Sentence on Conceptual Art

#22     The artist cannot imagine his art, and cannot perceive it until it is complete.

I think this means that the full idea of a work can never reach it's full potential until the work is actually composed. Because in the process of composing, things such as "happy accidents" occur and your result can be something non expected, but at the same time satisfying.

Jim Marshall

Jim Marshall was a photographer that was born in the 30's and died in 2010. He was a portrait photographer and became rather famous for his portraits. His work mostly consisted of portraits of musicians. He was also the chief photographer of the Woodstock festival. I picked him as an artist because of the way he is able to capture the emotion of the moment. He tells stories through his photos conveying the energy of moments many hear about but were unable to live.  I also like how often times he would capture the musician with an irregularly twisted face that most musicians do when playing instruments. In doing that he is able to capture the energy of a person while adding uniqueness to the composition of his portraits.

Gregory Crewdson

The photographer I chose is one I learned about in my Photo 2 class. We watched a documentary about Gregory Crewdson and his process and I was absolutely fascinated. The images he produces call for hours upon hours of planning, acting upon, and adjusting the scene Crewdson wants to create. These scenes come from his dreams and are executed in a way that looks genuine and real. While on the contrary the process can take quite some time and even after the scene is set a perfect moment still has to take place. An example of this was in the first image below. They had the scene lit perfectly, the mother posed as instructed by Crewdson and everything set, except the baby would not stop crying because it was cold. They tried rocking the baby to relax it, hoping it would eventually fall asleep. After a few hours the team came up with the idea to put a heating pad underneath the comforter. The baby fell right asleep and they were able to get the perfect image. I like the irony in all of this because even when you have the means to create and manipulate a scene exactly how you see it, there will still always be unforeseen hinderances. When they arise, we can't just throw away all the work we've done thus far, but instead take a step back and think of another solution. Upon discovering it, the satisfaction will be great and you will now have gained a new experience that will in some way help you further down the road in your career.

Sentences on Conceptual Art

"If the artist changes his mind midway through the execution of the piece he compromises the result and repeats past results."

As soon as I read this a quote by Mark Twain came to mind that says "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got." A successful artist is one who not only produces quality work, but also that there is variety within that work. If I continue to produces bodies of work that only consist of flowers solely because that is what I'm "good at" or that's what I prefer to shoot, I am not pushing myself to be a potentially great photographer. Stepping out of the comfort zone is scary, but it can also lead to beautiful discoveries. Success isn't something that comes naturally, and the process calls for all kinds of trials and errors. The failures are not something to dwell on, but rather a lesson and an insight to alternate concepts. From there, head in another unfamiliar direction with a new way of thinking and continue to practice what you know while introducing new techniques into your routine. No idea is too crazy and anyone who says otherwise is speaking from a spiteful place, because chances this crazy idea could be pretty awesome. Not everyone thinks exactly the same for a reason, and if they did the world would be devoid of inspiration, let alone art itself. Don't focus so much on the destination, or in this case the final product, but enjoy the journey and detours along the way. 

Marcus hyde

http://www.marcushydemedia.com/index2.html

i chose macrus hyde because i have a weakness for black and white and very raw images based on how i perceive them. also because he is from richmond and doing his own thing. last because i like a lot of photographers and really couldn't make a choice and his is what came to mind of top.

Conceptual art

25. Successful art changes our understanding of the conventions by altering our perceptions.

Sometimes art can be so complex you find yourself starring at it trying to figure out whats going on. In my opinion, I believe that is successful art. Successful art makes you think about things or even see things in a way that you never have. A simple example would be to turn take a photograph upside down. This action would make a viewer wonder why an artist would do such a thing. I think thats what this sentence is explaining. Art does not have to be a perfect painting or photograph, it can be successful by simply making the viewer think about the piece and changing the perception.

sentences on conceptual art

21.  perception of ideas leads to new ideas.

Reading this hits home because i think the way that we brain storm allows us to spin off new ideas. this is the way i think and read the world, by obtaining knowledge through however possible this allows me the freedom to spin off ideas and make brand new better ones. This is also how i work as a photographer. i only start with a small idea and allow it to grow into a uncontrollable beast. ideas are infectious and once planted can not be killed or stopped.  i feel if we spend too much time on making a idea rock solid we miss opportunities to make new ones. that is way perception of ideas is key! only the sense that it provokes thought. 

Dimitris Theocharis

Dimitris Theocharis 

While choosing an artist, I tried to think about the things I would like to improve on or change about my photography. I mostly photograph landscapes, animals, and plants but have always been scared to give portrait photography a try. Dimitris really makes his own photos and takes amazing portraits of people. This is something I have always been a little scared to attempt. He works with famous magazines such as Vanity Fair and Vogue. His photographs mostly focus on fashion and culture. He takes advantage of color and black and whites. Most of his photos are sharp and clear. I think I am mostly attracted to how modern his photography is.   http://www.dimitristheocharis.com

                                                                  

Lee Towndrow

I dont know very much about photographers other than what we discuss in our classroom. I did, however,  stumble upon the photography of Lee Towndrow. Apparently he considered himself a simple designer and slowly worked his way into photography by building his own darkroom. It seems that now he works in various fields, such as film and visual effects as well.
I like his use of light, particularly the use of natural light to fit the mood of the photos.

http://leetowndrow.com

35 Sentences on Conceptual Art

22. “The artist cannot imagine his art, and cannot perceive it until it is complete.”

This sentence seems to contradict the way that most art classes and projects are taught and presented. Usually a project is given with specific guidelines and a deadline in mind; and barely before one can even begin to work, finalized ideas and sketches are expected. I feel that time is needed for ideas to be explored and developed and for flaws to be worked out; which is something that I think cannot be fully achieved by demanding the end result at the beginning.

I believe that a work of art is not finished until the artist himself is satisfied. The meaning of a work of art is not locked in from its beginning, but is able and allowed to continuously change, both additively and reductively, until it is declared finished, something which I think is often overlooked by artists, including myself.

Sol Lewitt's 35 sentences on conceptual art and explained

# 12 "For each work of art that becomes physical there are many variations that do not" I believe this means when an artist works, many ideas for future projects or works in progress stay in the mental realm. Thinking about a work of art is almost as important as the execution of the physical object because that is where it's originally created. 

KATY GRANNAN Portrait Photographer

http://www.salon94.com/artists/detail/katy-grannan

Grannan is an American portrait photographer. Her photos are well done nice photos of not so nice looking people. The majority of the models were anonymous people of California who were closer to the streets. Using natural light against a white background makes for interesting cast shadows on the wall behind the subject and on the faces or bodies of the models. The focus is also mostly on the overall shape of the person not the face. The poses are either quarter turned or the models don’t look into the camera at all.

Cindy Sherman

In a way, Sherman is like Wonder Woman to me. She is her own model, photographer and stylist. Her photographs are not portraits of herself, but are different characters that she portrays in front of her camera. Her dedication to her work and creativity is inspiring me, to where I would like to do this more in the near future. Most of her current works are massive in size, which I thought was clever, bringing in more attention to her work. It's not that many photographers that does what she does, which makes her stand out to me even more.

                             http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2012/cindysherman/

Sentences on Conceptual Art by Sol Lewis

28. Once the idea of the piece is established in the artist's mind and the final form is decided, the process is carried out blindly. There are many side effects that the artist cannot imagine. These may be used as ideas for new works.

From what I've read, it seems that once an artist has a goal or final image in mind, he or she will only work toward that one goal. While striving for this one final image, he or she may not see new opportunities for possibilities for new pieces. Even when the final form has been decided, it may not even turn out the way the artist has imagined it. The process of working on a piece should be just as important as the final piece itself, if not even more so.

Taryn Simon

Taryn Simon is an American photographer who works out of New York. She specializes in not only photography but graphic design and text as well. She has a collection of series that follow documentary and narrative styles. Much of her subject focus on cultural and social movements and events. One of my favorite series of hers is titled The Innocents, in which she photographs former convicts in their crime site, alluding to the crime they in fact did not commit and were wrongly imprisoned. She possesses a strong skill in working with her subjects, creating a relationships with these men, and using her photography skills and the locations to really capture the story behind each innocent man. She's clever yet her work exudes a raw quality that would be hard to capture. I would love to be able to create great photos that Ms. Simon produces. To be able to deliver such strong pieces that invoke emotion requires the confidence and the creativity that Ms. Simon obviously posessess.

Sentences on Conceptual Art By Sol Lewitt

#21-  "Perception of ideas leads to new ideas."

What I interpret from this sentence is that people will have different thoughts about the same subject. For example, me finding the meaning behind this sentence. I think Lewitt is trying to say that people who look at the same thing, can find different meanings behind it. These different meanings are not right or wrong answers, just more new ideas. Even though I think this is what Lewitt's message is behind this sentence, others may read it and get a different understanding; creating a new meaning.

JUCO

I have so many photographers that I could collectively call my "favorites." One of them would be JUCO, Julia Galdo and Cody Cloud. This photography duo create these rich in saturation photographs in unique locations. I was drawn to their work due to its genre, fashion photography, and its bold colors and contrast seen in their photographs. The fact that they are collaborating as a team was unusual to me. They work out in Los Angeles, California. Looking through their portfolio you will find everything from bold bright colors to dull pastels and even the evident appearance of patterns and textures in their photographs which makes their work stand out even more. I like their technique and aesthetic to light. They dabble in staged lighting as well as using natural light for their photo shoots.  Their clientele stretches from magazines such as Nylon, The XXL, and Out. What also cool is that they also have done work for Warner Brother Records and VH1. They offer editorials, commerical work, and advertising in their portfolio: http://jucophoto.com/

Sentences on Conceptual Art

-The artist may not necessarily understand his own art. His perception is neither better nor worse than that of others.

This sentence to me addresses the perception an artist may have about their work may not necessarily be seen that same way by others. An artist can look at their process on how they came to a completion of their work and can an opinion that is totally different from someone's viewpoint when they see the work. I think this statement explains that an artist won't know truly what their artwork is worth until viewed by someone other than themselves.

Sol Lewitt

"One usually understands the art of the past by applying the convention of the present, thus misunderstanding the art of the past."

This to speaks to the fact that artists have to have empathy. We must have the ability to imagine how it feels to be someone else, to be somewhere else. We must do this in order to understand context. Art is very much about context, which is why some images are so powerful (think sailor kissing nurse at announcement of end of WW2). Without this ability, I think we as artists will inevitably fail, for we cannot see beyond ourselves. We would be bound by our own limited view and experiences of the world.

Richard Avedon

These photographs are a part of a series called "Faces of American West." I chose these pictures because there is something about his work, that is so mesmerizing. All of the pictures have a similar background, nothing (white), and with that the focus is drawn onto the uniqueness of every person. The raw power and beauty of these photos, especially when most of the people are very dirty is quite amazing to me. 

Sentences on Conceptual Art- Candice Beasley

"Conceptual Artists are mystics rather than rationalists. They leap to conclusions that logic cannot reach."

To me, this statement means as conceptual artists do not necessarily need a reason why we do what do, it is simply who we are, what we choose to do, or what has selected us. Whether it is randomly painting on a canvas or taking a photo, our answers are found or reached once we feel and see the flow in the design of what we choose to create, or more likely, what chose us to be created and seen.

Sally Mann

Koby Inc.-Candice Beasley

 I found it hard to choose my favorite photographer because I am constantly being introduced to information about those who create photographs, their thought processes and the end result.
 However, I have come across a surrealist painter and photographer, currently residing in Toronto, Canada, named Koby Inc. Koby is a photographer, who has had the privilege of working with companies like Mac Cosmetics and Glow Magazine. I am drawn to his work not because it is fashion and advertising photography, but because in his work, there is always a little something placed in there. It also doesn't hurt that his work is about the contrast of color and contradiction of having a moving photograph (http://koby-inc.com/files/g/40.htm).

Sentences on Conceptual Art

"When an artist learns his craft too well he makes slick art."


I did not find any true definition for "slick art", so I broke it down in the way that I hear it. To me, slick or being slick is like someone who is trying to do something they have no business doing. They are up to no good. With using that meaning, I believe "slick art" could be works of an artist where he is just trying to get away with something, or going the easy route. When an artist learns his craft or perfects his technique, sometimes an artist will put that limit on themselves like that is all they can do. They can't go beyond that because it is not something they are used to, or it doesn't say perfection to them. Eventually that perfected craft becomes repetition of techniques being seen and then the artist is creating "slick art" where he's just getting away by doing what he knows. "Doing the same old things.

35 Sentences on Conceptual Art

3. Irrational judgements lead to new experience.

What I think this means is that when you don't think about what to do or where to go, you get a new experience. If you change your mind and go a different way than you usually go, you might find something new. You might run into a friend, see a new spot, or meet someone new. New experiences makes your life interesting so sometimes, don't think and just go.

Jay Maisel

The artist that I found is Jay Maisel. He photographs everyday and his pictures look pure and untouched by photoshop.

Jay Maisel

Ansel Adams

 







             Ansel Adams was a nature photographer and visionary figure of wilderness preservation. His fascination of nature began after breaking his nose as a young child when the aftershock of an earthquake threw him into the ground. His work was criticized for not including human subjects. It was also criticized for representing an idealized wilderness that no longer existed, a national park in the Kings River region of the Sierra Nevada. His images played a huge role in the protection of these areas. I wanted to look up a photographer that I knew nothing about, and I was drawn to Ansel Adams because of the amount of detail he still seemed to catch in his work without being so close to the subject. I was also attracted to his amazing ability to capture these landscapes because landscapes are not my strongest. Ansel Adams did not exclude color photography, he just preferred black and white photography for two reasons: he thought color was distracting and could take away from the full potential of a photograph, and because Ansel thought of himself as the master of control. He mastered a particular technique when using black and white that color lacked.
www.anseladams.com

Philip-Lorca diCorcia

For this assignment, I found that Philip-Lorca diCorcia creates images that balance everyday occurrances and staged photography so well that the viewer cannot tell what is the truth and what is the truth meant to be seen.  diCorcia works in editorial, travel, and street photography.  I love how his mindset is to question the truth with straightforward compositions.  He also challenges the idea of the decisive moment, which also peaks my interest because we are always taught to find it when creating images.


East of Eden, a large scale photography series started in 2008, focuses on the collapse of everything along with the loss of innocence.  The inspiration is the book of Genesis & John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden.  I was drawn to this series because it deals with the hunger of acceptance/greatness and gives us a view during and after the fall of those depicted in the image.  I relate to the fact that there is nothing visually saying that these photographs have religious implications, yet when you look at the titles/research they are clear.  The first image references the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, while the second is about Cain & Abel.  The third image references the story of Abraham and what's interesting in this is that he was throwing real darts at his son.

 Untitled, from the series “East of Eden” (2008), Philip-Lorca diCorcia

Cain and Abel (2013), Philip-Lorca diCorcia

Abraham (2010), Philip-Lorca diCorcia

Here is the link to see more work from East of Eden:
http://www.davidzwirner.com/exhibition/philip-lorca-dicorcia-10/page/8/

To view other works:
http://www.thecollectiveshift.com/show/portfolio/diCorcia