Introduction to Aesthetics Aesthetics is the study of: What is Art? What good Art is? Albrecht Duerer, Self Portrait, 1500
Cosimo Cavallaro Called the ‘Cheese guy’. His ‘Art’ is dripping melted cheese over a surface area. What do you think? Is this ART?
What a mess! Who’s gonna’ clean up this art?
Christo and Jeanne-Claude They are especially noted for their large scale projects like the Running Fence and The Wrapped Reichstag in which thousands of yards of fabric was used to out line or define objects such as buildings, landscapes or even islands. Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Artistic partnership. Christo [Christo Javacheff] (b Gabrovo, Bulgaria, 13 June 1935), an American artist of Bulgarian birth, studied at the Fine Arts Academy in Sofia (1953–6), after which he spent six months in Prague. There he encountered Russian Constructivism, which impressed him with its concern for monumental visionary structures. He escaped first to Vienna, studying briefly in 1957 at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste, and in 1958 to Paris. Like his contemporaries, Christo rebelled against abstraction, seeing it as too theoretical and proposing in its place a manifestly physical art composed of real things. Christo began by wrapping everyday objects, including tin cans and bottles, stacks of magazines, furniture (e.g. Wrapped Chair, 1961; New York, Jeanne-Claude Christo priv. col., see 1990–91 exh. cat., p. 54), automobiles, or various objects such as Wrapped Luggage Rack (1962; New York, Jeanne-Claude Christo priv. col., see 1990–91 exh. cat., p. 56). From 1961 he collaborated with his wife, Jeanne-Claude [née de Guillebon] (b Casablanca, 13 June 1935). Industrial materials, usually polypropylene sheeting or canvas tarpaulins held in place with irregularly tied ropes, were used for the wrappings. The use of fabric sometimes involved wrapping an object, sometimes a bundle; these coverings partly obscured the object’s contours and hampered its function, thus transforming it into an aesthetic presence. In 1964, just after moving to New York, this repertory of forms was augmented by a series of life-sized store fronts, for example Store Front (1964; New York, Jeanne-Claude Christo priv. col., see 1990–91 exh. cat., p. 67), the view through their plate-glass windows blocked by hanging fabrics or by sheets of paper stretched across their fronts, again rendering their function uncertain. Christo (Javacheff), born in 1935 in Gabrovo, Bulgaria. Between 1953 and 1956 he studied painting, sculpture and stage design at the Academy of Fine Arts, Sofia. In 1956 he lived briefly in Prague, Czechoslovakia. In 1957 he studied sculpture for one term under Fritz Wotruba at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna. In 1958 he settled in Paris. He became temporarily associated with the Nouveau Ralistes. In 1958 he began to package objects. His assemblages of oil drums were shown in Cologne in 1961. He exhibited in 1963 at the Galerie Schmela, Düsseldorf. In 1964 he moved to New York where he made his first "store fronts". In 1966 his "store fronts" were shown at the Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, and at the Leo Castelli Gallery, New York. In 1968 he packaged the Berner Kunsthalle - his first packaged building. He was represented at the documenta exhibitions "4", "5" and "6" in Kassel in 1968, 1972 and 1974, and in 1972 and 1976 at the Venice Biennale. He produced over dimensional packaging projects for buildings, skyscrapers and landscapes. His especially well-known large-scale projects were Valley Curtain, Rifle, Colorado in 1972 and Running Fence, California, in 1976. In 1977 his exhibition Christo - The Running Fence toured Rotterdam, Bonn, Hanover, Humblebaek, Hövikoden, Zurich, Brussels and Grenoble. In 1971 he began the project Wrapped Reichstag with his artistic partner Jeanne-Claude, which was completed in 1995. In 1980 he took part in the exhibition Mein Kölner Dom for the 100th anniversary of the cathedral. In 1983 Christo and Jeanne-Claude produced the project Surrounded Islands: eleven islands in Biscayne Bay near Miami, Florida, were surrounded by wide collars of floating pink polypropylene fabric. The documentation of all Christo and Jeanne-Claude projects went on tour. Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin 1991-95 Christo & Jeanne-Claude Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California 1972-76 Christo & Jeanne-Claude
All wrapped up.
Where do we draw the line? No pun intended. Well, maybe a little pun. Vir Heroicus Sublimis, 1950-1951. 8’ x 17’ 10”. Museum of Modern Art, New York
Definition of Art: Webster’s New World Dictionary: art: 1. human Creativity 2. skill 3. Any specific skill or it’s application 4. Any craft or it’s principles 5. a making of things that have form or beauty. 6. any branch of this, as painting, sculpture etc…
Yet another definition of art: Human effort to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature. If the above statement is solely true, then every time you mow the lawn it would be considered Art.
What else? The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium. The study of these activities. The product of these activities; human works of beauty considered as a group.
A field or category of art, such as music, ballet, or literature. High quality of conception or execution, as found in works of beauty; aesthetic value. A field or category of art, such as music, ballet, or literature. A nonscientific branch of learning; one of the liberal arts. A system of principles and methods employed in the performance of a set of activities: the art of building. A trade or craft that applies such a system of principles and methods: the art of the lexicographer. Skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation: the art of the baker; the blacksmith's art. Skill arising from the exercise of intuitive faculties: “Self-criticism is an art not many are qualified to practice” (Joyce Carol Oates). arts Artful devices, stratagems, and tricks. Artful contrivance; cunning. Printing. Illustrative material.
No other definition besides the nature of God is more abstract. With such a broad definition of what art is, how do you decide for yourself what art is? Why is it so important?
The measure of society. All societies, past and present, are judged by three criteria: 1. Military strength 2. Economic stability 3. Artistic achievement Artistic achievement is the visual method by which we as the human race judge ourselves and our accomplishments. No other creature creates for the pleasure of aesthetic appreciation.
We, as humans, create works of art for the sheer pleasure of illustrating beauty and thought. It has always been mankind’s obsession with imitating or simplifying his world into visual images he can share with his fellow humans. Constructions from pre-historic periods
Why? Communication is the key. We as humans have several communication techniques at our disposal, visual arts is one of the most liberal as well as transcendent mediums. We can communicate in the visual arts through time and space without language or social barriers. Palette of Narmer, 3000 BC, Egypt. Characters depict the king (Narmer) uniting upper and lower Egypt and vanquishing his enemies.
Then and now. What has changed? In pre-historic times, mankind used pictorials on cave walls and rock cliffs as a surface for communicative arts. Now we use billboards, television screens, motion pictures, buildings and sidewalks. The only thing that has changed is the purpose, mediums and the skills involved to create the artwork. Cave paintings from Lascaux, France Sidewalk art from the ‘sidewalk chalk guy’, Julian Beever
What then is good art? Art isn’t art until someone sees it! Because of it’s nature, all artistic achievement can be good. But in order for an artistic creation to be recognized as a master work, it must stand the test of time and the intimate criticism of the world. Therefore; art education is necessary for each contributing member of any society if nothing more than to be able to make their own judgments and intelligent critiques.
What is your Aesthetic view? Does it have to be realistic?
Does it have to be in color? Does it have to be drawn/created by hand?
IMITATIONALISM Some people feel that art should imitate what we see in the real world. Using this theory to judge art is called imitationalism. People who like art to be realistic or representational usually judge art based on imitation.
Formalism Some people feel that the most important part of a work of art is the use of the elements of design and the principles of organization. This theory of judging art is called formalism. The critic looks to see if the work is successful in the use of line, color, shape, space, texture and composition.
Emotionalism A third theory of aesthetics embraces the belief that art must speak to the viewer through his or her emotions. This theory says that the most important part of the work is the mood the artist creates.
Functionalism The aesthetic theory that art is defined by purpose(s) that make successful art valuable. A definition of "chair would normally mention that the purpose of a chair is for sitting. And a chair that cannot be sat upon has no value as a chair. So it seems that chairs require a functional definition. Functionalists treat art in the same way.
Welcome to the world of ART Now that you have meaning and interest in the arts, It will be your opportunity and hopefully your pleasure to create unique works of art for yourself.