Tuition and College Fee Inflation

Statistics say that college tuition increases by 8% per year. Does paying more tuition give us students a better and more enriching education? Why the increase? Aside from tuition, we already pay numerous other fees. Sure we have access to financial aid, but what about those who cannot receive it due to certain issues? I don't see a decrease happening in the future, so what will tuition and fees increase to in 10, or even 20, years?

Are we too dependent on computers?

I own a laptop but do not have Internet at my home. When I tell others I don't have Internet, they are shocked and by the expression on their faces I can tell they think I am crazy. I just don't have any use for it except to do homework assignments for my classes. I never had a blog before I had to do it for my art class, and I don't have a Myspace or Facebook. I think we (a term I'm using for people in general) depend too heavily on these social sources, replacing real communication and contact. It has become so easy to access resources on the Internet that we really don't have to do much on our own. You don't have to drive to the bank to transfer money from checking to savings, which arises the issue of the safety and identity theft. Instead of going to the library and researching, you can Google anything and it is readily available. This is a benefit, but I wonder what's going to happen to good old fashioned resource library books.

Art and Film

Films are a form of art. There are so many different genres of film - some purely produced for entertainment value, some educational, and some are artsy, or "indie" - just to name a few.

On the other hand, Pink Floyd's "The Wall" is an excellent example of art in film, along with "Requiem for a Dream" which is a more recent film. Quentin Tarantino, an art-film director, is one of my favorite directors.

My Diorama - BIG Business

I chose to express my feelings about the influence of 'big business' on our nation through my diorama. I believe that big businesses (meaning large corporations) have an effect on our environment, such as pollution, individual smaller businesses, and our media through constant advertising. All these, not to mention others, are consequences of these corporations major economic power.

My Photographic Eye

Dance

Dance is an art form - dance is expressed as an occupation for some, competitions, hobbies, exercise, and more. Dance is a very diverse form of self-expression, differing from ballet to hip-hop to Native rain dance. Some only dance when they are alone, when no one is watching. Some use dance to perform and exhibit emotions through physical action. Dance has even become popular on television through shows like Dancing With The Stars and So You Think You Can Dance.

Self Portrait

Diorama Drama

A diorama that taught me something I did not know:
The diorama about children being persecuted as witches in Nigeria was not only an interesting fact I learned but opened my eyes to the fact that there are so many different cultures. Of course it's horrible what has happened to these innocent children, but their culture is obviously different than ours so should we look at this issue objectively?

A diorama that is very creative:
A creative diorama was about the over-prescribing of prescription drugs. She had a lot going on with the satirical cartoons all over the box. I agree that our country's doctors push many medications, due to the influence of pharmaceutical companies. If a child has difficulty in school, don't immediately prescribe a dangerous stimulant for ADD/ADHD. Give the student extra help or adapt the lesson to his or her needs.

A diorama that really made me think more deeply about an issue:
The diorama named Death of the Innocent made me think about the manner in which "we" (our generation) communicate, express ourselves, and most often rely on the Internet. Writing, pen to paper, has become pretty much extinct.

How it felt for me to create a diorama:
To create a diorama was a creative attempt at putting my beliefs and values before my peers. Once I began working on the project the ideas began to flow and I myself even began to think deeper about the issue.

This music video is a true work of art...

Nine Inch Nails - "We're In This Together" from The Fragile Album




W

Poetry

"Mad Girl's Love Song" by Sylvia Plath

"I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead;
I lift my lids and all is born again.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

The stars go waltzing out in blue and red,
And arbitrary blackness gallops in:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I dreamed that you bewitched me into bed
And sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite insane.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

God topples from the sky, hell's fires fade:
Exit seraphim and Satan's men:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I fancied you'd return the way you said,
But I grow old and I forget your name.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

I should have loved a thunderbird instead;
At least when spring comes they roar back again.
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)"

This poem appears in one of my favorite books, The Bell Jar, also written by Sylvia Plath. Also, Ryan Adams, a favorite music artist of mine, wrote a song titled "Sylvia Plath".

My Favorite Artist

Alec Soth is a photographer. His photographry is very unique and intriguing. Every photograph evokes the feeling that there is a story behind the image. I first experienced his work in the High Museum of Art in his exhibit "Alec Soth: Black Line of Woods" for the museum's "Picturing the South" series. I found this collection beautiful- my favorite exhibit in the museum.

Experience it... http://alecsoth.com/

Human Nature in Art Form

This is an anatomically correct brain made of yarn - "The Knitted Brain" by Karen Norberg, a psychiatrist. She spent a year knitting this piece. Different colors are used to represent the different parts of the complex human brain. This is representative of human nature because human nature is defined as a concept that there are common characteristics, feelings, actions, and thinking processes that all human beings have in common.

Human Condition in Art Form

Vik Muniz's Kyber Pass (Self-Portrait as an Oriental) is a piece I saw in the High Museum of Art. It is a photograph of a collage made of children's toys. He is posed with his eyes winced as if in pain with his hand to his forehead, and his head is tilted downward. To me this expresses a sadness which everyone has felt and is an inevitable emotion, making it a human condition. Artists represent the human condition by communicating common human experiences through their art.

Art on YouTube

This is a rather old video capturing Christo's Running Fence. I came across this work of art while studying Environmental Art. It is a creation by Christo and his wife Jeanne-Claude which took four years (1972-1976) to materialize. It is a fabric fence made from steel posts and cables and is 5.5 meters high and 40 kilometers long. It runs through Sonoma and Marin Counties in California. http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2002/christo/fence.shtm

Public Art

The Capitoline Wolf with Romulus and Remus is a statue in front of my hometown's City Auditorium. It is very historical for the city of Rome. It represents the mythical tale of two twins, Romulus and Remus, who were the sons of Mars (the God of War). The twins were cast into the river due to the king being overthrown. The twins were rescued by the she-wolf who cared for them until they were found by a herdsman. Originally the statue was presented as a gift to a corporation in Milan, Italy. It was relocated to Rome in 1929. At first the statue was controversial here because the twins are naked and because of the nature of the statue. In 1933, one of the twins was 'kidnapped' from the statue. It is unknown what happened to the lost twin, but it was replaced with the efforts of the Rome Rotary Club and the International Rotary Club. "When Italy declared war on the Allies in 1940, threats to dynamite and destroy the statue became so numerous that the Rome City Commission ordered the statue removed and stored for safety. In 1952 a movement was started by citizens and art lovers to restore the statue, and on September 8, 1952, after an absence of twelve years, the 1,500-pound statue of the Capitoline Wolf was placed on its pedestal in front of City Hall." (romega.us)

Music is culture!

Culture is all about personal taste, therefore music is a culture because each genre can be a culture of its own. Each genre can give a person a sense of belonging, because everybody prefers atleast some type of music, whether you are a music fanatic or not. Personally, I love music. I would rather listen to music than do anything else. I have even made friends through music- whether it be going to concerts or seeing a person with a t-shirt on that had one of my favorite band names on it. Music is art by all means, and every form of art belongs to culture.

Left Brain vs. Right Brain

It's fascinating that we have two completely opposite forces inside our heads - both composed in our brains. Taking a look at the differences between the left side and the right side of the brain, we can see that they can collide and make it difficult for us to make decisions. I think in making decisions we either try to use our left brain OR our right brain. Being a psychology major, I am interested in why we think the way we do. Thinking about the two halves of the brain give us insight into the differences among humans, because some have left brains that are more prominent (analytical, scientific) while others use the right side more (creativity, expression).

Body Worlds Exhibit

Body Worlds Exhibit - Science, art, or both?

This exhibit features real human specimens, plastinated to reveal the structure and anatomy of the human body. Despite the fact that all are donor bodies, a controvery arises - Is this a form of disrespect for the human body? In my opinion this is a matter of how one perceives the exhibit, whether it is for the purpose of science or art.

Interview With An AMAZING Artist

I am blessed to be friends with a wonderful, creative, inspirational woman - Janda Canalis - and she is a teacher at the school where I work. Not only is she an exceptional teacher, but she is a true ARTIST.

About Janda...
I am a full time teacher of healthcare science. After school, I head to my studio (Earthworks) where I create my own pottery or instruct adults, teens and children how to throw on the wheel. I love teaching! Whether in the classroom at the College and Career Academy or in my studio, I find great joy in helping others learn. Earthworks began as a dream to combine my passion for teaching and the arts. Now, in its 6th year of operation, it has become a very special place where people come together to discover the beauty of clay, the process of centering/forming a slice of earth, and experience a sense of inner peace.
I started as a potter in my adult years. When my children were young, my time was devoted to their activities. Now that they are living adult lives, I have the time to devoteto my art without feeling selfish.


Her Style...
I work in clay. I especially enjoy creating functional pieces that people can use in their every day lives. I tend to favor a modern twist on an ancient art. I pay particular attention to maintaining function within a sleek form with clean lines. I prefer simple glazing techniques that compliment but do not distract from the beauty of the form.


When creating a new piece...
When creating a new piece, I feel the same sort of excitement that one feels when opening a surprise gift. While I begin each piece with an idea in mind, the final form is a product of evolutionary thought.


How it feels to share her art with others...
One of my greatest joys of being a potter is to share my work with others. It makes me happy to visit my children’s and friends homes and enjoy a meal served on the dinnerware that I have made for them. Knowing that my pieces are used to serve and present food that nourishes the body of those I love is wonderfully rewarding.


How she acknowledges her creativity and expresses herself as an artist everyday...
While I teach healthcare science, I take every opportunity to integrate art into my lesson plans. When I look at the curriculum objectives of my courses, I enjoy thinking of creative ways to teach the content that will engage my students’ hands and minds. This next week, we will be making models of bones out of clay and use chalk, charcoal, and paper to create xray illustrations of various types of fractures. Last week, we fingerpainted the motions of a therapeutic backrub! My home also expresses my passion for art as well as my positive spirit.

I know what art is

Art means taking something so simple and when in the hands of an artist it becomes something magnificent. This is when art happens. Whether it is an old tire used for a Rural Studio project, a rock in Environmental Art, or like in this image - mold - all these things are ordinary (or perhaps unusual) objects until an artist gets a hold of them and creates what then becomes art.

This piece is from Gail Wight's 2004 CREEP exhibit. In this piece Wight explored the simple beauty of color and growth patterns of slime mold. http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/reviews/davis/davis2-14-07_detail.asp?picnum=3

Human Struggle in Art Form

Study For The Raft Of Medusa (1819) by Theodore Gericault. This piece depicts a historical tragedy. The black clouds, the raft falling apart, and the passengers aboard the raft all depict human struggle. They are in agony and dying amongst the dark and tumultuous ocean waters.

I love this architecture...

Rainbow Row is one of the most often photographed and painted scenes in Charleston, South Carolina. This is a row of historic houses built individually between the 1720's-1790's that face the Charleston Harbor. The history goes as so - It was once an undesirable part of town after the Civil War. This area developed into slum condition. In the early 1900's Dorothy Porcher Legge purchased a section of dwellings on East Bay Street and began to renovate them with the idea of using a Colonial Caribbean color scheme, which is still in use today and gives the area the name Rainbow Row.

Graffiti IS Art

No doubt is graffiti art. The definition of art is: 1: skill acquired by experience or study 2: a branch of learning; especially one of the humanities 3: an occupation requiring knowledge or skill 4: the use of skill and imagination in the production of things of beauty.

Where's the argument? Graffiti consists of lines, shapes, colors - everything that makes art ART.

These images are taken from ehousestudio.com and are located in Charleston, South Carolina.

Fashion as ART

Op Art (or Optical Art) is a type of visual art that creates optical illusions. It is used in fashion to create visually appealing and unique pieces.

Human Behavior in Art Form

This is Pillars of Society by George Grosz (1926). I think this represents human behavior in art form. This is a critical and political representation of his reaction to war. http://www.art-for-a-change.com/Express/ex10.htm This is a great explanation of Grosz's criticism of the bourgeoisie art through which he expressed his feelings about the 'goings-on' during this time of war in Germany.

This Film is a Work of Art

The Blue Angel directed by Josef von Sternberg (1930) is a work of art. I watched this in my German History class and was surprised about how much I learned. It was difficult to watch because I had never viewed a film like this, being all in black and white and also the fact that it was all in German with the help of English subtitles. It opened my eyes to a real film that has substance and I had actually had to think about it to get something out of it. I think 'Hollywood' movies put everything out upfront for you, not giving you a chance to cultivate your own ideas and delve into your imagination. This film actually allowed me to think for myself, as opposed to many of today's 'Hollywood' movies that lack essence, leaving much of nothing to the imagination.

Art Education in Schools

Why is there even an issue about taking humanities - art and music - out of schools to integrate more academics? These are just as important as academics. Students needs to be able to express themselves and these humanities are pretty much the students' only outlet of such expression in a school environment. Art cultivates imagination and creativity. It develops self-expression and encourages self-esteem especially in elementary schools. A young child is so proud to bring home that drawing home to Mommy and Daddy. Art helps them to communicate their own ideas. Art also brings parents to schools and encourages involvement. Art teaches them culture, something that just having solely academics can provide.

I'm having a catharsis...

Films, or movies, these days are not made for the sake of art, but for the sole purpose of making money and the competition for how much money a film brings in. It is all about the "Box Office". Where has the art gone in films? Films are a form of art, right? It is my opinion that movies are all about action, sex, violence, etc. - whatever it takes to intrigue viewers. Even now the ones that are considered artsy are labeled as "Indie" or "Independent" films. Bottom line is - why is a movie considered good and in the top charts at the Box Office because it is full of sex and violence? Why does it take those elements for people to consider it good?