So I had my last Thesis meeting for this quarter this past week. It went well and I left with a smile on my face. It felt really great to hear that I had made progress. To hear it from someone else gives me a sense of accomplishment and encourages me to continue on with my work. I brought tons of source materials including websites for Elliot Erwitt and Mary Ellen Mark and a few books highlighting some other influencial artists that I have found and been pointed to. The crowd favorite, however, happened to be my book of Sam Jones' photography of celebrities. I love this book. I talked my parents into getting it for me for christmas because I simply adored all of the photos that consists of it. I brought it to share because I love it so much, but I must admit that I didn't think it would go over as well as it did. I thought that because it was a bunch of rather commercial-looking photos all of celebrities that it wouldn't be taken very seriously. To my suprise, they loved it.

My committee did, however, come to a slightly different conclusion than that of my last wip review with my advanced photo class. While paging through my resource materials and looking over my contact sheets, Ryan found one other photo that he preferred to some of the enlarged photos I hung up. They suggested that when taking more photos, I should try to control and direct the subject and environment more. I really do like being in control and comprising a composition that I know what the general turn out will be. While I do like this idea, I am a little confused as to whether I should make yet another complete turn in my thesis or if I should just keep doing what I have been and just direct when I get the chance. I just feel a little bit like it will be difficult to direct a subject when I have just walked up to them on the street and don't know anything about them. My thesis is supposed to focus on people's character, or characteristics, that I find so interesting that I want to photograph it and share it with my audience. I will do my best to get the photos I want and I am still really excited to shoot some more photos; which is a good sign in my book!

Here's a couple of the works from the Photography exhibitions I visited this quarter...

Marilyn Minter: Chewing Color

Starburst: Color Photography in America 1970-1980

I have been having some trouble posting some photos and documents on this blog, but rest assured, I have hard copies...

Chewing Color

PRESENTATION OF ART- ANALYSIS WORKSHEET

1. General Description of the Show

"Chewing Color"

A. The artists' name(s): Marilyn Minter

B. How many pieces are in the show: Ten pieces, altogether.

C. Describe the location/context of the exhibition space: Inside the Contemporary Art Center. One large room, and one smaller room connected by a short hallway; with work displayed at random on white walls.

D. Describe your perceptions on the content or idea behind the work: My perception of the meaning of this work dwells on the female and societal idea of glamour and beauty. While most try to capture this glamorous, commercial beauty, Marilyn Minter is using photos, paintings and video work to highlight the opposite of this; the moment when glamour goes wrong. She is focusing in on the flaws of beauty, the dirtiness of it.

2. Give Detailed Descriptions of the Following:

A. The method of presentation of artwork (media of artwork, size of artwork, and how it is presented- frames, mats, pushpins, pedestals, etc.) This exhibit includes one projected video on a plain whit wall, two large scale paintings, one smaller painting, and six photographs. The larger paintings are 96x60 inches, and 76x114 inches, the small painting is 24x24 inches. The photos range in size from 40x30 and 86x60 and the video is projected onto a cinema sized wall. The paintings are enamel on metal and are hung on the wall without frames; they are simply there. The photographs are hung straight on the wall with no framing or matting at all and hung by clips-the photos are characterized as being C-prints.

B. The nature of the exhibition space (size, shape, ceiling height, formal, informal, etc.) The space includes one large room, dimly lit due to the video projection. There are high ceilings (about 30 feet) white walls, and a reflective concrete floor with two concrete pillars and a set of stairs going up. There is a long bench so as to sit and watch the film in this room and there is some soft music playing. It is wide open in here and you can hear echoes of people throughout the building. There is some natural light in the larger room and a doorway to a separate exhibit. There is a short hallway that leads to a smaller room with a shorter ceiling and better lighting. There are overhead spotlights illuminating the photographs on the still white walls, most of which reside in this smaller room. The paintings are all in the larger room and are spotlighted, overead, individually. Presented informally in a formal environment.

C. The type and nature of the lighting in the exhibition space: Lighting in larger room is dim for better viewing of projection, whereas the lighting in the smaller area is much brighter, warm and from overhead spotlights.

D. The relationship of the art pieces to each other (physical and thematic) Physically the photos differ from the paintings and both from the video, however they are all consistent in color choice, they all involve some trace of the female body. Thematically they all relate to each other successfully: they all highlight the imperfect perception of female beauty.

E. Other external factors (noise level, air currents, number of people in the space, etc.) The video has soft, looping music that can be heard throughout the space, as well as echoes of people and footsteps. The air is comfortable and still, and there are only a few people walking in and out at a time.

3. How the Presentation Method Affects the Art (use the back, if necessary)

If you feel that the method used to present the work supports and enhances its meaning to the viewer, clarify the criteria upon which you are basing this opinion.If you feel that the method used to present the work detracts from and weakens its meaning to the viewer, clarify the criteria upon which you are basing this opinion.

In section 2-B, I mentioned that this exhibit, to me, was an informal presentation within a formal environment. I don’t think the presentation necessarily defers the meaning however I do feel that it takes away from the overall experience of the work. From my understanding the work is supposed to be seen as rather dirty and the opposite of stereotypical beauty; I mean the photos are hung by clips! It just seems contradictory to be experiencing it in this clean, open, clear and fresh environment. For example, the film was probably a more influential experience being shown in Times Square, in New York City.

Starburst Photo Show

PRESENTATION OF ART- ANALYSIS WORKSHEET

1. General Description of the Show

Starburst: Color Photography in America 1970-1980

A. The artists' name(s): Several artists including; Nan Goldin, Joel Meyerowitz, William Eggleston, Mitch Epstein, and Helen Levitt.

B. How many pieces are in the show: Many different collections each ranging from just a couple prints to some more than twenty prints.

C. Describe the location/context of the exhibition space: The gallery is within the Cincinnati Art Museum and set up like a maze so as to direct you through each collection. The walls are all white and the works are cleary separated and marked by the names of the artists and some statements on the walls.

D. Describe your perceptions on the content or idea behind the work: As a collective show of all these artists works, I feel like the directive behind it is the introduction, progression, and use of color in photography for these artists during 1970 through 1980. Each collection tells a different story, but collectively they work towards the same end of using color to expres themselves.

2. Give Detailed Descriptions of the Following:

A. The method of presentation of artwork (media of artwork, size of artwork, and how it is presented- frames, mats, pushpins, pedestals, etc.) Most of the works here are windo matted with white matts and then framed in plain black or white frames with glass overtop. They all vary in size from as small as two by two inches to as large as about three feet by four feet. Types of prints include: Chomogenic prints, dye transfer prints, offset lithography on a magazine page, projections, Cibachrome prints, polaroids, inkjet prints, pigment print and ektacolor print.

B. The nature of the exhibition space (size, shape, ceiling height, formal, informal, etc.) The walls in the space are generally all about one to two feet from the ceiling, where some vary slightly in height. They are all white walls and ceilings, with overhead lights being the sole source of light. There are some areas on the walls with the artists names and a short description of they’re work. There is wood flooring throughout the exhibition with openings and benches periodically to sit and page through the show’s catalougue. This is a very formal setting with high ceilings and lots of wide open space.

C. The type and nature of the lighting in the exhibition space Warm, yellow overhead lighting. Minimal shadows and some natural light pouring through from the one window.

D. The relationship of the art pieces to each other (physical and thematic) Thematically, the works are related through their use of color. Physically, each collection seems to be separated into it’s own space; however they are all the traditional square or rectangle matted and framed format with a few exceptions in the form of projections.

E. Other external factors (noise level, air currents, number of people in the space, etc.) The are is generally still and a little bit stuffy and warm. There are only a few people moving about the exhibit causing the sound of footsteps, jingling keys, and some muffled voices from time to time; but it feels like a wisper only environment.

3. How the Presentation Method Affects the Art (use the back, if necessary)

If you feel that the method used to present the work supports and enhances its meaning to the viewer, clarify the criteria upon which you are basing this opinion.If you feel that the method used to present the work detracts from and weakens its meaning to the viewer, clarify the criteria upon which you are basing this opinion.

I feel that the method of presentation strengthens and enhances the meaning of the work. The unity of the presentation and framing works to prevent any detraction from the overall theme of color while the slight separation of each individual collection allows the viewer to ponder about the specific intentions of the artists.

I just wanted to take the opportunity to post some work by Eliot Erwitt. He is a photographer that has been a driving force behind my work this quarter. I really do love the humor in his work and the moments he captures. I don't want to mimic his photographs, but I really enjoy his methods and the outcome. Erwitt has inspired me to take the time to find the right shot and I hope that you all will explore his work further! :)

Today we had our second Work-In-Progress review this quarter. Overall, it went well, especially considering that the weather has prevented me from shooting much over the past couple of weeks. This did give me a chance to re-evaluate some of the digital shots I took earlier in the quarter to see if they could work with my film work. While presenting these, one set of contacts was brought up that caught our interest. In this set of contacts were a couple of photos that really expressed character, in an almost literal way. Janie expressed that I should definitely continue to explore this avenue a bit more and see where it goes. I really like this idea because it is much easier to take someone's photo when you ask them first. Don't get me wrong, I love the challenge, but it's really interesting how much people "come out" in front of the camera. The above photos are from my digital contact. Lemme know what you think and there are more to come.