Last thoughts.

This art class really opened my eyes to the reality of art around the world. I wasn’t so sure about taking an online art class but it turned out being so much more than I expected. I was also taking a cultural anthropology class which went along well with this class. I definitely had a western perspective on art, especially the art that came from Africa. I didn’t even think that Africa would have that much art let alone the intricate pieces that we studied. The art that comes from Africa is truly beautiful.

One of my favorite areas to study were the temples and pyramids. The video we watched on Machu Picchu was probably my favorite assignment. That site in itself is beyond words. Overall, my thoughts about art from around the world has changed. I’m aware of the differences and the different techniques used. I can gladly say I feel more “worldly” 🙂 and it feels good knowing I can differentiate between art from different cultures.

Thank you Ms. Perbetsky for a good semester!

Time Travel

This is a picture of a Mesoamerican archway. I think this building is so interesting because of the detail that these people put into it. It’s strange to think that someone laid every stone and carved such intricate lines into it. To think that this is also just an “archway.” I could definitely see this building among the cities. This probably seems minor compared to the pyramids and temples.

“Two Views of Meso-American Architecture”

I read about an underground tunnel recently discovered under Mexico city. The city that they found this in is Teotihuacan. The discoveries show burials in these underground chambers. On the outside, the Mexican architecture is laid out in rows with a main center. I found the Temple of the Feathered Serpent to be so interesting. The details in the pyramid show faces that are detailed with fish looking teeth and bulging eyes. The walls and blocks are made out of smaller stones and put together to create huge buildings.

The Maya architecture I read was about how the cities were formed and how they were never ruled by one single leader. Their architecture is laid out in more of clusters of buildings. This is unlike the Mexican architecture because the early Mexico cities seemed to be more orderly. The palaces of the Mayan were built out of stone but also had wood details. I read about the hieroglyphic stairway at copan. I can’t believe how intricate the carvings are. 

Day of the Dead in San Miguel de Allende I

The art from the day of the dead is so interesting! This culture in general is fascinating. Celebrating the dead? As Americans that’s not an idea that we’re used to. This art is made through traditional ways as we read about.

Beyond the Zeitgeist

It Goes Back a Long Way

The dead are always with us, and in Mexico on the Day of the Dead they are invited to enjoy the ofrendas, or offerings—of food, photos, favorite objects—that the living set out for them. Under the portales that flank San Miguel’s Jardin Principal, the living and the dead may eat in close proximity:

The Day of the Dead descends from the great cultures of Mesoamerica— Olmec, Maya, Zapotec, Teotihuacan, Toltec, Mixtec, Aztec—spiritual ancestors, masters of death and life:

Students made these portraits of Mesoamerican symbols and gods the traditional way: with seeds, beans, corn (maiz) rice, chilies and flowers—especially marigolds, the flowers of the dead:

A modern guide to the spirit world:

Quincunce, the Cross of Quetzalcóatl—a cross with a balancing center. It might be a flower, it might be the harmonic encounter of four butterflies, symbolizing balance between spiritual…

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Midway Reflections

I didn’t expect an online art class to be very interesting, but overall it has been and I’ve learned a lot! The arts from Africa have interested me the most I think. I like how detailed art from the past has been. It’s been fun to learn how some of these people have been tattooing for so long! The blog hasn’t really added anything to my learning of art. It’s hard to find art that has to do with our assignments.. or maybe I’ve just been looking in the wrong area! I think the discussions help to tie everything together at the end of the reading. Thank you, Ms. Perbetsky for a good online art class!

Dogs, A Photograph

This art is really interesting! All of the facial features are defined and somewhat exaggerated. The person holding the small child looks like it would be really detailed if you saw it up close!

One Street Shy

I am leaving for Spain this weekend.  I’ll be making stops in Madrid, Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada and finally Barcelona to meet up with a girlfriend.  In preparation for my trip, I have chosen to post something I have grown accustom to in the last twenty years here in Seattle and the surrounding areas.  Native art has not, until recently, been interesting to me.  However, my tastes have changed dramatically and now I think it powerful and beautiful all at once.

“A Native American elder once described his own inner struggles in this manner: Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time. When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment and replied, The one I feed the most.”
– George Bernard Shaw

 

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From Bush Grass to Ocean Waves: Images of Oceana, Week 6

 

The first image is Australian art and looks like the drawing of a kangaroo. The second piece of art is Polynesian and looks like some kind of bird or an assortment of animals. Clearly there are a lot of lines and repeating of lines in the Australian art. This art piece is fairly simple and easy to distinguish. The art from Polynesia is more intricate with the curved lines. The geographic features of both of these places plays a huge role in how the art is formed. Australia’s outdoors are seen more as flat and the features of grass contribute to the straight lines of this art. Since the ocean is geographically part of Polynesia, you can see how much that affected the art. A lot of the curves look like waves and there’s not many straight lines. Mostly all of the figures have the curvy characteristic. I think it’s interesting to see just how much the geography has an impact on the way art is formed.

Critical praise for Royal Academy of Arts’ Australia exhibition | News.com.au

That’s really cool that the British can now see Australian art firsthand!

Class impression

My impression of this class is that it is already really interesting. Patricia, you seem very interactive and responsive with the class which is so helpful! The readings go pretty fast and are really informative. Overall, I’m looking forward to learning more about art!