Final Project

Admittedly, this project started as one thing and changed to something completely different.  Originally I had planned on doing some sort of glass work, which I have recently been experimenting with.   I attempted a couple pieces but really wasn’t happy with the way they were turning out.  Then I read chapter six (1940-1949) in Makers.  This whole section fascinated me because it was the first period that I had a connection being that it was when my parents were born.

After having read the section in Makers on Gertrud and Otto Natzler, I was inspired to create my interpretation of one of his tables.  This section, and specifically their relationship, struck me.  Otto Natzler once said that “our lack of knowledge went hand in hand with a lack of inhibitions” (pg 197).  Quite often I personally feel this way.  I don’t know any better, so I am less aware of the formality of certain techniques and mediums.  I also try to instill this in my students.  Many times, art teachers in my district say they won’t use Elmer’s glue or paints with their kindergarteners.  My thoughts- why not!  I also love the fact that Otto Natzler was attracted to the mistakes, because they seemed to show more about the medium (pg 197).  This is such a learning opportunity for my students. 

I don’t have access or room to do major woodworking in my apartment, but this is an area I would like to explore at a later date.  Because of this, I simply went to Lowes and purchased the round table top piece and three legs.  I fixed the legs at an unusual angle to add interest to the piece.  After that, I painted the base black.

To finish the top, I rolled clay to approximately ¼ of an inch in thickness.  I used multiple sized circle punches to create the circle pieces in small, medium and large sizes.  After about a week, they went into the kiln for the first fire.  When they finished, they were glazed in the primary and secondary colors and re-fired.  They were affixed to the top of the table using E6000 glue. 

I’m at a point where I need to do finishing touches on the table.  My next steps are to use grout, specifically black or black glitter grout, to fill in the top and level it out.  After that I planned on painting a decorative pattern on the table legs, but am still not sure that this part will happen.  After everything is completed, I will seal the table legs and edges of the table to ensure that it is protected.  Are there mistakes and imperfections, absolutely, but that’s also one of the things I really like about this table.

I cannot wait to finish this project and put it in my classroom.  I believe that this will provide my students the opportunity to see another piece that I have made, that art work does not have to be perfect, and will provide me the opportunity to teach them about the Natzlers! 

May 7th, chapter 11

The last chapter. Just image what all has happened with crafts since 2000. Hopefully there will be another book.

I think one of the most powerful points made in this chapter is the simple statement that new, younger audiences were not developed. This is a simple fact of marketing...you have to accept that 1/4 of your client base will drop off for any number of reasons so you need to always be increasing your numbers and never, never rest on what you did last year. This is especially true for museums and galleries. Not on a month to month bases but most certainly every 5 years. One  of my complaints about museums is they are only open from 10-5...when the majority of folks work. Thus they become stops for buses of school kids and meeting places for civic groups but not really a place the average person can go and visit. Or at least it is in Lubbock.

Look at the statement by Thomas McEvilley on page 449 concerning the three perceptions of modern art. What do you think about his framework?



Remember you final art work and 500-700 word essay over your work and a response to this semester's work is due before May 14th. You are all authors so simply create a new post (top tabs) and down load image of your work and your essay.

I look forward to seeing your efforts.

future

April 30th, Chapter 10

Only two chapters left. I know this can be an overwhelming amount of information. I still find myself in overload after reading the book 5 times.

Remember to post any late responses in this weeks' post, just label it for the chapter you are writing on/for.

It is important that you answer the "extra" questions. They are designed so I can get a slight insight into how you meander through the information and how you might relate the facts into your daily art making/teaching.

Hope the art work is going well. I am excited to see your adventures with crafts.

So this week there are two extra questions:
1. Which is more important the message or the image/product?
2. How do you feel about the "business" of art making? Is it important to you?

Enjoy.

April 23, Chapter NIne

Well, we only have three chapters left. Always bittersweet for me because I love how this book opens up history and celebrates forgotten artists. I hope your art project are going well...if you are having trouble or have had some roadblocks write me at my TTU email and just let me know what is going on or what you want to change. Remember you will  need to write a short essay on your work...telling us the why and the how. And Pictures!

As we get closer to our own time there is more information available and more opinions. Everything seems to explode. Limits are pushed and concepts are developed.

A bit of correction. In the "Dinner Party" over 1000 different volunteers worked on various aspect of the piece. Not just 300 on the clay part. With that in mind for your extra question describe YOUR place setting using any artist we have studied including the chair.

Enjoy.

April 16th, Chapter 8

If you have been waiting for textiles you will have to wait no more....and glass grows into its own layered field. A decade of massive change in our society...assassinations, movements, and new organizations. This was a time of finding voices and making changes to our society. So for the extra question this week...of all the idealistic movements which speaks to you and your life?

If any of you love having "important" books around try to find a copy of "Objects USA". For many classes it became a bible of information.

April 9th, chapter 7

This chapter documents the tsunami that hit crafts in the 1950's...hold on and enjoy.

Hope all your projects are going well and that you are having fun being able to try something new or returning to something you left behind. Remember I am more interested in your attempt/the process and what you have to say about your journey than I am about the end product.

My extra question is this: image yourself in class with Voulkos, Asawa, Nakashima or any of the artists in this chapter how would you have reacted.

Embellished Towels

I have been asked to share these wonderful works of art created by my mom, Maria Luisa Alvarado.  She is a veteran crocheter, and all my life she has always been working on something.  She typically would follow patterns from vintage booklets.  Sometimes she would work on stuff I thought, faddish, like the cutting of printed patterns on fabric and iron transfer onto t-shirts.  So 80's lol.  Although I did like the dress she made for me adding fabric to the bottom of pocket t-shirts, hard core 80's.  Anyway, when I visited with her this past Spring Break she showed me her latest projects, and I was so amazed.  I realized that she has been getting more creative and free-style since my dad has passed, 9 years ago.  She works diligently on her art to keep her mind occupied and to cope.  Some of them are patterns like the colonial woman in a dress, but she comes up with the rest on her own such as the trees and plants.  She also embellishes with crocheted lace and adds beads.  The floral bouquets are all completely her own design.  Absolutely beautiful.  I am just blown away.  Her choice of medium to work on is bath towels, or hand towels.
P.S. I also had very little control over where the images went, so sorry that they are scattered.  I don't even know how I managed to get my text in the middle.