dabney-exam

Ann Hamilton
Ann Hamilton is a **visual artist** recognized for the sensory surrounds of her large-scale multimedia installations. Using time as process and material, her methods are incredible. Her environments create experiences that **respond to the architectural presence** and social history of their sites.

Ann Hamilton was born in 1956 in Lima, Ohio. She **trained in textile design** at the University of Kansas, and later received an MFA from Yale University.After teaching at the University of California at Santa Barbara from 1985 to 1991, Hamilton returned to Ohio, where she lives and works. Ann Hamilton has created **more than sixty installations**, combining **sculpture, architecture, video, the spoken and written word, and human presence**. Many of her expansive installations have required numerous volunteers to assemble vast numbers of objects.

Her degree is in sculpture, textiles and fabric have continued to be an important part of her work, which includes installations, photographs, videos, performances, and objects. Her use of **Photoshop** and editing pictures shows just how the **21st century** has impacted her artwork. Also her videos are something that is new to the art world because of all the new technology that is available now and days. Also during our study of art history it was very rare to hear of a famous woman artist, but now with the 20th century **women and men are treated equally**. With all of the new technology and acceptance of woman in our century Ann has been able to flourish in the art world.






 * “Indigo Blue” consists of roughly 18,000 items of blue cotton work clothing, neatly folded and stacked on a “floating” steel platform at the center of a room."
 * This artwork sits on the second floor of the **San Francisco Museum of Modern Art**.
 * The work is actually a reconstruction of an installation that was first realized at the Spoleto Art Festival when it was held in Charleston, North Carolina in 1991.
 * In that location the clothes were from the local cotton, textile and indigo industries of the Old South.
 * These used pants and shirts were all from from local Bay Area who provided uniforms to workers in various kinds of service industries.




 * In a 1989 installation, //privation and excesses.//
 * Hamilton and assistants laid 750,000 copper pennies on a honey-coated floor.
 * Behind these sat an isolated figure in plain clothes, wringing its hands over a honey-filled felt hat.
 * Behind the figure was an enclosure of grazing sheep. The pennies looked like the scales of a gigantic fish.

= Compare and Contrasting: = When doing my research on Ann the first person I thought of was Michelangelo. It's not so much that they did the same style of art, but there motives were very much the same. He would hand pick the marble that he was going to use just how Ann hand picks the place that she is going to create her pieces. She wants to create something that will fit with the history of the building and the the architecture. Michelangelo did this with his work also, he wanted to portray emotion and would read poetry to portray different emotions. Overall, I think that they had very similar motives and it shows with their work even though they have different styles.

//** Why Ann? **//
I really wanted to look at all different types of art and I knew nothing about installation art. I thought that it would be cool to learn about a different style from one of the best in the world. I loved how she took ordinary objects such as blue jeans, pennies and honey to create a beautiful piece of work. I think that her simplicity really inspired me to look at the ordinary objects in life as more than they are. I really do have a new outlook on art after this class and looking at her art. I hope one day I will be able to experience one of her installations because they are truly over the top and amazing.

= Citations = [] - - - - > Blue indigo picture and research [] - - - - > Pennies and Honey website and picture [] - - - > Background Information = =
 * [|Homepage]**

=** Bruce Nauman **=

=** (Graduated from Madison, WI!) **=

"Generalised anger and frustration is something that gets you in the studio, and gets you to work - though it's not necessarily evident in anything that's finished."  [|http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/bruce_nauman.html#UDZHjIylRXt8CAIK.99]

Born in 1941 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Bruce Nauman has been **recognized since the early 1970s** as one of the most innovative and provocative of America’s **contemporary artists**. Nauman finds inspiration in the activities, speech, and materials of everyday life. He graduated with a BFA from the University of **Wisconsin, Madison**, in 1964, and with an MFA from the University of California, Davis, in 1966.

His works include **sculpture, video, film, printmaking, performance, and installation**, Nauman concentrates less on the development of a characteristic style and more on the way in which a process or activity can transform or become a work of art. A survey of his output demonstrates the alternately **political, prosaic, spiritual, and crass** methods by which Nauman examines life in all its details, mapping the human between life and death.

One of his greatest accomplishments came from his exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan. This was the third largest exhibit in the museum's history behind Picasso and Matisse. The MoMA had not put that much time and energy into an artists in a very long long. They define him as a major figure for the contemporary art movement.

The use of lightening and being able to combine all of these products to create a final project is possible with the 21st century. He is able to do water fountains in museums because of the technology we have.His art has inspired me because it showed that something so simple, such as words, are still meaningful to people as long as they have a message.



= =  "One Hundred Fish Fountain  Today at the Donald Young Gallery in Chicago.  The One Hundred Fish Fountain is made up of ninety-seven cast bronze fish spurting water from punctured holes. The water is collected in a large basin below and then pumped back through tubing.The fish fill noisily with water, then spray it out angrily until the pumps are turned off and the remaining water drips out during the ensuing silence.



"One Hundred Live and Die"
 * This is known as his Master piece
 * Shows 100 possible ways to live or die
 * Each phrase tells a story that the viewer can think about

Also famous work... "Clown Torture" 1987 [|"Mapping the Studio"] 2002 [|More Neon Work]- - - - > Youtube Video

Clown torture is blocked on school websites because of some inappropriate material such as crude humor and provocative images. His main goal was to make people face their fears with clowns and show those who aren't afraid of clowns should be! = = = Connections = When looking at Bruce art work I thought of Auguste Rodin. I thought of his work "Monument of Balzac" and how is was very controversial and ridiculed. Some people do not understand how Bruce work is art since he does do a lot of neon work. He is also controversial such as his 1987 work with his clown exhibit. He also used swears in his work which some artists do not appreciate. Overall though, they were both excellent at there certain styles and had a knack for what they did even if others consider them controversial.

= Why Bruce? = I really liked the idea of Neon Art. I think that it was different and it was something I did not know about. I also really like bright colors and what a better way than to explore with neon artist. I also couldn't believe that he actually did a whole project on clowns, especially because I hate clowns! I really liked how he was able to express his true feelings without covering up, even if it meant using risky ideas.

= Citations = [] - - - - > Information [] - - > Picture of Bruce [] - - - - > Link for "One Hundred Fish Fountain" [] - - - > Link for "One Hundred Live and Die" [|Homepage]



= Jenny Holzer =

“You are a victim of the rules you live by.”

Jenny Holzer was born in Gallipolis, Ohio, in 1950. She received a BA from Ohio University in Athens (1972); an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence (1977); and **honorary doctorates** from the University of Ohio (1993), the Rhode Island School of Design (2003), and New School University, New York (2005).

Jenny Holzer explored **multiple forms of imagery including LED lights and projections on buildings**. She uses projection equipment to post thought **provoking statements on famous buildings and landmarks**. Jenny Holzer’s work deals with questioning consumerist impulses, describing torture, and the ideas of death and disease. Her work has recently expanded to include **silk-screened paintings of unclassified government memoranda**, detailing prisoner abuse in poetry and prose on a sixty-five foot wall of light in the lobby the World Trade Center.

She is known for her **digital art and design with words**. Many of her works have appeared in magazines or have been advertisements including condoms. //Truisms// (1977–9) is probably her most well-known work. Holzer has compiled a series of statements and aphorisms ("truisms") and has publicised them in a variety of ways: listed on street posters, in telephone booths, and even, in 1982, on one of Times Square's gigantic LED billboards. The theme of Holzer’s work revolves around social issues such as violence, feminism, war, and sexuality. She wants to open up thoughts and perceptions. If it wasn't for the 21st century she would not be able to do this type of art work. Under article 1 of the constitution we are allowed our **freedom of speech**. If this was not the case most of her work would put her in jail because of the quotes and questioning of government that she uses. Also it helps that she is able to use **computers and technology** in order to put her quotes on these buildings. This is a new style of art that is around because of all the new innovative ways for artists to portray their feelings.

Some examples of short quotes that she has used
 * ‘a man can't know what it's like to be a mother’,**


 * ‘men are not monogamous by nature’,**


 * ‘money creates taste’,**


 * ‘a lot of professionals are crackpots’,**


 * ‘enjoy yourself because you can't change anything anyway’,**


 * ‘freedom is a luxury not a necessity’,**


 * ‘don't place too much trust in experts’.**



Vienna, 2006

These are just a couple examples of her neon work. All have quotes on them.

= Connections = When looking at her work I thought of the Egyptians. The Egyptians were so innovative and created buildings such as the pyramids that people never thought were possible. I thought that Jenny was just like them for a couple of reasons. To start, Jenny is able to shock people by showing a quote on a building, some of the quotes being rather risky. She isn't afraid of what people would say because she believed in herself. She does all her own work just how the Egyptians did. Both of them have created work that will never be forgotten. Second, Jenny does a little bit of everything. She created a ballet in 1985, has written 6 books, is good at constructing items which she has used in some of her art and is a painter. This is just like the egyptians because they were so well rounded. They could build amazing buildings, paint incredible art and also design beautiful burial tombs for the kinds and queens. They were both well rounded! Lastly, they both used words to tell a story. For the Egyptians they used hieroglyphics- or pictures- to tell of there past or a story. For Jenny she uses real quotes and makes people think about the story behind it. = Why Jenny? = I think Jenny Holzer’s work is thought provoking. Her goal is to make a statement in her work, and I think she achieves this goal. I dont necessarily agree with her opinions, but I think the ideas themselves are innovative and unique. I am curious to know how she gets permission to do her projections on famous buildings and landmarks, or whether she does it without permission. A lot of her work is projections and therefor it is hard to see them in a picture so below are links to some of her projections and a brief description of them.

[|Homepage]

[] Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum September 26 - December 31, 2008

[] Jenny Holzer born 1950 BLUE PURPLE TILT 2007 Seven double-sided vertical LED signs

[] Jenny Holzer's Vegas light projection at the Aria Hotel



= Citations = [] - - - > Website for quote [|www.pbs.org/art21/artists/jenny-holzer] - - - > Background information [] - - -> Work Information