Number 5 1948

Jackson Pollock's number 5 1948 painting was first done on an 8x4 sheet of fiberboard. The technique used was to drizzle large amounts of yellow and brown paint onto the board to form a nest-like appearance. This painting is estimated to be the highest selling painting in the world at a price of 140 million dollars. The original owner of the number 5 1948 was Samuel Irving Newhouse who later sold to David Geffen. As speculation has it the current owner of this piece is David Martinez of Fintech Advisory Ltd. This painting is very radical in nature and sparks a sense of thought when viewed. Even though it seems like Pollock just threw colors onto a board, this in fact was a intense process that took a long time to create.

Starry Night

Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night is the title of the painting below. During Van Gogh's life he only sold one painting but after his death the art he created exploded into the market. Starry Night is one of his most recognized and replicated paintings of the modern era. The reason for this place being so popular is the fact that there is a moon with swirling clouds which most people can relate to. The exaggerated features make the sky very pronounced and unique to look at. Below the sky is a little village lit up in the background. This aspect brings the painting together and gives it a peaceful effect. Van Gogh gives the viewpoint as if you are on top of a hill looking down into the village and up at the tranquil skyline. Overall people still flock to these paintings on a daily basis to come up with their own perspectives and thoughts. Nevertheless Starry Night can be called one of if not the best painting of Van Gogh's lifetime.

Tool (Lateralus)

This piece is another painting from Alex Grey. It is untitled, but was used on the cover of Lateralus (An album from the Progressive rock band Tool). Lateralus was released in 2001. In this picture you can see Grey at his best. There is a lot of detail focused on the person's bone and muscle structure. There are also the noticeable eyes that are on this person's hand, chest, throat, and forehead. This is again referencing the Third Eye ("Inner Eye"). Just like in the other piece we saw from Grey he uses a lot of spirals in his paintings. There is one spiral going from the center of the man's chest to the top of the painting. There is also many spirals that you can make out if you look at the design behind the man. I actually found out about Alex Grey from Tool. Tool has been one of my favorite bands for the past four years. Grey does the artwork involved with Tool's videos, albums, and sets for concerts. He works in collaboration with the guitarist in the band Adam Jones. Tool is notorious for having really cool and elaborate music videos courtesy from Alex Grey. In addition, Tool is noted for having amazing live performances by a combination of music, lighting, and artwork. Of course the artwork comes from Alex Grey himself.

Grave Matters

This photograph remains in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Massachusetts. I picked this piece because when when I looked at it the first thing that came to mind was my Grandfather. My mother's father's name was Henry. He died of bone cancer when I was only in Kindegarten. What I find interesting about this piece is that on the grave there is only a name. There isn't any other information about this person. I found this interesting because when I think about it, there is not much that I really know about my own grandfather. I don't even know what day his birthday is. So I tried to remember things about him. The most clear memory that I still have of my grandfather was at my grandparents apartment in the Bronx. Every Sunday we would have dinner in their apartment. I don't even remember how old I was, but this is a memory of mine that I will never forget. After dinner my grandpa would call me over to him. He was sitting in his rocking chair relaxing. He would call me over to sit on his lap. Then he would tell me a story like the 3 little pigs or some other kids story. Then I realized that I do have memories of my grandpa, and he's more than just a name to me.

Maya

This piece by Jarvis Rockwell is an 11' step pyramid filled with thousands of action figures. The action figures displayed on this pyramid vary from Star Wars figurines to Bart Simpson. Rockwell was inspired to make Maya from Hindu temples that he saw on a trip to Madras/Chennai in India. These Hindu temples are covered with sculptures of gods that make up the Hindu pantheon. Instead of filling the pyramid with Hindu gods, Rockwell uses dolls. For Rockwell these figures stand in for the abundance of desires found in contemporary culture. These action figures tell a story to viewers. The viewers are astounded by these stories because they can make a connection to these fictional characters. Rockwell began collecting action figures in 1979. His collection grew into hundreds, and then thousands. After about a decade he began grouping the action figures, articulating the relationships that he saw between the figures. This hobby of Rockwell that began in 1979 eventually led the massive display shown in Maya (1997).

Carroll Dunham Art Gallery

I viewed the Carroll Dunham art gallery at The University of Albany. This gallery consisted of many different types of art including paintings, sketches, as well as cut drawings where a knife was used. Overall I felt that this gallery was set up well, forcing the viewer to walk a certain direction to get the ultimate analysis of Dunham's work. My favorite piece was titled "The Wave" and incorporated bold light colors on a large scale. I found myself continuously looking from center to the right and left of the painting. A large wave shaped object is the focal point of the painting with outlying objects making up the background. The Carroll Dunham gallery had an uplifting and revitalizing feel that could turn anyone's mood around. I enjoyed the trip and would definetly recommend this exhibit to others.

Painting

This piece from Alex Grey displays a man painting. Grey specializes in spiritual and visionary art. This particular piece deals with the Third Eye concept. The Third Eye, also known as "Inner Eye" symbolizes a state of enlightenment. Both Eastern and Western traditions believe the Third Eye as a gate that leads within to inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness. It is often associated with visions, clairvoyance, precognition, and out-of-body experiences. In this particular piece you see the man using his right hand to paint. There are four aura's going from his body to the painting. Two are going from his eyes to the painting. Another is coming from his chest. I believe that symbolizes his heart, probably because he is doing what he loves. The fourth aura is a different color than the others. It is coming from the man's forehead. This represents the man's third eye. There is also a fifth aura going from the top of the man's head and spiraling above. The aura coming from the man's Third Eye is also viewed as a spiral. However his two actual eyes are just represented as rays of light. Behind the man you can see a being who is looking at the man. He has two rays of light that are shooting into the back of the man's head. It almost appears as if he is helping the man use his Third Eye. In other words he is helping him attain enlightenment. That same being also has a shiny circular ball on his forehead which may represent his Third Eye. Then there are the group of people in the back of the painting watching over. I think these people represent those that have passed on, but are enlightened, showing us that we are all one and connected.

Juvisy, France

Henri Cartier-Bresson's photograph "Juvisy, France" was taken in 1938, and printed in 1947. I really like this photograph because it is very good quality for the time period. You can also see that Henri is able to capture a sense of realism. Everyone in the photograph is looking out at sea with the exception of the man pouring a glass of wine. This gives you a sense that these people were acting natural, and not posing for this picture. Since this is such an old photograph, and because it is black and white you can't actually see what the weather is like. Is it sunny? Is it cloudy? But Cartier-Bresson is able to make you see from this photograph. The five people in the photograph are sitting down and appear to be comfortable. The man pouring the glass of wine has a hat on which would make you think it must be a nice day outside. The older gentleman in front of him has a t-shirt on, and a hat as well. The woman on the right has a tank-top on which reveals that it must be very hot outside. Now if you look at the boat you can see the shadow of the boat is not very oblong. So it must be around mid-day when Henri took this photograph. He did an amazing job of taking this photograph because you can almost tell that the sun is in front of him, and giving him the right amount of light for the picture.

Primary Separation

This piece by Don Gummer I found very interesting. In the photograph you see a rock that is split in to two pieces. The way the rock is split caught my attention because it is such a clean split. The two rocks are being held above the ground by a series of metal poles and wires. The way Gummer keeps the rocks above ground almost makes them appear as if they are floating. This allows the rocks to stand out more. I found the color of the rocks to be very appealing. The two rocks seem almost exactly the same making you believe someone or something separated the two. On the other hand the cut appears too perfect to be true. This made me question if the rock was split, or if Gummer pick out two similar rocks of shape, size, and color. I then looked at the title of this piece "Primary Separation". I asked myself why use the word primary. Primary of course you should know means first or chief. I then did research on the word primary and I found out that there is chemistry meaning for Primary. Primary can also mean noting or containing a carbon atom united to no other or to only one other carbon atom in a molecule. So by using the term Primary Separation is Don Gummer trying to display an atom splitting? If that is the case then you could say that Gummer is showing through art something that is unattainable.

The Painter Surprised by the Naked Admirer

This painting caught my attention because of the lack of rapport between the two and the invasiveness of the naked person. This piece is called "The Painter Surprised by a Naked Admirer," and that is exactly what is happening. The painter’s posture shows that he is uncomfortable while the admirer sits at his feet like a child. The painters name is Lucian Freud and I believe he is the man in this painting. There is also a painting inside this painting and in that painting there is a painting of the scene and so forth. It is interesting how he has painted the pose that he is in right now because he obviously must not have been where he is standing now to reach the easel and paint that picture. The colors in the painting are very bland and the two people are almost be hidden in the background. I noticed that both of the people in the picture have somewhat distorted faces and bodies. They are not made to look perfect. Actually, both of them look old and wrinkly. That is a common theme in all of his paintings. I also did some other research and the painter Freud is actually the grandson of the famous psychologist Sigmund Freud. It is very interesting to see that he painted a picture that focuses on this naked and possibly psychotic admirer.

Pictures from Home "My Mother Posing for Me"

Larry Sultan.
American (Brooklyn, New York, 1946 - 2009, Greenbrae, California)
This piece of artwork is interesting because it looks like a normal photograph that anyone can take haphazardly during the day. However, this photo tells more than you think at first glance though. The photographer is obviously older because the woman has white hair and that is his mother posing for him. He was born in Brooklyn but died in California and it looks as though they are in California here because of the clothing that they are wearing. The television and lamp are older models so we can tell that this photo was not taken very recently. The man who’s back is towards us (who I assume is the photographer’s father) sits very relaxed so we get the feeling that this is his home. The woman wears a long sleeve shirt yet the man wears a short sleeve shirt. They both are wearing white pants so I assume that it is warm out and probably the summer time. The man is watching a baseball game and the woman is tense and probably nervous. This picture is from a series of pictures from home so she must have been doing quite a few poses around the house for a while. From this picture we can assume many things because of what we typically see and how we perceive and make judgments of what we see. This photo has many possibilities of different scenarios but I’d like to think of the most reasonable one from what I can observe in the picture.

Blue Girl With Wine

Tim Burton's "Blue Girl With Wine" (2009) which is now in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City is a very interesting piece. The girl has a tattoo of a heart on her left arm. The girl also has stitches all over her body conveying the idea that she is broken inside. Also on the table you see a glass of wine and a wine bottle with a symbol on it representing poison or death. Now what does that tattoo represent. It may represent love, or lack of it. So is this girl broken inside because she is in love, or because she has not found love. Furthermore why is she trying to do harm to herself when she is already feeling so much pain. Does the wine make her feel happy temporarily, or does it make her feel worse. The look on her face would make you believe that she does not seem happy. So maybe she has lost all hope, and that is why she is killing herself by drinking wine. Maybe she is already so broken inside that she feels impervious to pain. Or she could be feeling so much pain that she wants it all to come to an end? There are a lot of questions in this piece that I don't have the answer to. It really makes you ponder, but also makes you aware of the ambiguity that exists in this piece. You can look at this piece for weeks and still not know exactly what is being said. That to me is artwork.

Firecrotch

Rita Ackerman's piece "Firecrotch" (2008) is a new addition to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Miami, Florida. I chose this piece because at first the title really grabbed me. As I looked close I saw that Ackerman used printed paper, yarn, cardboard, tape, spray paint, charcoal, and tempera to create this image inside two pieces of plexiglas. I found that very unique about this piece. I also really liked how the red hair stands out in this piece. Ackerman uses a mixture of red yarn and spray paint to display the red in this piece. The piece as a whole is very interesting because it is completely out of proportion. The head on this being in enormous compared to the body and the hands. And when you look at the face in this piece the eyes are really large. There also appears to be more than two hands in this piece, and a third leg as well. Now the title of this piece is firecrotch but you can't even see the crotch. The rest of the hair on around the body is red, but you can't see if there is red hair on the crotch. I found this interesting because it feels like I am making the assumption that this person has a "firecrotch", but I don't know if that's true. Overall I really enjoyed this piece because it is original and made me think.

This composition from the U.K Tate Art Gallery caught my eye for a few reasons. The first reason is its wide variety and usage of bright pronounced colors. These colors make the painting jump off the page and force the viewer to have a continuous circular view throughout the piece due to his brush strokes. Secondly I found myself trying to compose an image in my head by connecting all the heavy brush strokes. This was a unique feature that I felt gave every viewer the option to make this their own painting. Overall I would recommend people to see this exhibit if they ever have a chance to attend one of the Tate Art Galleries.

Fighting Temeraire:

This image is from the Tate Art Gallery. I chose this composition because of the vast array of colors and strong lighting. I believe that Fighting Temeraire is the title of this piece because it depicts a battle on the sea. The sun to the right is the first point of the painting that caught my eye and made me choose it. In addition the fact that it is on the ocean in my eyes is a great painting to compose.

Slides in Tate Modern Art Gallery

I chose to post a video of not just artwork from the Tate Art Gallery but the other experiences visiting the gallery has to offer. This video shows a large and unique slide placed in the middle of the gallery making it the first focal point when guests enter. This slide appeals to both adults and children making it a great addition to the already stunning gallery.

And Still We Gather with Infinite Momentum

On the 20x200 website, I found a very interesting photo by Justin James King from Saratoga, NY. He became interested in landscape at a very young age, particularly for its history and connotations. In May 2009, Justin was awarded Best Personal Work as a Series in the New York Photography Awards. He was a 2009 Second Edition Hot Shot and will be exhibiting his work at Jen Bekman Gallery in 2010.

From this photo, we see a blank, black landscape that is filled in by our own preconceived notions. We see first things that come to mind, experiences, memories, emotions. These manifestations of our culture and experiences allow us to fill in the black landscape we look out into.

Robert Hughes: "The Curse of the Mona LIsa"

Hughes gives us a very traditional perspective on the contemporary art world with his award winning documentary - "Curse of the Mona Lisa." Though Hughes has a pre-conceived outlook on the art world today, he still offers his audience with powerful arguments. He doesn't drive us to think one way about contemporary art, but provides us with enough to understand his bias and realize the effects that the contemporary art world has upon us. After viewing the documentary, you can't help but sympathize with Hughes and his traditional views.

The Australian art critic, born in July of 1938 has resided in New York since 1970. He has tons of publications and works in writings/documentaries. This documentary, however, really exploits the contemporary art world. Hughes understands that we now live in different times, but this documentary is like a last attempt by Hughes to revitalize people back to the emotions art used to drive out of them. All he sees now is an eratic art martket that frenzies over the money art can bring in. Hughes blames the Mona Lisa for it all.

Jeff Koons: Artist or Artificial

Jeff Coons is an American artist known for his giant reproductions of objects. They are usually stainless steel with mirror surfaces and brightly colored. His works have stirred criticism throughout his career. Critics have sharply divided their views of Koons and his artwork. Is it pioneering or is it a tasteless copy of someone else's artwork. Either way, there's been no hesitation for lawsuit and Koons has seen himself sued on numerous occasions. Some of those cases he has won and on others he has served defeat.

Despite his legal hindrances, Koons is arguably an entrepreneur to a new style of art. His replications of prior artwork and newly formed sculptures have influenced artists incredibly. One, being such, the likes of Damien Hirst. Koons Neo-pop art style has produced significant hype and profit. His pieces have sold for millions of dollars and are on display all over the world. He has an undoubted taste for elegance and structure.

So what do you believe? Is it Koons the "Sensation" or Koons the "Artifical Artisit." It's a great debate and art critics from all over have their opinions. However, you must keep one thing in mind concerning his artwork, they are still selling for millions of dollars.

The Crystal Skull

Damien Hirst's Crystal Skull called "For the Love of God" is truly an amazing piece. Ha, I can't really see how this piece is more "art" than it is an investment. The skull has diamonds galore on it costing 14 million pounds to produce. The art piece went on display with an asking bid price of 50 million pounds which would make it the highest price ever paid for a single work by an artist.

This is the point I was trying to make. Think about encrusting anything with 14 million pounds worth of diamonds, or covering a whole skeleton in platinum and gold? Can just about anyone actually flip a piece of artwork for this much money? I think that it's absolutely ingenious of Damien Hirst. He took a piece that he knew would be worth something very valuable to begin with and turned it into an investment where he knew big bucks could be sought. As a business major you kind of have to respect Hirst's ability to realize the true "investment" that relishes in art. He deserves his piece to sell for that much and deserves to currently be the richest artist today. Hey, in all respectfulness, he was the entreprenuer who did it first. He's about as smart as the guy who invented Viagra.

200 one dollar bills

Andy Warhol 200 one dollar bills Lines

Tang Teaching Museum

On Saturday February 13th I visited the Tang Teaching Museum in Saratoga, New York to view work from Fred Tomaselli. I found Tomaselli's work to be very interesting and moving. To the right is one of Tomaselli's more recent pieces "Avian Flower Serpent" 2006. In this exhibit there were a couple of other paintings similar to this one.

This art piece really grabbed me because of all the different colors that were used. I am also someone who happens to be colorblind, and the colors still stood out for me. Another thing that I really enjoy about this piece is that when you look from far away all you can really see are the colors, but as you move closer you start to visualize the detail and precision that Tomaselli contributes.

It almost appears as if the bird is living, and looking right at you. And as you move closer you can see a myriad of objects and visualizations inside the bird, and the snake. There are snakes that are inside the snakes. The bird also has more than one eye. That really intrigued me.

Then if you begin to look at the tree the bird is perked on, and if you concentrate enough you can see that there is not one leaf that appears the same as any other leaf. I feel this adds to the detail of the art piece. It seems to almost collaborate with the different colors, and objects used to represent the bird and the snake. This idea of having so many different objects gives an illusion of imperfection, but it somehow made me feel that I am looking at perfection.

Tomaselli's exhibit was truly liberating for me. I must have taken a good hour to view all of his pieces in the gallery, then I spent another hour perusing through a book consisting of his art discography. This experience has made me feel eager to visit more art museums this semester.

Jackson Pollock

The painting I chose to analyze is Jackson Pollock's "Autumn." Jackson Pollock is an abstract expressionist artist. He has multiple famous paintings on canvases. He has a tremendous ability to collaborate colors and paint to create masterpieces. What I see in the painting next to me is a contrast of colors. By viewing the title prior to viewing the painting you actually get to see an image of what Pollock was trying to paint. The painting "Autumn" to the left has the same coincidence. Once I saw that "Autumn" was the title and then I actually saw the painting itself, the colors stuck out to me. The light colors are sort of being overwhelmed by the darker colors. This is only natural that our eyesight see this (darker colors stand out much more). So in this case, Pollock overpowers the lighter images in the painting with the darker colors. This symbolizes the transition from summer to fall and fall into winter. When we associate the seasons with colors, we see winter as the darkest month (both in actuality and psychologically) and vice versa with summer.

Mi Mundo Privato

In this painting by Nuno de Campos, a lot of different actions are taking place. At first glance I see horror because the citizens are running away as the large central figure of a Pinocchio is standing stern. The dark ominous clouds and three demons circling the people makes me believe that this in fact is a painting of terror. In addition, top center all the birds seem like they are in distress and flying away from the scene. The location of this painting resembles Rome with the basilica and columns, at the same time however I see people riding around horses which makes me think that this is a Spanish country. The buildings and animals are very detailed which makes it very easy to get distracted by all the different scenes taking place.

My feelings after looking at Campo's painting are intriguing yet a mild sense of terror at the same time. I am very curious as to what Campo's was trying to reveal with this painting and the story that was trying to be told. The black and white shading makes the important details in this composition stand out forcing the viewer to stare at darker central objects like the Pinocchio and demons lurking around. I would recommend this painting to anyone curious about unique art with many different objects to focus on.

I chose a drawing by Rembrandt to discuss and analyze. The reason for choosing this piece is because I like how he used different weight of line to have this man's hat and face stand out. Rembrandt did a great job using light sketch on a different type of paper to portray what I see as a broken old man. By the look of his facial expression and overall style I believe he is of asian descent. This drawing in my mind evokes sadness and loneliness being that this man is alone and seems cold and homeless.

It surprises me how a small sketch of this nature can bring out so much emotion from the viewer. By taking up just the right amount of space to have a clear sketch while placing nothing in the foreground or background, Rembrandt is showing that this man is alone and in my mind cold and homeless due to the old ruffled clothes and full beard. The artist did a great job through the idea of weight of line and sketching to depict this man.

Against Interpretation by Susan Sontag

Something Susan Sontag mentioned in her essay that grabbed me is that "Interpretation takes the sensory experience of the work of art for granted, and proceeds from there." I found this statement very interesting because I feel that interpretation completely takes away what you're feeling in that moment. And what you feel affects what you see, hear, and think.

By interpreting art you're trying to claim what someone else was trying to convey. So you're not actually seeing the work of art, but instead you're masked by the illusion that you think you've revealed what the artist was trying to convey. By doing this you're not thinking for yourself. I feel that by making your own interpretation and/or opinion about a piece of art you're thinking as a critic, and not as yourself. And who gave you the authority to critique this piece of art. Who's to say that you even know what you're talking about.

I feel that in order to view art the correct way you need to think for yourself. The only way to think for yourself is to simply let go of your interpretations, and just sense the art in front of you. What you feel in that moment the first time you lay your eyes on a piece of art work will be different than any other individuals experience. Because of this there can be infinitely many interpretations about a single piece of art. But all that should matter is what you feel the first time you experience the artwork.

I believe that interpreting art prohibits people from thinking for themselves, and instead lures them into thinking like everyone else. I will end this post on another quote from Susan Sontag. "What is important now is to recover our senses. We must learn to see more, to hear more, to feel more."

Installation Art vs. Art

Installation Art is an artistic genre of three-dimensional, on-site work that take up a designated space. Installation art can be either temporary or permanent. The pieces of art are constructed in exhibition spaces such as museums and galleries, as well as public and private spaces. Installation art incorporates all of your senses. The use of sight, sound, performance, virtual reality, and internet in an interior space.

Installation art is a very broad genre of art. It defies the meaning of the elements and emotions involved in art. This movement of installation art started in the 1960's and was made popular in the 1970's. Installation is theatrical, immersive, and experimental. Most of installation art is influenced by earlier works such as Marcel DuChamp's "Fountain" (1917). A very popular exhibit of installation art today is found in the Tate Modern in London, England. This museum has incredible pieces of art such as Rachel Whitread's, "Embankment" (as shown in the photo).

But what exactly makes Installation art stand out? First of all, there is a much more different experience that someone can derive from installation art than simply looking at a painting. Plus in several occasions, there is an artist interaction with the painting. In one case, the artist actually lived in her art. Another interaction is that there is a crack down the middle of one of the rooms at the Tate. It allows the audience and the viewers to actually interact with the art as well. This three-dimensional appeal in installation art actually touches on the boundaries of what constitutes art. Is this three-dimensional approach really art?

My personal opinion is that a painting/portrait delivers viewers with a much more emotional effect that installation art can ever provide. However, not to denote installation art, it does provide an empowering feel to it. The massive and elaborate artwork can be very overwhelming to the audience, but i offer that one objection to it. The emotional factor given to us through framed and pictorial art is lost significantly. That is just my opinion however, you can offer yours.

Against Interpretation - Susan Sontag

Sontag's Essay, "Against Interpretation" analyzes and highlights imitation of an imitation. Sontag discusses the difference between Plato and Aristotle. Plato believes that art is not real so therefore it is useless to us as individuals. Aristotle offers an opposite view and states that art arouses and purges the mind.

I'd say I have to agree with Aristotle; that it's not about what or how we interpret art. It's about what you grab from it, and if you extract emotion, then it is useful and real. And therefore art is an important aspect of society.

Sontag makes a great point in her essay. She says, " What the overemphasis on the idea of content entails is the perennial, never consummated project of interpretation. And, conversely, it is the habit of approaching works of art in order to interpret them that sustains the fancy that there really is such a thing as the content of a work of art."

A piece of artwork has content and substance. And what that content is can only be perceived by the person reviewing the content. This drives us to "interpret." We interpret the elements of the artwork that drive emotions out of us. This is the "content" that we should see when looking at a piece of artwork. However, not all artwork will drive emotions out of us, but it will drive thoughts. Whether you like a piece of art or not, the thought of wondering "why" will pass through your mind. It's a simple human reaction derived from looking at something, especially when looking at artwork. A thought, an emotions, or reaction, something will be driven out of us. This is the "content" and the "substance" that art hands over to us.

Tang Art Gallery - Fred Tomaselli

The Tang Art Gallery at Skidmore College in Saratoga, NY was an interesting experience. Fred Tomaselli is an extremely talented and unique artist. His paintings were so exquisite in detail up close and trippy when viewed from farther away.Surprisingly, they also didn't give my hungover ass a headache either. His canvas paintings use actual pharmaceuticals, leaves, twigs, and other objects that make each and every painting stand out. The gallery offered a nice environment to showcase Tomaselli's paintings as well. I don't know what it was about that day either. Maybe because it was the first warm day we saw all winter or Tomaselli's paintings actually had an effect on me. Whatever it was I came out of the exhibit feeling positive and great, ready to conquer another Saturday night.

My favorite Tomaselli works include "Field Guides" (2003), "Avian Flower Serpent" (2006), and "Ocotillio Nocturne" (1993). Each painting has an array of colors, that drive both your emotions and senses. Fred Tomaselli's works are very good and I would definitely go view them again.

While in the gallery, I stumbled across a book about Tomaselli's. On one of the pages was an interview with the painter and he revealed the secret to his approach to art. He stated, "The notion of transubstantiation is really important to my approach to materials. The idea of taking a piece of bread and turning it into the body of Jesus is so crazy - even crazier than DuChamp turning a urinal into art! Of course, all artists engage in a transformative process: you squeeze paint out of tube, mix it up, slap it down and it becomes art. I suppose you can call it magic, alchemy, or transubstantiation.

Andy Warhol 200 one dollar bills Lines

I took a piece we went over in class by Andy Warhol. It was the painting of money done in 1962. There is many ways to interpret this painting but I have my own interpretations and reasons for picking this specific painting.

Personally I enjoy looking at this painting because I see it as the greed people have towards money. In America specifically, money is the number one goal for most people and a way to get out of the positions they are in. I feel that Andy Warhol is trying to perceive peoples thirst for money and power through his painting.

I feel that this painting would fit perfectly inside a corporate office for many of the basic reasons. Due to the fact that this painting has to do strictly with money and power I feel that American Corporations and their endless goal of profit maximization at the expense of human labor would be a clear fit. In addition Warhol’s painting would fit well in offices and even some homes. Being such a simplified painting, it shows a lot and can be seen in many lights.

Overall I would definitely recommend this painting to businesses as well as certain public locations that have many walk-ins. It is very inspiring personally as a finance major looking to make it in the business world. It is definitely a painting I would purchase in the future.

http://www.designassembly.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/da_making_money_warhol_01.jpg

The White Mask

Otto Dix.... very interesting... after looking at the rest of his work of arts only one stood out to me. This painting elaborates color, feature, image, and depiction. World War II could be looked at in so many ways. Otto extrapolates the very image of what WWII was absolutely about. In this painting you immediately grab the image of white. What does that exactly mean? It takes you away from the rest of the image that your ignorance refuses to see. Look into the piece of art much thoroughly and deeper and you begin to grasp at detail. There's 5 individuals in the painting and each person could be taken away from the image they depict. Take down each soldier and it posterizes what WWII was and used to be. Stalemate, gas warfare, and shellshock. Each soldier can be a ghost; living or not living and yet his image and soul continues to carry on. Otto Dix is an extremely talented artist and I look forward to each of his paintings.

Campbell's Soup

Andy Warhol was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker. He was the leading figure in the visual art movement known as "pop art." The painting to the left is one of Warhol's original 32 Campbell Soup Cans. In the year 1962, Andy released these soup cans done in synthetic polymer paint drawn onto canvases.

At first glance, the Campbell soup is not that impressive at all. You say to yourself, "exactly what's so important about it and why the hell did these 32 canvases sell for so much money?" But then you begin to look into Warhol's reasoning for the painting and you start to view the 32 soup cans much differently. Each can begins to take a new and unique shape. Andy might not have used his imagination, but the commercialized style and blandness of each painting retract their own character.

Andy was asked by a good friend of his as to the meaning of the Campbell Soup can. He replied, "I wanted to paint nothing. I was looking for something that was the essence of nothing, and that was it." The ordinariness of the soup cans emphasized the "nothingness" of the subject matter. A soup can was a soup can was a soup can.

After Andy explained the meaning of his contemporary work, the uniqueness of what he sought and what he wanted out of it is quite impressive. These 32 canvases impose a different meaning as to what is seen as "art." Andy simply took a household, recognized grocery item and turned it into a masterpiece. How that is achievable is fascinating in its own decree. Not only were the Campbell Soup Cans looked upon as a masterpiece, they also represent the timeline of Warhol's life as a contemporary artist.