Thursday, December 2, 2010
During Thanksgiving break I went to see a few different photography exhibits at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. One of the featured artists was Nicholas Nixon whose series of photos was titled Family Album. As a collection, these images depicted members of his family including his two children Sam and Clementine, his wife Bebe and her two sisters. Throughout the collection Nixon is pictured in some of his images and in others his shadow is present within the frame. All of his images were taken with a large-format view camera and were printed as gelatin silver contrast prints. The images ranged in size from larger matted prints to smaller framed prints grouped together. One of the main groupings of images is called “The Brown Sisters”, a series of 36 images all depicting Nixon’s wife Bebe and her three sisters standing together. The four women were photographed annually since 1975, standing together in the same order and embracing each other. As a whole, this series is very dramatic to look at because there is such continuity throughout it, but still slight variation in pose and expression. The images evoke a sense of time and change and with each one the women the viewer can see a change in gaze and body language. I really like the concept of this series because it represents something that many families may do for their own posterity, but as an art piece it really draws the viewer in to notice small details. Unlike these images, many of Nixon’s other photographs in the exhibit were more varied in their subject and framing. Some images showed a loving embrace between him and one of his children shot from a very close angle, whereas others would show someone’s hands or feet or laughing smile. Overall the exhibit is very exemplary of Nixon’s devotion to his family both as a husband and a parent. Whether or not he is pictured in every one of the images, his evident shadow represents his presence in the children’s lives.
Monday, November 8, 2010
What would you do?
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Critique Questions
--What aspect of survival and self-reliance does their project address?
--How does this project consider or question their concept?
--Who is the audience that this project addresses?
--How does the presentation format work with the content?
AFTER you have considered the above...
--what works well in this project?
--does this project encourage you to consider the topic in a new way?
--does this project give you, or the audience, a new perspective on survival, self-reliance, and the role of the individual in the survival of the group?
--what could be improved?
Michael's Survival Map
For my survival project I decided to create a map of all of the places that I would consider important if there was an emergency in Geneva. If there was some kind of natural disaster looming on the horizon, if I had time, I would make a stop at any one of the stores that I selected to stock up on any food, tools, clothing, fuel, or any other resources that I would deem necessary for the particular situation. In terms of where I would exactly stay would depend on what situation I would be presented with. If it was some kind of flooding I would most likely just stay in my room in deCordova, which is on fairly elevated ground and I'm on the fourth floor as well. If there was some kind of wind storm or tornado on the horizon, I would move to a building that is sturdy in structure that also has a basement. The library and the two gymnasiums would seem to be viable options.If it were a situation were I needed to find a more personal spot, I would choose underneath the bridge of 5&20 which would keep me dry, and I would have close access fresh water which I could use for fishing. The same can be said for the small tunnel that is also further down the lake. Lastly, the park would also have similar advantages, plus there are shelters that I could use as well. If I were to properly prepare for any kind of these crises, I believe I could survive in the short run, but I believe I would have to stay on the move and stay in any of these place for too long. Ultimately I would want to head home to Binghamton to check and see if my family was still alright.
End of the World Project
I was somewhat inspired by Spike Lee's documentary on the effects of Hurricane Katrina, entitled "When the Leeves Broke". His documentary follows around several different survivors of the disaster and tells their stories. While I could not do something this large with the time constraint and since it is all hypothetical, mine is slightly different, however, that is what I based my idea off of.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_C7ugr_EX8
Surviving the End of Your World
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Surviving the End of My World...if I had no memory.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Richard Misrach- Hurricane Katrina aftermath photos
This is a video I made of an exhibit I went to in New Orleans. There is no sound. Richard Misrach is a photographer who went to New Orleans right after Katrina and documented what he saw. The images are very sad and refer to dead people and dead animals that are left inside houses. There is some humor and some hope but overall, the images are very intense.
I hope you guys enjoy.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Photograph of Jesus by Laurie Hill
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Build a Bug Out Bag (Due Thursday, October 21)
Build a Bug Out Bag
- Are you bugging in or out?
- Based on your personal assessment and the following readings, assemble a bug out bag. This essential preparedness kit should be thoughtful, useful, and personal.
- Explain your BOB, its contents, and the choices you made to select those contents. Upload your reflections as a comment to this post.
- (NOTE: you should only put things in your kit that you actually have… although you can discuss what you would like to have in your reflections. Notice that your kit is PERSONAL—what do YOU need, or how can you creatively use what you have?
Readings:
When All Hell Breaks Loose, Stuff you need to survive when disaster strikes, Cody Ludin
-Chapter 23 – Should I stay or should I go now?
Web links:
Bug Out Bags on youTube:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bug-out+bag&aq=f
http://theurbansurvivalist.blogspot.com
http://www.bugoutsurvival.com/
Friday, October 15, 2010
Reading Response for Tuesday, October 19th
Monday, October 4, 2010
What is wrong with this Critique?
Using what you have learned in "Defining Critique" and "Giving and Receiving Feedback" (in the Readings folder on Blackboard), critique this critique.
Make sure to use the techniques specified in the articles when framing your response (provide specific, constructive feedback).
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Reading for Tuesday, September 28: Cow Eye Dissection Guide
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Reading for Thusday, September 23: Uta Barth
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Reading for Thursday, September 16
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Reading for Thursday, September 9: Revised and Remade, Part II
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Reading for Tuesday, September 7: Revised and Remade Part 1
For your comment, choose one artist discussed in the article. What did they revise? How does their revision reflect the original work? How is their revision "new"?