What a great time! Dr. Seuss, Wizard of Oz and Amelia Earhart. Adventures of the mind and with the body.
This chapter introduces us to the path art/crafts took to become part of higher education. Not always a smooth path or even a well received path. As you read consider where you are in your education, how you got here and where you want to go. For your extra question talk about what you would like for your education/learning/growing. What classes. Do you need credit? Should it stay on a semester timeline? What would you take that is not offered? Dream.
Surprised- Within the last few years, I have started "collecting" Fiesta Ware. I have plates in all the colors of the rainbow (except purple), random baking dishes, and other kitchen items. I knew the history of the Homer Laughlin China Company, but I was surprised to learn about the other "California Pottery" artists. I looked up the J.A. Bauer pottery online and admittedly got sidetracked looking at all of the pieces. I can't imagine what some of the original pieces looked like- the newer pieces are amazing with the simple details and colors.
ReplyDeleteImpressed- Did anyone else really look at Jazz Bowl on page 155?? Wow!! The detail that it would have taken to create that is absolutely amazing. The other thing is that it was made in the 1930's- that time period has always fascinated me with the growth of our country that took place during that time. I just find this absolutely stunning.
Take Away- One of my take aways was about the simplicity of design that was incorporated in many pieces. I look at the coffee and tea servers (pg 175) the tables on pages 169 and 172, and enjoy the streamlined nature of the pieces. I think the Great Depression had a lot to do with that. Times were simpler then and the art was reflected in that. Just like the opulence of previous times were reflected.
Extra Question- I think I'm just about done with my formal education, unfortunately. Not because I want to be, but because the cost is too much for this poor OK teacher and I have now taken out the maximum on student loans. :( That being said, I'm not really sure how many courses I need to finish this degree. I feel like I need a checklist that I can check off the classes I've done. I would love to have a course in this program that I could really carry over to my elementary classes. There's a lot that I've learned, but not a lot I can truly apply to my teaching. Even if my formal education is done, I have always viewed myself as a learner. I turned 40 in January and created a 40 Things To Do in My 40th Year. One of those is to learn calligraphy. So, I'll always be learning something.
I loved the Jazz Bowl, too! The colors are so cool! It is so hard to put that kind of detail on to the shape of a bowl, too. People just don't realize!
DeleteKaty, My suggestion is to look at all this book has to offer and think about the stories you might share with your students. The love of crafts and the craft makers. You are correct, this program is designed for YOU, not about any lessons for classes. We did this on purpose that (1) we respect you as a teacher and wanted to give you time/classes for you to develop (2) we also believe that you have all the knowledge about your students and lessons that you need, sometimes it may not seem that way but that is only because you are weighted down with state tests/ mandates.
ReplyDeleteIf you will email me the classes you have taken I will let you know what you need to finish.
Hi, my name is Angela Zesiger. I teach pre-k through 5th art at Ervin Elementary in Lubbock Texas. I was born and raised in Lubbock Texas. I worked for Discovery Zone where I move to Austin and then on to Albuquerque and then on to the Houston area. My know ex husband joined the military and we moved to about 10 different places. After my divorce I moved back to Lubbock where I have family and friends. I got my bachelor's degree from the University of Houston in Clear Lake. I have 2 amazing kids that are in middle school. They keep me busy with all their activities. I am sorry I'm late putting this in but my father was put on hospice and has recently passed away.
ReplyDeleteChapter 1
What surprised me was the thought process behind the writings and comparison of Art and architecture. I was also surprised by the differences between an artist, an architect, a laborer (like carver) and a designer.
I was impressed by the way that Ruskin concluded that carvers were given control over there work. I feel that it was the beginning of laborers taking pride in their workmanship and being recognized for their workmanship. I was also impressed by McLaughlin and Nichols and how they created their pottery clubs and how they evolved into business women.
I am carrying the away with me an understanding of the struggles that the art world was overcoming and how they still had a lot to overcome. I liked how criticism with a “philosophical basis” created change in how people viewed industrialization.
I feel that studio craft and architecture still go hand-in-hand. I feel that architecture can be modern and so can studio craft. I feel also that they both can be traditional, Victorian, Gothic and the list can go on and on. I feel that both architecture and studio craft have similar problems when it comes to industrialization because when something is manufactured it loses some of its uniqueness. I see this in architecture when you have homes and buildings that are mass-produced and look the same. I also find it in studio craft pieces that become reproduced by machinery and lose their uniqueness.
I am sorry about your father. Catch up as you can..simply begin each chapter has you have with this one so I can follow you.
DeleteThrough out this book there will be many, many comparisons to life and other forms of art making. Keep, keeping notes.
Chapter 4
ReplyDeleteI was surprised by Maria Martinez story. I always grew up knowing about Maria Martinez pottery and seeing several pieces but I never knew her life story. I had not realized what an important part her husband played in her pottery. I am glad that some of her family learned and were able to help Maria Martinez after the loss of her husband.
I was impressed with how modern and abstract Donald Deskey’s screens were. I've looked at some pictures of some of his furniture. I found the furniture to be very art deco and very modern for the time. I really like cubism and really loved Magnussen’s “Cubic coffee service”. I wish that he had explored further with a sterling silver and cubism.
What I am carrying away with me is the understanding that no matter how traditional or a standard something is supposed to be made or look like There is always room for change and evolving. I always tell my students to think outside the box to be more flexible and not to think something has to look a certain way.
I do feel at times that critics and curators can make or break an art exhibit or even an artist. It is hard to understand that not everyone is going to like every piece of artwork that you produce. I feel as an Elementary art teacher that it is my job to build self-confidence in my students and in their artwork. I try really hard not to say anything negative about their artwork I just try to give them different thoughts or ways to look at their art. I hope that I am doing more good than harm but you never know. In a way I do feel that it's progress but progress can come at a cost. I am a person that can work on many projects and pieces of art at the same time. I have had many people comment that they thought that I wouldn't finish any of them in time. But I did finish most of them and the few that I didn't finish I might have scrapped. Did I scrap them because of anything that was said probably not. I do feel that some as art history is marketing stories how much I'm not sure.
Words hurt, especially when they are printed and come with some sense of authority. How do you as an artist deal with negative words.
DeleteSurprised- I don't know why I was surprised that the founding director of the MOMA took such an obvious stance based on his own personal preferences publicly and that is swayed others' views of what was considered acceptable in art. It really bothers me that one person or a group can push their preferences on to the rest of the world and that it's just acceptable. How pretentious. Taste-makers? Bah!
ReplyDeleteImpressed- I was impressed that at such a low time the government stepped in and began programs for crafts. I would have thought that it would have been the opposite. It is a good thing they did, though! The depression really took a toll on arts and crafts, so it seems. On page 147 it says that over 600,000 people took WPA craft classes- wow!
Take Away- My take away is that the depression hurt AND helped arts and crafts. I was also annoyed by some of the guilds and how they catered to tourists at the expense of originality and also with how they treated their artists like sweat shop workers. I got a bad vibe from Booth and Cranbrook. I do not like his philosophy. I do, however, adore Allen Eaton! I would like to know more about him. He seemed like a lovely man and his goals won me over- pg 148- "advocated dignity and respect for immigrants... He extended his sympathies to the rural poor. He was also interested in bringing beauty to as many people as possible, preferably in an affordable form."
Oh! I loved the jazz bowl! Not so big on Modernism or Bauhaus, but I can appreciate them.
I LOVED the rebel Wharton Esherick. I will definitely look into him more. Amazing woodwork and he sounds like a character.
What I want for my education- I feel like it's unfortunate that everyone feels that they have to pay tons of money to get an education. It is, however, incentive to stay in task and not procrastinate (I can't believe how much I've read of the book for this class). There are so many free classes online (through Yale and other Ivy League schools), but people just need to find the time and desire to register. Information is at our fingertips. I just have a hard time filtering through everything. I wish I could take classes that they've mentioned in our book that they offered in the art communities. Story-telling, textile work, etc.
Great ideas for /about other classes. I totally agree. I took glassblowing in a professor's backyard. It was great. In fact he was the person who taught all the glassblowers at TTU.
DeleteGood intentions sometimes only sound that way. Good point.