Lib 110 "The Erlking" final project

This is my interpretation of the Erlking in the form of a watercolor painting. I put a lot of time and effort into making this painting.  I  hope you enjoy

Lower East Side Galleries Reaction L.E.S [Field trip]

"Lower East Side aka LES"

Our class went on a field trip to the Lower East side and to be honest I have lived in New York since 2007 and I have never made that journey to the Lower East Side. I had heard rumors that it wasn't safe to go there however, I was with my "friends" and we seemed very safe because our teacher was with us. Anyways on this trip we were asked to compare these galleries to the ones that we saw previously in Chelsea Galleries. As we walked around I had first noticed one of the biggest differences was the type of buildings that the galleries were in the first building that we came across I had took notice to the outside and it had a half broken sign on the outside that was labeled as a “shirt store.” I never would of known that it was an art gallery because it actually said, "S..irts" the word "h" was missing.

As we walked inside it was defiantly a “different kind” of gallery alright. They had an artist by the name of Ace Morgan on display and the building was actually the “Strange Loop Gallery.” There were a lot of surprising pictures on the wall of eroticism. I was defiantly thrown back by the idea that “this kind” of art would be there in the LES. When you walk into a Chelsea Gallery, I would never expect to see this kind of display of nudism or the display of men’s penis’s erected and someone smoking a crack pipe on the wall for all to see.

One of the next galleries that we visited pretty much I saw that people had the same reaction as the first gallery that we visited. What are these galleries doing here and in unmarked buildings, that don’t even seem to make sense? When we went to Chelsea it was defiantly apparent that you were walking into a gallery. The outside was immaculate and the galleries had lots of room to walk around in.

The best example that I can give is the Miguel Abreu Gallery. When I walk into the gallery it was small and reminded me of one of the galleries in Chelsea because it had “miniature” cement block on the floor as part of the instillation. I wondered what would be next.

I have to admit that the closer that we got to Grand Street the galleries seem to change. I saw that some of the galleries resembled some of the ones in Chelsea. The outside was nice and they seem to be more spacious inside. And the display of artwork was a more “cleaner” version that the first one we had visited earlier in the day. The gallery that I am referring to is “The Shin Gallery” I fell in love with this gallery. They had artwork on display from the artist name Ho Jun Ji and it was a different variation of “money” displayed in paintings. The one that caught my eye was a painting that I had saw at the MOMA when we had visited there. It was the “scream” painting contorted with a Chinese coin with a bull and it described how much the real painting was worth $119 million dollars.  Now that is a lot of money for a painting.

Overall I am thankful that I have been able to experience all these different kinds of galleries. It has opened my mind’s eye to what art truly is and with a better appreciation for what art stands for. In the end "art to me" is transforming what you feel on the inside and displaying it on the outside for the world to see no matter where it is displayed in "LES or even Chelsea" as long as it is being displayed and noticed that "I believe that is what truly matters."

Cited Artist and galleries

Strange Loop Gallery
Ace Morgan
2008
Miguel Abreu Gallery, 2013
Installation view

Ho-Jun Ji
Cion-cidence, 2013
Archival Pigment Print and UV Print on Glass
59 x 59 inches

extra credit on Exam #2 [Drawing Marathon]

"Art in a Different Perspective"

Today I went into school for an extra credit project and alot of things were going through my head. I knew going into this that there were going to be "nude" models there. I have never been to an Art event that had "nude models" to draw from. I wondered if they would be models you see in magazines. I wasn't sure if I should go. I honestly was scared. I was very conflicted and nervous for being my first time at what I would see. I had weird "Phobias" about what would happen. I decided to get the courage to go. I arrived at the school around 7:30 pm to 8 pm, as I was walking to the room I became nervous but I had the strength to keep walking. I wondered if I would see anyone that I knew. "But I did not see any familiar faces." I asked an art student where to go and she said, you can go in there and pointed at room M-228 and said, "are you a model." I blushed and said "no." We laughed and she showed me the room. So I walked straight into the room and to my surprise it was a very different atmosphere. Everyone was busy drawing this lady in my pencil drawing, so I sat down and joined everyone else. it seem to be weird because I felt so "normal" in that room drawing with everyone else. Kind of like "I belong there."

I heard a timer go off and I decided to take a break. I got a sandwich and something to drink and to my surprise again, I entered the room to see a new "nude" model and it was this guy to the right. To me he looked uncomfortable sitting on a hard piece of chair. However I did my best to draw him from the angle that I was sitting at. I found myself looking at shapes and trying to pay attention to detail. I though that I would be distracted on my embarrassment of seeing genitalia in public but I wasn't embarrassed at all. I felt proud to be apart of the group and I noticed people took great care of everyone and held high respect for the models. I was very pleased and very impressed with the art students. I was welcomed in an unknown territory and felt comfortable to be there. I am glad that I went out of my way to try something new. I got so involved in drawing I forgot what time it was and notice it was 11 pm. I had to head home to feed my children. I said thanks to the models for letting me draw them and left with a smile knowing I did my best for my first time "EVER" drawing nude models in pencil.

Sincerely your classmate...Veronica 

“Public Art Reaction” “Field Trip”

"Art in Public"

Our project number #5 is "Public Art Reaction" we were asked to look around where we live for outdoor art. 
So here I am in Queens, NY., Standing in front of one of the biggest "Open Art" ever. "The Globe" that is how I describe it. This outdoor feature is right next to the Queens Museum of Art. This huge outdoor structure makes a beautiful display of steel.  I believe that is because the park is so huge and their are other pieces of open art displayed here as well in Flushing Meadow Park this is a perfect surroundings for the "Globe." People feel drawn to "The Globe" from all over the world. It has become a landmark. I know that by having this "Globe" next to famous places like; Citi field, US National Tennis Center, Queens Zoo, and The New York Hall Of Science it gets seen a lot. 

"Technical Information"

"The Globe" is actually called "Unisphere" and is the world's largest global structure. It rises in the air to about 140 feet and the total weight is around 700,000 to 900,000 pounds including the base. The sphere itself is 120 feet wide and is constructed of stainless steel. The Unisphere was built for the 1964 New York World's Fair. 


The Unisphere is centered in a large circular reflecting pool and is surrounded by a series of water jet fountains. These fountains are their to obscure the tripod pedestal  This effect seems to make the Unisphere appear as if it is floating in space or on its own. As you can see from the picture in the right. This piece of artwork seem to communicate that no matter how heavy things are in life we are one nation and that we should all come together as one. This monumental structure was built with the idea of world peace in mind. I believe that back in the 1960's everyone needed a symbol to show unity. So it was decided by the US Steel Corporation [who build the Unisphere] that this would be used as that symbol of world peace and to give lift off to our newly launched exploration into space.
This Unisphere over the years has made its way into TV shows and even movies. Plenty of times we have seen famous people who have came to the park to enjoy the scenery. Also It is peaceful to sit their and watch the families play in the water. On the weekends we see some people do performances at "The Globe" for free.
Plenty of days and nights we go to Flushing Meadow Park to relax. My sons actually skateboard here everyday. [weather permitting... but here is my oldest son using the sphere as a backdrop for his skateboarding to make a cool picture to promote his talent.] 

Overall I truly believe that the Unisphere does "unite" everybody that does come to the park. In the distance you can see the flags from different countries waving in the wind. If this were to be placed in a different park or inside a building. I truly believe it would loose its meaning. It would become more of a map instead of a "symbol of unity."


Here is the link for "The Unishpere" on NYC Parks and art installations in Flushing Meadows Park:

http://www.nycgovparks.org/park-features/virtual-tours/flushing-meadows/unisphere


other information about the Unisphere:

Built: 1964 
Designed by: Gilmore D. Clarke 
Unisphere was donated by: The United States Steel Corporation 
Constructed by: The American Bridge Company

Sunnyside [extra credit]

We were asked to make a map of Sunnyside, Queens. Here is a rendition of Sunnyside. The old with the new as a postcard On the back it would describe all the wonderful things about:

 Sunnyside

• has wonderful parks
• has great places to eat
• easy access to the subway
• has clean and friendly neighborhoods 
• great public and private schools

It would have a faded map of Sunnyside on the back side. I didn't have the money to make an actual map/postcard. but this is how I would imagine it.
this is how I would describe Sunnyside as a livable community that has some nostalgic atmosphere. I have to give credit to the following for giving me an idea of what I wanted and looked around for and I did the photos so you can have an idea of how I see such a wonderful community.

The map picture to the right and the artistic picture uptop links:

http://sunnysidepost.com/about/

http://vimeo.com/43490786

Thanks for any input your classmate, Veronica