Olfactory Art

I have posted a link to an article that I read on scent as art work.  What I want to know, is how can one possibly curate such an exhibit?  I find it interesting and a completely redreshing concept in contemporary art.  Any thoughts?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101209/ap_on_en_ot/us_scent_as_art?bouchon=501,ny

Week 10

Sharon Core
Early American, Apples in Porcelain Basket, 2007, 15 x 18.25 inch, c-print

     At first glance this image seems very closely related to some of my recent work about my personal struggle with infertility.  As I was unable to open an artists statement, I do not know if that is even remotely similar to her intended meaning but it struck me as extremely similar in appearance, and so caught my attention.  In this image the fruit may be a reflection of the impermanent nature of the human body.  Here the fruit appears to be molding, with large dark spots on what should be very appetizing. This questions the permanency of the human body.
     Another possible read of this image shows that the image draws from 18th century still-life painting.  The limited background information and the lighting is indicative of this style.  This reference draws a parallel between master paintings and modern day commodity culture with mass marketing and advertising images. Idealized, or imitative images may "legitimize" a product in order to sell more.
     Finally, this image may also be viewed as a commentary on photographs that are snapshots of predetermined subjects, such as some of the the early Kodak images.  Still-lifes were common subject matter for early photographers who struggled with long exposure times and the camera's inability to capture moving subjects.


Three of my recent photos:

"Oranges", 2010.  This image is part of a series of work which I am working on currently that relates moldy, or altered fruit to my own ppersonal struggle with infertility.

"Boxes", 2010.  This image is a document of one area of concern in my life.  My home life is in a constant state of turmoil and stress presently and this image underlines this feeling of chaos.

"Lights", 2010.  Here blurred christmas lights are representative of my childhood memories of driving around our neighborhhod at night during the winter to look at festive houses, done up in Christmas lights.

Blog # 9

I included this image from a recent experiment... I gave my children the camera to see what they chose to take photos of.

I love this image because the little girl snuck off to the side during a halloween party while "mom" was looking elsewhere.

I find the boy's facial expression comical. 

New Photography

For this assignment I chose two images from both the New Photography 2010 exhibit, and the New Photography 1985 show.

Irene 2010

http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/newphotography/alex-prager/irene/

     I chose this image because the woman highlighted in the back seat of the taxi seems so alone and isolated in the image, and it is as if the artist is trying to call attention to that fact.

3 Sisters

http://www.tonymendozaphoto.com/pages/stories.asp?image=3

     I chose this image because the three sisters in this image are all happy and apppear to be enjoying their vacation, and the large sun hats are amusing to me.

Both images are of people but Prager's image seems to be about the isolation, while Mendoza's image celebrates the bond between the three women.  Prager's photo is carefully constructed; like a movie stil, while Mendoza's has the look of a found snapshot.

Karen Rosenberg is wrong in her opinion that theory has been replaced by visual literacy because visual literacy is a construct which could not exist without theory.  Theory is constantly evolving and changing to reflect contemporary art and society so to say that theory has been replaced is a falacy. 

Three of my own works:


....  will post soon.  Blogger will not allow me to upload any more images right now... ???

My weekly blog assignment

http://www.whitney.org/www/2006biennial/artists.php?artist=Williams_Christopher

Christopher Wiliams; I love the way that the object is photographed. It looks like a formal portrait- which is apparently how he intended it to be read.  His work about power, fetishism, and control is fascinating.

http://www.whitney.org/www/2006biennial/artists.php?artist=Greely_Hannah

Hannah Greely; I thought this image was intriguing because the child looks fearfull; like he is hiding away from the world.

http://www.whitney.org/www/2006biennial/artists.php?artist=Anger_Kenneth

Kenneth Anger, This work is interesting to me because of its use of iconography from popular culture.

3 of my recent works:

This image is interesting to me because of the color and various forms created within the image.

I like that this image has a soft focus, and the ice spray is still apparent. The movement and action is felt through this image.

I really like the angle at which this image was taken because it imparts a lot of energy through the diagonal composition.

Photo IV: Week 3

Blog: Week 3 assign.  Master’s of Photography

1) Edward Weston
White Dunes,
Oceano, California
1936

http://masters-of-photography.com/W/weston/weston_white_dunes.html

I believe Edward Weston is included in this particular archive of images because he is considered a Master of Photography, as is evident by his use of formal elements.  The highlights and shadows in this particular photograph are phenomenal.  

2) Brassai (Gyula Halasz)
Open Gutter
From "Paris by Night"
1933


http://masters-of-photography.com/B/brassai/brassai_gutter.html



Brassai was another photographer of high merit.  His work has a similar aesthetic to Weston’s work, being that he also photographs in a clean, and straight-forward way.  The lines in the image lead the view through the photograph and lend energy and movement to the piece.

3) Tina Modotti
Flor de manita
c. 1925

http://masters-of-photography.com/M/modotti/modotti_manita.html

Tina Modotti began as Edward Weston’s model, and then became his student, and eventually grew into a notable photographer in her own right.  She may be included in this archive due to Weston, though I find her work ever bit as interesting, and less misogynistic than Weston’s.  This image shows plant life.  What interests me about the image is the clinincal approach she has taken while capturing the image.  Instead of photographing it outdoors, she uses a plain white backdrop thus excising the plant from its environment.

3 of my own images:

1) Untitled

     I really liked the way that the tracks looked in this image.

2)Untitled

     I thought this image was funny because he looks like a floating head.

3) Untitled

     I really liked the detail in this image, like the wood grain.  I also thought it was amazing that the bird let me get that close!

Photo IV Blog Assign #2: More pics

Here are more interesting images!
Three images I like:

http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/all/the_monkey_king_vali_s_funeral_pyre/objectview_enlarge.aspx?page=2&sort=0&sortdir=asc&keyword=&fp=1&dd1=60&dd2=0&vw=1&collID=60&OID=60046394&vT=3&hi=0&ov=0

1) The Monkey King Vali's Funeral Pyre, ca. 1780.  I love this watercolor painting because of its very flat two-dimensional quality.  It reminds me of medieval European art (though I know its not).  Very flat with a stacked perspective.

http://eatlacma.org/exhibition/

2) EAT LACMA, Show Us How You Eat, I love this image from the show because of the exploding banana.  The energy comes through in the mutitude of diagonal lines radiating out of the fruit.

http://www.photography-now.com/popup_ausst_1.php?id_ausstellungen=T77413

3)  ›Visual Narratives‹  I like this photograph by Johan van der Keuken because of the way that the central figures are framed by the architectural features in the background.

Three of my recent original works:

1)  I find the gradation within the clouds interesting

2) I chose this photo because it makes me think about the function of a photograph in a different way, and the soft focus employed makes identifying the "object" insignificant.

3) I posted this photo because it makes me smile.

Reel or Faux?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_sp3575

   This photo was featured on Yahoo.com this evening, and after I stopped laughing, I wondered what my other photo friends thought of it.  The 30 lbs koi carp was supposedly caught in France a few months ago.  The fisherman apparently let it go after the photo was taken so no one can verify the actual size of the fish... though some experts have claimed that it is not unusual for koi carp to reach this size and larger given the right conditions.  What do you think?  Is it real, or fake?

Photo blog as process

Here are a few images from current exhibitions that interest me:

1)  Edward Weston's, (American, 1886–1958). Rubber Dummies, Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios, Hollywood. 1939, The Original Copy: Photography of Sculpture, 1839 to Today, "The Pygmalion Complex: Animate and Inanimate Figures"  at the Museum of Modern Art, August 1–November 1, 2010

   I love this image because it is very different from any of Weston's photographs that I have been exposed to in my career as an art student. 

http://moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/originalcopy/works09.html#2

 2) From Kurt Tong's, "In Case it Rains in Heaven" and "Memories, Dreams; Interrupted," exhibition at the Photofusion gallery in LOndon, UK.  July 30 - September 26, 2010.
 
   
 

http://www.photofusion.org/gallery/photography/exhibitions/current/default.htm

   The "Rains" series fascinates me for two reasons.  One, I like the way that he has chosen to photographeach object; like a portrait.  This gives each its own importance and personality. Two, I am currently interested in how Western society is impacting Eastern (in this case Chinese) culture and traditions. 
 
  
3) "I AM A MAN" Ernest C. Withers, Sanitation Workers Assemble in Front of Clayborn Temple for a Solidarity March, Memphis, Tennessee, March 28, 1968. From the,"For all the World To See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights" exhibition at the International Center of Photography, May 21 - September 12, 2010.
  
   

http://www.icp.org/museum/exhibitions/for-all-the-world-to-see

   I have included this photograph because of my interest in socially important and historically significant photographs.


Here are three of my recent photographs:

1) "First day", 2010

   This photograph is inspiring to me partially because it is my son on his very first day of school, but also because it could represent any young child facing an unfamiliar path.  His identity is obscurred being that his back is to the viewer.  He bravely forges ahead along the path of life. 

2) "Red River Canyon, WY", 2010

   The vibrant red of the canyon walls against the jewelled-green valley floor simply called out to be photographed.  I had to stop the car, jump out and photograph it!  The multiple diagonal lines lead the eye through the image, and give it a sense of energy.

3) "Mountain seen from the Snowy Range Scenic Byway, WY," 2010

   I loved this image that I shot because of its almost painting-like quality.  Being largely unfamiliar with the practice of taking great landscape shots, I decided to try it.  I welcome any comments, and suggestions.