale customers we have overruns that we are able to sell for a fraction of what other stores charge for hand blown glass of this quality. Each of these colorful vases, jars and bowls is made by a craftsman using techniques thousands of years old, but with designs and colors that are very today! All pieces are priced individually (unless otherwise stated), and prices include shipping within the 48 states.
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Cone Vase - These 14" high vases are perfect for displaying your favorite cut flowers. Each is made in a style called crackel, in which the glass finish has fine web like cracks running throughout the piece. This does not effect the quality or durability of the item. We have them in both GREEN and PURPLE. Original retail was $48.00. Candy Dish - Made from an amber colored glass, these cone shaped bowls have a heavy base built in that gives them height above the table. A darker color amber swirl is blown throughout the piece. Originally made for Pier 1 Imports, we have them for 35% less then they sold them for. Original retail $35.00.
Confetti Serving Bowl - Each of these bowls is made from heavy hand blown glass and has speckels of blue and green throughout. They are about 8" in diameter and 3" deep. We are selling them in sets of 2 for $20.00. Original retail $18.00 Ea. Milk Glass Bud Vase - Each of these bud vases is made from "Milk Glass". Milk glass is named so because of the milky appearance of the colors used, and tiny swirls found in each piece. The vases stand about 6" high and are 2" deep. We are selling them in sets of 2 for only $18.00. That includes shipping! Original retail: $14.00 Ea.
PITCHERS These large and roomy pitchers are the perfect companions to our drinking glasses. Each piece is made from pure glass that is hand blown by master craftsmen in Central Mexico. Prices for these pitchers include ship ping within the 48 States.
Cobalt Water Pitcher - Holds enough lemonade for a couple of servings on a hot summer day (margaritas too!). Thick glass construction ensures years of enjoyment. Tall Water Pitcher - The size makes it stand out (about 12" tall), but the contrasting green handle sets it apart. Ribbed sides give it a semi-formal look. Goes great with our blue and green rim drinking glasses. 117
Ice Bucket - You can tell from the photo that this ice bucket is thick, which means your ice cubes will stay ice that much longer. Hand blown from cobalt blue glass, we got a special purchase on these items and have about 40 left in stock. We are making a special offer on these hand blown ice buckets for only $26.00. You won't find a better made crystal glass ice bucket for twice the price!
PAPER FLOWERS Paper mache' fruits and flowers have been a popular item in Mexico for years. We work with a small workshop in Central Mexico which produces what we think are the very finest flowers and fruits and vegetables on the market. We can offer these items to you at great prices because we work directly with them. There are over two dozen types of fruit and vegetables available. Feel free to mix and match. Price breaks on all items are available.
SUNFLOWERS - Handcut paper leaves around a realistic looking face make these sunflowers a great standout in any decor. People won't be able to believe they are not real. Each measures 8" across and are about 24" tall. We price them at $5.00 Ea., 6 for $24.00, and 12 for $42.00. CALALILY- A beautiful white calalily with a great 20" green stem. The flowers measure over 26" in total height. They will look great for years, and best of all, they never need water!
PAPER FRUIT & VEGETABLES We carry over two dozen types of paper mache’ fruit and vegetables. We will be showing the photos shortly. Each piece is only $2.50 ea./Min. 6 assorted
FURNITURE We oversee the manufacture of every piece of furniture in our San Francisco Showroom from our offices in Guadalajara, Mexico. All of the furniture is made from solid pine and hand finished to your specifications. We stock hundreds of pieces of furniture in our showroom in San Francisco and ship to all parts of the United States and Canada. · CHAIRS Solid pine, hand-crafted chairs, custom finished and all only $70 each! · TABLES Solid pine, hand-crafted in a dozen sizes and styles, all built to last generations. Prices start at just $295. All custom finished to your specifications. We stock over 3,000 pieces of handblown glassware everyday. Drinking glasses are sold in sets of 4 only. Prices are for the set. All other glassware is sold by the piece unless otherwise noted. 118
Prices include UPS ground shipping in the 48 States. Drinking Glasses - We carry over 60 designs of drinking glasses, all hand blown by artisans in Mexico. Each glass is dishwasher and food safe. They are sold in sets of 4, and prices include shipping. Pitchers - The perfect companions to our drinking glasses. Big and durable, these hand blown pitchers are wonderful for a outdoor cookout, or an indoor party. Flower Vases and Jars - Large or small, these colorful glass pitchers are a beautiful way to display fresh or dried flowers, candies or as stand alone works of art.
POTTERY We travel all over Mexico looking for the very best in TALAVERA POTTERY handpainted pottery. The Mexican people have a rich tradition of producing pottery and folk art, and these combinations produce some of the best quality, lowest priced pottery around. We have listed pottery below by type and will be adding more as our website grows. In addition to the pieces shown, we also stock hundreds of other pieces in the store. Call us at 1-800-ARTIFAX (1-800-278-4329) to discuss what other pieces we have available.
SUN CANDLEHOLDERS We found the great sun faced candleholders in a small village in Central Mexico. Each glass sun face is hand cast, and then centered in a base of handforged metal. The candleholder is then handpainted. They hold votive sized candles, and cast wonderful shadows when lit. Sun Candleholders number 1-6 are about 14" tall, numbers 7 and 8 are about 10" tall.
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Arriving in Vienna Arriving by Plane Your plane will come down in Vienna International Airport located about 20km (16 miles) east of Vienna. · Taxi - The most easiest way, but also the most expensive... - a taxi from the airport to Vienna will cost 340,- Austrian Schilling. (about U$ 32,-) · Express Bus - Every 20min. to Vienna airport terminal Landstrasse-Hauptstrasse (near Hilton Hotel) · ATS 70,-/person (about U$ 6,50), and from there by subway, tramway or taxi. · From the airport are also connections to the main railway-stations available. · Train - The cheapest way by rapid transit (S-Bahn) to Wien Mitte (29 minutes journey) in 30 minutes intervals from 00.07 (a.m.) to 23.37 (p.m.). · Car Rental - all main car rental companies are available. · Mobil-Phone Rental - you can rent your "handy" for the time of your stay. · Hotel Booking - There is a tourist information, which can find you the "in the moment-available" rooms. · Money Changing - Usually there is an opened bank as long as regular flights are arriving. · But you will find also currency-change-machines and machines accepting creditcards.
Arriving by Train The main railway-stations are "Westbahnhof" (arriving from west), "Süd- & Ostbahnhof" (arriving from south and east), and "Franz-Josefs Bahnhof" (arriving from north). You will find bus-connections to the other main railway-stations and to the airport, and you can reach your hotel by taxi, tramway or subway. · Hotel Booking - There are tourist informations, which can find you the "in the moment-available" rooms. · Money Changing - Creditcard-machines or banks, if you arrive at office-time.
Arriving by Car Entering the Vienna area look for a green sign showing a "i" - this means: "Tourist Information", where you can get a map or a hotel room info. Or try to find a main railway-station ("Bahnhof"). If you are parking your car, take care if this is a short-time parking zone. You will have to fill out parking-tickets, which you can buy in a so-called "Trafik" (small shop for newspapers, cigarettes, postcards, etc.). For using austrian highways you have to buy a "Vignette" (using-permission).
General Exchanging cash and travellers' cheques is rarely a problem in Austria. Changing cash attracts 120
a negligible commission but the exchange rate is usually 1% to 4% lower than for cheques. Hotel and restaurant bills include a service charge, but hotel porters and cleaning staff usually expect something for their services. It is also customary to tip in restaurants and cafes. Round up smaller bills and add an extra 5% to 10% to larger ones: simply say the total amount you want them to take when handing over the money (it's not usual to leave the tip on the table). Taxi drivers will expect around 10% extra. Tour guides, cloakroom attendants and hairdressers are also usually tipped. Bargaining is not common except in flea markets, but you can try for a discount if paying for major purchases in cash instead by creditcards and it never hurts to haggle for a better hotel rate in the low season if you're staying for more than a few days. Summer sightseeing and winter sports make Austria a year-round destination. The summer high season is in July and August, when crowds will be bigger and prices higher. It can be uncomfortably hot in the cities over summer and many famous institutions close down. Consequently, June and September are also busy months. During winter you'll find things less crowded in the cities and the hotel prices lower (except over Christmas and Easter). Winter sports are in full swing from mid-December to late March with the high season over Christmas, New Year and February. Alpine resorts are very quiet from late April to late May and in November. Spring in the Alps is in June, when the Alpine flowers start coating the mountains with colour.
A City of Empire Retains Her Glory Part I - The «Hofburg» Once the seat of a sprawling empire of fifty million, now capital of a nation of less than eight million, Vienna has maintained a facade worthy of its former glory. Opulent neo-Gothic and neo-Baroque buildings line the boulevard ringing downtown - the "Ringstrasse", a former city wall - while the imposing spire of Gothic St. Stephen's Cathedral towers over the central city. Three stunning palaces grace various sections of the city; the Vienna Woods, inspiration for Strauss' waltzes, cradle the northwest edge. Vienna's historical roots run deep, as deep as the Danube River. First settled by Celts around 800 BC, then conquered by the Romans, the country fell under a succession of rulers. In Roman times Vienna (Vindobona) was a military camp and the Danube was the border to "Germania". In 996 the first deed containing the name Austria (Ostarrichi); was recorded, and this year the country celebrates its 1000th anniversary. During those early days, the country grew under the relatively peaceful reign of the Babenberg dynasty and Vienna got the status of a capital. But this dynasty died out in 1246, and was followed by the Habsburg dynasty that would rule the Austrian and the German Empire for more than 600 years and make the country the dominant force in Central Europe for much of that time. And as the Habsburg ruled also in Spain, which largely expanded to South America, the Habsburg could say: 121
«In our empire the sun does never set» Shortly before the Habsburg era crumbled with the country's defeat in World War I, the Austro-Hungarian Empire stretched north into what are now Poland and the Czech Republic, east to the Ukraine and Romania, and south to Bosnia, Croatia and Italy. But the vestiges of that great empire still can be seen today - in the buildings that decorate the street corners and in the people who populate the town. The main Habsburg palace, Hofburg, remains one of the most important buildings in the inner city (downtown). Its earliest sections were constructed in the 1200s, and successive rulers added their own touches. Over the years the Hofburg ("royal castle") developed into a sprawling complex of more than 2600 rooms. The royal apartments most reflect the influence of Empress Elisabeth "Sisi", who ruled over the empire with her husband, Francis Joseph, until her assassination in 1898 by an Italian anarchist. Sisi, a Bavarian (German) princess, couldn't abide strict court etiquette, and caused quite a stir by insisting on outfitting her apartments with gymnastics equipment. Emperors and their entourage, just like everybody else, needed appropriate living quarters. Since they had enough ready money at their disposal and the most famous architects at their command, it is not surprising that one stumbles upon architectural masterpieces wherever one turns in Vienna. Some of its wings embrace one of Vienna's most beautiful squares - the Heldenplatz; in addition to sumptuous state rooms, the Hofburg houses several museums and the Schatzkammer containing the priceless imperial treasury. The Imperial Palace also includes two of Vienna's most important tourist attractions: the inimitable Lipizzans, the White Stallions of the Spanish Riding School, established in the late 1500s, the performance has changed little over the years, as the striking white Lippizaner stallions are put through their paces, often to the strains of one of Austria's beloved composers. And on Sundays and holidays, the world-famous Vienna Boys' Choir sing Mass and perform classical and modern works in the Chapel of the Imperial Palace, the Burgkapelle. Also located in the Hofburg: The National Library, the 14th-century Augustinian Church, the Baroque Prunksaal hall, large congress facilities, a collection of old musical instruments and the office of the Austrian president.
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Part II - The "Ringstrasse" and other Imperial Monuments The Habsburg emperors once ruled a huge empire from Vienna. The city is still dominated by the castles and places of the imperial seat. Every year hundreds of thousands come to marvel at "The Place in the Country" - Habsburg's magnificent "imperial summer residence" Schönbrunn Palace. Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the demolition of the city walls 130 years ago. When most of the old city walls had to be removed in the middle of the nineteenth century, a majestic tree-lined boulevard circling the old part of the city was erected in their place. Since then, «the Ring» has become a prime showcase for most of Vienna’s architectural attractions: the two imposing museums (Fine Arts and Natural History) are gazed upon by a stature of Empress Maria Theresa; Parliament with a marble statue of Pallas Athena; the most important German-language theater, the National Theatre (Burgtheater); Vienna’s renowned University; and two marvelous examples of neo-Gothic architecture: City Hall (Rathaus) with its splendid park and the Votive Church (Votivkirche) with its double spires that seem to be made of fine lace; several imposing ministry buildings; and finally, the resplendent State Opera House, which reopened completely renovated in 1955 after it had been almost totally destroyed during the last war.
The Votiv Church was built by Maximilian, brother of Franz Josef and Emperor of Mexico, in memory of an assassination against Franz Josef in this park area. He was attacked with a knife against the throat. But the uniform had such stiff collar, that the knife didn’t get through....
St.Stephan’s
Karls Church at Karlsplatz
Giant Ferris Wheel 123
Churches played a major role in catholic Austria. Surprising as it may seem, a few were built even before the Habsburgs were on the horizon - Vienna’s oldest church, St. Rupert’s (Rupechtskirche), is one example; another, majestic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, existed before the Habsburgs, but was not transformed to its present Gothic beauty until the Habsburgs came along; for many centuries now, it has been the landmark of Vienna. Due to its location in the middle of the old city, it has become a focal point as well as a favorite meeting place. There are some who consider magnificent St. Charles Borromeo (Karlskirche), with its green cupola, one of the finest examples of baroque architecture in all of Europe. The Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel) was build for a world exposition at the ending 19th century. It is today a must to take a slow 10min ride and to have a wonderful view of Vienna center.
Hundertwasserhaus Alternativ Architecture in Vienna Friedensreich Hundertwasser was born in 1928 in Vienna as Friedrich Stowasser. He changed his name in 1949 into Hundertwasser. His education was just a three months visit to the viennese acadamy of art in 1948. So he is in fact an autodidact. In the years 1949-1952 he travels a lot to Marokko, Tunis, Paris and to the Toskana. These travels gave him decisive influences and experiences for his future artistic work. In 1951 he joins the «Art-Club» of Vienna, where he has his first exposition. At that time his work is dominated by decorative abstract forms. In 1953 he finds the spiral as his most expressive motive. In 1959 he is a lecturer in Hamburg in the university of educational art. Many expositions, making naked speeches, and his revolutionary ecological ideas make him more and more famous. Today especially his architectural works are world famous. He works and lives in Vienna and New Zealand.
Hundertwasser believes that man should live more in harmony with nature. Our buildings should contribute to our environment and our living space should resemble the environment we evolved in. To that end, he plants quite a few trees to grow out of buildings and the floors are quite irregular - three-dimensional surfaces.
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The Palmers Story ... ... or how a public scandal lead to a new femal self-esteem. Austria's leading underwear producer Palmers introduced 1981 a complete new line in advertising. The new campaign caused a hot scandal and especially the feministic scene felt mighty shaked up. The advertising was a signal that a new understanding was arising, but first not everybody agreed. Nobody could foresee all the emotions and reactions which were caused by the public posters. The poster was cause, stimulus and multiplicator. The feminists revolted ... - "no woman can fulfill the expectations of these messages..." - this was their "deeper" reason to spray the posters with slogans and to hold demonstrations. But finally it took the other course - it induced a kind of self-confidence. Feministic slogans could not longer irritate young and self-confident women. Underwear has become a visible expression of body consciousness! The public scandal turned into a female liberation and emancipation, and encouraged the femals to emphasize their beauty. Posters are a visualized speech of the "outside". They are just there, as a community institution and part of the urban scenery. Palmers posters have become very closed to every day art. It is no longer the placement of a company's name or the advertising for underwear, it has become "art of the streets". Maybe somedays they will be exposed in a museum. They are a sign for quality and sensuality. And they are indeed a kind of entertainment. Palmers creation was the "Triptychon". The poster divided into three, and one as the "eyecatcher". 1989 Tatjana Patitz
1990 Naomi Campbell
1990 Cindy Crawford
1991 Helena Christensen
1993 Nadja Auermann
1998 Carre Otis
The poster as a cultural factor. Art and advertising are unseparably linked. It can effect shock, agression or surprise. Palmers advertising is no more a scandal today, it is more a style for what can we expect and for self-confidence and it is an expression of wishes and pleasure. And today it seems that the people are already waiting for every new poster. And women are proudly wearing this underwear!
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Otto Wagner 18th Century - La Fin de Siecle - Art Nouveaux Architecture Art Nouveaux and Art Deco in architecture was on its peak in the period of the turning century betwen 1880 and 1920. Most of Otto Wagner's buildings are famous and unique and have become extraordinary sights. The city of Vienna as "Testing Ground of Modernism" has provided in turn-of-the-century a very special "climate" with developments in music, painting, philosophy, physics, psychology and architecture. Today well known people like Ludwig Boltzmann, Sigmund Freud, Mahler, Klimt, or Otto Wagner created very progressive and unique styles and ideologies, which have been the basics of many other following developments and still enjoy a great fame and popularity. It was Otto Wagner and his gifted students, Josef Hoffmann and Josef Olbrich, who led the attempt to modernize architecture and interior furnishings. All three were founding members of the Vienna Secession which broke away from the ultraconservative Künstlerhaus in May, 1897. Olbrich was chosen to design their celebrated exhibition hall (kunsthalle) renowned for its large spiracle cupola of openwork leaves. Completely restored, the building is still used for art exhibitions and has become a famous Vienna landmark. The influences of this style are various. It seems to be a mixture of classic greek, some jewish, some chinese and japanese, some french baroque, oriental elements... and finally the viennese flair....
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Post Office main hall and outdoor front, located near Ringstrasse and Schwedenplatz. On the right Church "am Steinhof" in the park area of the hospital "Baumgartner Höhe". Below decorated appartmenthouses at "linke Wienzeile" near "Naschmarkt".
Decorated Facade
Golden Facade
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Definitions for the Elements and Principles of Art All definitions, except where noted, are from pages 92-94 of the California Visual and Performing Arts Framework. Color Visual sensation dependent on the reflection or absorption of light from a given surface ("hue," "value," and "intensity" being the primary characteristics). Line An identifiable path of a point moving in space. It can vary in width, direction, and length. Value Light and dark; the gradations of light and dark on the surface of objects Shape A two-dimensional area or plane that may be organic or inorganic, free-form or geocentric, open or closed, natural or of human origin. Form A three-dimensional volume with the same qualities as "Shape" (above), or the illusion of three dimensions Balance An equilibrium of similar, opposing, or contrasting elements that together create a unity. Texture The surface quality of material, either actual (tactile) or visual. Symmetry A balance in which elements are alike and will appear to demand one another as a line that falls in one direction demands a line that falls in another direction. Asymmetry A balance achieved through the use of unequal parts or elements. Contrast Use of opposites in close proximity (light and dark, rough and smooth). Dominance The difference in importance or emphasis of one aspect in relation to all other aspects of a design. Repetition The recurrence of elements at regular intervals. Rhythm The regular repetition of particular forms or stresses; also, the suggestion of motion. Theme and Variation 128
Some dominant feature repeated with variations to give the work its dominant character. Unity The distinguishable units or elements that seem to belong to each other so that each contributes something to the functioning of the whole. Aesthetic Perception Goal I: To develop and expand aesthetic perception in students so that they may: · Increase aesthetic awareness of visual and tactile qualities in works of art, nature, events, and objects within the total environment. · See the world directly and metaphorically by perceiving the physical world in terms of visual and tactile images and symbols which are unique to the visual arts. Creative Expression - Artistic Knowledge and Skills Goal II: To develop and expand visual arts knowledge and skills to express ideas imaginatively, students must be able to: · Acquire artistic skills to express and communicate responses to experiences. · Recognize the importance of personal experiences and respect the originality in their own visual expressions and in the artwork of others. · Develop manipulative and organizational skills in using visual arts media effectively to translate ideas, feelings, and values. Visual Arts Heritage - Historical and Cultural Goal III: To acquire knowledge of historical and cultural developments which occur as a result of varying needs and aesthetic points of view, students will be able to: · Study a variety of artworks and accomplishments of contemporary, historic, and prehistoric cultures. · Understand that art reflects, records, and shapes history and plays a role in every culture. · Gain an understanding of their creative abilities and their artistic heritage within the context of a comprehensive world view. · Clarify their own aesthetic values and learn to appreciate differences in the aesthetic values of others. Aesthetic Valuing - Analysis, Interpretation, and Judgment Gaol IV: To develop a base for making informed aesthetic judgments students will be able to: · Make informed responses to works of art, nature and other objects within the total environment by using objective criteria for anylysis, interpretation, and judgment. · Derive meaning and value from experiences by making and justifying judgments about aesthetic qualities in works of art and other objects within the total environment. · Use analysis, interpretation, and judgment about visual relationships based on learned aesthetic values to improve art production.
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Cultural Entomology
Flower Fairies Numerous artists have found inspiration through the wings of butterflies and the symbolic weight they carry. The most cherished artist in the category of illustrating fairies with lepidopteran wings is British artist, Cicely Mary Barker. Her illustrations are as popular today as she was in 1923 when she first published her “Flower Fairy” books. Though she died in 1973, her fairies live on in the hearts and imaginations of children and adults around the world. Cicely’s timeless watercolors capture an exuberance of innocence, playfulness and joy. Each flower fairy becomes the fanciful anthropomorphic representative of a British flower. They bear a pair of insect wings and wear a costume fashioned in the likeness of its associated flower. Although most of the wings are butterfly-like, few of them mimic the actual patterns found on British butterflies. Rather, they have metamorphosed into hybrids which also mimic their associated flower. Cicely’s illustrations are accompanied with the song of the specific flower fairy. The songs poetically reveal natural history relating to the flower’s appearance, habitat, lifecycle and special characteristics. The reader may relate to Cicely’s work on numerous levels ranging from natural history, through appreciation of British heritage, to fantasy and imagination.
Poppy Fairy
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Daisy Fairy
Lavender Fairy
Clover Fairy
The Song of the Poppy Fairy The green wheat’s a-growing, The lark sings on high; In scarlet silk a-glowing, Here stand I. The wheat’s turning yellow, Ripening for sheaves; I hear the little fellow Who scares the bird-thieves. Now the harvest’s ended, The wheat-field is bare; But still, red and splendid, I am there. The Song of the Michaelmas Daisy Fairy “Red Admiral, Red Admiral, I’m glad to see you here, Alighting on my daisies one by one! I hope you like their flavour and although the Autumn’s near, Are happy as you sit there in the sun?” “I thank you very kindly, sir! Your daisies are so nice, So pretty and so plentiful are they; The flavour of their honey, sir, it really does entice; I’d like to bring my brothers, if I may!” “Friend butterfly, friend butterfly, go fetch them one and all! I’m waiting here to welcome every guest; And tell them it is Michaelmas, and soon the leaves will fall, But I think Autumn sunshine is the best!” 131
The Song of the Lavender Fairy “Lavender’s blue, diddle diddle”So goes the song; All around her bush, diddle diddle, Butterflies throng; (They love her well, diddle diddle, So do the bees;) While she herself, diddle diddle, Sways in the breeze! “Lavender’s blue, diddle diddle, Lavender’s green;” She’ll scent the clothes, diddle diddle, Put away cleanClean from the wash, diddle diddle, Hanky and sheet; Lavender’s spikes, diddle diddle, Make them all sweet!
The Song of the Clover Fairy The Fairy: O, what a great big bee Has come to visit me! He’s come to find my honey. O, what a great big bee! The Bee: O, what a great big Clover! I’ll search it well, all over, And gather all its honey. O, what a great big Clover!
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Butterflies of Ancient Mexico Mexico’s history reveals numerous examples of the profound knowledge held within ancient Aztec and Mayan cultures. Insects were observed, studied and many times adored by these ancient Mexicans. Along with the snake, the butterfly was one of the most frequently represented animals. Some researchers, like Dr. Alfredo Barrera-Marín, Dr. Leonila Vazquez and Dr. Rafael Martin del Campo, are fascinated with Mexico’s natural and social history, and have found interesting examples of cultural entomology within writings, paintings and other cultural sources not destroyed by the Hispanic conquistadors. For many centuries before the conquest, and until the Colonial and Independent periods, butterflies, crickets, fleas, scorpions and spiders were studied by the Aztecs, Mayans, Chichimecs and other diverse peoples of Mexico. Today, ethnic groups of Mexico still look to insects for explanations of life and death. Butterfly representations are varied and adorned numerous substrates. The butterflies found on stone and ceramics were often found among other figures and ranged from realistic to very stylized representations. Butterflies adorned the outer ring of the Aztec calendar and represented the fire of snakes. Other representations are found among the gold ornaments owned by high-ranking officials. Some wall-paintings and murals displayed colorful butterflies which in some cases represent birds. Such paintings are found on the walls of the Butterflies Temple of Teotihuacan. art (plumeria).
Vase Support
Clay Stamp
Codex Symbol
Stamp Collection 1
Stamp Collection 2
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Xochiquetzal and Itzpapalotl Xochiquetzal is the Goddess of love, flowers, vegetation and fire. This image is a clay flat stamp with a mythical butterfly motif from Tula. Itzpapálotl is the Mother Goddess of the Chichimec. This image of Itzpapálotl is from the Vatican Codex.
The Butterfly and Moth as Symbols in Western Art Butterflies and moths remain prominent in fine art, advertising, fashion and jewelry. Butterfly and the moth constitute one of the major symbols in art with a significant number of major artists incorporating butterfly or moth symbolism.
Beauty of Nature The butterfly is a multicultural symbol of the beauty of Nature, appearing in numerous examples of nature scenes of many artistic styles. Butterflies are included as elements of these scenes because they most effectively represent all positive characteristics of Nature. Logic and prejudice has deprived moths of a similar status. Logically, since most “beauty in Nature” scenes are set in daytime, butterflies are the obvious choice for inclusion. The prejudicial lepidopteral impression that moths are ugly, negative, drab, troublesome (as a clothes pest) and undesirable, overpowers the fact that moths outnumber butterfly species many times.
Beauty of Color, Shape, Pattern, Symmetry Butterflies and moths are “Nature’s canvases with the gift of flight.” Even in death, their mounted beauty can remain intact for centuries. Nature’s genetic paintbrushes have “painted” hundreds of thousands bilaterally-symmetrical butterfly and moth works of art. When one considers that both the topsides and the undersides of these specimens are “painted” with equal skill, and that smaller, isolated sections of these masterpieces can be viewed apart from the total specimen, one becomes aware of the virtually unlimited number of artworks in this “traveling” art show of the air.
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To some artists, the butterfly and moth only symbolize beauty: the beauty of symmetry, pattern, color, shape. These artists don’t require their representations of these creatures to be interpreted. They copy these insects, some as faithfully as the Photo-realists would copy a still life, a figure, a panorama, and only ask the viewer to observe their beauty. The Abstractive-Naturalists don’t even require the viewers to know their subject is a butterfly or moth. They enlarge small, rectangular sections of wing and present them purely as designs.
Ugly and Negative Although fantastically beautiful moths exist, many of them live in the tropics. Uncommon, beautiful moths such as (the Polyphemus, Cecropia, Luna) do reside in the United States, although commonly encountered moths are small and drab brown. Compare this to the many beautiful butterflies easily observed in almost any part of the world. For this reason the moth always comes out second-best in a “beauty contest-opinion poll” against butterflies. Coupled with the stigma brought on by the misdeeds of the clothes moth, these little denizens of the closet are responsible for the tarnished reputation of moths everywhere. It is little wonder that the moth has become the unwilling symbol for that which is ugly and negative. Some of the other symbols identified with moths (like insanity) have also contributed to the moth’s position of low esteem.
Heavenly of Fairy-Tale When an illustration or painting desires to convey a fairy-tale or heavenly/etherial quality, artists usually include a few butterflies to augment the overall feeling. Winslow Homer liberally sprinkled butterflies in his illustration “Saint Valentine’s Day.” Fairies are often pictured with insect wings which are usually those of butterflies. Greek and Roman mythology illustrates this in describing the horae; spirits who personified the seasons. As such they carry flowers and fruit. They gave their names to the Hours, which in a later era they came to represent. They are the female attendants of Aurora, the dawn, and also of Luna (Selene) whose daughters they were. Their number varies, generally not less than three. They are sometimes depicted with butterfly wings.
Decoration Throughout history, butterfly imagery has been used more frequently in “decorative objects” than most other living organisms. Butterflies are found in similar frequency with imagery of trees, flowers, mushrooms, and owls. Indian decorations have utilized butterfly imagery for centuries. Items adorned with butterflies are often considered decorative or ornamental. Butterflies don’t always have to carry the specific symbolism of nature or beauty. In fact their frequency in non-symbolic decorative usage has caused them to symbolize decoration itself. “Today, an artist will put a butterfly or flower in an illustration just for a filler, a decorative dot of color.
Flame Ancient Mexicans considered the butterfly important enough to dedicate an entire palace to it at Teotihuacan, just outside Mexico City. This palace is called the Palace of the Mariposa. Teotihuacan is the oldest metropolis in Meso-America, and is the only one to possess a continuous history, from the archaic through to the purely classical period.
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Historians do not agree on who the founders of Teotihuacan were; some say the Olmecs, others the Toltecs, but most agree that it was at one time the capital of a highly civilized culture later conquered by the Aztecs, the foremost of the Nahuatal Tribes. The butterfly represents flame in the symbolism of this culture. Often pictured with the signs for water, it becomes clear that the “vision of Earth as a paradise is based on the dynamic harmony between water and fire.” The same concept is exemplified by an image of Tlaloc, god of rain, pictured on a vase bearing a butterfly motif. It is interesting to note that the butterfly is used as symbolic representatives of both the fire and rain god. Finding no information as to why butterflies symbolize flames Indians might have observed the many butterflies whose wings are red, orange, yellow, or combinations of all three colors. A cloud or “cumulep” of fire-colored butterflies taking off from a mud puddle after drinking, could easily be interpreted as being flame-like. Mexican Indians might also have witnessed a “magna-cumulep” of millions of orange, monarch butterflies migrating to their over-wintering grounds in the mountains near Mexico City. A “cloud of flame” would definitely have entered their minds. The flapping of the wings would even approximate the flickering of the tongues of flame. The moth has also come to be associated with flames, althought not as a symbol of fire.
Female, Femininity The butterfly symbolizes female and femininity for a number of reasons. The “painted” beauty of most butterflies is analogous to the “painted” beauty of a high-fashion model replete with her cosmetic finery.In addition, the graceful walk of a woman compares easily with the gliding flight of a butterfly. A comparison between the lithe, beautiful, graceful butterfly with the usually less-showy, stubby moth might be interpreted as a comparison between woman and man; however, the moth has not become synonymous with men and masculinity. Butterflies and women share the qualities of beauty, grace. Artists often include butterflies to introduce a feminine touch to artwork, product or advertisement.
Way To A New Dress In Funk and Wagnalls’ Standard Dictionary of Folklore, and Legend, it states that “to get a new dress all a girl need do is to catch a butterfly of the desired color and crush it between her teeth while muttering a magic formula.” The article does not state where this belief is held, or why it is held.
Beneficence of Summer, Omen of Summer Many of the Indian tribes of North America including the Hopi, Navaho, Zuni, Pomo, Piute, Apache and unnamed pre-historic tribes used butterflies to represent the beneficence of summer. These tribes mainly use the butterfly in their basketry and beadwork. Associating butterflies with summer is directly related to their abundance during that season. Although adult butterflies are present in each season, they proliferate and are most visible during the summer months. The Zuni Indians also feel “when the white butterfly comes, comes also the summer.”
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Rain, Rainy Summer Butterflies have much to do with the prediction of weather in many cultures. The Zuni Indians of the American southwest believe “when the white butterfly flies from the southwest, expect rain.” “Some say that if the first butterfly is white it will be a rainy summer.” The reasons for these beliefs are undocumented.
Omen of Thunderstorms “Some say that if the first butterfly is ... dark [it will be] a season of thunderstorms. This belief appears in Funk and Wagnalls’ Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend. No mention is made of the origin of this belief. The probable reason for this superstition associates the dark color of the butterfly wings with the dark color of thunderstorm clouds.
Omen of Birth “In south Germany, some say the dead are reborn as children who fly about as butterflies [hence the belief that they bring children].” “In Brunswick if the first one of the season is ... yellow [it is an omen of] birth.” It was not stated why this belief holds true.
Death, Omen of Death Death is symbolized by many aspects of lepidoptera. In Maryland, if a white butterfly enters your house and flies around you, it foretells death. In some parts of the country, if a moth lands on the mother of a newborn child, that child will soon die. Italian-Americans view the appearance of a moth in their home as a sign of the impending death of someone they know. There is a moth in Europe called the Death’s Head Sphinx Moth. It represents death to many Europeans because of the clear outline of a skull on its back. Salvador Dali made use of this symbol in an interpretation of a Currier and Ives print, “The Life of a Fireman.” There are numerous other examples of lepidoptera symbolizing death. It is said if a caterpillar measures your entire length or girth you will die. Samoans felt if they captured a butterfly it meant they would be struck dead. In Brunswick, if the first butterfly spotted in spring is a white one, it was an omen of death. The Celts believed that seeing a butterfly flying at night meant death. The chrysalis or pupal stage symbolizes death in Christian art.
Omen of Good Health The first butterfly seen in a season carries some significance in many countries. In Ruthenia, if the first one is red it announced good health. This symbol may be derived from the belief that rich, red blood is a sign of good health.
Omen of Sickness “There are many superstitions regarding specific butterflies. Among the Bulgarians a dark butterfly presages sickness.” “In Ruthenia, the first one, if white, announces sickness.” It is possible that the association of the white color of the butterfly’s wings with the pale, white color of someone becoming sick accounts for this belief.
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Old Age As a metaphor to human aging, butterflies and moths experience a time of “old age” before succumbing to gravity for the last time. Their constant fluttering can leave their wings partially devoid of the powdery scales which provided their former beauty. Brilliant hues give way to faded colors. Collisions with branches leave jagged scars and frayed wing tips. Charles Burchfield painted “Queen Anne’s Lace”, depicting an “elderly” swallowtail probably Papilio polyxenes.
Youth, Childhood-lost If the frayed and battered butterfly or moth symbolizes old age, then it follows logically that the recently-emerged adult, resplendant in its newly-acquired, powdery, “suit of lights” represents youth. Its flashy speed in contrast to the feeble flapping of a near-death specimen heightens the image. Butterfly imagery in tandem with a youthful pursuer, also symbolizes youth. Collecting butterflies seems to be an experience of childhood-lost, common to many.
Impermanence, Fragility A page of the wind in the book of the sky, the fragile butterfly Another characteristic of both moths and butterflies is their fragile nature. Their thin wings and antennae, their powdered color that comes off on your fingertips adds to their stature as a symbol of impermanence.
Omen of Bad Luck Lucy Clausen, in her book Insect Fact and Folklore, states it is “bad luck to pull off butterfly wings.” She does not reveal where this belief prevails or why it came into existence. Other references can be found. “In Scotland it is unlucky to kill or keep them.” In the west of England, it is unlucky to kill the first butterfly seen. In north Hampshire, it is a bad omen to see three butterflies in a group.
Spokesman For The Raven The Haida Indians of the Pacific Northwest incorporated the butterfly in their mythology. The butterfly is the raven’s spokesman at feasts. The raven “was an integral part of Northwest coast life and to separate this bird from the life of the people was inconceivable. It is a never-to-beforgotten bird.” “The raven created the world according to the Haida Indians.”37 In one Haida totem pole, the butterfly appears beneath the raven and touches the raven’s tongue, possibly signifying his spokesman role. The totem butterfly is highly stylized. Indian art gives primary attention to the predominating power which he attached to that animal. The art endeavored to give an impression of action or pictorially indicate what the animal could do. Since birds were a dominant theme in Haida art, their artists perhaps overlooked the most obvious flying abilities of butterflies and (presuming they referred to a butterfly’s sucking mouthpiece as a tongue) decided to make an insect with a big tongue a spokesman.
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Knowledge The sorcerers of the Yaqui Indians of Mexico refer to the moth as a symbol of knowledge. In the book Tales of Power by Carlos Castaneda, the moth is such a central figure it is included as the major character on the cover of the book. It is revealed by Don Juan, a Yaqui sorcerer, “knowledge is a moth.” He expresses metaphorically that “the moths are the heralds, or better yet, the guardians of eternity,” for some reason, or for no reason at all, they are the depositories of the gold dust of eternity. He continues, “the moths carry a dust on their wings, a dark gold dust. That dust is the dust of knowledge.” “Knowledge comes floating like specks of gold dust, the same dust that covers the wings of moths.” “The moths have been the intimate friends and helpers of sorcerers from time immemorial.” Don Juan adds, “Moths are the givers of knowledge and the friends and helpers of sorcerers.” The association of the moth with knowledge coincides with the Blackfoot Indian belief that the butterfly “is a little fellow flying about that is going to bring news to someone tonight.” In addition, the Yaqui associates some danger with the moth and its knowledge. The Navaho Indian also feels that “moths and butterflies, especially moths, are very dangerous.” The Yaqui feels the powder on a moth’s wings is knowledge. The Navaho associates the powder on lepidopteron wings with insanity, the drive to commit incest and the power of an aphrodisiac and the power to run fast. The old adage “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing” is quite applicable here.
Lepidopteral Symbolism
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Native American mythology Because of the beauty, power of flight, and complete metamorphosis found in butterflies and moths, these insects frequently are found in Native American myths. In an early article, Grinnell (5) called attention to the belief held by the Blackfeet that dreams are brought to us in sleep by a butterfly. Their sign for a butterfly was a design roughly in the shape of a maltese cross with one arm horizontal and the other verticle. This sign was painted on a lodge to indicate that the style and method of painting the lodge were taught to the lodge owner in a dream. It was also the custom for a Blackfoot woman to embroider the sign of a butterfly on a small piece of buckskin and tie this in her baby’s hair when she wishes it to go to sleep. At the same time, she sings to the child a lulaby in which the butterfly is asked to come flying about and put the child to sleep. Grinnell did not learn why or how the butterfly bring sleep and dreams. However, he did note that the Blackfeet stated that the butterfly is soft and pretty and moves gently and that if you look at it for a long time you will go to sleep. The butterfly was also a prominent figure in the myth and ritual of the Hopi. This insect occurs frequently on prehistoric pottery, in a ritual “Butterfly Dance”, and a clan in one of the Hopi pueblos was even called the butterfly Clan (4). The spirit of the butterfly is also personified in Hopi kachina figures. Kachinas are the spirit essence of everything in the real world. They represent game, plants, food, birds, insects, and even death itself is given a kachina form. During sacred dances, men who impersonate kachinas present carved replicas of their kachina appearence to women and children. These figures are commonly called “kachina dolls”. Among the various insect kachinas are three of butterfly origin (8). These are Poli Sio Hemis Kachina (Zuni Hemis Butterfly Kachina), Poli Taka (Butterly Man), and Poli Mana (Butterfly Girl). Poli Taka is shown in figure 1.
Butterfly Kachina Blackfoot Symbol
Awatobi Symbol
Hopi Buterfly Dance
The sheer beauty of many butterflies is explained in a legend of the Papago. According to this myth, the creator felt sorry for the children when he realized that their destiny was to grow old and become wrinkled, fat, blind, weak etc. Hence, he gathered beautiful colors from various sources such as the sunlight, leaves, flowers, and the sky. These colors were put into a magical bag and presented to the children. When the bag was opened by the children, colored butterflies flew out, enchanting the children who had never seen anything so beautiful. Interestingly, the butterflies also sang which further delighted the children. However, songbirds complained to the Creator because they were jealous that butterflies were both so beautiful and could sing like birds. Hence, the Creator withdrew the ability to sing from butterflies. And, hence butterflies are so beautifully colored, but are now silent (3). 140
Born out of the caterpillar in the chrysalis, butterflies were a symbol of rebirth, regeneration, happiness, and joy to Native Americans in Mexico. In one legend, the powerful plumed serpent god, Quetzalcoatl first enters the world in the shape of a chrysalis, out of which the god painfully emerges into the full light of perfection symbolized by the butterfly. The Obsidian butterfly, Itzpapalotl, is a patron deity in the Aztec calendar (7). The Aztecs also believed that the happy dead in the form of beautiful butterflies would visit their relatives to assure them that all was well. These butterflies flew around the house and around bouquets of flowers which were carried by Aztec men of social rank. It was considered ill-mannered to smell a bouquet of flowers from the top. It should always be sniffed from the side, for the top was left for the souls to visit, where they could enjoy the fragrance thus reserved especially for them (1). Native South Americans also integrated various Lepidoptera into their mythologies (6). To the Goajiro of Columbia, if a particular large, white moth is found in a bedroom it must not be mistreated for it is the spirit of an ancestor come to visit. If the moth becomes troublesome, it can be removed only with the greatest care or the spirit may take vengeance. Among the Aymara of Bolivia, a certain rare nocturnal moth was thought to be an omen of death. Numerous other examples of Lepidoptera in the mythology of Native Americans exist beyond those documented in this article. Lepidoptera have also been popular in myths among other aboriginal people around the world. Many of these myths are found in anthropological sources and have yet to be fully brought to the attention of entomologists
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Japanese crests 1 Japanese family crests contain numerous designs based on butterflies. With the kind permission of Dover Publications, the links to the left, as produced on the inside front and back covers of the printed version, display 36 recreated examples of highly stylized, symmetrical crests. A complete collection can be found in Japanese Design Motifs. ISBN 0-486-22874-6
2 Since their introduction during the eleventh century, Japanese crests have become increasingly prevalent and diverse. Initially, they were stylized and elegant motifs used by highranking courtier families to formally adorn their Imperial court dress. Throughout history, they have undergone stylistic and symbolic changes. After their initial usage within the court aristocracy, they became popular with the warrior class,
3 Who introduced new designs that emphasized simplicity and ease of recognition. After waring stopped, Japanese crests were used in formal wear and became more symmetrical in design. The nineteenth century saw a huge proliferation of motifs. Crests were no longer limited to symbolic representation of families and became identifying marks for cities, corporations, trademarks and badges.
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Textile Sculptures Speaking about wildlife art, naturalist Charles McCubbin points out, “the world of invertebrates is largely ignored... many people regard anything with more than four legs as something to be feared or killed on sight.” Now, thanks to twenty years of painstaking dedication to her art and craft, Annemieke Mein has produced an impressive body of invertebrate textile sculptures that swing the typically mammalbiased scales back into balance. Annemieke Mein
Dragonfly Cape
Lacewing Vest
Butterfly Ties
Grasshopper
Born in Haarlem, Holland, Annemieke moved to Australia in 1951 and spent much of her childhood becoming enchanted by the diversity of Australian insects. She studied, sketched and collected butterflies and other insects. Encouraged at school, she explored numerous mediums for her creative expression. When she moved to Sale in Gippsland, Victoria in 1971, her popularity grew and she became recognized as one of the world’s foremost textile artists. Annemieke clearly states her motivation, “The encouragement of an awareness of our environment and an understanding of the importance of the preservation of our natural heritage are among the most important needs of our time.” Speaking of her beloved Gippsland’s flora and fauna, she illustrates the timeliness of her art when she says, “I have already seen disturbing changes in the environment and witnessed the effects of apathy, ignorance, financial greed and premeditated vandalism.” “Through my textiles, whether sculptures, wall works, or ‘wearables,’ I hope to make people more aware of our native species while expressing my love and concern for our native environment.” Annemieke’s thoughtfulness toward her insect sculptures is illustrated by her use of a detail-oriented, larger-than-life style. After many hours of detailed, microscopic study and patient behavioral observations, she employs dramatic magnification in her work to “enhance the visual impact, deliberately accentuating the minute” which, in essence, forces people to really see something that they would typically ignore. I am particularly impressed by Annemieke’s determination to expose people to “the hidden” side of nature. She states, “I especially enjoy depicting species that are not normally considered interesting, let alone beautiful, and visually enhancing their individual charms and attributes by giving a great deal of attention to their fine details.” Many of Annemieke’s creations are attributed to a memorable field experience that initially inspired the piece. “Grasshoppers” was inspired when she witnessed her first locust plague. “Dragonflies” was inspired after she witnessed the miraculous eclosion stage when the adult dragonfly emerges from its aquatic larval domain. Her “Mythical Moth” series, characterized by a more fanciful interpretation of coloration, was inspired by her close observation of Emperor Moths emerging from their cocoons. Her fantasy motif is continued when she incorporates “butterfly dust” into a couple of her creations. Annemieke Mein’s rise in popularity is a fair tribute to the phenomenal power of her creations. Her work adorns the walls of many public and private collections around the world and her exhibits draw impressive crowds. People are moved to tears when observing her exhibits, perhaps reminded of their childhood days when they had the time and freedom to “butterfly dawdle.” 143
“The Old Lady Moth,” unlike most other pieces, has an invitation to touch. The tension between the desire to touch and people’s fear of insects is quickly dissolved into rewarding tactile exploration that makes this creation a center of attraction, especially for children. Annemieke has more than accomplished her goals of promoting environmental awareness. Viewers of her work are emotionally moved and the messages of respect and admiration for the “unseen” world remains with them.
Cocoon Artifacts Historically and prehistorically, humans have processed and refashioned many natural materials or objects to make containers, the most familiar examples being baskets and pottery. Rattles have been made from gourds (Lagenaria, Cucurbitaceae), turtle shells, animal hides, and several other natural objects filled with stones or seeds. Although moth cocoons have been mainly exploited for their silk to produce fabrics, they also have been used whole in the construction of a variety of artifacts. Some moth cocoons are very tough and, if kept dry, are preserved for long periods of time. To people without access to synthetic manufactured products, some kinds of cocoons make compact and strong containers, ready to be used in a variety of ways. Cocoons of several species of saturniid moths and other families have been used to make hand rattles, ankle rattles, necklaces, purses or other artifacts in cultures around the world. Although Native American usage from the western United States is now historic, indigenous peoples in Africa and Mexico continue to use moth cocoons. Some Mexican and African ankle rattles are possibly being produced for sale to musical instrument and ethnic art collectors, as well as for the original intended use in ceremonial dances.
Ankle Rattles Strings of dry cocoons containing gravel are worn as ankle rattles (anklets) by dancers of some tribes of Native Americans in northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. Cocoons of Rothschildia cincta are part of inter-regional commerce among the Tarahumara Tribe. The strings of rattles may be worn around the wrist as well as the ankle. Nowíki is the Tarahumara name for the cocoons, as well as what they call the larvae of the butterfly, Eucheira socialis (Pieridae), which they eat. Cocoon rattles have special significance among the Tarahumara Tribe because the “butterflies” symbolize birth, death and souls. The Yaqui Tribe of Sonora and Arizona make paired anklets from cocoons of R. cincta called teneboim that are used by pascola dancers (including the deer dancers which have become the symbol of the Yaqui) and the chapayeka dancers. Each anklet consists of a single strand wound around the lower leg to sometimes cover a broad area between the knee and the foot. The cocoons are sewn on red yarn; the red tassels on the end are called “flowers” and symbolize divine grace. The cocoons are brushed with white paint to keep anklets looking new. The Mayo Tribe of Sonora and Sinaloa make ankle rattles called tenovares that are used in the pascola dance ceremony. Cocoons are also worn by chapakobam (the Mayo name for chapayeka) dancers. They extend from the knees to the ankles of the dancers and contain cocoons of R.cincta. The Seri Tribe of Sonora used cocoon rattles in their venado dance. The Seri term for a single cocoon or string of cocoon rattles is xica quiinla meaning “things that rattle.” They put broken pieces of sea shell into the cocoons to produce the rattling sound. The Tóhono O’dham Tribe of Arizona and Sonora make anklets from white painted R. cincta cocoons. Some variations are exceptionally long four meter strings with 110 pairs of cut cocoons of R. cincta which are worn around the chest and over the shoulders. 144
Africa Diffusion of culture is evident among the Bantu-speaking tribes (Sotho, Swazi, Venda, Zulu) and San bands of southern Africa that construct similar cocoon rattles within their region. African examples with cut cocoons are strikingly parallel to those from Mexico. Those with whole cocoons bear superficial resemblance to cartridge belts. The types with clusters of cocoons made by the Swazi and some Zulu are worn at the ankles, whereas those sewn on long strings made by the San are wound around the lower leg as in the Mexican examples. The Zulu Tribe from Natal, South Africa, make extensive use of Argema mimosae cocoons to make anklets. The use of these rattles became common in Natal as a result of the introduction of the rickshaw from China and India. The cocoons are collected after the moths have emerged and one or more small stones are placed inside before they are sewn onto a broad strip of goat skin (with the fur on the inside for the greater comfort of the person wearing the anklet). The cocoons are much favored by the Zulu as these anklets produce a satisfying rattle. The Swazi Tribe from Swaziland, South Africa, use anklets made from cocoons of Argema mimosae. Within the Venda Tribe from Venda, South Africa, elderly women from the drier northern parts of Venda use anklets containing cocoons of Argema mimosae, in tribal dances. The San (Bushman) Cultures from the Kalahari Desert regions of Botswana utilize cocoons. The G/ wikhwena San make dance rattles from Gonometa cocoons called /xododzi. Anklets are used by male dancers on an average of three nights a week; the stomping wears out the thongs after about ten weeks and the cocoons last about a year or two. The Kung San use cocoon anklets for healing in their important trance rituals.
Necklaces The Coahuiltec Tribe from Monterrey, Mexico, wore necklaces made from cocoons of Rothschildia orizaba, believing that they would prevent the growth of a beard. Southwestern cultures are believed to use cocoon necklaces as does the Tarahumara Tribe of Chihuahua who probably believe the cocoons to have medicinal value. Natives in New Guinea have been seen wearing necklaces made from the cocoons of a large saturniid (probably Coscinocera).
California Hand Rattles
Ankle Rattles
Tarahunara Ankle Rattle
Swazi Ankle Rattles
San Ankle Rattles
Tarahumara Necklace Zulu Ankle Rattles
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