Author Archive
Faculty Presentations
Tuan Phan
Tuan makes a lot of things for other people. I’ve heard the term “passion projects” a lot and it seems like all of these design gifts that he makes are a way to keep his design brain going while still doing his job – teaching us. It’s really cool to see the kind of work that he makes, especially because I know that he has a really good understanding of the principles he’s teaching. I feel like designers usually get further away from the basics as they progress in their career, but Tuan is reminded of them every day when he teaches them to us.
Hollis Hammonds
Hollis’s interpretation of memory is really interesting. I loved getting to know her better by seeing her incredibly personal work. I feel like she shows so much more through her art than the small teases she has let out through the semester. Hollis plays a game with her students where she says completely outrages things about her self and then moves on like she didn’t say anything. I feel like I’ve been trying to piece together Hollis and decipher what she means when she divulges small bits of information about her personal life. It’s very interesting to see the artwork of my professor because it gives me a clearer idea of who she is as a person.
Bill Kennedy
Bill made it big in his field and had to look further to find something fulfilling. He was successful and still is, but now – after a lot of searching – he’s found something that he enjoys doing. I really love Bill’s images of the Southwest. I grew up visiting my grandmother in Santa Fe three or four times a year and even though his images are manipulated to the extreme, I could still feel the area in his work. It was really cool to see his work evolve into something that really makes him happy.
Five Year Plan
On a Saturday morning, I attended a portfolio workshop at St. Edward’s put on by the AIGA. I was easily the youngest one there by almost three years. I realized that the focus of the workshop was on students getting ready to enter the field of design, exactly where I will be in a few years. I learned so much, but a few things really stuck out…
- keep a record of your work
- consider PROCESS when showing your work
- learn how to communicate verbally
- find a mentor
- IDEAS > AESTHETICS
Reflection: The Way Things Go
In any Rube Goldberg type set up, someone has calculated exactly what needs to happen in order for the next thing in a sequence to happen. You know what to expect. One event causes another and if it doesn’t, there is something inherently wrong with it. Maybe it’s okay for there to be something wrong. Well, not necessarily “okay,” but maybe it works anyway. My favorite thing I’ve learned this semester is that once we know the rules, we can break them. Especially with regards to patterns, sometimes the best way to show pattern is to break it. This draws the viewer attention and makes them think, which is after all, the goal of art.
Reflection: David Blaine Ted Talk
I think that a large part of art is defying the expectations that are set for you. Whether these expectations come from family, or society, or the art community; amazing art happens when you push just outside of those expectations. That’s what magician David Blaine did. Blaine might self identify as a magician, but in my opinion, the way he thinks about his work really is art. He describes his process as creating images that make people stop and think. I think that is the very definition of art.
The first time that Blaine attempted his great feat, he failed because people expected more of him than he knew he was capable of. He knew he wasn’t prepared and that the conditioned imposed by others where simply impractical. However, when he made his final attempt, the expectations were just beyond his reach and so he was able to push through. The expectations we set should be higher than what we know we are capable of, but not too high that we jump and fall completely.
The research and determination behind Blaine’s attempt at holding his breath longer than anyone ever has reminds me of the way that I create art. I feel like a lot of the time, artists just jump right in to the water and start holding (sorry for the silly metaphor, I couldn’t resist). As incredibly passionate and creative people, artists will often act first, think later. I’ve felt a little alienated in the art word because I have so much trouble approaching things with a free creativity. I like thinking things through, solving problems, and figuring it out. I spend so much time thinking and I’m not sure if it always works out. However, it worked for Blaine.
Reflection: Beyond Time
Listening to this podcast, the story that struck me the most was about the artist in Dublin, Dan McDermott. He was introduced as an artist, but they didn’t talk at all about his work, or at least that’s what I thought at first. David McDermott is a weird guy. His voice is off putting and he seems like the kind of person that you might cross the street to avoid. However, he did have some interesting ideas about the way the world could work.
McDermott lives his life through the practice of “time experimentation.” He believes that anyone can chose their period in history and he has chosen to live in the past, without any modern amenities. The lengths that McDermott goes to in order to achieve this breach on psychotic. His practices make his life harder and weirder and because of that – more interesting.
McDermott’s life is meant to be experienced. Whether he means to or not, the way he acts draws an audience. His choices and actions are strange and so they are marked by the outside world. As a society we see time as very linear: past, present, then future. McDermott has thrown away this view and we as viewers find that fascinating.
Reflection: Memento
This film required my full attention. I realized this after I tried for a week to start the movie and each time failed. I tried watching it while I was doing other work, or while I was with a friend, or even just while I had other things on my mind, and each time, I got frustrated. Finally, I sat down and made myself really watch Memento. I’m glad I did. I’m so intrigued by the complexity of everything. I spent the first half hour thoroughly confused. Then I thought I knew what was going on, only to have everything turned around on my in the last bit of the film. It was definitely an experience.
The part I most enjoyed were the visual cues that helped me understand the sequence. The black and white scenes were a good transition when the story jumped back in time. I think without those, it wouldn’t have been clear to the audience that the story was being picked up at a different time. I also really liked the feeling of anticipation as I could feel the scenes catching up to where the last one had started. Often, the scenes would start in a place that seems totally out of place or confusing, but later, you get to find out what brought the events there.
This method of confusing the audience is really interesting. As a graphic designer, I think a lot about how to make a message clear to an audience. However, making intentional choices to confuse the audience in order to keep them thinking is a really cool approach. I think as I approach this final project for the semester, I want to break out of my comfort zone a little and try and confuse my audience, rather than doing everything to explicitly tell them exactly what I want them to hear.
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2015. Helaine A. Bach. DATE NIGHT TICKET, Digital Rendering 1536 x 2500 pi
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2015. Helaine A. Bach. FIRE, Paint on Wood 4 x 8 ft
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2015. Helaine A. Bach. MOUNT SINAI, Graphite Sketch 7 x 5 in
Collages
The process of taking apart images I had recorded to truly make an image was very difficult for me at first. I had grown attached to my images and it took a few tries before I really understood what I needed to do in order to make images that are my own. I did my best to pull colors and textures from my original photographs, not “things.” I think I accomplished this in my first collage, by taking the attributes of my subjects and using them without showing what they actually are. However, in my second collage, I took a different approach and chose to make something a little more in my element. I combined a few different scanned items and applied some more graphic design oriented techniques to create something that looks more like an object. I really enjoyed playing with methods and exploring what I could do to the different elements of a photo to create an image.
Getting My Feet Wet
Scans
Process Screen Shots
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Color Settings
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Tiff Export
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File Naming
Alumni Presentations
Lynne Bowman Cravens
Lynne talked about how when you start making art, it’s good to create about the subjects that you are familiar with. I’m really interested in Lynne’s combination of photography with alternative processes. Her work is unique from a lot of the things I’ve seen before, and it made me think a lot about the different methods I could use to make art. I loved how in depth she went into her processes, especially because I feel like I could now experiment and recreate something similar myself.
Miranda Petrosky
Miranda talked a lot about the process of working in a design field. This made me think a lot about the practical applications of a graphic design degree. Miranda was really helpful because she gave us a lot of examples of places in Austin that do design work. I hadn’t ever seen a lot of the places she mentioned and now I want to look into them for possible internships and career options. She also emphasized the importance of doing work for fun, and always exercising your design muscles.
Dustin Meyer
To be completely honest, I thought Dustin Meyer was full of himself and kind of annoying, but I think that’s an important skill to hone in order to make it in the world of wedding photography.
Design Internships
This second round of alumni presentations opened my eyes to the possibilities for work in Austin. I came to St. Edward’s largely because of the amazing creative scene, but I managed to forget about that in all the excitement of my first semester here. I am so ready to take full advantage of all that Austin has to offer, including the amazing opportunities for internships…
GDS&M: https://www.gsdm.apply2jobs.com/ProfExt/index.cfm?fuseaction=mExternal.showSearchInterface
Bakery: http://www.bakery.agency/careers/design-intern/
Electronic Arts: https://www.velvetjobs.com/gd/featuredjob/media/guest/297546
A Friday evening following a very long week… I don’t think any one would have blamed me if I had passed on an artist talk, especially right before the campus Halloween block party. However, I am so glad that I went. Hearing an artist talk about their work before viewing it changes the experience exponentially. Rather than guessing at what may have inspired a piece, you get to hear first hand at least a glimpse into the process behind the art. Even more so, I was so grateful for the experience to enter a dialogue with the art by asking questions. We talk about conversation with art and it seems so abstract, but when you are sitting in an auditorium literally speaking to the artist and hearing what they have to say in response, it provides a completely new perspective.
Martin Nguyen’s story was incredibly inspiring. I loved the way he spoke about the images that stay in his mind throughout his life. He showed us his last view of Vietnam as he left on a fishing boat and I was transported with him, imagining what it must be like to have that image burned in my mind. His explanation of using his art as a religious practice was also really moving. I’ve explored my own faith through art and it’s interesting to hear someone else’s perspective on this. It was incredible to hear Nguyen’s description of his process for painting a face. He devotes himself entirely to subject for two or three hours, doing his best to truly take time to see them. This was the thought that stuck in my mind as I moved to the gallery to see Nguyen’s work.
I had peered in through the windows of the art building throughout the week and caught glimpses of the work, but seeing it all as it was meant to be shown for the first time, after having just listened to the artist speak, was a whole different experience. I tried my best to both take in the piece as a whole and appreciate every subject. I have a feeling I’ll be spending more time in the gallery in the days to come. I want to get to know at least some of these faces the way that Nguyen did by painting them.
Description
Looking at time through the lens of art allows both the artist and the viewer to slow time down and appreciate the beauty of the subject for what it really is. Martin Nguyen’s collection “Drawing/Painting TIME” shown in the Fine Arts Gallery from October 23 to November 12, 2015 uses both drawing and painting to depict the portraits of people caught in time. The artwork appears to be a grid of faces, each taking up about the size of a sand dollar, on large canvases. Some of the faces are painted in black and white and others in color. There is a year below each subject, but no other identifying information. There are pencil marks present on the finished piece, showing where measurements were made to grid the faces.
Analysis
The presentation of of the subjects is what struck me as most powerful. I don’t think the individual faces Nguyen painted would be as interesting if they were not all together in such a calculated manner. At the same time, the grid like appearance would be boring if it weren’t on such a large scale. I think the balance that Nguyen was able to find is very effective. The variety of the different faces is also really engaging. It’s possible to see Nguyen’s work many times and notice a new face each time.
Interpretation
The artist is trying to capture a moment in time of the lives of different people with his interpretations of their faces. Each painting or drawing he does is a representation of a whole person and the image the viewer sees is only a glimpse of that. It’s almost like a game trying to figure out the life behind each of the faces. This creates an interactive experience for the viewer.
Evaluation
At first glance, I appreciated the artwork for the way all of the components worked together. As I thought about it more, I was more impressed by the concept of evaluating each face, each component of the piece and how they all are individual and also contribute to the whole. The use of time stamps below the faces adds another level to the work. It’s interesting to think that the only reason all of these images exist in the same space together is because the artist put them there. Nguyen’s work makes me want to do more portraits. I want to be able to see a person and their whole life in a single image and then share that life with my viewers.
Initial notes from presentations…
Nick Swift
I was really inspired by the way that Nick was able to start his own company from the ground up. I thought it was interesting that while he isn’t working primarily within the design field, his training in the arts has helped him work with other professional designers to create a brand for his product. I definitely will be taking Nick’s advice about using my resources here at St. Ed’s to their fullest potential. He pointed out ways that faculty and staff members on campus can help that I hadn’t even thought of.
Rebecca Marino
I loved how Rebecca introduced herself by saying that she does a million different things. I’m getting the sense that this is what it means to be a working artist. There are so many different hats to wear in the art world and it doesn’t seem possible to stick to just one. I’m really interested in Rebecca’s work with non-profit organizations. I always say “I want to change the world with my art” and working for a non-profit seems to be the way to do that.
Alex Roka
Alex is living the life I hope I have in ten years. I would love nothing more than to have experience working for a big advertising firm and then once I have more experience, branch out on my own and start a smaller collective. So basically I want to be Alex Roka. It doesn’t help that he’s insanely attractive and his work is phenomenal. All joking aside, hearing him talk made me realize that I really do want to go into advertising and it’s not just something I told my grandpa so that he wouldn’t think of me as a “starving artist.”
Taylor Browning
I’m really inspired by artists that work with children. We all started with after school programs or visiting artists in school classrooms. Artists exist because of the programs that we are a part of growing up. Young artists are often told that art is just a hobby. Programs like the ones Taylor is involved with change that narrative.
