#3-Art Words of the Week: Design and Composition

The way an artist combines different elements in their work such as texture, colour and a sense of balance all contribute to the overall design or composition of the artwork (Shirrmacher & Fox, 2009, p. 142).  If the individual aspects of the artwork can combine together to make an integrated whole, the artwork can be seen as having a good design or composition.  These two art words remind me to look at the distinctive parts of an artwork that make it beautiful, and also how the work as a whole gives an overall impression.   

Our trip to the AGO this week was a nice change of pace from our usual classroom setting.  Being able to view different pieces of artwork and explore intriguing artefacts was a great way to gain a new appreciation for art.  When thinking of which piece of art to choose for my art critique, I had originally focused on a few painting from the European section of the gallery.  I found that style of artwork to be the most interesting to me.  However after going on the tour with Patricia as our tour guide, she took us to see a painting that made me change my mind.  I had not previously seen this painting when I went on my own personal tour, so I was glad I had the opportunity to see this masterpiece.

The painting I am talking about is entitled The Massacre of the Innocents by Peter Paul Rubens.  This piece of art is a part of the Thompson Collection at the AGO and is the most expensive item they have in the gallery ($117 million is pretty crazy expensive).  Perhaps this is why I was drawn to the painting, though I think what Patricia had to say about it is what intrigued me the most.  The Massacre of the Innocents is a thoroughly intense painting that depicts violence, death, and a profound sense of anguish.  With that being said, when you delve further into the painting’s meaning, you see the immense struggle and protection on the people’s faces, particularly the women. 

When I truly look at this painting, I see the power of brutality, and also the power of survival.  I believe Rubens is trying to show how cruel it is to attack young souls, but how people will stop at nothing to protect them.  To be perfectly honest, I thought this painting was quite disturbing when I first saw it.  The images of dead babies and men taking these young children away from their mothers made me feel saddened and also slightly repulsed.  However, as I listened to Patricia, I began to see the artwork in a new light.  What I like the most about The Massacre of the Innocents is the immaculate detail that is painted onto the canvas.  When you really pay close attention to Ruben’s work, you see the amazing features and dimension that he was able to paint.  The musculature of the people is stunning, it’s as if you are actually seeing them in person.  The woman in the centre of the painting struck me the most.  I think Rubens placed her here because he is showing her attempt at thwarting her attacker with one hand, and holding a baby with the other.  This woman’s pale skin stands out amongst the tanned skin of others. I think the positioning of her body is meant to depict the sense of struggle that is so present in the painting.

I believe The Massacre of the Innocents by Peter Paul Rubens is a great display of creativity.  When I was on the tour, Patricia explained he was far beyond the artists of his time.  The amount of detail and sentiment he was able to paint is almost incomprehensible.  All of the elements he was able to include in this work of art made the overall design and composition of The Massacre of the Innocents truly remarkable.


EDUCATORS
In the field of ECE, hands on experiences, such as field trips, are a great way for children to physically explore their environment and visually learn.  Going to an art gallery such as the AGO will help gain an appreciation for fine art, and open their eyes to a world of artistic wonder.  Even though the meaning of professional pieces of art can often be unclear, as an educator it is important to show children that artists put a lot of personal meaning into their art and that it can be mysterious to those trying to understand.

Schirrmacher, R., & Fox, J.E. (2009). Art and creative development for young children (6^th Ed.).  

        Belmont, CA: Delmar.

#2-Art Words of the Week: Mass and Volume

These art words refer to various aspects of three dimensional art, such as whether a work of art is geometric, curved or bulky (Shirrmacher & Fox, 2009, p. 142).  A three dimensional artwork, such as a sculpture, has complexity and depth to it which can be illustrated by the type of mass or volume that is present. Items such as leaves can make a sculpture organic, or a material such as buttons can add an element of curvature or hardness.

In class on January 18, we were asked to create something out of different types of paper in groups of four.  With my group members, we created an interesting assortment of papers that had various dimensions and height.  The sculpture that I created for this week’s blog entry was partly inspired by what we did in class, since I added an element of height to my sculpture.  Perhaps what inspired me the most while making my sculpture was the process we went through to make our sculpture, not what it looked like in the end.

I chose to make something out of buttons because I literally had an entire container filled with a vast assortment of different sized and shaped buttons.  Seeing all these buttons gave me the idea to use them in some way to make a sculpture.  It wasn’t that easy thinking how to put the buttons all together, but I tried to let my imagination run wild and see what I ended up with.  By using two empty pop cans, I was able to add substantial height to my sculpture, in addition to gluing buttons on top of each other.  As I was making my sculpture, I just kept gluing button after button together, not paying as much attention to what it was going to look like in the end, but rather the progression of how it was taking shape.  It’s pretty cool to think of how the sculpture was only made of: buttons, paper, two pop cans, fishing line, and a lot of hot glue.  By using items that I found around my house, I was able to create something out of essentially nothing.  


EDUCATORS 
I think it is crucial for individuals, particularly children, to be reminded of the fact that you can use anything you’d like to make a piece of art, it does not necessarily have to be made out of traditional art tools.  By thinking outside of the box, a person can create endless opportunities to explore their creativity, using whatever tools they feel inspired by.  By incorporating unconventional art tools such as recycled items or cultural items into an early childhood classroom, educators can enhance children's art experiences and allow them to think outside the box.

Schirrmacher, R., & Fox, J.E. (2009). Art and creative development for young children (6^th

        Ed.). Belmont, CA: Delmar.

#1-Art Word of the Week: Creativity

Can CREATIVITY be defined easily? Can this word that holds so many different meanings be simply defined in a few words? Not entirely. When I think of creativity, I think of expression, ingenuity and above all, a unique capability to bring together ideas and form a completely different or transformed idea.

This picture captivated my interest when it was shown to me by my sister after a trip to New York City.  It was taken at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) and it provides a bird's eyeview of an exhibit entitled Waste Not by a man named Song Dong. As the picture depicts, Song Dong gathered the entire contents of the home he shared with his mother in China and created this exhibit with all of the items.  The materials range from empty pop bottles to shoes and from clothes to empty tooth paste containers.  The title of the exhibit, Waste Not is a reflection of Song Dong's Chinese culture that encourages people to not waste materials.

In my opinion, the exhibit from the MoMa is an amazing expression of creativity from Song Dong.  The story behind his exhibit is one of great sadness.  After his father passed away at a young age, Song Dong's mother began keeping every single item they owned, never throwing anything out.  It is amazing to think of how many things can be kept in one dwelling, and to think of the reasoning behind keeping everything.  I found it fascinating how Song Dong was able to meticulously organize every material into sections, paying careful attention to what belonged where. This is creativity to me. This illustrates how one person's life experience gave them the inspiration to create such a unique exhibit.  Some may not consider an assortment of seemingly useless objects art, but beauty is in the eye's of the beholder. 

When trying to think of what I see as creative and what inspires me, I didn't know where to begin.  After a couple days, something triggered my memory and the answer came to me, which is when I asked my sister to send me pictures of the exhibit.  My traditional view of art is a painting or drawing that would ordinarily be considered art by everyone.  However when I thought more about Song Dong's Waste Not exhibit...I was reminded of the different avenues people use to express their creativity.  

Art is a unique expression that is individual to the artist.  I think it is important for people to remember this, even people that may be too young to spell the word art.  When discussing and creating art with children, I think it is crucial to express to them that everyone has their own special ideas.  Even though young children may not completely understand what it means to express creativity, it is important as educators to remind them that they are all artists...and the type of art they create is extraordinary.   By truly valuing the art children make, educators can provide a sense of appreciation and balance in an early childhood classroom.