PSU Studio Critique: Critique 2

As a reminder, I am presenting enough material to cover two critique courses.

Class Projects

Jewelry:

This is the first project completed with a gun blue patina.

This is the second project which is also complete (image does not show completed piece). I created the shadowbox pendant with three separate pieces of brass that were soldered together. The inside is organic pieces set in resin. The finished piece also has a gun blue patina.

This is the third project that will be a set of brass and tigers eye earrings. The brass portions will be etched to look like the previously posed image of the “Chinese Lantern.”

Toy Design:

We have jumped all the way into our final projects which includes creating 3 of the toy we design. My ‘toy’ will be a briefcase-like box that a child can tote around with them. It will be filled with materials that they can put together to create their own nature scene. They will be encouraged to take the briefcase with them to collect their own natural items to add to their scene. The purpose of the toy is to promote imagination, outdoor play, and potentially let them see that they can create and use items from nature and/or reuse household items. 

This first image shows a maquette of the briefcase and the type of fixtures that will be needed. Essentially, the box will open up so that the middle of it will lay flat to create a nice playing surface. The briefcase will be made with thin plywood.  

As for what the briefcase will come with, the second image shows a paper cut-out tree that will be made from Masonite. There will be two different sizes included. The paint chips will be used to cut out leaves to add to the trees depending on what season the child wants to display. 

The next image shows more paint chips, a square of carpet, and samples of flooring. These items along with felt and Velcro will be the other provided pieces with the briefcase. There will be several sets of felt to line the inside to create the ground for different seasons (i.e. green will be grass). The blue paint chips will be cut into shapes of bodies of water, and will have the rough side of Velcro attached so they can be moved around and secured to the felt. The carpet square may be cut into smaller pieces, dyed, and have Velcro attached to create tufts of grass, snow, dirt, etc. The floor samples will be used along the same lines. 

One component of the project is to be 3D printed; I am currently having two twigs scanned to. There are notches carved out of the ends so that the printed twigs will be able to stack and mesh like Lincoln Logs.

I am still toying around with a few more ideas to add to the provided pieces: animals painted on rocks, stuffed fabric or cardboard cone mountains, felt and wire flowers, etc.

Personal Projects

Shadow Box:

During the first critique I presented my shadow box ideas which would include a light source, more depth and larger scale than ones I have previously made, combining materials, and an extreme visual experience. The response I received from Portico and my peers was that I should not limit myself to the inside of the shadow box, but have the outside interesting. My interests in organic, natural materials were suggested to be a primary source of what the final piece is composed of. The suggestions, more specifically, were to frame it with sticks, “nature over comes everything,” “nature in a box,” mirrors to capture different parts of the inside, different opening to look through.Taking my thoughts and their advice, I have gathered many objects that I intend to develop this shadow box with. 

This image below shows a collection of organic pieces that will be used as natural, “living” parts of the project.

To further my original interests, below are additional materials that will be used. Photos, transparencies, solar plate, handmade-paper, veneer, matte boars, wood, and a few miscellaneous items.

Another suggestion for this project was to use lids to open and peer into the box, this image shows two halves of a case that could be used as panels or “lids.” Along with these wood pieces, I have included a few knobs that could also be implemented. 

Topic of Bipolar:

I received more great input on the project involving the disease of bipolar which has affected my family in an intimate way. We were in agreement on possibly doing a piece or a series that would be focused on comparisons (i.e. highs vs. lows, bipolar individual and their family vs. outsiders view). I gathered objects and materials that reminded me of my mother and what the disease has been like in my eyes. The following image shows those items coupled with many reflective things which could show the distortion of the disease. 

 

Below is a close up of my interpretation of what has been most prominent with my mom; bottle tops (spray painted) and prescription bottles. She started off as a self-medicated alcoholic and once diagnosed she became medicated on prescriptions; combining the two is extremely powerful and disturbing in my eyes.

PSU Studio Critique: Critique 1

As I am completing two critique courses this semester, I will be presenting work and ideas from both the classroom and my personal endeavors. The first critique will primarily consist of concepts, sketches, maquettes, and past projects that I am working from.

For classroom work, projects will be from Advanced Jewelry and Toy Design.

Jewelry:
The first project was focused on cold connections which entails piecing it together without soldering. The picture below is the final piece. It is made from a flattened then rounded brass tube as well as "wire" that I stretched, cut, and formed from a small piece of brass. I drilled holes in the appropriate areas, slipped the wires in, and folded the end over to secure them into place.

The second project is focused on using resin. I am currently building a shadow box pendant that will have the resin inside. There will be a few leaves and other organic material set in the resin.

The last four projects will be to set stones, create a fibula (an ancient brooch/dress fastener), make the metal component of a water feature/fountain, and etch metal. The water feature/fountain is stemming from a project that I created last semester, it will be a larger scale. The video below shows the concept from last semesters project. The etching idea was inspired by the image below of the fascinating "Chinese Lantern."

Toy Design: 
We have worked on three "thinker" projects to get our minds to think like toy designers, not necessarily to have complete, perfect art pieces. We are encouraged to follow our interests in what toys are to us individually and reflect that in our toys. To me, I want to promote imaginative play, being outside in nature, hands-on, and low cost or reusing materials.
"Thinker 1" was to make something move. We were given a handful of plastic gears and balsa wood. I hand cut working gears from balsa wood. The plastic gears were coupled with string to open an origami object.
"Thinker 2" was to translate 2D drawings into something 3D. The goal was to use a letter or letters from your name and put meaning to them, and tell a story through the 3D part we made. I used my entire name "Catherine" and broke it down into words that describe things that I enjoy. C: camping, a: alpine, t: trees, h: hiking, e: earth, r: rock climbing, i: insects, n: national parks, e: explore. With those words, I created a cartoon-like nature scene.
"Thinker 3" is creating a character. I have sketches for the fabric owl that I will be sewing.

Personal Projects:

Shadow box(es): In the past I have created a few of my own shadow boxes; one with mixed media and the other with different saturation's of the same image. The visual experiences created by them was really intriguing to me. I would like to combine the two ideas, make it bigger, deeper, possibly a light source. The following website is a great example of my idea of a shadow box. I love the different media used, including the feather and tin can. http://thebeeskneescousin.blogspot.com/2013/06/shadow-box-artists.html

Topic of Bipolar: My mother is bipolar and there are SO many emotions that are involved not only for her but for me as her daughter. I would like to put my finger on a few of those emotions or bipolar in general in an art piece or to for healing and understanding of it. I may be able to use this as a subject for a shadow box or make books like "Life Cycle of the Book" from my recent gallery exhibit. Mirrors also come to mind, maybe manipulating them to symbolize something. The following are ways I have broken the topic up into possible projects.

• The stages of her life: early signs, alcoholism (self medication), breakdown, diagnosis, prescription mediation, sleeping/poor health/inactive/snide
• Highs= crazy, hyperactive, manic, angry, happy VS. Lows= depression, slow, sad, unmotivated
• Outsiders view (textbook knowledge of the topic) VS. insiders view (those with it or directly affected by someone with it)
• Alcoholism/self-medication VS. prescriptions/Dr. medication
• Sweet talking/happy/nice/kind VS. angry/rude/unhappy/scary

Letterpress Restoration: Day 2

Day 2 of the restoration started with the hopes of taking the press apart. I was able to get the top shelf (where the printer would roll ink onto a brayer) disassembled and look around the press to see what tools are needed in order to take the rest of it apart. I searched around the printing room for a small table that I can roll the cylinder onto and am waiting for an O.K. email from my professor to use one of them. Taking the cylinder off will allow me to take the cylinder itself apart, as well as unscrew the track it sits on and make the clean up a lot easier. It will be crucial to keep track of where the void is at when I take it off, so when I place it back on it will be in the correct position.

You can see the cylinders void.

 

 The press without the ink shelf.

The disassembled ink shelf, ready to be cleaned!

The following images are of a brush that was stuck in the press. The note taped to it reads: "Brewington's Do Not Remove This Brush From This Position." I was curious as to who "Brewington" was so I tried to do a little research. It appears that he was the printing instructor at Pittsburg High School in the 1930's as you can see in this link http://www.mocavo.com/Pittsburg-High-School-1934-Pittsburg-Ks/126315/83#83 Also, from page 10 of this document created in 2008, www.pittstate.edu/dotAsset/61744.pdf, a 1958 graduate from Pittsburg State University's noted that "LeRoy Brewington" was one of his printing professors. Many of the PSU Kanza Yearbooks were printed by LeRoy Brewington as well. My guess is that he was the professor who brought this Vandercook No. 2 press to the PSU campus, considering it was created in the mid-early 30's. On a similar note, I mentioned in a previous post that in the PSU Technology Center, there is a picture of the Vandercook being used in a class in the 70's. It is fun how I am finding bits of history about who used this press!

PSU Studio Critique: Artist Reception 1

 
   Photo from Pittsburg State University Department of Art Facebook Page

The awards ceremony and reception for Transforming Viewpoints: A National Juried Exhibition was Thursday, January 21^st in the Pittsburg State University Art Department. The exhibit included works from 20 artists, all of which had focus on different cultural viewpoints. Steve Liggett, from Living Arts of Tulsa, was the juror of the show. During the awards ceremony, he selected the winners for the following awards: solo exhibit in the University Gallery, and two separate $100 awards. The office of Student Diversity also gave $500 to the artist whose piece they would select to be displayed in their office. 

Prior to the awards ceremony and reception, I met with Anh-Thuy Nguyen, the artist for the video installation Thuy & Rice, which was included in the exhibit. We met in the second floor gallery of Porter Hall where she critiqued my work in the Collective Independent’s exhibit. We first looked at my 7 piece series Ambiguity 1-7. I expressed to her that the series is of a single print that shows how different one design can be interpreted and altered yet, much like humans, we are all alike in flesh but very different in personality. She only had one complaint, that the shadow box was reflecting light. She seemed to change her mind as we envisioned future shadowboxes with more depth and different materials used. We then spoke about Stomping Grounds which is a print of my family’s home printed on cottonwood paper that was harvested from our land. This print and the other 6 in the edition were prompted by a savoring a dear place. Anh-Thuy was interested in seeing more ink on the entire surface of the paper rather than just in the rectangle of where the plate transferred the image. She believed that would make it look more natural and woven into the paper. Next I briefly described the 12 blocks of linoleum prints on fabric with dye and moved onto the main topic of The Life Cycle of the Book. Through explanation that the sculptural book experiment was derived from the metaphorical title which included my family’s participation in the making of it. I expressed my interest in having another group of individuals to do the “experiment” with and adding a video component. With her experience in video performance and installations she really enjoyed my idea. She even suggested that I learn coding on a computer to add touch sensitive parts on the book. An example of this would be, as a viewer opens the book a voice recording would play. Another would be as a person touches a section of the book, a video of a person speaking would project. I found this very intriguing for future projects. In conclusion to the critique, we headed downstairs to her reception. Afterwards, I was invited to dinner with Portico, Steve, and Anh-Thuy.

I learned a lot about Ahn-Thuy through the reception, critique, and dinner. She is an assistant professor of photography at Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma. She grew up in Vietnam and later moved to America; after attending a community college in Arizona, she got her B.F.A in Photography at the University of Arizona and M.F.A at Southern Methodist University. Her work is based upon her life, especially as she grew up in a different culture than she lives in now. Her video and sound art explores modern techniques, experimentation, and creating viewer interaction. For example, in the video she has displayed in the exhibit, she starts off by rolling balls of rice as she would traditionally do in Vietnam but then breaks away from those restrictions of tradition and wipes it on her face; as a result she is engaging the viewer outside of their comfort zones. On the other hand, she expressed that when it comes to photography she is very adamant about following the traditional rules. Even as a professor, she teaches students the proper techniques of photography rather than teaching alternative and experimental methods. The ways of traditional photography is extremely important to her.

I greatly enjoyed listening to her and spending some time on her website. Another performance, captivating installation is Hair = To’c. Essentially she created several cloth paths on the floor of a room that lead to where she was seated. As the viewer entered the room, they were asked to pick up the scissors, choose a path, cut as little or as much hair as the viewer wanted, and return the scissors. The video includes each person doing so which leads to her having virtually no hair. I found the concept of allowing the viewers to participate in her “hair cut” was interesting. Being a female in our culture, hair generally is something to take care of and have professionally cut; to have strangers take over that personal feature would be difficult and maybe even freeing for all parties involved. The content and motive behind her work is highly respectable. She is such an enthusiastic person and was so kind to have given me such thoughtful advice.

www.anh-thuynguyen.com

Letterpress Restoration: Day 1

Funding: Check!

Supplies: Check!

First day of the cleaning: Check!

Let the elbow grease continue...

PSU Studio Critique Post 1: About Me

I am Catherine (Cat) Jepson, a junior at Pittsburg State University majoring in 3D art and minoring in graphic design. Growing up, I traveled around the United States selling my father's functional pottery at art shows. Through helping in the production, sales, and marketing, I gained knowledge and great respect for not only my father but other artists devoting their lives to an art career. All in all, art has been and will always be a huge part of my life. I have tried several other career paths; even got my real estate license directly out of high school but creating art is what I always go back to. 

The reason I chose 3D as my emphasis is to develop my 2D work. I am trying to broaden my skill-set as much as possible. I consider myself as an artist but not a painter, potter, sculptor, etc. This very well could be because I have not found my specific niche. I am learning which techniques and mediums that I dislike all while latching onto ones that interest me. I greatly enjoy working with ink pens to create organic and abstract designs, fabrics and sewing, printmaking, paper making, textures, alternative materials, and mixed media.

As a young, aspiring artist, now is the time where I dig deep into the heart of where my art comes from, the reason I make art, my purpose, my voice. Aside from the materials I prefer and my love for nature, I discovered a huge piece of my inspiration last fall. During my printmaking and paper arts independent studies course, I included my immediate family in the making of one of my projects. Little did I know the emotional impact their pieces of the project would have on me. At that exact moment in my life, I could, without any doubt, define myself as an artist. My family led me to that moment; they are what nurtured me to being who I am today. The inspiration is fresh on my mind; I am excited to see what journey it takes me on as I create this semester. 

The project that my family was involved in is called “Life Cycle of the Book.” It was entirely an experiment based upon the metaphor of the title. I gave each person a packet of paper, asking them to do whatever they please with them (write, draw, doodle, cut, etc.) and send them back to me. I further explained that they were “narrating” the story of my book. The book is a sculptural rendition of an actual book, so the pieces that they would send create the sculptural, intertwined story inside. I am extremely interested in furthering my idea with other groups of people and adding a video component to it. This is a project that I would like to focus on in the near future. 

With my inspiration in tow, I am confident that I am following the correct path with my major. The same goes for my minor in graphic design. I have done a lot of ink drawings that I have envisioned printed on paper and fabric, even snowboards. I like doing things the “old school” way; however, the minor will assist with learning the computer skills needed in today's graphic design world.

Aside from my graphic design oriented future, I have another dream. This dream includes having a space to work, where the goal is to bring out the creativity in people of all ages, as a healing method. Not only would this promote creative thinking but showing how inexpensive it can be, especially when reusing items. I am sure that through all of that, there would be a huge growth in my art as well. But that is something for the far future.

I have spoken a lot about my inspiration specifically being nature and my family. As for artists that I look up to, they span from ones I have stumbled upon on the internet, artists that are discussed in classes, artists I have met or listened to through the lectures at PSU, and artists I have grown up knowing from art shows. I have several of their websites listed below. Liz, Paul, and David are artists that watched me grow up and are family to me. Along with my dad, they are all the most genuine people and through trade very hard workers. Their dedication to their profession is profound and nothing short of inspiring. Tara Donovan and Andy Goldsworthy are artists that were introduced to me through school. Both are very unique within their realms. Tara uses everyday mundane items and creates large scenes with said items that are breathtaking. Her use of material and how she transforms them into such an organic volume is incredible. The Colossal website introduces the viewer to many artists and designers. The site is very stimulating and is a great resource. Lastly, Andy Goldsworthy’s use of nature as his canvas and medium of choice is truly amazing. He captures the essence of nature willingly, knowing that it may only last until the breeze blows it away. 

Liz and Paul Shedron http://www.ozarkherbals.com/index.html

David Switzer http://www.harvestleather.com/

Tara Donovan http://www.acegallery.net/artistmenu.php?Artist=8

Andy Goldsworthy http://www.goldsworthy.cc.gla.ac.uk/

Colossal http://www.thisiscolossal.com/

Letterpress Restoration: Funding!

I am happy to announce that my restoration project now has funding. The amount available will be enough to get started on cleaning up the PSU Art Departments letter press and purchase a few parts that are necessary for the press to function. It is a great feeling to know that my research and desire to get this piece of history back into working shape was acknowledged. That being said, the next step is to fit a 1 hour independent studies course into my schedule to gradually clean it up through the semester. Cheers!