Digital Divide Reading Questions

1. Why do artists still use old analog technology as part of displays or performances?

2. How has technology changed how we view information such as news?

3. How has technology changed the speed of how a person views art?

Intimacy

Exhibition Review
Intimacy
By Zoe Bray

            The exhibit Intimacy, which was featured in the Sheppard Gallery, showcases portraits from a variety of people in the artist’s life. The word intimacy according to the artist, can take on many forms such as physical, emotional, intellectual, and experiential. However it happens, it is about connection and sincerity. Zoe Bray is also an anthropologist. Anthropology is the study of cultures and practices. Bray is of a Basque descent. The Basque heritage has a strong connection to family and maintains strong connections and sincerity. There is also a large Basque community in Nevada, which has influenced areas such as art, literature, and commerce. Even with these strong roots in Nevada, many Basque’s feel an emotional connection with the homeland. Intimacy and the works of Bray go hand in hand.

            The pieces showcased in this gallery consisted of all oil paintings on canvas presentation. This is how most people view art. By just looking at paintings or sculptures in a gallery, the story of how the piece was created or evolved over time is lost. The artist has found a way to show this progression using technology. Some feel that technology has no place in traditional art, but Bray has used it to her advantage with the theme intimacy. In the gallery, there is a video that shows her progression of the works. From the starting point to the finished product, you can see her physical and emotional connection to her work. As a patron, you have a more experiential presentation by the artist. This allows for a better experience by the viewer. By using this technique, the themes of intimacy can be better experienced.

            The technique of piece video timeline was used effectively in the piece Sketch of Nestor Basterretxea. The piece is an oil painting of Nestor Basterretxea in portrait form. I felt more intimacy for this piece compared to others because of the video presentation. The video starts with Bray and Basterretxea visiting. During this, Bray is setting up her supplies preparing to paint. This video then shows the first brushstroke of the piece. It then evolves to the finished product. During this, the two are visiting and the camera is rotating between Bray’s workstation and a sitting Basterretxea. The combination of the conversation audio and visual progression make the viewers feel like they are with Bray and Basterretxea during the painting session. This use of technology allows for a greater level of intimacy to be felt.

            The theme of intimacy is extremely visible in the piece Self-portrait in Reno. In the piece, Bray is painting in one area of the room while her boyfriend is working on his computer at the table in the room. Even though the two are not speaking, there is a level of intimacy present in the painting. The feeling of physical and emotional contact of just being in the same room with someone you love is evident. This piece shows that you don’t have to be directly communicating with someone to feel a connection. 

            Many of the pieces in the display are of other Basques. Bray has combined her heritage’s desire for connection with her art. In all of her pieces, you see the person as they are. The theme is used to its full extent and with a variety of techniques. Intimacy can come in many forms. All of them are shown in this exhibit.

Project 3

Choose Your Fate 3
Choose Your Fate is an animated diptych montage with soundscape that shows how people of the world see the apocalypse, or the coming end of the world. Many believe that the end of the world is a decision made by god and is happening for a reason. The sound of an asteroid hitting earth, which is shown in the animation, is punishment for our sins. Others see world events such as nuclear explosions, or hostile countries as the trigger for the end. Many have started prepping for the end, hoping they will survive. Prepping has become a million dollar industry, with people spending an entire month's salary on supplies such as food, water, and weapons. The sound of gunfire is present in the piece. With the current gun control debate in the U.S., some see weapons as the only way to survive. However you see the end of the world, each person must choose their own fate. 

Project3-Audio from Timmy Chatwood on Vimeo.

A Play on Paper

Exhibition Review
A Play on Paper
By Rory Laven

            The exhibit A Play on Paper, which was featured in the McNamara Gallery, showcases digital works displayed on handmade recycled paper. The paper used is from a variety of recycling sites and then combined to create different textures and colors of paper. Once the paper was formed, the images were screen printed (serigraphs) to create the final product. The paper used to print the serigraphs worked in conjunction with the digital design. This is because the recycled paper was made up of different textures and colors. Most print art is done on standard white paper.  The paper used in this display was thicker than standard office or photo paper. The color was not a pristine white, but a gray tone. When looking closely at the paper, you can see cracks and other rough surfaces that show how the paper was formed.

            Many people have said that technology would play a part in the destruction of the world. The waste and power consumption of some technologies has made us rethink how important some things are. Paper is wastefully used by the box-load in some offices daily. I myself am an avid recycler, and enjoyed how someone could take something once discarded and reuse it to create a work of art. I hope that works like the ones showcased make others think of how they can reuse items from our daily lives.

            The piece Stop Glaring Technology No. 1, uses the drafting program, AutoCAD to create the outline of a face with glaring eyes. The piece from a distance looks like most building blueprints, with lines going everywhere. The only color featured in the piece is various shades of blue. This is the same color used to print blueprints, and was the color display in the first computer monitors. The eyes in the center give the piece its title. The eyes are glaring. This could be caused by a number of reasons. Some people hate using technology. They are unwilling to learn how to operate it, or feel that only problems can come from it. The eyes could also resemble a person that has been looking at a display for too long a period of time. When the paper is closely examined, you can see hole punch sized circles in the different layers of paper. This shows that all forms of paper can be reused. 

            The piece Friendly Fire Breath depicts a person’s face breathing fire. A person can expel fire in a number of ways. This could be our words to one another, our actions, or our wasting of goods. As we grow in our lives, we learn how to breathe less fire. Instead of fire, a person will learn how to breathe water to help put out problems, both their own and those of others. With having this piece printed on recycled paper, some of the fires of waste have been extinguished.

            This exhibit gives a great idea on how printed art can be combined with renewable resources. Recycled paper is just one of the many materials that can be used to create a work of art. The pieces is this exhibit used what some would call imperfections in the recycled paper to its advantage. The rough textures added depth to the print media. I would be curious to see the print images on standard white paper. Would they have as much sophistication?
Just because it was discarded by someone does not mean that it can’t be used by you.

Project 2

-->

Choose Your Fate 2
Choose Your Fate is an animated diptych montage that shows how people of the world see the apocalypse, or the coming end of the world. Many believe that the end of the world is a decision made by god and is happening for a reason. An asteroid hitting earth, which is shown in the animation, is punishment for our sins. Others see world events such as nuclear radiation, or hostile countries as the trigger for the end. Many have started prepping for the end, hoping they will survive. Prepping has become a million dollar industry, with people spending an entire month's salary on supplies such as food, water, and weapons. However you see the end of the world, each person must choose their own fate.  

Project2-edits from Timmy Chatwood on Vimeo.

How has technology changed the world of art?

Sound Image Sound 9

How has technology changed the world of art?

One of the main forms of art I enjoy is soundscape, or art set to music. I am currently working on my Masters in Music Composition, so it is only natural that I enjoy music creation. With the advancements in technology, music creation is becoming more accessible. People that once tried to learn a musical instrument without success are finding new outlets with electronic synthesizers and music software programs. Just like a person that is not the best at drawing or painting can use a program like Photoshop to create a visual work of art, a person that is not the best at playing an instrument can use programs like Reason or Logic to create a musical work of art. As with visual art, music software programs are giving people that once struggled with conventional methods a new form to express their creativity.

The art and music disciplines are facing many of the same questions and problems.  Advancements in technology have made each discipline more accessible to a broader audience, but some are unhappy with this expansion. Some that have been in the discipline for years view software programs as killers of the art. In the music discipline, many feel that if you don’t play a real instrument, you are not creating music. A musical instrument, as with painting or drawing, takes countless hours of practice. It can take a person years to develop certain techniques and mastery of their craft. Many don’t see technology as an acceptable skill. To some, anyone can learn a computer program, but not everyone can be a great musician or artist.

This feeling was addressed at a conference I attended recently.  Sound Image Sound 9 was held at the University of the Pacific: Stockton, Conservatory of Music. The conference showcased many works combining digital media, music, and technology.  Some works consisted of digital art combined with computer generated sounds, while others consisted of live instruments combined with video or pre-recorded soundscapes.  During one of the conference discussions, how this form of art is viewed by others was the topic. The general consensus was, some are always going to view new techniques or styles as non-conventional.  Technology is just a new tool or technique. You can have all the technology in the world, but there is something that drives all forms of art that can’t be created in a computer, creativity. Without a person’s creativity, no art in any form would happen.

The question, “Is art in any form created with technology real art?” is nowhere near from being answered.  One thing has been answered, without creativity; there would be no art of any kind.

 

An original Buchla synthesizer. This was first released in the 1960’s, and was asked many of the same questions that software programs are asked today. Is what you make on this real music?

 

Project 1

                                                               

Project 1 By Tim Chatwood                                                                          Project 1 By Aaron Beck

Artist Statement Project 1

Artist Statement Project 1:
Choose Your Fate
Choose Your Fate is a diptych montage that shows how people of the world see the apocalypse or the coming end of the world. Many believe that the end of the world is a decision made by god and is happening for a reason. An asteroid hitting earth is punishment for our sins. Others see world events such as nuclear radiation or hostile countries as the trigger for the end. Many have started prepping for the end, hoping they will survive. Prepping has become a million dollar industry, with people spending an entire month's salary on supplies such as food, water, and weapons. However you see the end of the world, each person must choose their own fate.  

The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

Question 1:
Does changing the setting or location of a work diminish the overall impact of the work? Works of art in all forms are being taking on tour or duplicates are being produced. Having duplicates allows for more viewers to enjoy the work, but does it take away knowing that it is not the original? This is becoming more true today with more art being shown on the internet. Works can be seen anywhere a person has internet access. Again, this will allow for more people to enjoy the work. Does seeing a work of art on a computer screen and not in a cathedral or gallery take away from the overall impact? 

Question 2:
How has photography changed as an art form? Photography was once an activity that could only be enjoyed by the social elite. Now, most cell phones are equipped with cameras. This has allowed for the general person to partake in  photography art. How has the development of technology impacted the art of photography?